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Trees Tolerant of High Soil pH*

(pH up to 8.2)

Soil pH is a measure of soil acidity or alkalinity. The Aesculus x carnea Red Horsechestnut
balance between hydroxyl and hydrogen ions Carpinus betulus European Hornbeam
determines pH. Soil pH is important because it affects Catalpa speciosa Northern Catalpa
the availability of plant nutrients, toxic elements, and Celtis occidentalis Common Hackberry
soil microbes. Many woody plants will actually be able Cercidiphyllum japonicum Katsuratree
to survive in soils with a wide range of pH, from about Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud
Cladrastis kentukea Yellowwood
4.5 – 8.2. But for optimal health and growth, most trees
Corylus colurna Turkish Filbert
and shrubs do best with a soil pH of 6.0 – 7.0. (The
Cotinus obovatus Smoketree
exception is acid-loving plants which prefer a lower pH Crataegus spp. Hawthorn
of 4.5 – 6.0.) The trees listed to the right prefer a pH of Eucommia ulmoides Hardy Rubber Tree
6.0 – 7.0, but will still perform admirably under alkaline Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo
soil conditions up to a pH of about 8.2. It is important Gleditsia triacanthos Honeylocust
to identify alkaline-tolerant trees because many urban Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffeetree
soils are high in pH. Concrete sidewalks and home Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree
foundations contribute to alkaline urban soil conditions. Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Tree
Maackia amurensis Amur Maackia
Be sure to take a soil test to see if these high pH-
Maclura pomifera Osage Orange
tolerant trees would be appropriate for your property.
Malus spp. Crabapple
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood
Ostrya virginiana American
Hophornbeam
Parrotia persica Persian Parrotia
Platanus x acerifolia London Planetree
Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin Oak
Quercus robur English Oak
Quercus shumardii Shumard Oak
Sorbus alnifolia Korean Mountainash
Styphnolobium japonicum Japanese Pagodatree
Syringa reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac
Tilia spp. Linden
Silver Linden – Tilia tomentosa Chinkapin Oak – Quercus muehlenbergii Ulmus americana American Elm
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese Elm
Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova

*Source of species list: Bassuk, N., D.F. Curtis, B.Z. Marranca, and B. Neal. 2009. Recommended Urban Trees: Site Assessment and Tree
Selection for Stress Tolerance. Ithaca: Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University.

This fact sheet prepared by: Alexis Alvey, Nursery & Landscape Specialist, 2011
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County provides equal program and employment opportunities.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is funded in part by Suffolk County through the office of Steve Levy,County Executive, and the County Legislature.