For use by qualified professionals in conjunction with the Nineth Edition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal published by the International Society of Arboriculture
The Illinois Arborist Association Tree Appraisal Committee that worked very hard to develop the information in this booklet consisted of:
- Bill Bolt (Chair), Consulting Arborist
- Stan Holat, Autumn Tree Care Experts
- Terry Cichocki, Village of Northbrook
- John Kirchner, City of Chicago
Special thanks also to Galen Gates at the Chicago Botanic Garden and George Ware at the Morton Arboretum for their assistance in updating the species ratings, and to our colleagues in adjacent states who form a regional committee, which assures continuity across state lines.
NOTE: The information given in this booklet will be reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals. If a change is made, it will be published by the Illinois Arborist Association, a Chapter of the ISA, in a method determined by the Board of Directors. If you are not sure of the latest information, call the Chapter office at (877) 617-8887.
INTRODUCTION
The Guide for Plant Appraisal (9th Edition) specifies that “for these appraisal methods to be effective, relatively easy to use, and widely accepted in a region, a group of horticultural professionals should be the ones to determine, keep updated and publish”
- Species ratings
- Largest commonly available transplantable tree
- Average cost of tree replacement, and
- Cost per unit trunk area.
Species ratings are based only on species characteristics, without regard to condition or location. Factors considered were environmental adaptability, biological traits (i.e. growth rate, pest resistance), maintenance requirement and aesthetic characteristics.Condition and location factors related to these species characteristics must be considered carefully. For example, pin oak has limited environmental adaptability with regard to soil type, and this contributes to its 70 percent rating. However, when planted in alkaline soil, the site component of the location factor would have to be rated low.Condition of the tree might be poor as well.
The information on this website should be accurate for most situations. However, individual situations may be unusual. Occasionally, characteristics of an individual tree or cultivars may be superior. Microclimate variation can occur. The professionals using this booklet in conjunction with the Guide for Plant Appraisal may occasionally find that their own judgment calls for alteration of this generalized information.
Illinois is nearly 400 miles long from north to south. The climate for growing trees varies considerably within the state. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was used to divide the state into three regions, corresponding to hardiness zones 5a (north), 5b (central), and 6a (south). See USDA Miscellaneous Publication Number 1475 for more details on hardiness zones.
There are essentially two categories of information in the Species Ratings Guide & Appraisal Factors for Illinois and this sometimes leads to confusion. Since the initial publication in 1994 there have been two updates to the Appraisal Factors; in 2001 and 2005. The methods for determining these factors are set forth in the Guide for Plant Appraisal and are the factors are updated periodically to reflect current market conditions. The original Species Rating Percentages for Illinois have not changed.
A survey of Illinois Green Industries is used to gather the data for the Appraisal Factors which include the largest commonly available transplantable sized tree, the installed and guaranteed cost of the largest commonly available transplantable tree, and the basic cost or unit tree cost per unit of trunk area ($ per square inch). These values are used along with the Species Rating Percentages in theTrunk Formula Method of plant appraisal. The Appraisal factors (except the unit tree cost) and the Species Rating Percentages are also used in the Replacement Cost Method outlined in the 9thEdition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal.
It is important to understand that the published Appraisal Factors and Species Rating Percentages are generally agreed upon values that can be used to calculate appraised values for landscape plants. Appraisers can and often do calculate the Appraisal Factors based on their own research which may be more precise in specific cases. TheGuide for Plant Appraisal incorporates some flexibility in how the Appraisal Factors are determined and the decisions made by the committee may not reflect local conditions. It is also legitimate for an appraiser to substitute his or her own Species Rating Percentage(s) based on local conditions and expertise of the appraiser. If substitute values are used by an appraiser, he or she should expect to be called upon to explain how they were determined and to justify them if the appraisal is challenged.
