List of trees of Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This list compiles many of the common large shrubs and trees found in Canada. The Canadian flora is depauperate because of the near total glaciation event in the Pleistocene. Due to the vast area of Canada, a tree that is common in one area may be completely absent in another. In particular, many warm-temperate trees can only be grown on the mild pacific coast (where gardens may contain additional species not listed here).

See also provincial tree emblems of Canada for the official trees of the provinces and territories of Canada.

Pinophyta (Conifers)

Abies (firs)

Abies amabilis (Pacific Silver Fir)
Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir)
Abies bifolia (Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir)
Abies concolor (White Fir) - introduced
Abies grandis (Grand Fir)
Abies lasiocarpa (Coast Range Subalpine Fir)
Abies magnifica (Red Fir) - introduced
Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann Fir) - introduced
Abies pinsapo (Spanish Fir) - introduced
Abies procera (Noble Fir) - introduced

Araucaria

Araucaria araucana (Monkey-puzzle) - introduced

Cedrus (cedars)

Cedrus atlantica (Atlas Cedar) - introduced
Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) - introduced
Cedrus libani (Lebanon Cedar) - introduced

Chamaecyparis

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson's Cypress) - introduced
Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki Cypress) - introduced
Chamaecyparis pisifera (Sawara Cypress) - introduced

Cryptomeria

Cryptomeria japonica (Sugi) - introduced

Cupressus

Cupressus arizonica (Arizona Cypress) - introduced
Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) - introduced

Juniperus (junipers)

Juniperus chinensis (Chinese Juniper) - introduced
Juniperus communis (Common Juniper)
Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping Juniper)
Juniperus sabina (Savin Juniper) - introduced
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper)
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Juniper)

Larix (larches)

Larix decidua (European Larch) - introduced
Larix gmelinii (Dahurian Larch) - introduced
Larix kaempferi (Japanese Larch) - introduced
Larix laricina (Tamarack Larch)
Larix lyallii (Subalpine Larch)
Larix occidentalis (Western Larch)
Larix sibirica (Siberian Larche) - introduced

Metasequoia

Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) - introduced

Picea (spruces)

Picea abies (Norway Spruce) - introduced
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce)
Picea glauca (White Spruce)
Picea mariana (Black Spruce)
Picea omorika (Serbian Spruce) - introduced
Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce) - introduced
Picea rubens (Red Spruce)
Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce)

Pinus (pines)

Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark Pine)
Pinus aristata (Bristlecone Pine) - introduced
Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine)
Pinus contorta subsp. contorta Shore Pine
Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia Lodgepole Pine
Pinus flexilis (Limber Pine)
Pinus monticola (Western White Pine)
Pinus mugo (Mountain Pine) - introduced
Pinus nigra (European Black Pine) or Austrian Pine - introduced
Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)
Pinus resinosa (Red Pine)
Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine)
Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine) - introduced

Platycladus

Platycladus orientalis (Chinese Arborvitae) (previously known as Thuja orientalis) - introduced

Pseudotsuga

Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii (Coast Douglas-fir)
Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. glauca (Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir)

Sciadopitys

Sciadopitys verticillata (Umbrella-pine) - introduced

Sequoia

Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood) - introduced

Sequoiadendron

Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia) - introduced

Taxodium (cypresses)

Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress) - introduced

Taxus (yews)

Taxus baccata (English Yew) - introduced
Taxus brevifolia (Western Yew)
Taxus canadensis (Canada Yew)
Taxus cuspidata (Japanese Yew) - introduced

Thuja (thujas)

Thuja occidentalis (Eastern Arborvitae)
Thuja plicata (Western Redcedar)

Tsuga (hemlocks)

Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock)
Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock)
Tsuga mertensiana (Mountain Hemlock)

Xanthocyparis

Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (Nootka Cypress, Yellow-cedar) (previously included in Chamaecyparis)

Ginkgophyta (Ginkgos)

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) - introduced

Magnoliophyta (Broadleaves)

Acer (maples)

Acer circinatum (Vine maple)
Acer × freemanii (Freeman's maple) (hybrid red maple × silver maple)
Acer ginnala (Amur maple) - introduced
Acer glabrum (Douglas maple)
Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf maple)
Acer negundo (Manitoba maple or boxelder)
Acer nigrum (Black maple)
Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) - introduced
Acer pensylvanicum (Striped maple)
Acer platanoides (Norway maple) - introduced
Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore maple) - introduced
Acer rubrum (Red maple)
Acer saccharinum (Silver maple)
Acer saccharum (Sugar maple)
Acer spicatum (Mountain maple)

Aesculus (buckeyes and horse-chestnuts)

Aesculus × carnea (Red Horse-chestnut) - introduced
Aesculus glabra (Ohio Buckeye)
Aesculus hippocastanum (Common Horse-chestnut) - introduced

Ailanthus

Ailanthus altissima (Ailanthus) - introduced

Alnus (alders)

