N.C. Forest Types

North Carolina’s four major ecoregions–the Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain and Sandhills–are characterized by soil types, moisture and temperature. These characteristics create different growing conditions for the state’s 70 species of hardwoods and 16 species of softwoods, the most diversity in tropical and temperate tree species in the Eastern United States.

According to the N.C. Forest Service’s 2020 Forest Action Plan, more than 61 percent (18.75 million acres) of North Carolina’s land base is forested and includes a variety of major forest types. Oak-hickory forests are the most prevalent forest type with 6.8 million acres. Loblolly-shortleaf pine forests are the second most common at 5.9 million acres, followed by oak-pine forests at 2.2 million acres and oak-gum-cypress at 1.7 million acres.

Learn to identify the tree species and soil types on your land using the links below.

	TREE IDENTIFICATION Knowing what trees you have on your property is an important first step in managing your woods. Learn basic steps to identifying trees.
	SOILS AND WATER Soils are one of the most important factors that affect your forest management decisions. Learn how to determine what type soils you have and how those soils will impact what you can grow.