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Average Urban Tolerance of Trees in Ottawa
Web print friendly version Urban trees face many stress factors: road salt, vehicle exhaust, soil compaction as well as other difficulties that come with life for a tree in the city. The chart below classifies trees and shrubs according to their sensitivity to the urban environment in Ottawa. Note if a tree is native to the area or not. Native trees have the distinct advantage of being adapted to local conditions as well as benefiting the overall envornment and wildlifeDeciduous Trees
Deciduous Shrubs
Coniferous Trees and Shrubs
Literature cited and credits
Deciduous Trees
| Turkish Filbert | Corylus columna | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Black Ash | Fraxinus Nigra | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Tulip Tree | Liriodendron tulipifera | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Mulberry | Morus alba | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Mulberry | Morus spp. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| White Poplar | Populus alba | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Balsam Poplar | Populus balsamilfera | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Sargent Cherry | Prunus sargentii | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Cherry Sp. | Prunus spp. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Plum | Prunus spp. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Common European Buckthorn | Rhamnus catharica Not Recommended see: Buckthorn an urban plague | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Globe Locust | Robinia pseudoaccacia umbreculifera | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Scotch Elm | Ulmus glabra | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Wayfairing Tree | Viburnum lantana | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Black Locust | Robinia pseudoaccacia L. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Yellow Birch | Betula alleghanensis | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Red Oak | Quercus ruibra L. | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Poplar | Populus spp. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| English Oak | Quercus robar | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanhos L. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Caragana | Caragana | 2 | Tolerant | |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americnana L. | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Ivory Silk Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulata Japonica 'Ivory silk' | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Norway Maple | Acer platanoides L. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Russian Olive | Elaeagnus angustifolia | 2 | Tolerant | |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| White Willow | Salix alba x s fragilis | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Cottonwood Largetooth Aspen | Populus deltoides Batr . | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Largetooth Aspen | Popu!us grandidentala Michx. | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Choke Cherry | Prunus Virginiana L. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Siberian Elm | UInus pumila L. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Glossy Buckthorn | Rharnnus frangula Not Recommended see: Buckthorn an urban plague | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Horse Chestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum L. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Bur Oak | Quercus macrocarpa Michx. | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Gray Birch | Belula populifolia Marsh. | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Ohio Buckeye | Aesculus glabra | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Red Horse Chestnut | Aesculus x carnea | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Weeping Birch | Betula papyrifera pendulum | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Maidenhair Tree | Ginkgo biloba | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Bird Cherry | Prunus padus | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Pin Cherry | Prunus pennsylvanica | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Manchu Cherry | Prunus tomentosa | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Pussy Willow | Salix discolor | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Japanese Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulala /amurensis | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Chinese Elm | Ulmus parvifoloia | 2 | Tolerant | |
| White Birch | Betula papyrifera Marsh. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Pear | Pyrus spp. | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Shadblow Serviceberry | Amelanchier canadensis | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Golden Willow | Salix alba var. vitellina stokes | 3 | Moderate | |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra Marsh. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Weeping Golden Willow | Salix alba var. vitellina cv. pendula | 3 | Moderate | |
| European Black Alder | Alnus glutinosa | 3 | Moderate | |
| Trembling Aspen | Populus tremuloides Michx. | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa Warder. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Amur Maple | Acer ginnala | 3 | Moderate | |
| Cockspur Hawthorn | Crataegus crusgali | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Thornless Common Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis | 3 | Moderate | |
| Kentucky Coffee Tree | Gymnocladus dioicus | 3 | Moderate | |
| Black Cherry | Prunus seratina | 3 | Moderate | |
| Shubert Choke Cherry | Prunus virginiana 'Shubert' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Goat Willow | Salix caprea | 3 | Moderate | |
| Shining Willow | SaIix lucida | 3 | Moderate | |
| Laurel Willow | Salix pentandra | 3 | Moderate | |
| Purple osier Willow | Salix purpurea gracilis | 3 | Moderate | |
| Willow | Salix spp. | 3 | Moderate | |
| American Mountain Ash | Sorbus americana | 3 | Moderate | native |
| European Mountain Ash | Sorbus aucuparia | 3 | Moderate | |
| Mountain Ash | Sorbus spp. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Glenlevon Linden | Tilia cordata glenleven | 3 | Moderate | |
| Silver Maple | Acer saccharinum L. | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Toba Hawthorn | Crataegus mordenensis 'Toba' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Manitoba Maple | Acer Negundo | 3 | Moderate | |
