America’s landscape owes much of its beauty to its trees, but some are quickly disappearing. From the towering redwoods of California to the quiet eastern hemlocks, many of these giants are now on the brink of extinction. As tree species make up over a quarter of the entries on the IUCN Red List, urgent action is needed to preserve them.
Here are 19 trees at risk—each one a vital part of our ecosystems and history, but now facing an uncertain future. Their survival depends on efforts ranging from conservation to habitat protection.
1. Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
These trees are like the quiet giants of eastern and central U.S. forests, where they keep streams cool for fish like trout.
But here’s the problem: a tiny insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid attaches to the tree and sucks out its nutrients, slowly killing it. Without help, these beautiful hemlocks might disappear from many forests.
2. Florida Yew (Taxus floridana)
The Florida yew is incredibly rare and only grows in a small area in northern Florida, along the Apalachicola River. It’s a short but important tree because its bark contains a compound used in cancer medicine.
Sadly, it’s critically endangered. Habitat loss and changes to its environment have made survival tough for this little tree.
3. American Elm (Ulmus americana)
The tall, graceful elm used to be a familiar street tree in U.S. towns and cities. But Dutch elm disease, a fungus spread by beetles, wiped out millions of these trees.
You can still find elms in places like parks or forests, but they’re nowhere near as common as they used to be. Researchers are trying to grow disease-resistant elms, so there’s hope!
4. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Beech trees are a staple in northeastern forests, known for their smooth gray bark and nuts that wildlife love.
But they’re under attack from two diseases: beech bark disease (a fungus that weakens the tree) and beech leaf disease, which spreads quickly. It was first spotted in Ohio in 2012 and has since spread across the northeastern states, putting all beech trees at risk. (ref)
5. North American Ash (Fraxinus spp.)
Ash trees are everywhere, from forests to city streets, and the emerald ash borer has become a threat. This shiny green beetle, which came from Asia, has been chewing through all species of ash trees across the U.S.
It’s estimated that 8 billion ash trees are at risk! Cities and towns have already spent over $12.5 billion trying to manage the problem, but the beetles are tough to stop. (ref) Without treatments or resistant trees, the future of ash trees doesn’t look great.
6. California Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum)
These are the giants of the tree world. The coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) grow along the Pacific coast in California and southern Oregon, while the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are found in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
They’re some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth but endangered because they’re not reproducing fast enough. Old trees are dying naturally, and younger ones aren’t replacing them quickly due to climate changes, droughts, and wildfires.
7. Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri)
If you’ve ever had a Christmas tree, there’s a good chance it was a Fraser Fir. These trees are native to the Appalachian Mountains in places like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
They’re beautiful and fragrant, but they’re under attack by an insect called the balsam woolly adelgid that weakens the trees and kills them
. Since Fraser Firs only grow in specific high-elevation areas, their populations are shrinking fast.
8. Loulu (Pritchardia spp.)
The Loulu is a palm tree native to Hawaii that is unlike anything you’ll see on the mainland. It’s a special part of Hawaiian forests and culture, but it’s in serious danger. Rats and other rodents introduced to the islands are eating the seeds of the Loulu.
Without seeds to grow new trees, the Loulu is struggling to survive. Conservationists are working hard to protect these palms and give them a fighting chance.
9. American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)
The American Chestnut was once the tree of eastern U.S. forests, from Maine to Alabama. It provided lumber, shade, and nuts for people and wildlife But in the early 1900s, a fungus called chestnut blight spread through the forests and wiped out almost all chestnut trees.
Today, it’s considered “functionally extinct,” meaning there are still some trees around, but they’re not healthy enough to thrive and reproduce. (ref) Scientists are working on ways to bring it back, though, using disease-resistant hybrids.
10. Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)
This tough tree grows in high-altitude areas of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada and is key to mountain ecosystems. It provides food for animals like Clark’s nutcracker birds and grizzly bears.
