Registration for this year’s Annual Tree Giveaway will open on September 2, 2025. Half of the trees will be released at 10AM and the rest at 7PM. We are excited to provide 3,000 native trees to be planted in Howard County! Once live, the link to reserve your tree(s) will be available at www.howardcountymd.gov/forestry.
Tree Pick-up Locations
Tree pick-up locations will be at West Friendship Park in West Friendship and Rockburn Park WEST in Elkridge. You will be able to choose which park you would like to pick up your tree.
-
West Friendship Park - 12985 Frederick Rd, West Friendship, MD 21794
-
Rockburn Park West - 6105 Rockburn Park Road, Elkridge, MD 21075
Tree Pick-Up Dates
You will also be able to choose from three pickup dates:
- Wednesday, September 24- Noon-5pm
- Thursday, September 25- 2-7pm
- Saturday, September 27- 9am-1pm
YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR TREE AT THE LOCATION AND ON THE DATE YOU SELECT.
Each site will only have inventory for that site and date. If you cannot pick up your tree on either of these dates, please do not reserve a tree. You may have another person pick up your tree for you. Have them bring a printout of your reservation.
About the Trees
Below are the tree species that will be given away during this year’s Annual Tree Giveaway. The trees will be in 5-gallon containers and approximately 3 to 10 feet tall. All species are native to Maryland, acclimated to our climate and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Please utilize the information below to pick a tree best suited to the conditions of your yard.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)- grows to a height of 40-100’ with a spread of 30-75’. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soils. Does well in wet areas but can tolerate upland and rocky soils as well. Provides pollinators with early spring blooms and has vibrant fall foliage.
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)– grows to a height of 30-75′ with a width of 20-50′. Lesser known but lovely, prefers partial shade to full sun and can tolerate dry, moist, or seasonally wet soils. Has a greenish flower in the spring, with a black fleshy fruit and stunning red fall foliage. The Black gum is a versatile species with high wildlife value.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)– grows to a height of 20-50′ with a spread of 20-50′. Prefers partial shade but is often seen growing in full sunlight as well. Prefers dry to moist soils. Grows well in open forests and along forest edges. White spring flowers with a red to orange berry and scarlet foliage in the fall. The Flowering Dogwood has high wildlife value, with fall migrant birds relying on its berries.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)- grows to a height of 20-35’ with a spread of 20-35’. Prefers partial sunlight to full shade but is often seen growing in full sun as well. Prefers well drained to moist soils. Tolerates a variety of locations but grows well as an understory species and along streambanks. Pink to purple spring flowers with a seedpod in the fall and golden yellow foliage. The Eastern Redbud is a nitrogen fixing species.
River Birch (Betula nigra)- grows to a height of 50-75’ with a spread of 35-50’. Prefers full to partial sunlight and moist to wet soils. Grows well on forest edge, sunny spots along a waterway or bottom lands where water may collect. Has an attractive peeling bark and high wildlife value. The River Birch we will be giving away are single stem.
White Oak (Quercus alba)- grows to a height of 75-100’ with a 75-100’ spread. Prefers full to partial sunlight and dry to moist soils. The white oak provides food and shelter and is considered to have high wildlife value. Vibrant red fall foliage. Maryland’s state tree!
Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)- grows to a height of 50-75’ with a spread of 35-50’. Prefers full to partial sunlight and dry to moist soils. Small yellow flowers in the spring and produces an edible berry in the fall. Attracts pollinators, songbirds and other wildlife. Considered to have high wildlife value.