Westmont, Illinois - Date Issued: February 16, 2023
To celebrate Arbor Day, the Village of Westmont Environmental Improvement Committee (EIC) is coordinating its annual tree seedling giveaway. Residents will be able to sign up online to request the specific seedlings they would like to receive. The Village has a limited amount of seedlings ordered, so individual species will be available on a first come first served basis, while supplies last. Residents are expected to pick up their order on Arbor Day, Friday, April 28 at the Westmont Library, 428 N. Cass Avenue, between 1 and 5 p.m.
"We have been offering this program for many years and we want to thank staff and volunteers for their help in making sure that our community continues to support Arbor Day and our local tree population,” said Environmental Improvement Committee Chair Bruce Barker. “We will be offering a wide variety of trees again this year, focussing on improving our evergreen population.”
Residents can sign up online and choose the seedlings they would like to receive now through Friday, April 21. All participants must be a resident of Westmont. Residents will be allowed to order up to three seedlings per Westmont address. There is a limited number of seedlings available and priority will be determined on a first-come first-served basis.
Following is a list of the tree species that will be offered in 2023:
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Size - 40-60’ high by 15-20’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - loosely pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Stately evergreen for larger landscapes
Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Size - 30-40’ high by 10-15’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal to round
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Native species great for screens in medium landscapes
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Size - 50-70’ high by 20-25’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Great for windbreaks and screens in larger landscapes
Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca var. densata)
Size - 20-40’ high by 10’-15’ wide
Growth Rate - moderate
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - A smaller evergreen variety, great for nesting songbirds
Concolor Fir (Abies concolor)
Size - 30-50’ high by 15-20’ wide
Growth Rate - slow
Fall Color - evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Beautiful blue-green needles similar to blue spruce
White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Size - 50-80’ high by 20-40’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color- evergreen
Habit - pyramidal
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Picturesque native pine species with fine feathery needles for larger landscapes
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Size - 50-80’ high by 50-80’ wide
Growth Rate - medium
Fall Color - Russet red or purple
Habit - rounded
Maintenance Requirement - low
Other - Picturesque native oak, Illinois State Tree
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Size - 60-75’ high by 60-75’ wide
Growth Rate - medium-fast
Fall Color - Bright red
Habit - rounded
Maintenance Requirement - medium
Other - Fast-growing, native oak species
Photos of each species have been posted on the village website for review.
For more information regarding this program, please contact Village Forester Jon Yeater at jyeater@westmont.il.gov.
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