Preferred Species List (developed June 2003)

The Hardwood Forestry Fund provides grants for planting high quality hardwoods on suitable sites in the US and internationally. This list includes suggested hardwood species that are known for their commercial value. Natural resource professionals are encouraged to request funding for hardwood species that are best suited to their selective sites using this list as a guide. Preferred hardwoods are indicated with a “1.” Acceptable hardwoods given specific sites are indicated with a “2.” Preference is given to projects that plant northern red oak, white oak, maple, cherry, and walnut.

Common Name-General Botanical Name Common Name-Specific Preference Group
Alder Alnus rubra Red alder 2
Ash As of 2008, funding for ash is currently not available due to ash borer
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash 2
Fraxinus americana White ash 1
Fraxinus nigra Black ash 1
Fraxinus latifolia Oregon ash 2
Aspen Populus tremuliodes Quaking aspen 2
Basswood Tilia americana American basswood 1
Tilia heterophylla White basswood 1
Birch Tilia heterophylla Yellow birch 1
Tilia heterophylla Black birch 2
Tilia heterophylla Paper birch 1
Cherry Prunus serotina Black cherry 1
Chestnut Prunus serotina American chestnut 1
Elm Ulmus rubra Red or slippery elm 1
Hickory Carya ovata Shagbark hickory 1
Carya tomentosa Mockernut hickory 2
Carya glabra Pignut hickory 2
Mahogany-Tropical Environment Swietenia macrophylla Bigleaf mahogany 1
Khaya ivorensis African mahogany 1
Khaya anthotheca African mahogany 1
Madrone-Western US Arbutus sp Madrone 2
Maple-East Acer saccharum Sugar maple 1
Acer rubrum Red maple 2
Also sugar and red maple with genetic qualities/tendencies toward birds-eye, figure or quilted characteristics. 2
Maple-West Acer macrophyllum Bigleaf maple 1
Oak-North/East Quercus rubra Northern red oak 1
Quercusshumardii Shumard oak 2
Quercus alba White oak 1
Quercus prinus Chestnut oak (dry sites) 2
Quercus velutina Black oak (poor sites) 2
Quercus garryana Oregon white oak 1
Quercus kelloggii California black oak 1
Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone 1
Oak-South Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia Cherrybark oak 1
Quercus falcata Southern red oak 1
Quercus coccinea Scarlet oak 2
Quercus nuttallii Nuttall oak 2
Quercus virginiana Live oak 2
Quercus michauxii Swamp chestnut oak 2
Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin oak 2
Pecan Carya illinoensis Pecan 1
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua American sweetgum 2
Teak-Tropical Environment Pterocarpus angolensis African teak

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