{"product_id":"autumn-treasure-ironwood","title":"Autumn Treasure Ironwood","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tough Native Shade Tree with Glowing Gold Fall Color\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn Treasure Ironwood (\u003cem\u003eOstrya virginiana\u003c\/em\u003e 'JFS-KW5') is an improved selection of Minnesota's native ironwood, bred for a more uniform pyramidal-to-oval crown and brighter fall color than the wild species. Expect glowing golden-yellow to bronze foliage that lingers into late fall, on a tough, adaptable tree that handles sun or shade, clay or dry soil, and brutal Minnesota winters. Whether you need a dependable mid-size shade tree for a Plymouth backyard, a boulevard tree in Edina, or a native for a Woodbury woodland edge, Autumn Treasure delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Treasure Ironwood Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable cellpadding=\"6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOstrya virginiana 'JFS-KW5' (Autumn Treasure)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAutumn Treasure Ironwood, American Hophornbeam, Ironwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25-35 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18-25 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (handles dappled light under canopy)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; drought-tolerant once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable; prefers well-drained loam, tolerates clay and dry sites\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous; bright golden-yellow to bronze fall color that lingers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBark \u0026amp; Form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFine-textured shreddy bark; uniform pyramidal-to-oval crown\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood; rarely a deer favorite\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImproved selection of a Minnesota native\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Treasure Ironwood Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eReliable Mid-Size Shade and Lawn Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 25 to 35 feet tall with a tidy oval crown, Autumn Treasure is right-sized for a typical Twin Cities yard — big enough to throw real shade, small enough not to overwhelm a lot. Its improved, uniform form makes it a far cleaner choice than wild ironwood for a front lawn or backyard focal tree in Edina, Plymouth, or Maple Grove, finishing the season with a glow of gold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Boulevard, Urban, and Dry Sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIronwood is famous for durability, and this selection keeps that toughness: once established it tolerates drought, clay, dry soil, and the compacted, reflected-heat conditions of streetside plantings. That makes it an excellent boulevard tree, parking-island tree, or pick for a hot, dry corner in Woodbury or Eden Prairie where softer trees decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative and Shade-Tolerant Plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an improved native, Autumn Treasure shines in naturalized and woodland settings. Ironwood is one of the most shade-tolerant trees we carry — it grows happily under taller oaks and maples — so it's ideal for layering a woodland edge or filling a shadier corner in Minneapolis and St. Paul where sun-loving trees thin out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Autumn Treasure Ironwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a deciduous tree, Autumn Treasure can be planted across a wider window than evergreens. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April through May, once the ground has thawed)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eearly fall (September through mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e are both excellent, since the tree is leafless or hardening off and transplant stress is low. Spring planting allows a full season to establish; fall planting uses warm soil and cool air for strong rooting. Avoid the heat of midsummer when possible, and don't plant after mid-October, when frozen ground can heave new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Autumn Treasure Ironwood\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the root flare should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck drainage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fill the hole with water; if it pools for hours, loosen the surrounding clay or mound-plant a few inches high so roots aren't waterlogged.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with amended soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mix native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost to loosen heavy clay and hold moisture during establishment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSet it at the right depth.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant so the root flare is visible at the surface — never bury the trunk. Remove twine and fold back burlap on B\u0026amp;B stock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a water basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to direct water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch with bark.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips in a wide ring, kept 2 inches off the trunk. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and offers no winter insulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Autumn Treasure Ironwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3 to 4 days, keeping the root zone evenly moist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5 to 7 days during active growth; more in heat, less when rain is steady.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce established, ironwood is genuinely drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water. During prolonged dry spells (two-plus weeks without rain), give it a deep soak every 10 to 14 days; otherwise let Minnesota's rainfall do the work. Its toughness after establishment is a big part of why it's such a low-maintenance tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Autumn Treasure Ironwood survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), well below anything the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a delivers, and as a selection of a local native it's fully adapted to our winters. No special winter protection is needed once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenerally yes. Ironwood is rarely a deer favorite, so Autumn Treasure holds up better than most young trees in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka and Wayzata. A trunk guard is still wise the first winter or two to prevent buck rub, but heavy browse is uncommon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow shade-tolerant is it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery. Ironwood naturally grows as an understory tree beneath taller hardwoods, so Autumn Treasure thrives in part shade where sun-demanding trees struggle. It also takes full sun, giving you flexibility to place it almost anywhere — a shady side yard or an open lawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes this better than a wild ironwood?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 'Autumn Treasure' selection was chosen for a more uniform, symmetrical pyramidal-to-oval crown and brighter, more consistent golden-bronze fall color than seed-grown ironwood. You get all the legendary toughness of the native species in a cleaner, more landscape-ready form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIronwood\u003c\/strong\u003e — the straight native species, ideal for naturalized and woodland-edge plantings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/strong\u003e — a bold native shade tree with dramatic branch structure for larger spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrairie Dream Birch\u003c\/strong\u003e — a hardy white-barked native birch for bright bark and bird value.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNannyberry Viburnum\u003c\/strong\u003e — a native small specimen tree with spring flowers, bird berries, and burgundy fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Autumn Treasure Ironwood Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn Treasure is a specimen shade tree, so most yards need just one as a lawn or boulevard tree. With a mature spread of 18–25 feet, space multiple trees \u003cstrong\u003e20–25 feet apart\u003c\/strong\u003e (trunk to trunk) for touching canopies, or 25–30 feet for distinct crowns. For a naturalized woodland edge, stagger a loose group of 3 at 15–20 feet apart and let the crowns knit together over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Treasure Ironwood Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh green leaves emerge along the tidy pyramidal crown, with subtle catkins that dangle before the foliage fills in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense canopy of crisp, birch-like dark green leaves casts cooling shade; hop-like papery seed clusters develop and feed songbirds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline act — glowing golden-yellow to bronze color that arrives reliably and lingers later than most shade trees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine-textured, shreddy gray-brown bark and an even oval silhouette give quiet structure; some bronze leaves often persist into early winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Shade-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ironwood-hophornbeam\"\u003eIronwood (Hophornbeam)\u003c\/a\u003e — the straight native species; pair them along a woodland edge for a layered native look.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/kentucky-coffeetree\"\u003eKentucky Coffeetree\u003c\/a\u003e — a bold-textured native canopy tree that towers behind ironwood's mid-size crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-dream-birch\"\u003ePrairie Dream Birch\u003c\/a\u003e — white native bark that pops against ironwood's gold fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nannyberry-viburnum-tree\"\u003eNannyberry Viburnum (Tree Form)\u003c\/a\u003e — a native understory companion with spring bloom and bird berries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Autumn Treasure Ironwood Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick Autumn Treasure if you want a tough, no-fuss mid-size shade tree that handles full sun or part shade, clay or dry soil, boulevard conditions, and deer pressure — all with dependable gold fall color. It's not a fit if you need fast shade: ironwood grows slowly to moderately, so choose a maple or elm where speed matters more than durability.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.5\"BB","offer_id":54260824637745,"sku":"GT-T3164","price":452.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260824670513,"sku":"GT-T3165","price":480.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260824703281,"sku":"GT-T3166","price":521.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/autumn-treasure-ironwood.jpg?v=1779426701","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/autumn-treasure-ironwood","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}