However, climate change is warming its habitat, and a mountain pine beetle pest is killing many of the whitebark pine trees. There is also a fungus called white pine blister rust making things worse.
11. Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
Butternut is a relative of the walnut tree and grows in eastern U.S. forests, especially in places like the Midwest and Appalachia. Its nuts are an important food source for wildlife, and its wood is prized for furniture.
But the butternut canker, a fungal disease, is wiping out these trees. The disease creates wounds on the tree, and over time, it weakens and dies. You can still find butternuts here and there, but they’re becoming rarer by the day.
12. Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata & Pinus longaeva)
These are some of the oldest living trees on Earth—thousands of years old! They grow in harsh conditions in the Southwestern U.S., especially in California, Nevada, and Utah.
The Bristlecone Pine is incredible because it thrives where other trees can’t, but even these ancient survivors are under threat. Climate change is altering their fragile environment, and pests like bark beetles are starting to attack them.
13. Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata)
The Bishop Pine grows along the coast of California and parts of southern Oregon. It’s adapted to survive in dry, foggy climates, but it’s struggling because of habitat loss—human development has taken away much of its natural space.
Add climate change to the mix, and the tree’s future doesn’t look good. High tree deaths have been reported since the 2000s, especially in Mendocino County. (ref)
14. Cuyamaca Cypress (Cupressus stephensonii)
The Cuyamaca Cypress is a rare tree that grows in Southern California, mainly in the Cuyamaca Mountains. It’s a fire-adapted tree, meaning it relies on fire to help its seeds grow.
But with climate change and habitat loss, its survival is at risk. Fires are becoming too frequent or intense, making it hard for new trees to grow.
15. Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
This tree is like a living fossil! Once thought extinct, it was rediscovered in China in the 1940s. The World Conservation Union calls it “critically endangered” because of human activity. (ref)
Dawn Redwoods are one of three types of redwoods in the world. Though they are not native to the U.S., they are planted in parks and arboretums throughout the country.
16. Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
The Cedar of Lebanon is an iconic tree from the Mediterranean, but you can spot it in arboretums and botanical gardens in the U.S.
It’s endangered in its native range because of habitat loss and overharvesting of its valuable wood. Climate change is also making it harder for these majestic trees to thrive.
17. Chilean Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana)
The Monkey Puzzle tree is a quirky-looking tree native to Chile and Argentina, but you might see it in some gardens in the U.S., especially in places with cooler climates.
In the wild, it’s endangered due to habitat loss and illegal logging. Its seeds are also a food source for locals, which puts extra pressure on the species.
18. Florida Torreya (Torreya taxifolia)
Named after botanist John Torrey (1796–1873), this is one of the rarest native trees in the U.S. (ref) This critically endangered tree is only found in a small area of the Florida Panhandle. It’s sometimes called the “stinking cedar” because of its smell.
Habitat loss and a deadly fungal disease have pushed it to the brink of extinction. Conservationists are trying to save it by planting new trees and protecting its habitat.
19. Santa Cruz Cypress (Cupressus abramsiana)
The Santa Cruz Cypress is another California native, growing in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It has become endangered because its habitat is being taken over by development and human activity.
Like other cypresses, it depends on fire to regenerate, but climate change has made fires unpredictable, adding to the challenge.
So, what can we do to save these threatened trees and the diverse ecosystems they support? Every bit of action counts. Planting trees, advocating for sustainable forest management, and supporting conservation efforts can make a big difference.
Source:
Don’t Miss These:
Hummingbirds Aren’t Just After Nectar—Here’s What They Need
15 Survival Myths That Could Cost You Your Life
Say Goodbye to Leaf Scorch with These 10 Plant Care Tips
17 Plants That Add Beauty & Amazing Scents to Your Yard
DIY Mole Control: Does Dawn Dish Soap Really Work?
Sourdough Starter Basics: Steps to Kickstart Your Bread Journey
15 Ways to Repurpose Supplement & Pill Bottles for Everyday Use
Transform Your Shower Routine with DIY Aromatherapy Steamers
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.