NHE is growing the community canopy to make Evanston healthier, more livable, and more beautiful. We donate native trees to residents of the 2nd and 5th Wards, as well as to District 65 schools, Evanston Township High School and parks. 🌳 In Spring 2025, we are also offering shrubs that also help pollinators and shrink lawns, enhancing everyone's health. Usually we can plant as many as 50 trees each Spring and Fall. It's a great opportunity to green our neighborhoods and schools.

Request your Tree HERE

Or mail your name, email, address, mobile phone number and tell us about the trees wanted and their location to Climate Action Evanston FREE TREES, P.O. Box 1748, Evanston, IL 60204. We will reach out to you to visit your property, and determine when your tree and shrubs can be planted. The trees and shrubs are native to the Midwest, and generally are planted in Spring and Fall with help from volunteers. Residents must water the plants (typically 10 gallon/week), protect them from mowers, keep them properly mulched and learn how to care for the plants. Fall typically is the best time to plant trees because it allows the plants to go dormant before summer heat.

We can provide trees and shrubs as long as supplies last and resources allow.

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Evanston RoundTable Video

Trees fight urban heat, capture particulates and release moist oxygen, helping people coping with asthma and high blood pressure.  They encourage residents and shoppers to linger on tree-lined streets, enhancing safety and raising the amount that shoppers spend.  Drivers even slow down on tree-lined streets. By providing shade and moisture, trees  filter stormwater and shield homes from winds. Plus a lot more. Some areas of Evanston have fewer trees than other neighborhoods, and higher levels of asthma and high blood pressure, measured by the city EPlan.  

Diverse native tree species, but oaks are a priority.

Oaks are the top plant for wildlife in North America (a "keystone" species). They are host plants to more than 500 species of caterpillars, meaning that those caterpillars need oaks to develop into butterflies and moths, just as monarch butterflies need milkweed.  Without oaks, those species cannot survive. No other plant in North America hosts as many species of pollinators. In addition, oaks feed other insects, birds and other wildlife with acorns, and other forage.

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We try to focus on Evanston's areas of lowest income levels and life expectancy, where private tree canopy has been lost relative to other areas. Natural Habitat also shares trees in other under-canopied, historically underserved neighborhoods in Evanston.