History & Flora

Though the property was selectively logged in 1959, the forest has regenerated into a typical mixed mesophytic hardwood forest. Overstory trees include beech, tulip poplar and various oaks (e.g. white, red, cow, water) as co-dominant tree species with mature loblolly pines scattered throughout. Some areas on the property, especially near Hammer Creek, were not logged and have representatives of fairly old growth beech, oaks and hickories.

Tunica Hills, in general, has been recognized for its high diversity of understory trees. Though dogwoods were once common on the property they are now extinct due to invasion of the deadly virus, anthracne. Common understory trees include silver bells, wild plums, parsley haws, ironwoods, horn hopbeans, winged elms, and others. Showy herbaceous plants on the forest floor include gingers, gentians, trilliums, may apples, Indian pinks, and many more.