Canada is home to about 180 species of trees. Tree species are typically grouped into deciduous and
coniferous. Southern Ontario and the southern prairies contain primarily deciduous tree species.
However, some deciduous species such as birch and willow are found in most northern areas where trees
are found. The large boreal zone is dominated by coniferous varieties such as pine, spruce and fir.
This map shows the number of tree species by ecoregion. Because of warmer climatic conditions, more
tree species live in the southern part of Canada than in the north. The highest numbers of tree species
are found in the Mixwood Plains ecozone and the southern part of the Boreal Shield, located in Southern
Ontario and along the St. Lawrence River. The ecoregion that contains the highest number of tree species
is the Lake Erie Lowlands, located in the Mixwood Plains Ecozone, with 95 tree species.
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