The Type of Tree to Grow in a Flood Zone

To 30 Feet Tall

• The possumhaw (Ilex decidua), a member of the holly family, tolerates flooding for a year or more. The possumhaw grows to 30 feet tall and has dark foliage that's offset by white spring flowers and long-lasting, red-orange berries. This tree is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. The downy hawthorne (Crataegus mollis) tolerates up to 150 days of flooding. This deciduous North American native grows to 30 feet tall and has gray-green leaves that turn yellow, copper and red in autumn. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 6, the downy hawthorne produces red fruits.

31 to 50 Feet Tall

• The 45-foot-tall overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) also tolerates year-long flooding. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, this deciduous North American native has tough, deeply lobed foliage. Overcup oaks prefer sunny sites. The boxelder (Acer negundo) can survive up to 150 days in flooded conditions. A deciduous tree, the boxelder grows to 50 feet with a 40-foot spread. Its green leaves turn yellow in fall, and it is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 9.

51 To 70 Feet Tall

• A North American native, the green ash (Fraxinus pennsylanica) also tolerates more than a year of flood conditions. This deciduous tree grows up to 60 feet tall with a 30-foot spread and tolerates wind, salty soil and drought. The green ash is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 and prefers sunny exposures. Other flood-tolerant deciduous trees include the 60-foot-tall nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii), which is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. This deciduous oak has large, lobed leaves that turn deep red in fall. It grows rapidly and prefers sites with full sun exposures.

71 To 100 Feet Tall

• The bald cypress (Taxodium disichum) survives floods that last a year or even longer. A North American native, this deciduous conifer reaches 100 feet in height but only spreads to 30 feet. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and grows best in sunny exposures. The pecan (Carya illinoiensis) also survives deep flooding for a year or more. This nut-bearing tree grows from 70 to 100 feet tall with a low-spreading canopy. It grows well in sunny or partially shaded exposures and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9.