Summary of Tree Characteristics
Russell M. Burns and Barbara H. Honkala¹
Tree Species | Shade tolerance class |
Flowering characteristic² |
Germination, epigeal or hypogeal | Most common soil orders³ | |
Common name | Scientific name | ||||
Ailanthus | Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle | Intolerant | D | E | U, I, E |
Alaska-cedar | Chamaecyparis
nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach |
Tolerant | M | E | H, S |
Alpine larch | Larix lyallii Parl. | Very intolerant | M | E | E, I |
American basswood | Tilia americana L. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | AL, I,S |
American beech | Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. | Very tolerant | M | E | AL, O,S |
American elm | Ulmus americana L. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | AL, I, M, U |
American holly | flex opaca Ait. | Very tolerant | D | E | I, U |
American hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana Walt. | Very tolerant | M | E | AL, U, I, E, S, H, M |
Atlantic white-cedar | Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S.P. | Intermediate | M | E | S, H |
Ausubo | Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev. | Very tolerant | Perfect | E | I,O |
Baldcypress | Taxodium
distichum (L.) Rich. var. distichum |
Intermediate | M | E | S, U, I, AL, E |
Balsam fir | Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. | Very tolerant | M | E | S, I, H |
Balsam poplar | Populus balsamifera L. | Very intolerant | D | E | I, E |
Bigcone Douglas-fir | Pseudotsuga macrocarpa (Vasey) Mayr | Intolerant | M | E | I, AL |
Bigleaf maple | Acer macrophyllum Pursh | Very tolerant | Polygamous | E | I, U, S, M, E, AL |
Bigtooth aspen | Populus grandidentata Michx. | Very intolerant | D | E | S, AL, I |
Bitternut hickory | Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch | Intolerant | M | H | U, I, M, AL |
Black ash | Fraxinus nigra Marsh. | Intolerant | Polygamous | E | H, E |
Black cherry | Prunus serotina Ehrh. | Intolerant | Perfect | H | I, U, AL |
Black cottonwood | Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray | Very intolerant | D | E | E, I |
Black locust | Robinia pseudoacacia L. | Very intolerant | Perfect | E | I, U, AL |
Black maple | Acer nigrum Michx. f. | Very intolerant | Polygamous | E | M, I, E, S |
Black oak | Quercus velutina Lam. | Intermediate | M | H | S, AL, M, U, E, I |
Black spruce | Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. | Tolerant | M | E | H, S, I, E |
Black tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. var. sylvatica | Tolerant | Plygamo-D | E | U |
Black walnut | Juglans nigra L. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, E |
Black willow | Salix nigra Marsh. | Very intolerant | D | E | E |
Blue oak | Quercus douglasii Hook. & Am. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I, M |
Blue spruce | Picea pungens Engelm. | Intermediate | M | E | M, H, I |
Bluegum eucalyptus | Eucalyptus globulus Labill. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | U, AL, I, AR |
Boxelder | Acer negundo L. | Tolerant | D | E | E, I, AL, U, M |
Brewer spruce | Picea breweriana Wats. | Tolerant | M | E | E |
Bur oak | Quercus macrocarpa Michx. | Intermediate | M | H | AL, M, S |
Butternut | Juglans cinerea L. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, E |
Cabbage palmetto | Sabal palmetto (Walt.)Lodd. ex J. A. & J. H. Schult. | Tolerant | Perfect | H | E, AL, U, S |
California black oak | Quercus kelloggii Newb. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I, M |
California-laurel | Umbellularia calitornica (Hook. & Am.) Nutt. | Tolerant | Perfect | H | I, M, U |
California red fir | Abies magnifica A. Murr. | Tolerant | M | E | E, I, AL, S |
Canyon live oak | Quercus chrysolepis Liebm. | Tolerant | M | H | I, AL |
Carolina silverbell | Halesia carolina L. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | U, E, I, M |
Casuarina | Casuarina spp. | Intolerant | M, D | E | E, I, S |
Cedar elm | Ulmus crassifolia Nutt. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | I, V |
Cedro hembra | Cedrela odorata L. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | U |
Cherrybark oak | Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia Ell. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I |
