Native Trees of Indiana

The Hoosier State, 'The crossroads of America'

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Native Trees of Indiana

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Indiana

Formed under extremes, the landscape of

Indiana has been the bed of a vast sea stretching

from the Appalachian Mountains to the Rockies,

ground by glaciers, and carved into ravines by their

meltwater. With topography ranging from prairies,

marshlands, rolling hills, steep ravines, rivers and

lakes, there are many activities afforded to the outdoor

enthusiast or nature lover.

Whether by hiking trail, canoe, sailboat, or motor

boat, there are many ways to see the natural features

and forests of Indiana. For the water lovers, the tree

lined shores of Lake Michigan offer plenty of hiking, swimming, and a chance to see towering

200 foot tall sand dunes thousands of years in the making along the shoreline. In northeast

Indiana, you can navigate a series of 9 lakes in Chain O'Lakes State Park and meander

through 10 miles of forest trails surrounded by hickory and oak trees. While on the water, be

on the lookout for the rare freshwater jelly fish found in Indiana. While they can sting, they are

only about the size of a quarter and if their tiny barbs are even able to penetrate your skin, the

sting would be no where near the sting of marine jellies.

The terrain of southern Indiana is a treasure trove for fossil hunters and hikers seeking more

challenging adventures. When glaciers melted during the last retreat, the meltwater created

steep canyons and ravines and left walls of exposed bedrock, sandstone and limestone

(among others) rife with fossils. Due to this jagged landscape, there are many waterfalls,

some seasonal, all throughout southern Indiana. Southern Indiana is also home to Vanderburg

County which houses more native trees on Indiana's Big Tree Registry (2010) than any other

county. There is also Hoosier National Forest, where one of the most important forest

reclamation projects is underway. The talented and dedicated staff have planted American

Chestnut trees in 2 locations in hopes to restore this once mighty tree to its rightful place in the

eastern United States forest ecology. Only time will tell if they will be resistant to the chestnut

blight, which nearly wiped the species off the face of the Earth, but this gives hope to the future

of the species! You can read more about the American Chestnut tree here.

The tree lined roads of Indiana are a sight to behold in the fall as the many species of

• Indiana Native Trees A to Z

• Indiana Tree Facts

• Indiana Tree Families and Species

• Endangered/Threatened Species

• Tree Nurseries in Indiana

State Tree: Tulip Tree

In 1931, the Tulip Tree, sometimes called yellow poplar or tulip poplar, was designated the state tree.
Liriodendron tulipifera is found only in eastern North America and is native to scattered counties throughout the southern half of Indiana. Usually growing 100-200 feet tall, the state champion on Indiana's Big Tree Registry (2010) is 118 feet tall and may be found in the city of Washington. A member of the magnolia family, Tulip trees bloom creamy yellowish bell shaped flowers in the summer. Both the flowers and the leaves have a tulip like shape, which contributed to the species' many

descriptive common names. The distinct leaves of this deciduous tree are yellowish green

and 4 to 6 inches long. Shade intolerant, tulip trees are fast growing and may be as tall as 50

feet in only 20 years. This, combined with the attractive leaf shape, yellow flowers, fall colors,

Indiana Native Tree Facts

Forested acres: 4.5 million
Percent of total area forested: 20%
Predominant forest type: Oak-Hickory, Maple-Beech
Number of National Forests: 1
Number of State Parks/Forests: 33
Number of Tree city USA communities: 67
Number of invasive tree species: 37 (see state list for noxious/invasive plants)
Insects of Concern: Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth
Pathogen of Concern: Sudden Oak Death
Number of tree families in our collection: 28
Number of endangered or threatened species in our collection: 15

Sources:

Arborday.org
US Forest Service
Indiana Historical Society
United States Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services: PLANTS Database

Additional state resources:
Indiana Department of Resources
Visit Indiana- Indiana's Official Travel Planning Source
Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs- annual passes available
Purdue University Extension Service-Indiana

Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, leaf

See usage requirements.

Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera Robert H. Mohlenbrock @

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast

wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National

Technical Center, Chester. See usage requirements.

and pyramidal form, make tulip trees a popular amenity tree species. Liriodendron tulipifera is also more disease and insect

resistant than many native trees and also can survive low to moderate fires when mature. The fruit of Tulip trees are actually a

cluster of paper like samaras, which a variety of small wildlife eat the seeds from and deer prefer the foliage over other native tree

species.

Learn More

Indiana Native Tree Families and Genera

click to enlarge.

Useful information while browsing species:

• How to read a botanical name

• How to use our species boxes:

-Color denotes a tree that is rare or endangered

Please note: This is not a complete list of all native tree families and species found in Indiana. We are constantly working towards a more comprehensive list and will add families and their species as completed.

Additional Resources:

North American Native Tree Families
North American A to Z List by Scientific Name
North American A to Z List by Common Name

Follow the links to view species native to Indiana. If the genus is not linked, species are listed on the family page.

