Understory plant communities in reclaimed forests in Canada vary depending on the productivity of the trees planted. In pine stands, medium productivity sites have more shrubs and grasses, while low and high productivity sites have more plant species. In spruce stands, high productivity sites have fewer shrubs and more grasses, but medium productivity sites have more plant species. The thickness of the soil and its nutrients influence the plant communities, but tree growth does not. Different reclamation strategies are needed for sites with different tree productivities to balance tree growth with plant community development.