Chestnut oak | Quercus prinus L. | Intermediate | M | H | U,l |
Chinkapin oak | Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I, M, U |
Common persimmon | Diospyros virginiana L. | Very tolerant | D | E | AL, U, E, I |
Corkbark fir | Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica (Merriam)Lemm. | Tolerant | M | E | I, E, AL |
Cucumbertree | Magnolia acuminata L. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | I, U |
Digger pine | Pinus sabiniana Dougl. | Very intolerant | M | E | AL, E, I, M, U |
Douglas-fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco | Intermediate | M | E | I, S, AL, M, E, U |
Eastern cottonwood | Populus deltoides Bartr.ex Marsh. var. deltoides | Very intolerant | D | E | E, I |
Eastern hemlock | Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. | Very tolerant | M | E | S |
Eastern hophornbeam | Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch | Tolerant | M | E | S, AL, M, U, E, I |
Eastern redbud | Cercis canadensis L. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | AL, M |
Eastern redcedar | Juniperus virginiana L. | Intol.-Very Intol. | D | E | M, U |
Eastern white pine | Pinus strobus L. | Intermediate | M | E | I, U, S, E, AL |
Engelmann spruce | Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. | Tolerant | M | E | I, E, AL, H |
Eucalyptus grandis | Eucalyptus grandis Hile ex Maiden | Very Intolerant | Perfect | E | S |
European alder | Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. | Intolerant | M | E | H, I, E |
European black pine | Pinus nigra Arnold | Intolerant | M | E | AR, E, M, V |
Florida maple | Acer barbatum Michx. | Tolerant | Polygamo-D | E | I, E, U |
Florida torreya | Torreya taxifolia Arn. | Tolerant | D | H | AL, M |
Flowering dogwood | Cornus florida L. | Very tolerant | Perfect | E | U, I, AL, S, E |
Fraser fir | Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. | Very tolerant | M | E | I |
Fraser magnolia | Magnolia fraseri Walt. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | I, U |
Giant chinkapin | Castanopsis chrysophylla (Dougl.) A. DC. | Intermediate | M | H | I, E, U, AL |
Giant sequoia | Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz | Intolerant | M | E | I, AL |
Grand fir | Abies grandis (Dougl. ex D. Don) Lindl. | Tolerant | M | E | S |
Green ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. | Tolerant | D | E | I, E |
Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis L. | Intermediate | Polygamo-M | E | M, E, I |
Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos L. | Intolerant | Polygamo-D | E | AL, I, M |
Incense-cedar | Libocedrus decurrens Torr. | Intermediate | M | E | AL |
Jack pine | Pinus banksiana Lamb. | Intolerant | M | E | S, E |
Jeffrey pine | Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf. | Intolerant | M | E | I, AL, E |
Kiawe | Prosopis pallida(Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) H.B.K. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | I, M, V |
Koa | Acacia koa Gray | Intolerant | Perfect | E | I, H, U, 0 |
Laurel | Cordia alliodora (Riuz & Pav.) Oken | Intolerant | Perfect | E | E, 0, I, U, AL |
Laurel oak | Quercus laurifolia Michx. | Tolerant | M | H | U, I |
Limber pine | Pinus flexilis James | Intolerant | M | E | E |
Live oak | Quercus virginiana Mill. | Intermediate | M | H | U, S, H, E |
Loblolly-bay | Gordonia lasianthus (L.) Ellis | Tolerant | Perfect | E | S, I, U, H, E, M |
Loblolly pine | Pinus taeda L. | Intolerant | M | E | U, E, S, AL |
Lodgepole pine | Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. | Very intolerant | M | E | I, AL, U, H |
Longleaf pine | Pinus palustris Mill. | Intolerant | M | E | U, E, S |
Maria | Calophyllum calaba L. | Intermediate | Polygamous | H | I, 0, AL |
Melaleuca | Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake | Intolerant | Perfect | E | E, S, H, I, U, 0 |
Mockernut hickory | Carya tomentosa (Poir.) Nutt. | Intolerant | M | H | U, I, M, AL |
Monkey-pod | Pithecellobium saman (Jacq.) Benth. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | 0, I |
Monterey pine | Pinus radiata D. Don | Intermediate | M | E | M, U, E, AL |
Mountain hemlock | Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. | Tolerant | |||
Nuttall oak | Quercus nuttallii Palmer | Intolerant | M | H | I, E |
