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