Ecology OttawaAt our Tree Giveaways, we distribute saplings of many native species. Growing information for each species is provided in the table below.
| Species | Light Needs | Soil Needs | Height/Size | Life Expectancy |
| Colorado Spruce | Prefers full sun; grows more slowly in partial shade; at least 6hrs of direct sunlight per day | Acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils; tolerates short drought but not flooding | 50-75′ tall and a spread of 10-20′ at maturity | 60+ years |
| White Spruce | Prefers full sun; grows more slowly in part shade; at least 6hrs of direct sunlight per day | Prefers well-drained, moist silty soils, tolerates poorly drained and heavy soils but not dry soils | 40-80′ tall and a 10-20′ spread at maturity | 100+ years |
| White Cedar | Tolerates shade | Tolerates a variety of soils; acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained dry, wet, shallow and clay soils; doesn’t tolerate road salt | 40-60′ tall and a spread of 10-15′ at maturity | 80+ years |
| White Pine | Full sun; tolerates some shade | Tolerates a variety of soils; prefers rich, slightly acidic moist, well-drained soil | 80′ tall and a 10-20′ spread at maturity | 100+ years |
| Red Pine | Best in light; doesn’t like shade | Well-drained soil; tolerates poor, rocky and sandy soil | 65-115′ tall and 3′ trunk diameter | 100+ years |
| Tamarack | Full sun | Tolerates a variety of soils; prefers moist, sandy soils | 50-80′ tall and a spread of 20′ at maturity | 80+ years |
| Hard (Sugar) Maple | Full sun/partial shade | Prefers deep, well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline soil | 60-75′ tall and a 40-50′ spread at maturity | 100+ years |
| Red Maple | Shade tolerant | Grows in a variety of soils | 40-60′ tall and a 40′ spread at maturity | 80+ years |
| Gray Birch | Full sun | Tolerates a variety of soils, prefers poor, disturbed, sandy or gravelly soils | 20-30′ tall and 15″ trunk diameter | 50+ years |
| White Birch | Full sun is best; at least 4hrs of direct sunlight per day | Variety of soil substrates; tolerates a range of moisture levels; prefers deep, well-drained to dry soils | 50-70′ tall and a spread of 35′ at maturity | 100+ years |
| Yellow Birch | Moderately shade tolerant | Prefers moist and rich soils | 50-70′ tall and a spread of 35′ at maturity | 150+ years |
| Mountain Ash | Shade tolerant | Grows in a variety of soils; prefers moist soil but dry tolerant | 10-30′ tall and a spread of 15′ at maturity | 30 years |
| Black Elderberry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers heavy organic matter; moist and well-drained | 20′ tall and a spread of 6-12′ at maturity | 25-30 years |
| Chokecherry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers rich, well-drained soils | 6-25′ tall and a spread of 20′ at maturity | 40-60 years |
| Highbush Cranberry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers moist, well-drained soils | 10-12′ tall and a spread of 8′ at maturity | 30+ years |
| Nannyberry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers moist soils, tolerates wide range of soil textures and pH; drought resistant | 10-20′ and a spread of 6-12′ at maturity | 20-50 years |
| Hackberry | Full sun/partial shade | Variety of soils | 40-70′ tall and a spread of 50′ at maturity | 150+ years |
| Red Oak | Full sun/partial shade | Variety of soils | 60-90′ tall and a spread of 20-39′ at maturity | 300+ years |
| Blue Beech | Full sun/partial shade | Prefers rich, well-drained soils | 25-30′ tall and a spread of 25′ at maturity | 100 years |
