Georgia's Tree Appraisal Species Values List

Determining the monetary value of a tree in the landscape is a difficult task. Several different formulae and methods of determining a dollar value have been developed over the years. The most widely known and used, and the one recommended by a large number of tree and landscape professionals and their professional societies, is the Guide for Plant Appraisal published by the International Society of Arboriculture.

As of August of 1992, all tree valuations using this method are to completed using the following publication:

This 8th edition of the Guide contains many dramatic changes from the earlier editions. One component of the trunk formula method, for appraisal of large diameter trees that can not be physically replaced, involves determining a species rating value.

The Guide outlines factors to consider in arriving at a species value. These factors and the general Guide's discussion of species value determinations were forwarded to select Georgia experts helping to rate tree species. Species ratings were based upon species or cultivar characteristics without regard to condition and location factors.

It is essential in tree appraisal that there is professional agreement on species values. Georgia developed the list below through the assistance of the Georgia Urban Forest Council members associated with the state university, tree nursery, landscape, arboriculture, and community forestry consulting specialty areas. These individuals were considered tree experts and well qualified to judge relative and absolute values of different tree species in Georgia. Non-tree professionals were specifically excluded from rating species.

Remember that species values are required in the trunk formula method of tree appraisal if the original price data for the largest commonly available tree is not species-specific. Species values should only be allowed in the calculation once, either through a species rating value or hidden within pricing decisions made in the marketplace.