Click here for a map of the regions
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Abies concolor, White or Concolor Fir |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Acer campestre, Hedge or Field Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer ´freemanii, Freeman Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer ginnala, Amur Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer griseum, Paperbark Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer miyabei, Miyabe Maple |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Acer negundo, Boxelder |
Male |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Acer negundo, Boxelder |
Female |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Acer nigrum, Black Maple |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple |
|
50 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer platanoides, Norway Maple |
Species |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Acer platanoides, Norway Maple |
Improved Cultivars |
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer pseudoplatanus, Sycamore Maple |
|
50 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer rubrum, Red or Swamp Maple |
Species |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Acer rubrum, Red or Swamp Maple |
Improved Cultivars |
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple |
Species |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple |
Improved Cultivars |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple |
Species |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple |
Improved Cultivars |
90 |
90 |
90 |
| Acer tataricum, Tartarian Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Acer triflorum, Three-Flowered Maple |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Acer truncatum, Purpleblow Maple |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Aesculus ´carnea, Red Horsechestnut |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Aesculus glabra, Ohio or Fetid Buckeye |
|
70 |
60 |
60 |
| Aesculus hippocastanum, Common Horsechestnut |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Aesculus octandra (flava), Yellow Buckeye |
|
70 |
60 |
60 |
| Aesculus pavia, Red Buckeye |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Ailanthus altissima, Tree of Heaven |
Male |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Ailanthus altissima, Tree of Heaven |
Female |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Albizia julibrissin, Mimosa or Silk Tree |
|
0 |
20 |
20 |
| Alnus glutinosa, European Black Alder |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Alnus incana, White Alder |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Alnus rugosa, Speckled Alder |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Amelanchier, Serviceberry |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Asimina triloba, Common Pawpaw |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Betula alleghaniensis (lutea), Yellow Birch |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Betula lenta, Sweet Birch |
|
60 |
50 |
50 |
| Betula nigra, River or Red Birch |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Betula pendula, European White Birch |
|
30 |
20 |
20 |
| Betula platyphylla‘Whitespire Senior’, Japanese Whitespire Birch |
|
60 |
50 |
50 |
| Betula populifolia, Gray Birch |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| CarPinus betulus, European Hornbeam |
|
70 |
70 |
60 |
| CarPinus caroliniana, American Hornbeam (Blue Beech) |
|
70 |
70 |
60 |
| Carya cordiformis, Bitternut Hickory |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Carya illinoensis, Pecan |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Carya ovata, Shagbark Hickory |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Carya tomentosa, Mockernut Hickory |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Castanea dentata, American Chestnut |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Castanea mollissima, Chinese Chestnut |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Catalpa bignonioides, Southern Catalpa |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Catalpa ovata, Chinese Catalpa |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| Catalpa speciosa, Northern or Western Catalpa |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| Celtis laevigata, Sugar Hackberry |
|
30 |
80 |
80 |
| Celtis occidentalis, Common Hackberry |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Katsura Tree |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Cercis canadensis, Redbud |
|
70 |
80 |
80 |
| Chionanthus virginicus, Fringetree |
|
70 |
60 |
60 |
| Cladrastis lutea (kentukea), Yellowwood |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Cornus alternifolia, Pagoda Dogwood |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood |
|
30 |
60 |
70 |
| Cornus kousa, Kousa Dogwood |
|
50 |
70 |
70 |
| Cornus mas, CornelianCherry Dogwood |
|
80 |
70 |
70 |
| Cornus officinalis, Japanese Cornel Dogwood |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Corylus colurna, Turkish Filbert |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Cotinus coggygria, Common Smoke Tree |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Cotinus obovatus, American Smoke Tree |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Crataegus crus-galli, Cockspur Hawthorn |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Crataegus laevigata, English Hawthorn |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Crataegus mollis, Downy Hawthorn |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Crataegus phaenopyrum, WAshington Hawthorn |
|
70 |
70 |
60 |
| Crataegus punctata, Dotted Hawthorn |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Crataegus ´lavallei, Lavalle Hawthorn |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Crataegus ‘Vaughn’, Vaughn Hawthorn |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Crataegus viridis ’Winter King’, Winter King Hawthorn |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Diospyros virginiana, Common Persimmon |
Male |
50 |
70 |
70 |
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Diospyros virginiana, Common Persimmon |
Female |
30 |
50 |
50 |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian-Olive |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Eucommia ulmoides, Hardy Rubber Tree |
|
50 |
70 |
70 |
| Fagus grandifolia, American Beech |
|
60 |
