Massachusetts Native Trees

State Tree: American Elm

Massachusetts

The Bay State, 'We by the sword we
seek peace, but peace only
under liberty'

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Native Trees of Massachusetts

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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.

Massachusetts ecosystems are diverse
and beautiful with hundreds of miles of hiking trails meandering through rolling deciduous and hardwood-conifer forests. Lakes, swamps, rivers, mountains, valleys and more offer a variety of experiences for the nature lover in Massachusetts. While exploring, some of the forest types you may encounter are oak-hardwood and beech-birch-maple, as well as coniferous forests of pitch and eastern white pine in the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens and hemlock in the more rugged regions. Visitors to Douglas State Forest will have an

opportunity to see a rare Atlantic White Ceder swampland and may find many more rare species in the Great Plains of Martha's Vineyard. In addition to rare or endangered species, old growth forests estimated over 400 years, may be found throughout the 100,000 acres set aside in Massachusetts' 34 forests. Not only are some of the forests old, but they hold some very large trees. In fact, the sugar maple, northern red oak, and hophornbeam National Champion trees reside in the state.

• Massachusetts Native Trees A to Z

• Massachusetts Tree Facts

• Massachusetts Tree Families and

Species

• Endangered/Threatened Species

• Tree Nurseries in Massachusetts

Adopted in March 1942, American elm trees are large, stately, deciduous trees found in throughout the eastern two-thirds of North America. It is the state tree for both

Massachusetts and North Dakota. Massachusetts chose American Elm as it was the tree species Georgia Washington stood beneath when he assumed command of the Continental Army in 1775.
A rapid growing tree species, American Elms may be 50 feet tall in only 20 years. At maturity, they can reach heights of 150 feet feet; although the current United States National Champion measures 111 feet. The leaves of Ulmus americana are thick, glossy, double-toothed, and change from yellowish when young to dark green when mature. The bark is grey, deeply furrowed, and may be somewhat flaky. Often forked, thick branches arch upward and create an open and wide canopy when open grown.
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Massachusetts Native Tree Facts

Forested acres: 3.22 million
Percent of total area forested: 64%
Predominant Forest Type(s): oak-hardwoods, beech-birch-maple, white/red pine-hemlock
Number of National Forests: 0
Number of State Forests: 34
Number of Tree city USA communities: 39
Number of invasive tree species: 27 (see state list for noxious/invasive plants)
Number of prohibited tree species: 11
Insects of Concern: Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Winter Moth, Hemlock Wooly adelgid
Pathogens of Concern: Dutch Elm Disease
Number or Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species: 12
Number of tree families in our collection: 25

Sources:
Arborday.org
US Forest Service
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Secretary of State
United States Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services: PLANTS Database

Additional state resources:
Massachusetts State Parks
University of Massachusetts Amherst: Center for Agriculture, Research and Extension

Massachusetts Native Tree Families and Genera

Useful information while browsing species:

• How to read a botanical name

• How to use our species boxes:

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

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-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 Massachusetts. We are constantly working towards a more comprehensive list and will add families and their species as completed.

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

Aceraceae, Maple
Anacardiaceae, Sumac
    Rhus, Sumac
    Toxicodendron, Poison Sumac
Betulaceae, Birch
    Betula, Birch
    Carpinus, Hornbeam
Corylus, Hazelnut
    Ostrya, Hophornbeam
Bignoniaceae, Trumpet Creeper
Caprifoliaceae, Honeysuckle
Cornaceae, Dogwood
    Cornus, Dogwood
    Nyssa, Tupelo
Cupressaceae- Cypress
    Chamaecyparis, Cedar
    Juniperus, Juniper
    Thuja, Arborvitae

Ebenaceae, Ebony
   Diospyros, Persimmon
Ericaceae, Heath
Fabaceae, Pea
   Gleditsia, Locust
Fagaceae, Beech
    Quercus, Oak
Hamamelidaceae, Witch-hazel
Juglandaceae, Walnut
    Carya, Hickory
    Juglans, Walnut
Lauraceae, Laurel
Magnoliaceae, Magnolia
Moraceae, Mulberry
   Morus, Mulberry
Myricaceae, Bayberry
Oleaceae, Olive
    Fraxinus, Ash

Pinaceae, Pinus
    Abies, Fir
    Pinus, Pine
Platanaceae, Plane-tree
    Platanus, Sycamore
Rosaceae, Rose
    Crataegus, Hawthorn
Rubiaceae, Madder
Rutaceae, Rue
Salicaceae, Willow
    Populus, Cottonwood
    Salix, Willow
Tiliaceae, Lindon
    Tilia, Basswood
Ulmaceae, Elm
    Celtis, Hackberry
    Ulmus, Elm

in the future or those which are already rare or declining.

• Endangered- E- native species in danger of extinction through all or part of their native range, or those deemed in danger of

extirpation from Massachusetts.

Tree species with status present in Massachusetts (see related links for full list):

Special Concern:

Quercus macrocarpa- Bur Oak, Mossy Cup Oak

Threatened:

Alnus viridis ssp. crispa- Mountain Alder

Quercus muehlenbergii- Yellow Oak, Chinkapin Oak

Salix exigua ssp. interior- Sandbar Willow

Native plant species considered rare in Massachusetts meet one

or more of the following state categories based on biological

research and/or inventory:

• Special Concern- SC- native species documented on the decline or

having such low numbers, which if allowed to continue, may lead to the

species becoming threatened within Massachusetts

• Threatened- T- native species which are likely to become endangered

Massachusetts Endangered or Threatened Tree Species

Additional Resources:

North American Rare and Endangered Trees

External Links:
USDA PLANTS Database
Full Massachusetts Rare Plant List

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.

Endangered:
Betula pumelia- Swamp Birch
Crataegus bicknellii- Bicknell's Hawthorn
Ilex montana- Mountain Winterberry
Magnolia virginiana- Sweet Bay Magnolia
Morus rubra- Red Mulberry
Populus heterophylla- Swamp Cottonwood
Sorbus decora- Northern Mountain Ash
Thuja occidentalis- Northern White Cedar, Arborvitae

American Elm, Ulmus americana

A firmaret radicem amittere possit foliis in vento et triturabis bacchatur durante tempestas, sed supersit quia est flexibilis. Talis est vita.