Montane Oak Forests
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Montane Oak Forests usually grow in elevations above 3,500 feet in Georgia, in all exposures except for north facing slopes, which support northern hardwoods forests. Oaks, including northern red, scarlet, white, and rock chestnut dominate, growing alongside high-elevation species. Trees are stunted, gnarled, picturesque. They grow farther apart, with thick limbs and knotty trunks to withstand exposure to wind and ice. Growing seasons are short. There are two main types of montane oak forest: those with thick understories of gnarled shrubs (especially rhododendron), and open "orchard" forests with lush ground covers.
Indicator species include gnarled and stunted forms of northern red oak, scarlet oak, white oak, mountain ash, and striped maple. What's special: these are beautiful, picturesque forests, often with stunning views. Many plants and animals reach their southernmost distribution here, and several birds will breed no farther south or lower in elevation. In addition, some these stands are old growth, as the stunted trees discouraged logging. Related communities: Grades to Northern Hardwoods in north-facing slopes, and Oak Forests down slope. |
Landscapes
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Plants Click on a plant name to see images. Plant names are in order by scientific name. Trees Striped maple Acer pensylvanicum Mountain maple Acer spicatum Red maple Acer rubrum Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea Pignut hickory Carya glabra Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa American chestnut (sprouts) Castanea dentata Fire cherry Prunus pensylvanica White oak Quercus alba Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Rock chestnut oak Quercus montana Northern red oak Quercus rubra Fire cherry Prunus pensylvanica Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Mountain-ash Sorbus americana Shrubs and Vines Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa Northern leatherflower Clematis viorna Beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Wild whorled yam Dioscorea quaternata Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Bear huckleberry Gaylussacia ursina Witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana Mountain holly Ilex montana Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Buffalo-nut Pyrularia pubera Flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum Catawba rhododendron Rhododendron catawbiense Great laurel/ Rosebay Rhododendron maximum Gorge rhododendron Rhododendron minus Smooth highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Mountain highbush blueberry Vaccinium simulatum Deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Ground Layer Wildflowers Fly-poison Amianthium muscitoxicum Tall milkweed Asclepias exaltata Harebell Campanula divaricata Pipsissewa Chimaphila maculata (a sub-shrub) Speckled wood-lily Clintonia umbellulata Bearcorn Conopholis americana (near oaks) Trailing arbutus Epigaea repens (a sub-shrub) Common white heart-leaved aster Eurybia divaricata Purple-node Joe-Pye-weed Eutrochium purpureum Galax Galax urceolata Indian-physic Gillenia trifoliata Downy rattlesnake-orchid Goodyera pubescens Quaker ladies Houstonia caerulea Summer bluet Houstonia purpurea Naked tick trefoil Hylodesmum nudiflorum Wood-nettle Laportea canadensis Whorled loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia Solomon's plume Maianthemum racemosum Indian cucumber root Medeola virginiana Cow-wheat Melampyrum lineare Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Indian pipes Monotropa uniflora Whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata Carolina phlox Phlox carolina Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum Broad-toothed hedgenettle Stachys latidens Perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata Ferns Hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula Christmas fern Polystichum acrosticoides New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis |
Representative Trees in order by scientific nameRepresentative shrubs and vines in order by scientific name.Representative ground layer in order by scientific name |