80 |
80 |
| Fagus sylvatica, European Beech |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Fraxinus americana, White Ash |
Species |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Fraxinus americana, White Ash |
Improved Cultivars |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Fraxinus excelsior, European Ash |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash |
Species |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash |
Improved Cultivars |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Fraxinus quadrangulata, Blue Ash |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgo |
Male |
90 |
90 |
90 |
| Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgo |
Female |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Gleditsia triacanthos, Honeylocust |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis, Thornless Honeylocust |
|
80 |
70 |
70 |
| Gymnocladus dioica, Kentucky Coffee tree |
Male |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Gymnocladus dioica, Kentucky Coffee tree |
Female |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Halesia carolina, Carolina Silverbell |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Ilex opaca, American Holly |
|
40 |
70 |
80 |
| Juglans cinerea, Butternut |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Juglans nigra, Black Walnut |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| Juniperus chinensis, Chinese Juniper |
|
80 |
60 |
60 |
| Juniperus virginiana, Eastern Red Cedar |
|
70 |
50 |
50 |
| Koelreuteria paniculata, Golden Raintree |
|
50 |
70 |
80 |
| Larix decidua, European Larch |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Larix kaempferi, Japanese Larch |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Larix laricina, American Larch |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum |
|
50 |
60 |
70 |
| Liriodendron tulipifera, Tuliptree |
|
60 |
80 |
80 |
| Maclura pomifera, Osage-Orange |
Male |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Maclura pomifera, Osage-Orange |
Female |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Magnolia acuminata, Cucumbertree Magnolia |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Magnolia grandiflora, Southern Magnolia |
|
0 |
50 |
80 |
| Magnolia kobus, kobus Magnolia |
|
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Magnolia ´loebneri, Loebner Magnolia |
Improved Cultivars |
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Magnolia ´soulangiana, Saucer Magnolia |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia |
|
40 |
60 |
70 |
| Malus, Crabapple |
Superior Cultivars |
80 |
80 |
80 |
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Malus, Crabapple |
Inferior Cultivars |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn Redwood |
|
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Morus alba, White Mulberry |
Male |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Morus alba, White Mulberry |
Female |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Morus rubra, Red Mulberry |
Male |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Morus rubra, Red Mulberry |
Female |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Nyssa sylvatica, Sourgum (Black Tupelo) |
|
70 |
80 |
80 |
| Ostrya virginiana, Ironwood (Hophornbeam) |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Oxydendrum arboreum, Sourwood |
|
30 |
60 |
80 |
| Paulownia tomentosa, Paulownia (Princess Tree) |
|
30 |
40 |
50 |
| Phellodendron amurense, Amur corktree |
Male |
70 |
80 |
80 |
| Phellodendron amurense, Amur corktree |
Female |
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Picea abies, Norway Spruce |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Picea engElmannii, Engelmann Spruce |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Picea glauca, White Spruce |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Picea glauca var. Densata, Black Hills Spruce |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Picea omorika, Serbian Spruce |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Picea pungens, Colorado Spruce |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus banksiana, Jack Pine |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| Pinus bungeana, Lacebark Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus cembra, Swiss Stone Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus echinata, Short Leaf Pine |
|
10 |
50 |
60 |
| Pinus flexilis, Limber Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus nigra, Austrian or Black Pine |
|
50 |
40 |
40 |
| Pinus peuce, Balkan or Macedonian Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Pinus resinosa, Red Pine |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Pinus strobiformis, Southwestern White Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus strobus, Eastern White Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Pinus sylvestris, Scotch Pine |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Pinus wallichiana, Himalayan White Pine |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Platanus ´acerifolia, London Planetree |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore |
|
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Populus alba, White or Silver Poplar |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Populus deltoides, Cottonwood |
Male |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Populus deltoides, Cottonwood |
Female |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Populus euroamericana, Hybrid Poplar |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Populus grandidentata, Bigtooth Aspen |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Populus nigra ’Italica’, Lombardy Poplar |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Prunus americana, Wild Plum |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Prunus armeniaca var.mandshurica, Manchurian Apricot |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Prunus avium, Sweet Cherry |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus cerasifera, Purple Leaf Plum |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus maackii, Amur Choke Cherry |
|
60 |
60 |
50 |
| Prunus padus, European Bird Cherry |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus pensylvanica, Pin Cherry |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus persica, Common Peach |
|