Ogeechee tupelo | Nyssa ogeche Bartr. ex Marsh. | Intolerant | Polygamo-D | E | I |
'Ohi'a lehua | Metrosideros polymorpha Gaud. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | H, I, M, S, 0, U, AL |
Ohio buckeye | Aesculus glabra Willd. | Tolerant | Polygamo-M | H | AL |
Oregon ash | Fraxinus latifolia Benth. | Intermediate | D | E | AL, I, M, U |
Oregon white oak | Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I, M, U |
Osage-orange | Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. | Intolerant | D | E | AL, U, V, M |
Overcup oak | Quercus lyrata Walt. | Intermediate | M | H | I, AL |
Pacific madrone | Arbutus menziesii Pursh | Intermediate | Perfect | E | AL, U, I |
Pacific silver fir | Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes | Very tolerant | M | E | H, E, I, S |
Pacific yew | Taxus brevifolia Nutt. | Very tolerant | D | E | U, AL, I |
Paper birch | Betula papyrifera Marsh. | Intolerant | M | E | S,l |
Pecan | Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch | Intolerant | M | H | E, I, AL |
Pignut hickory | Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet | Intermediate | M | H | U, AL, M |
Pin cherry | Prunus pensylvanica L. | Very intolerant | Perfect | E | I, S, AL, H, E, M |
Pin oak | Quercus palustris Muenchh. | Intolerant | M | H | E, AL |
Pinyon | Pinus edulis Engelm. | Intolerant | M | E | AL, I |
Pitch pine | Pinus rigida Mill. | Intolerant | M | E | S, AL, E, U |
Plains cottonwood | Populus deltoides var. occidentalis Rydb. | Very intolerant | D | E | E, M, AL, I |
Pondcypress | Taxodiurn distichum var. nutans (Ait.) Sweet | Intermediate | M | E | S, U |
Ponderosa pine | Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. | Intolerant | M | E | E, I, M, AL, U |
Pond pine | Pinus serotina Michx. | Intolerant | M | E | U |
Poplar hybrids | Populus spp. | Very intolerant | D | E | E, I, M, S, U |
Port- Orford -cedar | Charnaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. | Tolerant | M | E | S, U,l |
Post oak | Quercus stellata Wangenh. | Intolerant | M | H | U, AL |
Pumpkin ash | Fraxinus profunda (Bush) Bush | Intermediate | D | E | AL, E, S, U |
Quaking aspen | Populus tremuloides Michx. | Very intolerant | D, Perfect | E | AL, S, I, H |
Red alder | Alnus rubra Bong. | Intolerant | M | E | I, E, AL, U, H |
Redbay | Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. | Tolerant | Perfect | H | H |
Red maple | Acer rubrum L. | Tolerant | Polygamo-D | E | E, I, U, AL, S, H |
Red mulberry | Morus rubra L. | Tolerant | M, D | E | AL, I, S, U |
Red pine | Pinus resinosa Ait. | Intolerant | M | E | E, S, AL, I |
Red spruce | Picea rubens Sarg. | Toler.-Very Toler. | M | E | S, I, H |
Redwood | Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. | Very tolerant | M | E | I, U |
River birch | Betula nigra L. | Intolerant | M | E | E |
Roble blanco | Tabebuia heterophylla (DC.) Britton | Intolerant | Perfect | E | I |
Robusta eucalyptus | Eucalyptus robusta Sm. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | 0, U, H, I |
Rock elm | Ulmus thomasii Sarg. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | M, AL, S |
Rocky Mountain juniper | Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. | Very intolerant | D | E | M |
Rosegum eucalyptus | Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden | Very intolerant | Perfect | E | S |
Royal paulownia | Paulownia tomentosa(Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. ex Steud. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | AL |
Saligna eucalyptus | Eucalyptus saligna Sm. | Very intolerant | Perfect | E | H, I, 0, U |
Sand pine | Pinus clausa (Chapm. ex Engelm.) Vasey ex Sarg. | Intermediate | M | E | E |
Sassafras | Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees | Intolerant | D | H | E, AL, U |
Scarlet oak | Quercus coccinea Muenchh. | Very intolerant | M | H | AL, I, U |
Scotch pine | Pinus sylvestris L. | Intolerant | M (mostly) | E | S, E, I, H, AL, M |
September elm | Ulmus serotina Sarg. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | U, AL, I |
Shagbark hickory | Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch | Intermediate | M | H | U, AL, M |
Shellbark hickory | Carya laciniosa (Michx. f.) Loud. | Very tolerant | M | ||