| Allegheny Serviceberry | Amelanchier Iaevis Wieg. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Shagbark Hickory | Carya ovala (Mill) K. Koch | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Lombardy PopIar | Populus nigra italica Muenchh. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Crab Apple | Malus spp. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| White/Grey or Speckled Alder | Alnus incana | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra L. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| White Elm | Ulmus americana L. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum Marsh. | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Apple | Malus spp. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Black Maple | Acer nigrum | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Bitternut Hickory | Carya cordiformis | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Butternut | Juglans cinerea | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Dolgo' | Malus 'Dolgo' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Makamik' | Malus 'Makamik' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Profusion' | Malus 'Profusion' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Royalty' | Malus 'Royalty' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Rudolph' | Malus 'Rudolph' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Crab 'Thunderchild' | Malus 'Thunderchild' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Siberian Crab Apple | Malus baccata columnaris | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Wild Sweet Crabapple | Malus coronaria | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Japanese Flowering Crab | Malus floribunda | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustrus | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Slipperry Elm | Ulmus rubra | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Basswood | Tilia americana L. | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Ironwood | Ostrya virginiana | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum L. | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Common Hackberry | Celtus occidentalis | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Little Leaf Linden | Tilia cordata | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Beech | Fagus grandifolia | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Sycamore Maple | Acer pseudoplatanus | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Japanese Barberry | Berberis thunbergii atrepurpurea | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Blue Beech | Carpinus caroliniana | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Flowering Crab 'Hopa' | Malus 'hopa' | 5 | Very Sensitve |
Deciduous Shrubs
| Saskatoon Serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Siberian Pea Shrub | Caragana arborescens | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Silverberry | Elaeagnus commutata | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Sea Buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Matrimony Vine | Lycium halimifolium | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Oleander | Oleander | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Common Ninebark | Physcocarpus opulifolius | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Sutter's Gold Potentilla | Potentilla arbuscifolia | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Abbotts Wood Potontilla | Potentilla fruticossa 'Abbots Wood' | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Bush Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticossa | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| CoronationTriumph Potentilla | PotentiIIa fruticossa 'CoronationTiiumph' | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Goldfinger Potentilla | Pottentilla parvifolia 'goldfinger' | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Choke Cherry | Prunus virginiana | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Alpine Currant | Ribes alpinum | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| European Black Current | Ribes nigrum heterophyllum | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| VanHoutte Spirea | Spirea x Vanhoutei | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Common Snowberry | Symphoricarpos albus | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| WayfairingTree | Viburnum lentana | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Staghorn Sumac | Rhus typhina | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Tatarian Honeysuckle | Lonicera tatarica | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Currants | Ribes | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Barberry | Berberis vulgaris | 2 | Tolerant | |
| American Bittersweet | Celastrus scandens | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Peking Cotoneastor | Cotoneaster actuifolius 'Peking' | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Bearberry Cotoneaster | Colonoastor dammeri | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Burning Bush | Euonymous alata | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Northern Gold Forsythia | Forsynthia ovata 'Northern Gold' | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Early Ottawa Forsythia | Forsynthia ovata 'Early Ottawa' | 2 | Tolerant | |
| European Fly Honeysuckle | Lonicera xycosteum | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Boston ivy | Parthenocissus tricupsidata | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Mock Orange | Philadeiphus coronarius | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Purple-leaf Sandcherry | Prunus x cistena | 2 | Tolerant | |
| American Eldor | Sambucus canadensis | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Silver B Berry | Shepherdia argentea | 2 | Tolerant | |
| False Spirea | Sorbaria sorbifolia | 2 | Tolerant | |
| late Lilac | Syringa villosa | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Arrowwood Viburnum | Viburnum dentatum | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Wild Grape | Vitis riparia | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Border Forsynthia | Forsythia x intermedia | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Morrow Honeysuckle | Lonicera morrowii | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Common Lilac | Syringa vulgaris | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Rugosa Rose | Rosa Rugosa | 3 | Moderate | |
| Frobels Spirea | Spirea bumalda 'Frobelli' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle | Diervilla lonicera | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Europena eounymus | Euonymous europaeus | 3 | Moderate | |
| Colorata euonymous | Euonymous fortunei 'coloratus' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Common Witchhazel | Hamamelis virginiana | 3 | Moderate | |
| Blue Leaf Honeysuckle | Lonicera korolkowii | 3 | Moderate | |
| Clavey's Dwarf Honeysuckle | Lonicera xylosteoides 'Clavey's Dwarf' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Fragrant Sumac | Rhus aromatica | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Narrowleaf Cattail | Typha latifolia | 3 | Moderate | |
| Burkwood viburnum | Viburnum burkwoodii | 3 | Moderate | |
| Nannyberry viburnum | Viburnum lentago | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Old Fashioned Weiglela | Weigela florida | 3 | Moderate | |
| BumaldSpirea | Spirea bumalda drobelli | 3 | Moderate | |