Alnus glutinosa (Black alder) - introduced
Alnus incana (Speckled alder)
Alnus rubra (Red alder)
Alnus serrulata (Hazel alder)
Alnus viridis (Green alder)

Amelanchier (serviceberries)

Amelanchier alnifolia (Juneberry or Saskatoon berry)
Amelanchier arborea (Downy serviceberry)
Amelanchier bartramiana (Mountain serviceberry)
Amelanchier florida (Pacific serviceberry)
Amelanchier laevis (Smooth serviceberry)
Amelanchier sanguinea (Roundleaf serviceberry)

Aralia

Aralia elata (Japanese angelica-tree) - introduced

Arbutus

Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrone)

Asimina

Asimina triloba (Pawpaw)

Betula (birches)

Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)
Betula cordifolia (Mountain Paper Birch)
Betula kenaica (Kenai Paper Birch)
Betula lenta (Cherry Birch)
Betula neoalaskana (Alaska Paper Birch)
Betula occidentalis (Water Birch)
Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch)
Betula pendula (Silver Birch) - introduced
Betula populifolia (Gray Birch)

Caragana

Caragana arborescens (Siberian pea-tree) - introduced

Carpinus (hornbeams)

Carpinus betulus (European Hornbeam) - introduced
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam)

Carya (hickories)

Carya cordiformis (Bitternut Hickory)
Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory)
Carya laciniosa (Shellbark Hickory)
Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)

Castanea (chestnuts)

Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)
Castanea mollissima (Chinese Chestnut) - introduced

Catalpa (catalpas)

Catalpa bignonioides (Southern catalpa) - introduced
Catalpa ovata (Japanese catalpa) - introduced
Catalpa speciosa (Northern catalpa) - introduced

Celtis (hackberries)

Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
Celtis tenuifolia (Dwarf hackberry)

Cephalanthus

Cephalanthus occidentalis (Button-bush))

Cercidiphyllum

Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura-tree) - introduced

Cercis

Cercis canadensis (Redbud)

Cladrastis

Cladrastis kentukea (Yellow-wood) - introduced

Cornus (dogwoods)

Cornus alternifolia (Alternate-leaved dogwood)
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood) - introduced
Cornus mas (European Cornel) - introduced
Cornus nuttallii (Pacific Dogwood)

Corylus (hazels )

Corylus americana (American Hazel)
Corylus avellana (Common hazel) - introduced
Corylus colurna (Turkish Hazel) - introduced
Corylus cornuta (Beaked Hazel)
Corylus maxima (Filbert) - introduced

Cotinus

Cotinus coggygria (Smokebush) - introduced

Crataegus (Hawthorns) - too many species to list.

Elaeagnus

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian-olive) - introduced
Elaeagnus commutata (Silverberry)

Euonymus (Euonymus)

Euonymus alatus (Winged euonymus) - introduced
Euonymus atropurpureus (Burning-bush) euonymus
Euonymus europaeus (European spindle) - introduced
Euonymus fortunei (Winter-creeper euonymus) - introduced

Fagus (beeches)

Fagus grandifolia (American Beech)
Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) - introduced

Fraxinus (ashes)

Fraxinus americana (White Ash)
Fraxinus excelsior (European Ash) - introduced
Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon Ash)
Fraxinus nigra (Black Ash)
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash)
Fraxinus profunda (Pumpkin Ash)
Fraxinus quadrangulata (Blue Ash)

Gleditsia

Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey-locust)

Gymnocladus

Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky coffee-tree)

Hamamelis

Hamamelis virginiana (Witch-hazel)

Hippophae

Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea-buckthorn) - introduced

Ilex (hollies)

Ilex aquifolium (English Holly) - introduced
Ilex mucronata (Mountain Holly; syn. Nemopanthus mucronatus)
Ilex opaca (American Holly) - introduced
Ilex verticillata (Common Winterberry)

Juglans (walnuts)

Juglans cinerea (Butternut)
Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)
Juglans regia (Persian Walnut) - introduced

Laburnum

Laburnum anagyroides (Laburnum) - introduced

Liquidambar

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum) - introduced

Liriodendron

Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree)

Maclura

Maclura pomifera (Osage-orange) - introduced

Magnolia (magnolias)

Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber tree)
Magnolia × soulangeana (Saucer magnolia) - introduced

Malus (apples)

Malus baccata (Siberian crab apple) - introduced
Malus coronaria (Wild crab apple)
Malus fusca (Pacific crab apple)
Malus sylvestris (Common apple) - introduced

Morus (mulberries)

Morus alba (White Mulberry) - introduced
Morus rubra (Red Mulberry)

Myrica

Myrica californica (Pacific bayberry)

Nemopanthus – see Ilex

Nyssa (tupelos)

Nyssa sylvatica (Black tupelo)

Ostrya

Ostrya virginiana (American hornbeam or Ironwood)

Phellodendron

Phellodendron amurense (Amur cork-tree) - introduced

Platanus (planes)