30 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus sargentii, Sargent Cherry |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Prunus serotina, Black Cherry |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Prunus serrulata, Japanese Flowering Cherry |
|
30 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus subhirtella var.pendula, Weeping Cherry |
|
30 |
40 |
40 |
| Prunus virginiana, Choke Cherry |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Psuedotsuga menziesii, Douglasfir |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Pyrus calleryana, Callery Pear |
Superior Cultivars |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Pyrus calleryana, Callery Pear |
Inferior Cultivars |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Quercus alba, White Oak |
|
90 |
90 |
90 |
| Quercus acutissima, Sawtooth Oak |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus bicolor, Swamp White Oak |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Quercus coccinea, Scarlet Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
80 |
| Quercus ellipsoidalis, Hill’s or Northern Pin Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus falcata, Southern Red Oak |
|
30 |
50 |
60 |
| Quercus falcata var.pagodaefolia, Cherrybark Oak |
|
30 |
50 |
70 |
| Quercus imbricaria, Shingle Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus macrocarpa, Bur Oak |
|
90 |
90 |
90 |
| Quercus marilandica, BlackJack Oak |
|
30 |
40 |
50 |
| Quercus michauxii, Swamp Chestnut Oak |
|
40 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus muehlenbergii, Chinqua Pin Oak |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Quercus palustris, Pin or Swamp Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus phellos, Willow Oak |
|
30 |
50 |
70 |
| Quercus prinus, Chestnut Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus robur, English Oak |
|
60 |
70 |
80 |
| Quercus rubra, Red Oak |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus shumardii, Shumard Oak |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Quercus stellata, Post Oak |
|
30 |
50 |
60 |
| Quercus velutina, Black Oak |
|
60 |
60 |
60 |
| Rhamnus cathartica, Common Buckthorn |
Male |
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Rhamnus cathartica, Common Buckthorn |
Female |
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Robinia pseudoacacia, Black Locust |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
Name |
|
North |
Central |
South |
| Salix alba ’Tristis’, Weeping Willow |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Salix matsudana ’Tortuosa’, Corkscrew Willow |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Salix nigra, Black Willow |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Sassafras albidum, Common Sassafras |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Sophora japonica, Japanese Pagoda Tree |
|
50 |
60 |
70 |
| Sorbus americana, American Mountain Ash |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Sorbus alnifolia, Korean Mountain Ash |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Sorbus aucuparia, European Mountain Ash |
|
50 |
50 |
50 |
| Syringa pekinensis, Peking Lilac |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Syringa reticulata, Japanese Tree Lilac |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Taxodium distichum, Baldcypress |
|
80 |
90 |
90 |
| Thuja occidentalis, White Cedar Arborvitae |
|
80 |
70 |
70 |
| Thuja orientalis, Oriental Arborvitae |
|
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Tilia americana, American (Basswood) Linden |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Tilia cordata, Little Leaf Linden |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Tilia ´euchlora ’Redmond’, Redmond Linden |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Tilia heterophylla, Bee Tree Linden |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Tilia platyphyllos, Big Leaf Linden |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Tilia tomentosa, Silver Linden |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Tsuga canadensis, Canadian hemlock |
|
80 |
80 |
80 |
| Ulmus, Hybrid Elm |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Ulmus americana, American Elm |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Ulmus carPinifolia, English Elm |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Ulmus parvifolia, Chinese or Lacebark Elm |
|
60 |
70 |
70 |
| Ulmus pumila, Siberian Elm |
|
40 |
40 |
40 |
| Ulmus rubra, Slippery or Red Elm |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
| Ulmus thomasii, Rock Elm |
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Viburnum prunifolium, Blackhaw Viburnum |
|
70 |
70 |
70 |
| Viburnum sieboldii, Siebold Viburnum |
|
50 |
60 |
60 |
| Zelkova serrata, Zelkova |
|
40 |
50 |
60 |
Illinois Appraisal Factors
Economic conditions and the price of nursery stock vary across the state. The state has been divided into regions that reflect these differences.
REPLACEMENT TREE SIZE
The largest commonly-available transplantable sized tree, measured at a point 6 inches above the ground, has been determined for all regions of the state. This information is based on a survey of the available nursery material.
| 1994 | 2001 | 2005 | 200* | |
| Region A | 3 ½ | 3 | 4 inch | |
| Region B | 3 | 3 ½ | 3 inch | |
| Region C | 3 ½ | 3* | ||
| Region D | 2 ½ | 2 ½* |
INSTALLED TREE COST
This is the average cost to purchase and install the largest commonly-available transplantable tree of high quality species. The cost includes transportation to the planting site, site preparation, planting, guarantee, and profit.
| 1994 | 2001 | 2005 | 200* | |
| Region A | $570 | $513 | $787 | |
| Region B | $310 | $548 | $527 | |
| Region C | $340 | $393* | ||
| Region D | $150 | $349* |
UNIT TREE COST
This is the cost per square inch of trunk area (cross section) to be used when determining total tree value. Based on a survey of largest commonly available transplantable sized nursery stock of high quality species at regional nurseries, the Illinois Chapter has set this value at:
| 1994 | 2001 | 2005 | 200* | |
| Region A | $36/sq. in. | $47/sq. in. | $71/sq. in. | |
| Region B | $22/sq. in. | $42/sq. in. | $69/sq. in. | |
| Region C | $18/sq. in. | $38/sq. in.** | ||
| Region D | $15/sq. in. | $45/sq. in.** |
* Use these columns for future revisions
** Based on limited data, appraiser is advised to gather additional local data
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