Kansas Native Trees

Kansas is home to a many native trees, but one thing you might notice is that Kansas has no native pine trees. That's right-no native pines. It is the only area, other than extreme northern Canada, that can boast such a claim. Kansas forests are comprised of Eastern Cottonwood, Osage Orange, American Elm, Oak, Hickory and many others over a range of habitats. Bluffs, mesas, prairies, flood plains, marshes, and rolling hills help add to the biological diversity of Kansas.
Most of Kansas' deciduous forests are found in the

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The Sunflower State, 'Through hardships to the stars'

Kansas

Native Trees of Kansas

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-Color denotes a tree that is rare or endangered

State Tree: Eastern Cottonwood

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• Kansas Native Trees A to Z

• Kansas Tree Facts

• Kansas Tree Families and Species

• Endangered/Threatened Species

• Tree Nurseries in Kansas

eastern half of the state while the central and western regions are dotted with yucca and cedar

trees. The tallest tree, according to the 2012 Big Tree Registry, is an American Sycamore

found in Shawnee County. It measures 120' tall and almost 8 feet in diameter. The widest

tree on the list is an Osage Orange with a circumference of 35'! The northeastern area was

once covered in glaciers. When they retreated, large pink hued stones were left behind.

These rounded stones were actually picked up from the Minnesota area and then deposited in

Kansas by the great forces glaciers command. This also resulted in the gentle hills and

associated forests enjoyed by so many. Heading to the southeast, the flood plains and gently

rolling hills of the Verdigris River Valley allow for some of the most diverse flora and fauna

found anywhere in the state. Surrounded by Oak-Hickory forests, the ground littered with

acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts, it is easy to see why the wildlife is so abundant in this

region.

Moving a little west from the deciduous eastern forests, the Flint Hill region of central

Kansas is the home of the largest remaining tall grass prairie in the world. Central Kansas is

also a mecha for birch watching, as thousands of migratory shore birds stop over at the a

complex of wetlands. Each year, 45% to 90% of the shore birds will descend into areas like

the Cheyenne Bottoms and sit in the branches of the many hackberry trees. The 77 mile long

Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway is a great way to see and appreciate the

abundance of wildlife.

Nature lovers visiting Kansas may be surprised by the rocky outcroppings, flat topped

mesas, or deep canyons seen along Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, which runs 42 miles

through some of Kansas' most distinct landscapes. There are many hiking and equestrian

trail riding opportunities to enjoy in this region, with springs to discover, cedar trees to scent

the air, and panoramic views that go on forever. There is also the Chalk Pyramids of Grove County.
   Designated a National Natural Landmark, they are a series of Native American sculpted chalk monoliths and are one of many unique geologic attractions Kansas has to offer. There are also mushroom rocks, for which an entire State Park has been developed, chalk spires, and cedar lined limestone bluffs.
   The most famous and arguably devastating man-made natural disaster in North America occurred in western Kansas. The Dust Bowl was an agricultural development gone horribly wrong and resulted in the total loss of the native ecosystem. With all the top soil stripped and flung into the wind, recovery was no easy task. It took many decades of hard work and constant nurturing to return the land back to something similar to what it once was. Now, the Cimarron National Grasslands occupies the space and visitors can hike along the rocky Santa Fe trail or picnic under the canopy of the cottonwood groves. Western Kansas is also home to Prairie Dog State Park, where a large community of prairie dogs watch over the last remaining adobe house in Kansas.
   From star gazing on the flat prairies with the endless horizon, fishing in the many lakes, hiking through terrain varying from deciduous forests to rocky canyons, and more, Kansas has a rich diversity of habits and activities to please any nature lover. The many state parks offer camping to enable those wishing for a weekend respite or a longer stay to enjoy the natural surroundings and easy way to take in the sites and experiences Kansas has to offer.

Named the State Tree

in 1937, Eastern Cottonwood is

the most common tree in

Kansas. Called the 'Pioneer Tree

of Kansas', homesteaders often

judged the land by the success of

its cottonwood groves. Populus

deltoides is a popular amenity

tree due to its distinct foliage,

rapid growth rate, and the shade

it provides on hot summer days.

