Tuckasegee soils are on benches, foot slopes, toe slopes, drainageways, and fans in coves in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Elevations are generally between 2,000 and 4,500 feet. Slopes are commonly between 15 and 50 percent but range from 2 to 95 percent. These soils formed in loamy colluvium derived from materials weathered from igneous and metamorphic crystalline rocks such as granite, mica gneiss, hornblende gneiss, and schist. Tuckasegee soils receive moisture from surrounding uplands, and springs and local seepage areas are common.
Climate is temperate and humid.
Near the type location, the mean annual air temperature is about 52 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is about 70 inches. In addition to the competing Haywood , Plott , Porters , Saunook , and Tusquitee series, these are the Ashe , Cashiers , Chandler , Chestnut , Cowee , Cullasaja , Edneyville , Evard , Fannin , Haywood, Saluda , Sylva , Tate , Trimont , Watauga , and Whiteside soils. Ashe, Cashiers, Chandler, Chestnut, Cowee, Edneyville, Evard, Fannin, Plott, Porters, Saluda, Trimont, and Watauga soils formed in residuum with some soil creep in the upper part, have C horizons in saprolite, and are on locally higher mountain ridgetops and side slopes. Brevard , Saunook, and Tate soils formed in colluvium in the same colluvial landscape position as Tuckasegee soils, but they have argillic horizons. Sylva and Whiteside soils are in seepage areas of toe slopes and fans.