The Cove Forest

Cove forests are unique ecosystems found exclusively in North America, in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the United States. They are a special type of forest known as mixed deciduous, meaning that forest's trees lose their leaves in fall. Cove forests are restricted to mountain "coves," which are bowl-shaped valleys with very rich, fertile, damp soil. Many cove forests have streams wandering through part of the forest. The cove forests of the South exhibit the greatest plant and tree diversity of any forests in the United States.

The cove forests of South Carolina are restricted to the northwest portion of the state, extending from the north of Westminster to north of Greenville, Jones Gap State Park, Table Rock State Park, Oconee State Park, and Caesars Head State Park all contain cove forest communities. For more information, view the credits or find out how to plan a trip to a cove forest.

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Basswood | The Cove Forest
Basswood | The Cove Forest

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(Tilia americana) A medium to large tree that frequently occurs in the understory but may also reach the canopy . The large heart-shaped leaves are finely toothed and have an asymmetrical base. The...
Carolina Silverbell | The Cove Forest
Carolina Silverbell | The Cove Forest

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(Halesia tetraptera) This small to medium-sized understory tree has distinctive white-yellow vertical streaks on its young stems. In early spring it produces white bell-shaped flowers that develop...
Beech | The Cove Forest
Beech | The Cove Forest

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(Fagus grandifolia) The smooth gray bark, sharp-pointed buds, and papery toothed leaves make beech one of the easiest trees to identify. Because it can tolerate deep shade, individuals occur both in...
Yellow Buckeye | The Cove Forest
Yellow Buckeye | The Cove Forest

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(Aseculus flava) The palm-shaped leaves of this deciduous tree are divided into 5-7 large leaflets. Yellow buckeye is one of the first trees to leaf-out in the spring. It produces clusters of tubular...
Gap with Fallen Tree | The Cove Forest
Gap with Fallen Tree | The Cove Forest

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Due to high winds, old age and other natural causes, trees frequently fall over, which creates openings (gaps) in the forest. These openings promote species diversity by creating additional and...
Old Giants | The Cove Forest
Old Giants | The Cove Forest

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In remote rugged areas, where logging proved difficult, small remnant patches of intact cove forest still exist. Here, one may encounter unusually large trees with wide trunks, some of which may be...
A Coniferous and Flowering Tree | The Cove Forest
A Coniferous and Flowering Tree | The Cove Forest

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There are two main groups of trees -- coniferous trees and flowering trees. Coniferous trees generally produce seeds in cones, have needle-like leaves and are evergreen. In contrast, flowering trees...
Nutrient-Rich Soils | The Cove Forest
Nutrient-Rich Soils | The Cove Forest

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Cove forests typically have deep nutrient-rich soils that are less acidic than surrounding areas. A favorable soil, coupled with a relatively cool, moist environment, promotes a rich diversity of...
Mixed Mesophytic Forests | The Cove Forest
Mixed Mesophytic Forests | The Cove Forest

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Cove forests are also called "mixed mesophytic forests." The term, "mixed mesophytic forest" refers to a mixture of tree species adapted to relatively cool, moist environments and rich soils...