Often found at courthouses and

other prominent locations,

Cottonwoods in Kansas have

sheltered many famous

politicians. The Kansas State

Capitol Cottonwood is said to have provided respite from the sun's rays as William

McKinley and William Howard Taft gave speeches outside.

A 96 foot tall Eastern Cottonwood, located in Sheriden County, is listed as the

state Champion on Kansas' 2012 Big Tree Registry. Measured in 2008, the canopy

spread is 127 feet and the trunk circumference is over 35 feet! That's big!! In fact,

when compared to other tree species' trunks on the list, it is the widest by far! At

their tallest, most Eastern Cottonwoods attain heights around 190 feet, often reaching

80 feet in the first 20 years. Several cultivars have been developed over the years as

this tree is so

popular in

landscaping.

Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides

Kansas Native Tree Facts

Forested acres: 5.2 million
Percent of total area forested: 10%
Most Common Tree: Eastern Cottonwood, Populus deltoides
Most Valuable Timber Tree: Black Walnut
Number of National Forests: 0, Does have the Cimmaron National Grasslands
Number of State Parks/Forests/Recreational Areas: 24
Number of Tree city USA communities: 102
Number of invasive tree species: 27 (see state list for noxious/invasive plants)
Insects of Concern: Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle
Pathogens of Concern: Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, Thousand Canker Disease
Number of tree families in our collection: 25

Sources:

Arborday.org
US Forest Service
Kansas Forest Service, Kansas State University
Kansas Forest Service, Champion Trees of Kansas, May 2012
United States Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services: PLANTS Database

Additional state resources:
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism- Annual Park Passes available!
Kansas State University Research and Extension

Kansas Native Tree Families and Genera

click to enlarge.

Useful information while browsing species:

• How to read a botanical name

• How to use our species boxes:

-Color denotes a tree that is rare or endangered

Additional Resources:

North American Native Tree Families
North American A to Z List by Scientific Name
North American A to Z List by Common Name

Please note: This is not a complete list of all native tree families and species found in Kansas. We are constantly working towards a more comprehensive list and will add families and their species as completed.

Follow the links to view species native to Kansas. If the genus is not linked, species are listed on the family page.

Aceraceae, Maple
Aquifoliaceae, Holly
Annonaceae, Custard-apple
Betulaceae, Birch
    Betula, Birch
Corylus, Hazelnut
    Ostrya, Hophornbeam
Bignoniaceae, Trumpet Creeper
Caprifoliaceae, Honeysuckle
Cornaceae, Dogwood
    Cornus, Dogwood
    Nyssa, Tupelo
Cupressaceae- Cypress
    Juniperus, Juniper
Ebenaceae, Ebony
    Diospyros, Persimmon

Ericaceae, Heath
Fabaceae, Pea
   Gleditsia, Locust
Fagaceae, Beech
    Quercus, Oak
Hippocastanaceae, Horse-chestnut
Juglandaceae, Walnut
    Carya, Hickory
    Juglans, Walnut
Lauraceae, Laurel
Moraceae, Mulberry
Oleaceae, Olive
    Fraxinus, Ash
Platanaceae, Plane-tree
    Platanus, Sycamore

Rosaceae, Rose
    Crataegus, Hawthorn
    Prunus, Plum/Cherry
Rubiaceae, Madder
Rutaceae, Rue
Salicaceae, Willow
    Populus, Cottonwood
    Salix, Willow
Sapindaceae, Soapberry
Sapotaceae, Sapodilla
Tiliaceae, Lindon
    Tilia, Basswood
Ulmaceae, Elm
    Celtis, Hackberry
    Ulmus, Elm

Kansas Endangered or Threatened Tree Species

Additional Resources:

North American Rare and Endangered Trees

External Links:
USDA PLANTS Database
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism

Kansas does not have any tree species listed as threatened or endangered at this time. See External Links for more information.

Looking for a nursery near you?
Check out our nursery listing by county below!

Sorry, we do not currently have any tree nursery listings for this state. We do update these lists, so please check back.