The forests of Virginia are among the most diverse in the country.
Forest Types
- More than 75% of Virginia’s forests are hardwood.
- Pine makes up 21%, about two thirds of which were planted pines.
Forest Stand Size
- More than 60% of Virginia’s forests are large diameter (11 inches for hardwood/9 inches for softwood).
Forest Volume
- The volume of Virginia’s forest has increased steadily since 1940.
Top Tree Species in Virginia
- In Virginia, loblolly pine and yellow-poplar are the most common trees in terms of volume, while red maple and loblolly pine are the most common trees in terms of number of trees.
| By Volume | By Number of Trees |
|---|---|
| 1. Loblolly Pine | 1. Red Maple |
| 2. Yellow-Poplar | 2. Loblolly Pine |
| 3. Chestnut Oak | 3. Yellow-Poplar |
| 4. White Oak | 4. Sweetgum |
| 5. Red Maple | 5. American Holly |
| 6. Northern Red Oak | 6. Black Gum |
| 7. Sweetgum | 7. White Oak |
| 8. Scarlet Oak | 8. Virginia Pine |
| 9. Virginia Pine | 9. Hornbeam |
| 10. Eastern White Pine | 10. Chestnut Oak |
Additional Resources
- Learn more about the forest inventory in Virginia and read forest inventory analysis reports.
- View the USDA Forest Service online application EVALIDator to query forest attributed across the United States, including Virginia.
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