Sitka spruce | Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. | Tolerant | M | E | E, S, I, H |
Slash pine | Pinus elliottii Engelm. | Intolerant | M | E | S, U, E |
Slippery elm | Ulmus rubra Muhl. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | M, AL |
Sourwood | Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | U, I, E |
Southern magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora L. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | S, AL, V, U |
Southern redcedar | Juniperus silicicola (Small) Bailey | Intol.-Very intol. | D | E | AL, E, I, S, U |
Southern red oak | Quercus falcata Michx. var. falcata | Intermediate | M | H | U, AL |
Spruce pine | Pinus glabra Walt. | Very tolerant | M | E | S, E |
Striped maple | Acer pensylvanicum L. | Very tolerant | M, D | E | I, AL, S, M |
Subalpine fir | Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. | Tolerant | M | E | I, E, AL |
Sugarberry | Celtis laevigata Willd. | Tolerant | Polygamo-M | E | I, E |
Sugar maple | Acer saccharum Marsh. | Very tolerant | Polygamous | E | S, AL, M |
Sugar pine | Pinus lambertiana Dougl. | Intermediate | M | E | U,AL |
Swamp chestnut oak | Quercus michauxii Nutt. | Intolerant | M | H | AL, I |
Swamp cottonwood | Populus heterophylla L. | Intolerant | D | E | AL, I, E |
Swamp tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora (Walt.) Sarg. | Intolerant | Polygamo-D | E | U, I, E |
Swamp white oak | Quercus bicolor Willd. | Intermediate | M | H | E, I |
Sweetbay | Magnolia virginiana L. | Intermediate | Perfect | E | U, S, H |
Sweet birch | Betula lenta L. | Intolerant | M | E | S, I, U |
Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua L. | Intolerant | M | E | AL |
Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis L. | Intermediate | M | E | E, I, AL, V, H, M |
Table Mountain pine | Pinus pungens Lamb. | Intolerant | M | E | I |
Tabonuco | Dacryodes excelsa Vahl | Intermediate | D | E | U |
Tamarack | Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch | Very intolerant | M | E | H, I, E |
Tanoak | Lithocarpus densiflorus(Hook. & Am.) Rehd. | Tolerant | M | H | I, AL |
Turkey oak | Quercus laevis Walt. | Intolerant | M | H | E |
Virginia pine | Pinus virginiana Mill. | Intolerant | M | E | S,l |
Water hickory | Carya aquatica (Michx. f.) Nutt. | Intermediate | M | H | I |
Water oak | Quercus nigra L. | Intolerant | M | H | I |
Water tupelo | Nyssa aquatica L. | Intolerant | Polygamo-D | E | AL, E, H, I |
Western hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. | Very tolerant | M | E | AL, E, H, I, S, U |
Western juniper | Juniperus occidentalis Hook. | Intolerant | M | E | M, AR, E, V |
Western larch | Larix occidentalis Nutt. | Very intolerant | M | E | I, AL, S |
Western redcedar | Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don | Very tolerant | M | E | I, U, H |
Western white pine | Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don | Intermediate | M | E | S |
White ash | Fraxinus americana L. | Intolerant | D | E | AL, S, I |
White basswood | Tilia heterophylla Vent. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | I, U, AL, E, M |
White fir | Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lind[. ex Hildebr. | Tolerant | M | E | I, E, AL, U |
White oak | Quercus alba L. | Intermediate | M | H | AL, U |
White spruce | Picea glauca (Moench) Voss | Intermediate | M | E | AL, I |
Whitebark pine | Pinus albicaulis Engelm. | Intermediate | M | E | I, E, M |
Willow oak | Quercus phellos L. | Intolerant | M | H | I, AL |
Winged elm | Ulmus alata Michx. | Tolerant | Perfect | E | AL, U |
Yagrumo hembra | Cecropia peltata L. | Intolerant | D | E | U, M, AL, 0, I |
Yagrumo macho | Didymopanax morototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | E, U, I, M |
Yellow birch | Betula alleghaniensis Britton | Intermediate | M | E | S, I, AL |
Yellow buckeye | Aesculus octandra Marsh. | Tolerant | Polygamo-M | H | AL, E |
Yellow-poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera L. | Intolerant | Perfect | E | I, U |
¹The authors are Principal Silviculturist and Botanist (retired), Timber Management Research, Washington DC. ²Flowering: M=Monoecious; D=Dioecious. ³Soil Orders: AL=Alfisols, AR=Aridisols, E=Entisols, H=Histisols, I=Inceptisols, M=Mollisols, O=Oxisols, S=Spodosols, U=Ultisols, V=Ventisols |