Upland Forests

1. Central Appalachian / Inner Piedmont Chestnut Oak Forest: (CEGL006299)

This forest occupies a high spot in the terrain, usually on north-facing slopes and terraces, with Chestnut Oaks a dominant species. The community is an "evergreen" type of Oak-Heath Forest, with Mountain Laurel a dominant understory shrub. Witch Hazel is a common associate of this type of community, particularly above streams. The soil of all of the Oak-Heath forests are porous, dry, and relatively infertile.

2. Piedmont / Central Appalachian Mixed Oak / Heath Forest: (CEGL008521)

This forest also occupies a high spot in the terrain. It is the "deciduous" type of Oak-Heath Forest , with extensive, intermixed colonies of deciduous heaths like Lowbush Blueberry, Black Huckleberry, and Deerberry co-dominant as low shrubs. The soil of all of the Oak-Heath Forests are porous, dry and relatively infertile.

3. Northern Coastal Plain / Piedmont Oak - Beech / Heath Forest: (CEGL006919)

This forest is typically found on steep ravine slopes and bluffs. It is similar to other Oak-Heath forests with the addition of American Beech in the overstory. This is the main Oak-Heath Forest type in southern Fairfax County. The soil of all of the Oak-Heath Forests are porous, dry and relatively infertile.

4. Piedmont Acidic Oak - Hickory Forest: (CEGL008475)

These diverse communities are common in the Piedmont, but along the Fall Line are essentially restricted to ancient colluvial slopes and benches of weathered Potomac Formation clay, and are largely absent from the Coastal Plain. This type generally occurs as a gradient between Oak-Heath Forest and Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest, usually on dry to mesic, acidic, southwest facing slopes with high solar exposure. This is typically a floristically diverse community type along the Fall Line.

5. Basic Oak-Hickory Forest --Northern Hardpan Type: (CEGL006216)

This is the most floristically diverse vegetation type of all Piedmont, Fall Zone, and Coastal Plain types. This community is distinguished from other oak-hickory forests by its patch-dominance of forest grasses and its strong association with sub-level topography and soils with an impermeable hardpan or shallow bedrock. It is found primarily in the Triassic Basin areas to the west of Washington D.C.

6. Northern Coastal Plain / Piedmont Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest: (CEGL006075)

The Community is very common on slopes—either gentle or moderately steep—and in wide ravines above and around dissected streams. It also occupies rolling uplands with deep soils. Tulip Tree, American Beech, Northern Red Oak, and Christmas Fern occurring together, especially along lower slopes and stream banks, are diagnostic of this common forest community. This community is the most common in the area.

7. Coastal Plain / Outer Piedmont Basic Mesic Forest (CEGL006055)

This Community is very common on lower and middle slopes, with fertile soils that hold water well but do not remain saturated. Lush colonies of spring ephemerals and other wildflowers are characteristic in the spring, and found in rolling uplands and ravines. The understory tends to be dense with Spicebush and Pawpaw.

8. Coastal Plain / Outer Piedmont Acidic Seepage Swamp (CEGL006238)

This generally small-in-size community is found in areas where seeping groundwater forms permanent swampy areas, typically where water seeps into a relatively flat area from the base of an adjoining slope. The heavy presence of Red Maple, Black Gum, Cinnamon Fern, Possumhaw, Sweetbay Magnolia, and Netted Chain Fern is characteristic

9. Coastal Plain / Outer Piedmont Small Stream Floodplain Forest (CEGL004418)

These communities found within wooded areas are perennially damp. They tend to surround small streams fed by a mosaic of seeps and springs that emanate from the porous sandy-gravelly soils of slopes along the stream valleys. The trees are typical of moist conditions, but heavy concentrations of New York and other ferns are characteristic.