Soil Conditions for Deciduous Trees

As we all know, trees can be picky about their preferred soils, so we put together a list of tolerable soil conditions for deciduous trees. Read on to learn what will grow great on your property.

Tolerates Compacted Soil/Drought/Heat
Carpinus (Hornbeam)
Catalpa sp. (Catalpa)
Celtis sp. (Hackberry)
Cratagaegus sp. (Hawthorne)
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo)
Gleditsia (Honeylocust)
Maackia amurensis (Amur Maackia)
Morus sp. (Mulberry)
Quercus palustrus (Pin Oak)
Quercus robur (English Oak)
Tilia cordata (Greenspire Linden)

Tolerates Moist to Wet Soils
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Acer saccharinum (Sugar Maple)
Alnus (Alder)
Betula nigra (River Birch)
Carpinus carolinana (Beech)
Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
Gleditsia (Honeylocust)
Larix laricina (Eastern Larch or Tamarack)
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)
Salix alba (Weeping Willow)
Ulmnus (Elm)

Good Salt Tolerance
Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
Aesculus hippocastanum (Common Horsechestnut)
Gleditsia (Honeylocust)
Morus sp. (Mulberry)
Quercus rubra (Red Oak)

Aside from soil quality, you might also be interested in finding a deciduous tree that has beautiful fall colors. We recommend the list below.

Fall Color
Acer ginnala (Amur Maple) – Yellow, orange or red
Acer platanoides (Norway Maple) – Yellow
Acer rubrum (Red Maple) – Yellow, orange or red
Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) – Yellow, orange or red
Amelanchier sp. (Serviceberry) – Yellow, orange or red
Betula sp. (Birch) – Yellow
Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda Dogwood) – Red or purple
Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis (Thornless Cockspur Hawthorne) – Red
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) – Yellow
Quercus rubra (Red Oak) – Red
Sorbus (Mountain Ash) – Yellow or orange
Tilia sp. (Linden) – Yellow
Ulmus (Elm) – Yellow