• Ash
• Beech
• Cherry
• Hickory
• Hard Maple
• Soft Maple
• Poplar
• Red Oak
• Walnut
• White Oak

There are 16 ashes native to the United States. Three of the most important are the black, green, and white ashes which grow in the eastern U.S. White ash is the largest and most common. It can grow to 120' high, but is commonly found at 70-80' high with a trunk that is 3' in diameter. Each leaf on an ash tree usually consists of anywhere between 3-11 leaflets. They are deciduous trees. The bark is thick, furrowed or scaly, and is usually ash-gray.

A deciduous tree that grows 60-80' high with a diameter between 2-3', the American Beech is highly regarded as an ornamental tree for its shape and mottled bark. It is long-lived and free from diseases. It is known for its smooth, light-colored bark which has attracted carvers of initials, hearts, and dates that remain throughout the life of the tree and deface its attractive trunk.

The Black cherry is the only cherry tree in the U.S. with commerical value. It can grow in excess of 60' high and 3' or more in diameter. The leaves are oblong and pointed, with finely-toothed edges. Cherry trees are deciduous. The bark is in small, scaly plates. The Black cherry is an intolerant species; it will not survive long when competing with other trees for sunlight. It can become established only in forest openings, and can be regenerated only when surrounding vegetation is cut.

There are 15 species of hickories; eight of which are considered commercially important in the U.S. A majority of the hickories in the eastern U.S. can reach heights of over 100' with diameters of 3-4'. The leaves on hickories contain 3-17 oval, pointed, toothed leaflets and are deciduous. The bark on younger trees is smooth and gray, but with age the bark becomes rough and scaly

There are 115 species of maples worldwide; of the thirteen species native to the U.S., five are important timber trees. The Sugar Maple is one of the largest and most important hardwoods in eastern forests. It can grow 75-100' in height withe a diameter between 3-4'. Its sap is used to make maple sugar and syrup.

Soft maples are very much like the hard maple. This group includes trees such as the Red Maple and Silver Maple. Both trees can reach heights between 75-120' with diameters between 2-4'.

Together, Red Oaks and White Oaks make up one of the most important segments of hardwood in eastern forests. Red Oaks can reach 60-80' in height and over 3' in diameter. The leaves are deciduous, often with pointed lobes and tipped with bristles or spines. Red Oak acorns are hairy inside and taste bitter, requiring two seasons to mature.

The Yellow Poplar is one of the most attractive species in eastern forests. The tree is especially stately in areas around the Appalachians and Lower Ohio River Basin. It can reach a height of 200'. Its trunk is straight, can grow to 8-10' in diameter, and is sometimes free of branches 80-100' from the ground. The bark is light gray to brown

The Black Walnut can reach 100' in height and 2-3' in diameter. It grows best in well-drained bottomlands and coves of the Appalachians. Its leaves are deciduous, 12-24" long with 15-23 long-pointed, toothed leaflets

White Oaks can reach a height of 80-100' and grow to a diameter of 3-4'. Its leaves are deciduous and have rounded lobes. Unlike the Red Oak, the White Oak's acorns are not bitter, taking only one season to mature, and are hairless inside.