| Beauty Bush | Kolkwitzia ambilis | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Snowberry | Symphorcarpus sp. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Flowering Quince | Chaenomeles lagenaria | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Amur Privet | Ligustrum Amurense | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Speckled Alder | Alnus incana | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Red Bark/Siberian Dogwood | Cornus alba 'siberica' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Dogwood | Cornus spp. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Yellow Twig Dogwood | Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Green-twig Dogwood | Cornus stolonifera 'Nitada' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Meadow Rose | Rosa blanda | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Redleaf Rose | Rosa rubrifolia | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Anthony Waterer Spirea | Spirea bumalda 'Anthony Watrerer' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Gold Flame Spirea | Spirea bumalda 'Gold Flame' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Gretsheim Spirea | Spirea Cinerea 'Gretsheim' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Shirobana Spirea | Spireajaponica 'Shirobana' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Bridalwreath Spirea | Spirea prumfolia 'bridal wreath' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Hedge Viburnum | Viburnum opulus 'Navum' | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Red Osier Dogwood | Cornus stolonifera / Cornus serica | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Rose | Rosa spp. | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Winged Euonymous | Euonymous alatus | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Common Winterberry/Black Alder | ilex verticillata | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Spirea | Spirea | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| Viburnum | Viburnum | 5 | Very Sensitve | |
| American High Bush Cranberry | Viburnum triobum | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
Coniferous Trees and Shrubs
| Jack Pine | Pinus banksiana Lamb. | 1 | Very Tolerant | native |
| Mugo Pine | Pinus mugo Turra. | 1 | Very Tolerant | |
| Colorado Blue Spruce | Picea pungens Glauca | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra Arnold. | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Colorado Spruce | Picea pungens | 2 | Tolerant | |
| Tamarack | Larix laricina (du Roi) K. Koch | 2 | Tolerant | native |
| Eastern Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana L. | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Juniper | Juniperous spp. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Bay Harbour Juniper | Juniperous horizontalis 'Bay Harbour' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Blue Chip Juniper | Juniperous horizontalis 'Blue Chip' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Savin Juniper | Juniperous sabina | 3 | Moderate | |
| Calgary Carpet Juniper | Juniperous sabina 'Calgary Carpet' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Tamarix Juniper | Juniperous sabina 'Tamariscifolia' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Mint Julep Juniper | Juniperus chiriensis 'Mint Julep' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Creeping Juniper | Juniperus horizintalis | 3 | Moderate | |
| Blue Rug Juniper | Juniperus Horizontalis 'Blue Rug' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Andorra Juniper | Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa' | 3 | Moderate | |
| Hetz Blue Juniper | Juniperus virginiana 'Hetzii' | 3 | Moderate | |
| European Larch | Larix decidua Mill. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Serbian Spruce | Picea omorika Purk. | 3 | Moderate | |
| Pyramid Cedar | Thuja occidentalis 'Fastgiata' | 3 | Moderate | |
| White Cedar | Thuja occidentalis L. | 3 | Moderate | native |
| Norway Spruce | Picea abies (L.) Karst. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| White Spruce | Picea Glauca (Moench) Voss | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Swiss Stone Pine | Pinus | 4 | Sensitve | |
| Scots Pine | Pinus sylvestrus L. | 4 | Sensitve | |
| White Pine | Pinus strobus L. | 4 | Sensitve | native |
| Yew | Taxus candensis | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Balsam Fir | Abies balsemea L. | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Red Pine | Pinus resinosa Alt. | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
| Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis L. | 5 | Very Sensitve | native |
The information on this page was developed from the literature listed below by staff at the city of Ottawa's Central Parks and Forestry Services department. Where there were differences in the listed tolerances among the articles an average tolerance was calculated for each species. Thanks to Craig Huff, Forester, City of Ottawa and the City of Ottawa's Forestry Services as the source of and permission to publish the list above.
Literature Cited
- Lumis, Hofstra, & Hall. 1971. "Salt damage to roadside plants". Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food. AGDEX 275
- Lumis, G., 1983. "Salt spray damage to roadside plants". OMAF Fact Sheet #83-037
- National Co-operative Highway Research Program. "Facts you should know about effects of de-icing salt on the environment". Reporter of the American Public Works Association. Reprinted by the Salt Institute.
- Funk, R., 1981. "Vegetation Management". In Weeds, Trees and Turf, Feb. 1981.
- "Effects of de-icing salts on water quality and Biota". National Co-operative Highway Research Program. Report 91.
- from N.R.C. data of studies on de-icing chemical tolerances. Compiled by: D.R. Redmond PhD. Urban Forest Citizens Committee.
- Karnosky, D.F., & Myers, T.R., 1982. "Specify tolerant trees for air polluted areas". in Weeds, Trees, & Turf. March 1982., pg. 57-62.
- Lumis, Hofstra, & Hall. 1976. Roadside woody plant susceptibility to sodium and chloride accumulation during winter and spring". Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 56: pg. 853-859.
- G.W. Hudler, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State College of Agriculture and Like Sciences. Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
- G.W. Stahlmann. 1981. "Trees for the Urban Environment". Ontario Shade Tree Council.
- G.W. Grey, and F.J. Deneke. 1986. "Urban Forestry" second edition. John Wiley and Sons. New York. pg. 130-137
- Bernarsky, A. 1978. "Tree Ecology and Preservation". Elsevier Science Publishing. Amsterdam. pg. 115
- M. A. Dirr. 1975. "Better Trees for Metropolitan Landscapes". Symposium proceedings. pg. 103-111.
- Colorado State University Co-operative Extension, Tri River Area. "Salt Tolerance of Various Temperate Zone Ornamental Plants" from Colorado State University WWW Site.
- "Living Near The Water", John A. Stevens, Editor, 1994. General Store Publishing House. p. 70-75
Please contact the OHS or the author if you wish to republish these articles. © Ottawa Horticultural Society
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