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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lycanthrope" data-source="post: 473896" data-attributes="member: 562">Perfect Species & Varieties for Menoken, ND (USDA Zone 4a, Bismarck-Mandan area)Menoken sits in the Missouri River coteau country—cold winters (-30 to -40°F), hot/dry summers, heavy clay/loam soils, and often windy.You want:  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Early spring pollen/nectar for bees (March–early May)  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cut to the ground after bloom is finished (mid-late May)  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Explosive summer regrowth to 4–10 ft with 1–4" stems by October for buck rubs  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Easy hardwood-cutting propagation  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">100 % winter-hardy here</li> </ul>Here are the absolute best performers for your exact spot, ranked by how well they check every box:<table style='width: 100%'><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Species & Best Cultivar/Variety for Menoken</th><th>Early Bee Value (March–May)</th><th>Buck Rub Preference</th><th>Summer Regrowth After May Cut</th><th>Cutting Success Rate</th><th>Notes for Your Area</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Pussy Willow – Salix discolor</td><td>★★★★★ (one of the very first big pollen sources; bees swarm it)</td><td>Very high</td><td>6–10 ft bushy, perfect rub size</td><td>95–100 %</td><td>Grows wild all along the Missouri & Heart Rivers near you. Take cuttings from local stands.</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Peachleaf Willow – Salix amygdaloides</td><td>★★★★☆ (tons of pollen April–early May)</td><td>Extremely high</td><td>8–12+ ft, multi-stemmed</td><td>95–100 %</td><td>Native right in Menoken/Bismarck area. Fastest willow regrowth in ND.</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Sandbar Willow – Salix interior</td><td>★★★★☆ (pollen + some nectar)</td><td>Very high</td><td>6–12 ft, very dense</td><td>95–100 %</td><td>Loves your clay soils; forms thickets bucks destroy for rubs.</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bebb Willow – Salix bebbiana</td><td>★★★★☆ (early pollen)</td><td>High</td><td>5–9 ft bushy</td><td>95–100 %</td><td>Common around Menoken wetlands; slightly shorter but very dense.</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Northwest Hybrid Poplar (Populus deltoides × P. balsamifera crosses – specifically ‘Northwest’, ‘Assiniboine’, or ‘Hill’)</td><td>★★★★ (big catkins in April)</td><td>High</td><td>8–15 ft (insanely fast)</td><td>80–90 %</td><td>Sold by ND state nurseries; roots easier than native cottonwood.</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Quaking Aspen – local Menoken clones</td><td>★★★★ (April catkins)</td><td>Extremely high</td><td>6–10 ft suckering clumps</td><td>70–80 %</td><td>Take cuttings or root suckers from local stands—bucks hammer young aspen.</td></tr></table>My Top 3 Recommendations for You (Menoken-specific)<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Pussy willow (Salix discolor) → First big bee forage in late March/early April around Bismarck. → Cut to ground the last week of May → 6–10 ft of new, flexible, aromatic stems by October that bucks tear apart. → Literally cannot kill it here.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides) → Grows wild within 10 miles of Menoken. Drive along the river or any creek and you’ll see 20–40 ft trees—take 12–18" cuttings in February/March. → Roots in a bucket of water or straight in the ground. → After you cut in late May it will hit 10–12 ft by fall with dozens of 1–3" stems per stump—perfect rub city.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Northwest or Assiniboine hybrid poplar → If you want something taller and faster than willow, these are sold by the Lincoln-Oakes Nursery in Bismarck for ~$1–2 per whip. → Early pollen + smooth white bark = buck magnets. → Cut to ground in late May → 10–15 ft of growth by October (yes, really).</li> </ol>Quick Planting Plan for a 30 × 30 ft “Bee & Buck Hub” Near Menoken<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Plant in moist low spot or where you can water the first year.  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">20–30 pussy willow cuttings (spaced 3–4 ft apart)  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">15–20 peachleaf or sandbar willow cuttings mixed in  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">5–8 hybrid poplar whips on the upwind side (for windbreak + extra height)  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mow or cut everything to 6" stumps the last week of May every year after that. Result: Bees go nuts in April, then you get a 6–12 ft jungle of rub posts every fall that bucks will line up to thrash.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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