Trees of Valley Forge

Forest communities cover 34% of the park and contain 110 different kinds of trees.

NPS Photo / Jeff Oates

A Changing Forest Landscape

Prior to European settlement, the land that would become Pennsylvania was 90-95% forested. In the Valley Forge area, colonists pushed out native peoples and cleared the forests for lumber, agriculture, firewood, and fences, reducing forest cover to approximately 60% by 1777.

During the encampment of George Washington and the Continental Army, almost every tree in what is now the park—and for miles beyond—was cut down for firewood, shelter, and defensive structures. After the army left on June 19, 1778, small woodlots and hedgerows were re-established by farmers. Some areas of the park such as Mount Joy and Wayne’s Woods were re-planted by the Valley Forge Park Commission in the early 20th century. Today, forest communities cover 34% of the park and contain 110 different kinds of trees.

See the Valley Forge Tree List

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Stiltgrass is considered one of the most damaging invasive plant species in the United States. Infestations spread rapidly and the seed can remain viable in the soil for up to five years.

NPS Photo

Managing the Forest Ecosystem

Forest condition was first evaluated in 1983, and was described as excellent. During the last three decades an increasing number of deer has resulted in undesirable changes in the species composition, structure, abundance, and distribution of native plant communities, particularly forests.

Browsing of tree and shrub seedlings by deer has eliminated the ability of forests to regenerate, leading to monocultures of invasive plants, such as Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).

Management practices focus on the protection, preservation, and restoration of forests and other native plant communities.

Encampment-era Trees

Three American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) trees growing in the park today are likely to have been alive during the Valley Forge encampment in 1777-78. American sycamores make poor firewood, but were used for chopping or butcher's blocks.

1. Lafayette Sycamore

Estimated to be over 300 years old and also considered to be a “William Penn Tree,” meaning that it was likely growing in 1682 when Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania.

2. Maxwell Sycamore

Circumference: 20.9 feet
Height: 119.9 feet
Spread: 114 feet

3. Pawling Sycamore

Circumference: 21.4 feet
Height: 82.9 feet
Spread: 142 feet

** Non-native tree species

Beech Family (Fagaceae) - 11 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Beech	Fagus grandifolia
American Chestnut	Castanea dentate
Black Oak	Quercus velutina
Blackjack Oak	Quercus marilandica
Chestnut Oak	Quercus montana
European Beech **	Fagus sylvatica **
European Chestnut **	Castanea sativa **
Northern Red Oak	Quercus rubra
Pin Oak	Quercus palustris
Scarlet Oak	Quercus coccinea
White Oak	Quercus alba

Birch Family (Betulaceae) - 5 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Hornbeam	Carpinus caroliniana
Eastern Hornbeam	Ostrya virginiana
River Birch	Betula nigra
Sweet Birch	Betula lenta
Yellow Birch	Betula alleghaniensis

Cashew/Sumac Family (Anacardiaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Poison-sumac	Toxicodendron vernix

Cedar/Cypress Family (Cupressaceae) - 2 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Eastern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana
Eastern White Cedar	Thuja occidentalis

Custard Apple Family (Annonaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba

Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Flowering Dogwood	Cornus florida

Ebony Family (Ebenaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Common Persimmon	Diospyros virginiana

Elm Family (Ulmaceae) - 3 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Elm	Ulmus americana
Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis
Slippery Elm	Ulmus rubra

Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Princess Tree**	Paulownia tomentosa**

Ginseng Family (Aralliaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Devils-walking-stick	Aralia spinosa

Holly Family (Aquifoliaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Holly	Ilex opaca

Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Blackhaw Viburnum	Viburnum prunifolium

Laurel Family (Lauraceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum

Linden Family (Tiliaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Basswood	Tilia americana

Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae) - 2 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Cucumbertree	Magnolia acuminate
Tuliptree	Liriodendron tulipifera

Maple Family (Aceraceae) - 5 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Boxelder	Acer negundo
Norway Maple**	Acer platanoides**
Red Maple	Acer rubrum
Silver Maple	Acer saccharinum
Sugar Maple	Acer saccharum

Olive Family (Oleaceae) - 2 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Green Ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica
White Ash	Fraxinus americana

Pea Family (Fabaceae) - 5 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Black Locust	Robinia pseudoacacia
Bristly Locust	Robinia hispida**
Honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos
Redbud	Cercis canadensis
Kentucky Coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus

Pine Family (Pinaceae) - 6 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Eastern Hemlock	Tsuga Canadensis
Eastern White Pine	Pinus strobus
European Larch**	Larix decidua**
Norway Spruce**	Picea abies**
Red Pine**	Pinus resinosa**
Scots Pine**	Pinus sylvestris**

Quassia Family (Simaroubaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Tree-of-heaven**	Ailanthus altissima**

Rose Family (Rosaceae) - 4 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina
Dotted Hawthorn	Crataegus punctata
Serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea
Smooth Serviceberry	Amelanchier laevis

Sycamore Family (Platanaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis

Tupelo Family (Nyssaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Black Tupelo	Nyssa sylvatica

Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) - 7 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Bitternut Hickory	Carya cordiformis
Black Walnut	Juglans nigra
Butternut	Juglans cinera
Mockernut Hickory	Carya tomentosa
Pignut Hickory	Carya glabra
Shagbark Hickory	Carya ovata
Sweet Pignut Hickory	Carya ovalis

Willow Family (Salicaceae) - 6 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Bigtooth Aspen	Populus grandidentata
Black Willow	Salix nigra
Cottonwood	Populus deltoids
Crack Willow**	Salix fragilis**
Weeping Willow**	Salix babylonica**
White Poplar**	Populus alba**

Witch-Hazel Family (Hamamelidaceae) - 1 species

Common Name	Binomial Name
Sweetgum	Liguidambar styraciflua