Platanus × hispanica (London plane) - introduced
Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore)

Populus (poplars, balsam poplars, aspens, cottonwoods)

Populus × acuminata (Lanceleaf cottonwood)
Populus alba (White Poplar) - introduced
Populus angustifolia (Narrowleaf cottonwood)
Populus balsamifera (Eastern Balsam Poplar)
Populus × canadensis (Carolina poplar) - introduced
Populus deltoides (Eastern Cottonwood)
Populus grandidentata (Bigtooth Aspen)
Populus heterophylla (Swamp cottonwood)
Populus × jackii (Jack's hybrid poplar)
Populus nigra (Black Poplar, Lombardy poplar) - introduced
Populus simonii (Simon's poplar) - introduced
Populus tremuloides (Trembling Aspen)
Populus trichocarpa (Black Cottonwood)

Prunus (cherries, plums, peaches)

Prunus americana (American plum)
Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) - introduced
Prunus avium (Sweet cherry) - introduced
Prunus cerasus (Sour cherry) - introduced
Prunus emarginata (Bitter cherry)
Prunus maackii (Amur chokecherry) - introduced
Prunus nigra (Canada plum)
Prunus pensylvanica (Pin cherry)
Prunus serotina (Black cherry)
Prunus serrulata (Japanese flowering cherry) - introduced
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)

Ptelea

Ptelea trifoliata (Hoptree)

Pyrus (pears)

Pyrus communis (Common pear)

Quercus (oaks)

Quercus alba (White oak)
Quercus bicolor (Swamp white oak)
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet oak)
Quercus ellipsoidalis (Northern pin oak)
Quercus garryana (Garry oak)
Quercus ilicifolia (Bear oak)
Quercus imbricaria (Shingle oak)
Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak)
Quercus montana (Chestnut oak)
Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinquapin oak)
Quercus palustris (Pin oak)
Quercus prinoides (Dwarf chinquapin oak)
Quercus robur (English oak) - introduced
Quercus rubra (Northern red oak)
Quercus shumardii (Shumard oak)
Quercus velutina (Black oak)

Rhamnus (buckthorns)

Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn) - introduced
Rhamnus frangula (Glossy buckthorn) - introduced
Rhamnus purshiana (Cascara buckthorn)

Rhododendron (rhododendrons)

Rhododendron macrophyllum (Pacific rhododendron)
Rhododendron maximum (Rosebay rhododendron) - introduced
Rhododendron ponticum (Pontic rhododendron) - introduced

Rhus (sumacs)

Rhus copallina (Shining sumac)
Rhus glabra (Smooth sumac)
Rhus typhina (Staghorn sumac)

Robinia

Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) - introduced

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)

Salix (willows) - too many species to list.

Sambucus (elder)

Sambucus callicarpa (Red-berry elder)
Sambucus canadensis (American elder)
Sambucus cerulea (Blue-berry elder)
Sambucus melanocarpa (Black-berry elder)
Sambucus pubens (Eastern red-berry elder)

Shepherdia

Shepherdia argentea (Silver buffalo-berry)

Sorbus (rowans)

Sorbus americana (American Rowan or mountain-ash)
Sorbus aucuparia (European rowan) - introduced
Sorbus decora (Showy Rowan or mountain-ash)
Sorbus sitchensis (Sitka Rowan or mountain-ash)

Syringa

Syringa vulgaris (Common lilac)

Tilia (lindens)

Tilia americana (Basswood)
Tilia cordata (Little-leaf linden) - introduced
Tilia tomentosa (Silver linden) - introduced

Toxicodendron

Toxicodendron vernix (Poison-sumac)

Ulmus (elms)

Ulmus americana (American elm or White elm)
Ulmus glabra (Wych elm) - introduced
Ulmus procera (English elm) - introduced
Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm) - introduced
Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm)
Ulmus thomasii (Rock elm)

Viburnum (viburnums)

Viburnum edule (Squashberry)
Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring-tree) - introduced
Viburnum lentago (Sweet viburnum, nannyberry)
Viburnum opulus (Wayfaring tree) - introduced
Viburnum trilobum (Highbush cranberry)

Zanthoxylum (Zanthoxylums, prickly-ashes)

Zanthoxylum americanum (Common prickly-ash)
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Southern prickly-ash)

Zelkova

Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova) - introduced

For Further Reading

Native Trees of Canada, by R. C. Hosie
Trees in Canada, by John Laird Farrar
The Encyclopedia of Trees: Canada and the United States, by Sam Benvie
Trees of Canada website

This list compiles many of the common large shrubs and trees found in Canada. The Canadian flora is depauperate because of the near total glaciation event in the Pleistocene. Due to the vast area of Canada, a tree that is common in one area may be completely absent in another. In particular, many warm-temperate trees can only be grown on the mild pacific coast (where gardens may contain additional species not listed here).

See also provincial tree emblems of Canada for the official trees of the provinces and territories of Canada.