Tree Species Shade Tolerance Chart

Shade Tolerance: The ability of a tree species to survive and grow under canopy of other trees with limited direct sunlight.

Tolerant Species

Can survive and grow well in shaded conditions:

• Red Spruce (rs)
• Balsam Fir (bf)
• Eastern Hemlock (eh)
• Beech (be)
• Eastern White Cedar (ewc)
• Black Spruce (bs)
• Sugar Maple (sm)

Intermediate Species

Can tolerate moderate shade but grow best with some direct sunlight:

• White Spruce (ws)
• White Pine (wp)
• Red Oak (ro)
• Red Maple (rm)
• Yellow Birch (yb)

Intolerant Species

Require full sunlight; early successional or pioneer species:

• Eastern Larch (la)
• Red Pine (rp)
• Poplar/Trembling Aspen (po)
• White Ash (wa)
• White Birch (wb)