At our tree giveaways, we distribute saplings of many species native to the Ottawa region. 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 10-20′ spread at maturity | 60+ years |
White Spruce | Prefers full sun; grows more slowly in partial 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 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 10-15′ spread 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 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 20′ spread at maturity | 80+ years |
Hard (Sugar) Maple | Full sun/partial shade | Prefers deep, well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline soil | 60-75′ tall and 40-50′ spread at maturity | 100+ years |
Red Maple | Shade tolerant | Grows in a variety of soils | 40-60′ tall and 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 35′ spread at maturity | 100+ years |
Yellow Birch | Moderately shade tolerant | Prefers moist and rich soils | 50-70′ tall and 35′ spread at maturity | 150+ years |
Mountain Ash | Shade tolerant | Grows in a variety of soils; prefers moist soil but dry tolerant | 10-30′ tall and 15′ spread at maturity | 30 years |
Black Elderberry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers heavy organic matter; moist and well-drained | 20′ tall and 6-12′ spread at maturity | 25-30 years |
Chokecherry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers rich, well-drained soils | 6-25′ tall and 20′ spread at maturity | 40-60 years |
Highbush Cranberry | Prefers full sun; shade tolerant | Prefers moist, well-drained soils | 10-12′ tall and 8′ spread 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 6-12′ spread at maturity | 20-50 years |
Hackberry | Full sun/partial shade | Variety of soils | 40-70′ tall and 50′ spread at maturity | 150+ years |
Red Oak | Full sun/partial shade | Variety of soils | 60-90′ tall and 20-40′ spread at maturity | 300+ years |
Blue Beech | Full sun/partial shade | Prefers rich, well-drained soils | 25-30′ tall and 25′ spread at maturity | 100 years |