**Table 1:** Georgia's Species Value Ratings for Tree Appraisals. (as of April 4, 1995)
(Average species value rating (SV column) and range (minimum value - maximum value (MIN / MAX column)))
Scientific Name	Common Name	SV	Min	Max
Abies fraseri	Fraser Fir	30	20	40
Acer barbatum	S. Sugar Maple	82	80	90
Acer buergeranum	Trident Maple	85	80	90
Acer leucoderme	Chalkbark Maple	68	60	80
Acer negundo	Boxelder	22	20	30
Acer palmatum	Japense Maple	81	60	100
Acer platanoides	Norway Maple	54	40	60
Acer rubrum	Red Maple	94	85	100
Acer saccharinum	Silver Maple	78	60	90
Acer saccharum	Sugar Maple	19	10	25
Aesculus glabra	Ohio Buckeye	60	60	60
Aesculus hippocastanum	Horsechestnut	60	60	60
Aesculus octandra	Yellow Buckeye	58	50	65
Aesculus pavia	Red Buckeye	29	20	50
Aesculus sylvatica	Painted Buckeye	28	20	50
Ailanthus altissima	Tree of Heaven	18	10	30
Alnus glutinosa	Alder	42	40	50
Amelanchier arborea	Serviceberry	81	80	90
Amelanchier laevis	Allegheny Serviceberry	63	60	70
Aralia spinosa	Devil's Walking Stick	29	10	70
Asimina triloba	Paw Paw	20	10	30
Betula nigra	River Birch	61	50	70
Betula pendula	Euorpean White Birch	43	20	80
Carpinus caroliniana	Blue-beech	83	80	90
Carya aquatica	Water Hickory	77	70	80
Carya cordiformis	Bitternut Hickory	60	60	60
Carya floridana	Scrub Hickory	37	20	40
Carya glabra	Pignut Hickory	65	60	70
Carya illinoensis	Pecan	74	50	80
Carya laciniosa	Shellbark Hickory	62	60	70
Carya ovata	Shagbark Hickory	66	60	70
Carya tomentosa	Mockernut Hickory	63	60	70
Castanea crenata		40	40	40
Castanea dentata	American Chestnut	7	5	15
Castanea mollissima	Chinese Chestnut	58	50	60
Castanea pumila	Allegheny Chinkapin	55	30	60
Castanea sativa		60	60	60
Catalpa bignonioides	Southern Catalpa	24	15	40
Celtis laevigata	Sugarberry	32	6	60
Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry	44	20	60
Celtis tenuifolia	Georgia Hackberry	43	20	60
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Button Bush	38	20	70
Cercis canadensis	Redbud	67	60	70
Chamaecyparis thyoides	Atlantic White Cedar	66	40	80
Chionanthus virginicus	Fringe Tree	68	60	75
Cladrastis lutea	Yellowwood	51	40	70
Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda Dogwood	80	70	90
Cornus florida	Flowering Dogwood	83	60	90
Cornus kousa	Kousa Dogwood	83	70	90
Cotinus obovatus	American Smoketree	54	40	75
Cupressocyparis leylandii	Leyland Cypress	63	60	70
Diospyros virginiana	Pressimmon	23	20	30
Erythrina herbacea		20	20	20
Fagus grandifolia	American Beech	85	80	90
Fraxinus americana	White Ash	64	60	70
Fraxinus caroliniana	Carolina Ash	60	60	60
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green Ash	53	40	70
Fraxinus profunda	Pumpkin Ash	47	40	60
Ginkgo biloba	Ginkgo	82	75	100
Gleditsia aquatica	Waterlocust	17	10	20
Gleditsia triacanthos	Honeylocust	26	10	60
Gymnocladus dioicus	Kentucky Coffee Tree	47	40	60
Hamamelis virginiana	Witch Hazel	46	20	60
Ilex decidua	Possum Haw	67	50	80
Ilex montana	Mountain Holly	58	50	60
Ilex opaca	American Holly	94	90	100
Ilex vomitoria	Yaupon Holly	71	60	80
Juglans nigra	Black Walnut	71	60	80
Juglans regia	English Walnut	74	60	80
Juniperus communis	Juniper	40	40	40
Juniperus silscicola	Southern Redcedar	53	40	60
Juniperus virginiana	Eastern Redcedar	59	50	80
Koelreuteria paniculata	Goldenrain Tree	69	50	80
Lagerstroemia indica	Crype Myrtle	77	70	80
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweetgum	67	60	80
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip Poplar	77	60	80
Magnolia acuminata	Cucumber Magnolia	64	60	70
Magnolia fraseri	Fraser Magnolia	63	60	70
Magnolia grandiflora	Southern Magnolia	91	80	100
Magnolia macrophylla	Bigleaf Magnolia	64	60	70
Magnolia tripetala	Umbrella Magnolia	62	60	70
Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay Magnolia	58	40	70
Malus angustifolia	Southern Crabapple	40	30	60
Malus glabrata		20	20	20
Malus prunifolia		50	50	50
Melia azedarach	Chinaberry	15	10	20
Metasequia glyptostroboides	Dawn Redwood	90	90	90
Morus rubra	Red Mulberry	20	20	20
Myrica cerifera	Wax Myrtle	56	20	90
Nyssa aquatica	Water Tupelo	73	60	80
Nyssa ogeche	Ogeechee Tupelo	81	75	90
Nyssa sylvatica	Black Tupelo	81	80	90
Osmanthus americanus	Devilwood	31	20	50
Ostrya virginiana	Ironwood	84	80	90
Oxydendrum arboreum	Sourwood	79	70	80
Paulownia tomentosa	Princess Tree	16	10	20
Persea borbonia	Redbay	37	30	40
Pinus echinata	Shortleaf Pine	32	20	50
Pinus elliottii	Slash Pine	40	40	40
Pinus glabra	Spruce Pine	33	20	40
Pinus palustris	Longleaf Pine	63	40	80
Pinus pungens	Table Mountain Pine	32	20	40
Pinus rigida	Pitch Pine	32	20	40
Pinus serotina	Pond Pine	23	20	30
Pinus strobus	White Pine	57	40	70
Pinus taeda	Loblolly Pine	81	60	90
Pinus virginana	Virginia Pine	64	60	70
Pistacia chinensis	Chinese pistache	81	70	90
Planera aquatica	Water Elm	20	20	20
Plantanus occidentalis	Sycamore	48	30	60
Populus deltoides	Eatern Cottonwood	19	10	20
Populus heterophylla	Swamp Cottonwood	20	20	20
Populus nigra	Lombardy Poplar	14	5	20
Prunus alleghaniensis	Allegheny Plum	18	10	20
Prunus americana	American Plum	39	30	50
Prunus angustifolia	Chickasaw Plum	23	20	30
Prunus caroliniana	Carolina Cherry-laurel	21	20	30
Prunus serotina	Black Cherry	13	10	20
Prunus umbellata	Hog Plum	20	20	20
Prunus virginiana	Choke Cherry	20	20	20
Ptelea trifoliata	Hoptree	23	20	30
Pyrus calleryana	``Bradford''/Bradford Pear	53	50	60
Quercus acutissima	Sawtooth Oak	83	70	90
Quercus alba	White Oak	99	95	100
Quercus bicolor	Swamp White Oak	84	80	90
Quercus coccinea	Scarlet Oak	91	80	100
Quercus falcata	Southern Red Oak	65	60	70
Quercus georgiana	Georgia Oak	64	60	70
Quercus incana	Bluejack Oak	40	40	40
Quercus laevis	Turkey Oak	43	40	50
Quercus laurifolia	Laurel Oak	93	80	100
Quercus lyrata	Overcup Oak	71	60	100
Quercus marilandica	Blackjack Oak	43	40	50
Quercus michauxii	Swamp Chestnut Oak	84	80	100
Quercus muehlenbergii	Chinapin Oak	64	60	70
Quercus myrtifolia	Myrtle Oak	40	40	40
Quercus nigra	Water Oak	72	50	80
Quercus falcata v. pagodafolia	Cherrybark Oak	80	80	80
Quercus palustris	Pin Oak	60	50	80
Quercus phellos	Willow Oak	97	90	100
Quercus prinus	Chestnut Oak	70	60	80
Quercus robur	English Oak	51	40	70
Quercus rubra	Red Oak	63	60	70
Quercus shumardii	Shumard Oak	67	40	90
Quercus stellata	Post Oak	61	60	70
Quercus velutina	Black Oak	63	60	70
Quercus virginiana	Live Oak	76	40	100
Rhamnus caroliniana	Bucktorn	37	20	70
Robinia pseudoacacia	Black Locust	21	10	40
Robinia viscosa	Clammy Locust	20	20	20
Salix babylonica	Weeping Willow	20	10	40
Salix caroliniana	Carolina Willow	17	10	20
Salix nigra	Black Willow	17	10	20
Sapium sebiferum	Popcorn Tree	18	10	20
Sassafras albidum	Sassafras	67	60	80
Sorbus americana	American Mountain Ash	36	30	40
Sorbus aucuparia	Euorpean Mountain Ash	35	30	40
Staphylea trifolia	Bladdernut	20	20	20
Taxodium distichum	Baldcypress	84	80	90
Thuja occidentalis	Arborvitae	44	30	60
Tilia americana	American Basswood	31	20	40
Tilia caroliniana	Carolina Basswood	20	20	20
Tilia floridana		20	20	20
Tilia heterophylla	White Basswood	30	20	50
Ulmus alata	Winged Elm	51	40	60