Tree Commission

Purpose

The Tree Commission shall provide leadership in the development and understanding of the objectives of the tree program and assist in the development and maintenance of technical specifications and guidelines. 

The Tree Commission shall produce and maintain a list of kinds and species of trees suitable and desirable for planting and the areas and conditions under which such trees should be planted. This list, to be known as the “Master Tree List” shall be adopted by resolution of the Council. 

The Tree Commission shall also review subdivisions plats and plans for new developments and recommend tree preservation and tree plantings therein. The Council may require the implementation of any recommendation by the Tree Commission.

The Clinton High School Synergy students compiled a Tree Education PowerPoint to help residents.

Membership and Term Length

The City's Tree Commission consists of five residents of the City, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council, for staggered terms of three years. Members of the Commission serve without compensation. 

Current Members

MemberTerm End Date
Richard Jaeger
12/22/2023
James Schmerse
7/31/2025
Karen Rowell
6/23/2026
Robert Betsinger3/23/2026
Dick Witt
12/31/2023

Master Tree List

The following is a list of trees that are permitted to be planted in the City of Clinton parkways and/or right-of-way. It also includes trees not to be planted because of their lack of resistance to common tree diseases and/or pests or susceptibility to wind/storm damage. 

This list may also be used by builders, homeowners, and business owners as a guide to appropriate trees to plant on their property in the Clinton, Iowa area. All trees being considered must meet the American Standards for Nursery Stock.  

Most of the trees listed can be viewed at The Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 South 14th Street, Clinton, and are shown on their map of plantings and marked as a City of Clinton tree. 

Trees that Can be Planted in the Parkway/Right-of-Way

Narrow Parkways (5 to 6 feet wide)Medium Parkways (6 to 8 feet wide)Wide Parkways (9 feet or more)
Acer - Maple
Black Maple, 55’ tall by 25’ wide  
Norway Maple, 45’ tall by 20’ wide
Freeman Maple, 60’ tall by 20' wide
Red Maple 55' tall by 20' wide
Sugar Maple, 55’ tall by 20’ wide
Carpinus - Hornbeam
European Hornbeam, 35’ tall by 20' wide
Tilia - Linden
Littleleaf Linden, 50’ tall by 35’ wide
Greenspire Linden, 50’ tall by 35’ wide
Pyramidal American Linden, 50' tall by 35' wide
Ginkgo - Ginkgo
Ginkgo, 60’ tall by 25’ wide
Crataegus - Hawthorn
Washington Hawthorn, 25’ tall by 15' wide
Thornless Hawthorn, 25’ tall by 15' wide
Ulmus - Elm
Commendation Elm, 60’ tall by 50’
Triumph Elm 55' tall by 50' wide
Accolade Elm, 70' tall by 45' wide
Discovery Elm, 45' tall by 40' wide
Other new disease resistant cultivars are acceptable also.
Quercus - Oak
English Oak, 55' tall by 45' wide
White Oak, 55' tall by 45' wide
Red Oak, 55' tall by 45' wide
Bur Oak, 55' tall by 45' wide
Malus – Crabapple    
Any species of flowering crabapple trees shall conform to the following requirements: only persistent fruited or sterile cultivars of an upright,oval, or vase shape combined with good leaf tolerance shall be acceptable. Spreading types and disease prone cultivars are not acceptable.
Syringa - Reticulata
Japanese Tree Lilac, 20’ tall by 15’ wide
Ivory Silk Tree Lilac, 25’ tall by 20’ wide
Gledistsia - Locust
Only thornless varieties:
Shade Master Locust, 60’ tall by 50’ wide
Skyline Locust, 65’ tall by 45’ wide
Pyrus - Flowering Pear
Callery Pear, 35’ tall by 20’ wide
Also, only  thornless cultivars selected for 90 degree branching habit are acceptable. Cultivars such as Bradford have narrow "V" branching habits that develop weak bonds making them vulnerable to storm damage so are not acceptable.


Permit Fee for Tree Planting in Parkways and/or Right-of-Ways

A no-fee permit is required to be obtained from the City Engineering Department for any trees planted in parkways and/or right-of-ways.

Trees that Cannot be Planted in the Parkway/Right-of-Way

All Ash varieties due to the spread of emerald ash borer ("EAB"), including:

  • Black Locust
  • Bolleana Poplar
  • Boxelder
  • Catalpa
  • Cottonwood
  • Lombardy Poplar
  • Mulberry
  • Russian Olive
  • Siberian Elm
  • Silver Maple
  • Sycamore
  • Tree of Heaven
  • Weeping Birch
  • White Poplar
  • Willows