Aceraceae, Maple
Anacardiaceae, Sumac
    Rhus, Sumac
Annonaceae, Custard-apple
Aquifoliaceae, Holly
    Ilex, Holly
Betulaceae, Birch
    Betula, Birch
    Carpinus, Hornbeam
    Corylus, Hazelnut
    Ostrya, Hophornbeam
Bignoniaceae, Trumpet Creeper
Caprifoliaceae, Honeysuckle
Cornaceae, Dogwood
    Cornus, Dogwood
    Nyssa, Tupelo
Cupressaceae- Cypress
    Juniperus, Juniper
    Taxodium, Baldcypress
    Thuja, Arborvitae

Ebenaceae, Ebony
    Diospyros, Persimmon
Ericaceae, Heath
Fabaceae, Pea
Fagaceae, Beech
    Quercus, Oak
Hamamelidaceae, Witch-hazel
Hippocastanaceae, Horse-chestnut
Juglandaceae, Walnut
    Carya, Hickory
    Juglans, Walnut
Lauraceae, Laurel
Magnoliaceae, Magnolia
Moraceae, Mulberry
Oleaceae, Olive
    Fraxinus, Ash
Pinaceae, Pine
    Abies, Fir
    Pinus, Pine

Platanaceae, Plane-tree
    Platanus, Sycamore
Rhamnaceae, Buckthorn
Rosaceae, Rose
    Crataegus, Hawthorn
    Prunus, Plum/Cherry
Rubiaceae, Madder
Rutaceae, Rue
Salicaceae, Willow
    Populus, Cottonwood
    Salix, Willow
Styracaceae, Storax
Tiliaceae, Lindon
    Tilia, Basswood
Ulmaceae, Elm
    Celtis, Hackberry
    Ulmus, Elm

Indiana Endangered or Threatened Tree Species

Additional Resources:

North American Rare and Endangered Trees

External Links:
USDA PLANTS Database

Indiana has four classifications for native trees in peril: threatened, endangered, extirpated (meaning no longer present), and rare.

Threatened:

Carya pallida- Sand hickory
Cladrastis kentukea- Kentucky yellowwood
Crataegus pedicellata- Scarlet hawthorn
Crataegus viridis- Green hawthorn
Oxydendrum arboreum- Sourwood
Salix eriocephala- Missouri River willow
Salix serissima- Autumn willow
Taxodium distichum- Bald cypress

Endangered:

Carya texana- Black hickory
Crataegus arborea- Montgomery hawthorn
Crataegus chrysocarpa- Fireberry hawthorn
Crataegus grandis- Grand hawthorn
Crataegus kelloggii- Kellogg's hawthorn
Crataegus prona- Illinois hawthorn
Gleditsia aquatica- Water locust
Magnolia acuminata- Cucumber-tree
Magnolia tripetala- Umbrella-tree
Quercus muehlenbergii- Chinkapin oak
Sideroxylon lycioides- Buckthorn bully
Styrax grandifolius- Bigleaf snowbell
Thuja occidentalis- Arborvitae
Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides- Withe-rod
Viburnum opulus var. americanum- American cranberrybush

Rare:
(does not mean species is in peril, only that it is rare due to geographic or environmental limitations)

Catalpa speciosa- Northern catalpa
Cornus rugosa- Roundleaf dogwood
Crataegus intricata- Copenhagen hawthorn
Crataegus succulenta- Fleshy hawthorn
Juniperus communis- Common juniper
Pinus banksiana- Jack pine
Pinus strobus- Eastern white pine
Prunus pensylvanica- Pin cherry

Presumed Extirpated:

Betula populifolia- Gray birch
Populus balsamifera- Balsam poplar
Sorbus decora- Northern mountain ash

Looking for a nursery near you?
Check out our nursery listing by county below!

Sorry, we do not currently have any tree nursery listings for this state. We do update these lists, so please check back.

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-Color denotes a tree that is rare or endangered

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Tree lists:
•A-Z by scientific
name
•A-Z by common
name
•By Family

For state A-Z list click state name below.

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native deciduous trees like tulip trees, maples, ash, and oak turn brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. The winter brings a different selection of outdoor activities. Searching out frozen waterfalls, skiing, ice fishing or even hitting a toboggan run are just a few ways to get out and enjoy nature. In the spring, the waterfalls come back to life and you can head to the 88 acre old growth forest and archaeological site in Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest. If history is an interest, Indiana also has earthworks built by prehistoric Indians. Mounds State Park features many earthworks, the largest of which, the Great Mound, is believed to have been constructed around 160 B.C..
Whether you enjoy looking at 386-million-year-old fossil beds in Falls of Ohio State Park, traversing ravines in the 'Little Smokies' of Brown County, boating, fishing, leisurely strolls through deciduous forest trails, canoeing, or exploring from the comfort of your car seat, Indiana has a wonder of options. All within a day's travel, it is easy to get away from the hustle and bustle and find a quiet place for a picnic, a scenic location for a getaway, or just surround yourself in the beauty and sounds of nature.