Native Trees for Naturalization in Toronto
Common
Name
Scientific
Name
Favoured
Moisture
Favoured Soil
Type
Black maple
Acer nigrum
moist
loam, silt-loam
Red maple
Acer rubrum
moist-wet
Silver maple
moist-wet
Sugar maple
Acer
saccharinum
Acer saccharum
Speckled alder *
Alnus rugosa
moist-wet
Yellow birch
Betula
alleghaniensis
Betula
papyrifera
Carpinus
caroliniana
Carya
cordiformis
Carya ovata
moist
White birch *
Blue beech
Bitternut hickory
Shagbark
hickory (RT)
Hackberry (RT)
Hawthorn
Celtis
occidentalis
Crataegus spp.
dry-moist
partial shade to
full shade
sand, loam
full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
loam, clay
partial shade to
full shade
sand, loam, clay
full sun
moist
loam, sandyloam
sand, loam,
gravel-loam
loam, sandyloam
sand, loam
dry-moist
loam, clay
dry-wet
loam, clay
moist
loam, clay
dry-moist-wet
moist
Favoured
Light Regime
Maximum
Height
Species
Attributes
35 m
tolerant of urban
conditions
orange to bright
red fall colour
fast growing and
tolerant
yellow to orangered fall colour
provides wildlife
habitat
attracts wildilfe
25 m
35 m
35 m
8m
full sun to partial
shade
full sun
25 m
full shade to
partial sun
full sun to partial
shade
full sun to partial
shade
8m
full sun to partial
shade
full sun to partial
shade
25 m
25 m
fast growing and
attractive bark
interesting bark looks like muscle
fast growing
25 m
interesting bark,
attracts squirrels
15 m
fast growing,
tolerant
provides wildlife
habitat
12 m
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Common
Name
Scientific
Name
Favoured
Moisture
Favoured Soil
Type
Favoured
Light Regime
Maximum
Height
Species
Attributes
American beech
moist
loam
moist
loam
partial shade to
full shade
full sun
25 m
Butternut
Fagus
grandifolia
Juglans cinerea
Black walnut
Juglans nigra
moist
loam, clay
full sun
30 m
Red cedar
Juniperus
virginiana
Larix laracina
dry-moist
sand, loam
full sun
4m
moist
full sun
25 m
moist
dry-moist
White spruce
(RT)
Red pine (RT)
Liriodendron
tulipifera
Ostrya
virginiana
Picea glauca
peat, wet
sandy-loam
sand, loam
flowers eaten by
birds
seeds provide
food for wildlife
seeds provide
food for wildlife
provides food &
shelter for wildlife
interesting shape
Pinus resinosa
dry-moist
White pine
Pinus strobus
dry-moist
Sycamore (RT)
Platanoides
occidentalis
Populus
balsamifera
Populus
deltoides
Populus
grandidentata
moist-wet
Tamarack*
Tulip tree (RT)
Ironwood
Balsam poplar
Eastern
cottonwood*
Large-toothed
aspen
moist
moist-wet
moist-wet
dry-moist
25 m
full sun to partial
shade
loam, clay
full sun to full
shade
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
sand, sandyfull sun
loam
sand, loam
full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
sand, silt
full sun
35 m
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam
full sun
30 m
provides wildlife
habitat
interesting,
peeling bark
floodplain, fast
growing
fast growing
20 m
fast growing
12 m
pyramidal shape,
interesting leaves
interesting bark
25 m
25 m
30 m
30 m
25 m
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provides wildlife
habitat
stabilizes soil
Common
Name
Scientific
Name
Favoured
Moisture
Favoured Soil
Type
Favoured
Light Regime
Maximum
Height
Species
Attributes
Trembling
aspen
Pin cherry
moist
sand, loam, clay
full sun
25 m
dry
sand, loam
full sun
12 m
Black cherry
Populus
tremuloides
Prunus
pensylvanica
Prunus serotina
dry-moist
sand, loam
White oak (RT)
Quercus alba
dry-moist
Bur oak
Quercus
macrocarpa
Quercus rubra
dry-wet
20 m
fast growing,
tolerant
seeds provide
food for wildlife
interesting bark,
provides habitat
provides food &
shelter for wildlife
provides food &
shelter for wildlife
fast growing,
wildlife value
seeds provide
food for wildlife
floodplain species
20 m
floodplain species
15 m
provides wildlife
habitat
tall stately tree
Red oak
Black oak (RT)
Peach-leaved
willow
Black willow
Quercus
velutina
Salix
amygdaloides
Salix nigra
dry-moist
dry-moist
moist-wet
moist-wet
dry-wet
Basswood
Thuja
occidentalis
Tilia americana
Eastern
hemlock
Tsuga
canadensis
moist-wet
White cedar
dry-wet
full sun to partial
shade
sand, sandyfull sun to partial
loam
shade
loam, clay
full sun to partial
shade
sand to loamy- full sun to partial
clay
shade
sand
full sun to partial
shade
sand, silt
full sun to partial
shade
sand, silt
full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam, clay full sun to partial
shade
sand, loam
partial shade to
full shade
22 m
35 m
15 m
25 m
20 m
35 m
30 m
provides food &
shelter for wildlife
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Notes



All listed species are native to Toronto except for the ones marked (RT) which mean they are rare in Toronto. Rare species are
normally found in specific habitat types. They may also be difficult to source at plant nurseries.
The species marked with an asterisk (*) are often substituted with non-native varieties at plant nurseries.
Please use the scientific names and avoid cultivated varieties when purchasing plants at a commercial nursery.
For more information, visit City of Toronto Urban Forestry website at www.toronto.ca/trees
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