Deeper Woods on Uplands

Deeper woods on uplands: formerly concentrated on well-drained stream terraces and adjacent uplands with less disturbance. Much of the central Bluegrass used to be covered with this type of woodland. But there was much intermixing with more disturbed woodland.

Typical soils: nutrient-rich soils on steeper slopes (hapludalfs) and deeper ancient soils on gentler slopes (paleudalfs).

Typical native trees: these include black maple, buckeye and basswood, which produce relatively deep shade. Others are bitternut hickory, chinquapin oak and shumard oak, which need more sun to establish.

Native smaller trees and shrubs: including hornbeam and spicebush.

Native grasses and wild-flowers: Several wildflowers of deeper shade are being introduced in the park but will spread slowly, such as dutchman’s breeches, wild-ginger, larkspur, yellow-poppy, wild hyacinth.

For more details: at bluegrasswoodland.com see section C in “Central Bluegrass Plants”; also “Bluegrass Woodland and its Eutrophic Nature”. In the Nature Preserves system, this type matches part of their “Bluegrass Woodland”; see also their “Bottomland ridge/terrace forest”.

Wild hyacinth patch at Griffith Woods
Wild hyacinth patch at Griffith Woods, best woodland remant in region.

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