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Tree species list - tolerance to inundation

Tree species list - tolerance to inundation
Information on tolerance to inundation with water for several tree species that can be used in tree trenches/tree boxes.
Scientific name1,2,3 Common name 1,2,3 Event/frequency tolerance 
H=High
M=moderate
L=low1
Maximum depth of tolerated inundation (inches)1 Tolerance to inundation period 
H=high 
ML=medium long 
MS=medium short 
S=short1
Maximum days of inundation1
Acer saccharinum 1,2 Silver maple M 60 L 20
Alnus incana ssp. rugosa 1,2 Speckled alder H 24 L 6
Betula nigra 'Cully' & ' BNMFT' 1,2 Heritage and Dura-Heat river birch H 60 L 5
Fraxinus americana 2 White ash H 59 L 4
Fraxinus nigra 1 Black ash H 60 L 5
Fraxinus pennsylvanica 1,2 Green ash H 60/24 L/ML 10/4
Larix decidua 3 European larch L 11 L 4
Larix laricina 1 Tamarack L 12 L 5
Populus tremuloides 1,1 Quacking aspen L 18 MS 3
Salix nigra 1 Black willow H 60/24 L/ML 10/4
Sorbus alnifolia 2 Korean mountainash H 60/25 L/ML 10/5
Sorbus x hybrida, Sorbus x thuringiaca 2 Oak-leaf mountain ash H 60/26 L/ML 10/6
1 Shaw, D. and R. Schmidt. 2024. Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
2 Bassuk, N. et al. 2009. Recommended Urban Trees: Site Assessment and Tree Selection for Stress Tolerance. Urban Horticulture Institute, Dept of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
3 USDA Plants Database.
Download an Excel workbook containing this table and other tree species lists.