Sweet Birch - Chestnut Oak Talus Woodland

The Sweet Birch - Chestnut Oak Talus Woodland is found on slopes covered with boulders or slabs of rock. There is very little soil and it’s infertile to boot, so the plants in this community are stunted and widely spaced. 

This natural community occurs on steep talus slopes in the Central Appalachians.

The range map shows the states in which this natural community has been documented.

More About This Natural Community

This unusual natural community is found on talus—piles of rocks accumulated on a slope. The talus is made of slabs of phyllite or boulders of quartzite or sandstone, which do not contain many minerals that promote plant growth. That means that the soil here is not very fertile.

Because the soil is sparse and infertile, relatively few plant species live in this natural community, and those that do tend to be smaller than usual and widely spaced. Look for sweet birch, chestnut oak, lowbush blueberry, marginal woodfern, and Virginia creeper.

For a more in-depth look at this community, click on a link under “Where to Explore It.”

Look for It in These National Parks

  • Appalachian Trail (Central Appalachians)
  • Appalachian Trail (Lower New England & Northern Appalachians)
  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Catoctin Mountain Park
  • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
  • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
  • Shenandoah National Park
  • Valley Forge National Historical Park 

Conservation Status

How vulnerable is a natural community? Is it at risk of elimination? Learn about conservation status.

Global Conservation Status: 
G4 – Apparently Secure

Classification

Official names reduce confusion by providing a common language for talking about natural communities. Why so many names?

Common Name: 
Sweet Birch - Chestnut Oak Talus Woodland
Scientific Name Translated: 
Sweet Birch - Chestnut Oak / Virginia Creeper Woodland
Classification Code: 
CEGL006565