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State Forest Nurseries

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Choosing the right trees

Use the soil texture/moisture and shade tolerance tables to help choose the right tree.

Soil Moisture Condition	Soil Texture
	Sandy (Coarse) At least two-thirds sand.	Loamy (Medium)	Clayey (Fine) At least one-third clay.
Wet	Willow Cottonwood Tamarack	Willow Cottonwood Black ash White cedar Balsam fir	Willow Cottonwood
Moist	Norway (red) pine White pine Black spruce White spruce Paper birch Yellow birch Red oak	Black walnut Silver maple White cedar White spruce Paper birch Red oak White oak Balsam fir Yellow birch	Red oak Green ash Silver maple White spruce Paper birch
Moderately Dry	Norway (red) pine Jack pine Bur oak Red oak Yellow birch	Green ash Red oak White spruce	Green ash Silver maple Cottonwood
Dry	Jack pine Bur oak	Green ash Eastern red cedar	Green ash Eastern red cedar

Note: Not all species are available each year.

Shade Tolerance
Very Tolerant (will grow in shade)	Balsam fir Sugar maple
Tolerant	American basswood Black spruce Northern white cedar White spruce
Intermediate (will grow in mixed sun and shade)	White Oak Bur oak Eastern white pine White ash Green ash Northern red oak Red maple Yellow birch White spruce
Intolerant	Black ash Silver maple Black walnut Butternut Paper birch Norway (red) pine
Very Intolerant (needs full sunlight)	Tamarack Poplar Eastern red cedar Jack pine Quaking aspen

Note: Not all species are available each year.

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