If you’re looking to plant or identify trees in the Natural State, knowing the types of trees in Arkansas native to the region is the perfect place to start. Our native trees are adapted to the local climate and soils, making them resilient and vital for local wildlife.
This guide will help you recognize common species and understand their role in our ecosystems. You’ll get practical tips for choosing and caring for these beautiful trees in your own landscape.
Types of Trees in Arkansas – Native to the Region
Arkansas’s diverse landscapes, from the Ozark mountains to the Delta bottomlands, support a wide variety of native trees. These species form the backbone of our forests and urban canopies. They provide food and shelter for countless birds, insects, and mammals.
Common Native Canopy Trees
These are the giants that form the upper layer of our forests. They offer shade and structure.
- White Oak (Quercus alba): A majestic tree with light gray bark and lobed leaves. It’s a keystone species, and its acorns are a crucial food source. It’s also the state tree of Arkansas.
- Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata): Easily identified by its distinctive, sharply pointed leaf lobes that resemble a turkey foot. It grows well in drier upland soils.
- Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata): Named for its long, peeling strips of bark that give the trunk a shaggy appearance. It produces delicious nuts for both wildlife and people.
- Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata): The only pine native to much of interior Arkansas. It’s an important timber tree with small cones and needles in bundles of two or three.
Beautiful Native Flowering Trees
These trees add spectacular seasonal color to the woods and your yard.
- Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): A beloved understory tree with showy white “flowers” (which are actually bracts) in spring. It has red berries in fall and brilliant red foliage.
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): One of the first splashes of spring color, covered in tiny pink-purple flowers on its bare branches. Its heart-shaped leaves appear later.
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea): Also called Juneberry, it has delicate white flowers in early spring. It produces sweet, edible berries that birds love by early summer.
- Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum): Found in the Ouachitas and Ozarks, it has fragrant white summer flowers and some of the most brilliant crimson fall foliage of any native tree.
Selecting the Right Flowering Tree
Consider these factors for success:
- Check your soil drainage. Redbuds tolerate clay, while Dogwoods prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
- Observe sunlight. Most flowering natives do best in partial shade, mimicking their forest edge habitat.
- Plan for size. Ensure the tree has enough space to reach its mature width without crowding structures.
Native Trees for Wet Areas
If you have a soggy spot, these trees will thrive where others struggle.
- Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum): Known for its “knees” (pneumatophores) that rise from water. It’s a deciduous conifer with soft, feathery needles that turn copper in fall before dropping.
- River Birch (Betula nigra): Prized for its beautiful peeling cinnamon-colored bark. It naturally grows along streams and is excellent for erosion control.
- Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata): A bottomland oak whose acorn is almost completely enclosed by its cup. It’s highly tolerant of periodic flooding.
- Black Willow (Salix nigra): A fast-growing pioneer species that stabilizes streambanks. It’s a great choice for the wettest sites.
Important Understory and Small Trees
These smaller trees fill the middle layer of the forest, offering diversity.
- American Holly (Ilex opaca): An evergreen with spiny, dark green leaves and bright red berries on female trees. It provides crucial winter shelter for birds.
- Pawpaw (Asimina triloba): Grows in dense thickets in moist shade. It produces the largest edible fruit native to North America, with a tropical flavor.
- Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): A unique tree that blooms with spidery yellow flowers in late fall, often after its leaves have dropped.
- Rusty Blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum): A tough small tree with glossy leaves, showy white spring flowers, and edible blue-black fruit loved by wildlife.
How to Plant a Native Arkansas Tree
Proper planting gives your tree the best start. Follow these steps for a healthy tree.
- Call Before You Dig: Always dial 811 at least a few days before planting to have underground utilities marked. It’s free and required by law.
- Dig the Right Hole: Dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but no deeper. The root flare (where trunk widens at the base) must be slightly above ground level.
- Handle Roots Carefully: For container trees, gently loosen circling roots. For balled-and-burlapped trees, remove any wire or synthetic burlap after placing in the hole.
- Backfill and Water: Backfill with the original soil, don’t amend it. Water thoroughly as you fill to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
- Mulch Properly: Apply 2-3 inches of mulch (like pine bark or wood chips) in a wide ring around the tree. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself to prevent rot.
Common Planting Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced gardeners can make these errors. Watch out for them.
- Planting Too Deep: This is the number one cause of tree failure. The root flare must be visible.
- Overmulching (“Volcano Mulching”): Piling mulch against the trunk holds moisture and invites pests and disease.
- Not Watering Enough: New trees need consistent moisture for their first two to three growing seasons, especially during dry spells.
- Staking Unnecessarily: Most young trees don’t need staking. It can prevent the trunk from developing natural strength. Only stake if the tree is in a very windy location or cannot stand upright on its own.
Benefits of Choosing Native Trees
Planting native species offers significant advantages for you and the environment.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, they are adapted to our local rainfall, temperature ranges, and soil conditions, needing less water and care than non-natives.
- Wildlife Support: They co-evolved with local insects, birds, and mammals. An oak tree, for example, supports over 500 species of caterpillars, which are essential baby food for birds.
- Disease Resistance: Native trees are generally more resilient to local pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
- Preserving Biodiversity: They help maintain the genetic heritage and ecological balance of Arkansas’s natural landscapes.
FAQ About Arkansas Native Trees
What is the fastest growing native tree in Arkansas?
The Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and River Birch are among the fastest. They can add several feet of growth per year in ideal conditions.
Where can I buy native trees in Arkansas?
Look for local nurseries that specialize in native plants. The Arkansas Forestry Commission also holds seedling sales. Always ask about the plant’s source to ensure it’s not wild-collected.
Are there any native evergreen trees besides pine?
Yes. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a common native evergreen. American Holly and Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) are broadleaf evergreens native to the southern part of the state.
How can I identify a tree I find?
Use a combination of features: leaf shape and arrangement, bark texture, overall shape, and any fruit or flowers. A good field guide like the “National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees” or apps like iNaturalist are very helpful tools.
When is the best time to plant trees here?
Fall is ideal, as it allows the tree to establish roots in the cool, moist soil before summer heat. Early spring, after the last frost, is also a very good time for planting most trees.
Do native trees need fertilizer?
Usually not at planting time. It’s better to test your soil first. Excessive fertilizer can cause rapid, weak growth. Let the tree adapt to your natural soil conditions for the first year.