Tree Advisor assists in selecting species of trees and shrubs for obtaining conservation and production purposes in the northern and central Great Plains. Ninety species are rated for 14 different purposes in 12 sub-regions. Ratings are on a scale of 10 (best) to 0 (worst). There are three primary ways to use this tool:
Purpose Rating
This option will identify higher-rated species that will function relatively better than other species for particular purpose(s) in a sub-region.
Individual Species Attributes
This option can be used to view a species’ attributes and purpose ratings in a sub-region.
Attribute Comparison
This option can be used to compare a specific attributes for species in a sub-region.
Woody plant encroachment into native grasslands and other natural areas in the region can be a concern and may be a consideration for species selection depending on landscape context. Use the Individual Species Attribute option to explore attributes such as spread risk, seedling spread rate, vegetative spread rate, and other attributes to assess potential invasiveness.