The Native Northwoods Aspen, Reborn for Twin Cities Yards

Summer Shimmer Aspen (Populus tremuloides 'NE Selection') is a University of Nebraska improvement on Minnesota's beloved native quaking aspen — bred for better summer foliage retention, improved heat and drought tolerance, and far less of the aggressive root-suckering that makes wild aspen a headache in a home landscape. You still get the iconic fluttering, shimmering leaves and the brilliant golden fall color that light up the Northwoods, just in a tree that behaves itself. Whether you're planting a fast-growing screen in Maple Grove, adding native character to a Woodbury yard, or recreating that up-north feel in Eden Prairie, Summer Shimmer Aspen delivers shade and shimmer in just a few seasons.

Summer Shimmer Aspen Plant Details

Summer Shimmer Aspen Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Fast Native Shade and Screening

Few trees fill in as quickly as aspen. At 2–3 feet of growth per year, Summer Shimmer gives a new-construction yard in Lakeville or Blaine real height and shade within just a few seasons — long before a slower oak or maple would. Space trees 12–15 feet apart for a fast, informal living screen.

Northwoods Character and Four-Season Interest

Smooth, pale greenish-white bark, leaves that tremble and shimmer at the lightest wind, and a blaze of golden-yellow fall color give Summer Shimmer the unmistakable look of a Minnesota lake cabin. It's the perfect way to bring that up-north feeling to a Twin Cities suburb.

Native and Wildlife Plantings

As an improvement on our native quaking aspen, Summer Shimmer supports the same native food web — its catkins, buds, and foliage feed pollinators, songbirds, and browsing wildlife. It's a great choice for naturalized areas, woodland edges, and Lawns to Legumes-style native plantings where you want fast cover.

Best Time to Plant Summer Shimmer Aspen in Minnesota

Aspen are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:

Spring (late April–May), once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish roots before its first winter.

Fall (September–mid-October) is also a strong window. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid planting in the heat of mid-summer when transplant stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.

How to Plant Summer Shimmer Aspen

1. Dig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.
2. Check drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through any clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots from sitting in water.
3. Backfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost "container" in clay.
4. Set the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Space trees 12–15 feet apart for screening.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water down to the roots; flatten it before winter to prevent ice damage.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Wrap the lower trunk for the first couple of winters to deter rabbit and deer browsing.

Watering Summer Shimmer Aspen in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages about 3 inches per month June–August). Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.

After Year One

Established Summer Shimmer Aspen is far more drought-tolerant than the wild species, but it still grows best with occasional deep watering during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply and infrequently — soaking to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought — and let natural rainfall do the rest.

Will Summer Shimmer Aspen survive a Minnesota winter? Easily. Quaking aspen is native across Minnesota and hardy to -40°F, so this selection sails through our coldest winters. Just protect the young trunk from rabbits and deer the first couple of seasons.

Does it sucker like wild aspen? Far less. Wild quaking aspen spreads aggressively by root suckers; Summer Shimmer was selected for much tamer behavior, making it a realistic choice for a home yard. You may still see the occasional sucker — just mow or snip them off.

How fast does it grow here? Fast for Minnesota — about 2–3 feet per year in good conditions, reaching 35–45 feet at maturity. Like all aspen it's a quick, pioneering tree rather than a centuries-old oak, so enjoy the fast shade and shimmer it provides.

Is it really native? Yes — it's an improved selection of Populus tremuloides, the quaking aspen native throughout Minnesota, so it offers native wildlife value with better landscape manners.

You May Also Like

• Swedish Columnar Aspen — a narrow, upright aspen for tight spaces and slim screens.
• Quaking Aspen — the classic Minnesota native species for naturalized woodland plantings.
• Prairie Dream Birch — another fast-growing native with iconic white bark and golden fall color.
• Autumn Gold Ginkgo — a tough, seedless shade tree with brilliant golden fall color.

How Many Summer Shimmer Aspen Do I Need?

For a fast, informal screen, space Summer Shimmer 12–15 feet on center:

For the classic Northwoods look, plant a loose grove of 3–5 at 12 feet apart — aspens always look best in company. A single specimen needs 20–25 feet of clearance.

Summer Shimmer Aspen Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Early catkins feed emerging native pollinators before the fresh, fluttering leaves unfurl.
• Summer: The signature shimmer — rounded leaves trembling at the slightest breeze — with better foliage retention than wild aspen through hot spells.
• Fall: A blaze of golden yellow that recreates the Northwoods in a suburban yard.
• Winter: Smooth, pale greenish-white bark glows against the snow — the up-north postcard look all winter long.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Quaking Aspen — the wild species for naturalized corners of a larger lot.
• Prairie Dream Birch — white bark and golden fall color to complete the Northwoods grove.
• Autumn Gold Ginkgo — a tough, seedless companion whose gold fall color peaks alongside the aspen's.

Is Summer Shimmer Aspen Right for Your Yard?

Plant Summer Shimmer if you want fast native height, shimmering summer foliage, and golden fall color — it needs full sun, takes clay or sandy soil, and behaves far better than wild aspen. It's not a fit for tiny formal yards or right beside patios and septic lines: it's still a fast, pioneering poplar, so give it room and expect to snip the occasional sucker.