Luvisolic soils are characterized by a zone or horizon of clay accumulation in the subsoil as a result of leaching from above. This clay-rich horizon may restrict penetration by roots, air and water. Luvisols have formed under forest cover in areas which have either higher rainfall, lower temperatures with less evapotranspiration or finer-textured parent materials than areas dominated by Brunisolic or Chernozemic soils. Luvisolic soils cover much of the Interior Plateau and a large part of the Great Plains. Organic soils consist mainly of organic matter and develop mostly under saturated conditions, where dead vegetation accumulates faster than it decomposes.
Organic soils dominate the landscape along the north Coast and in parts of the Great Plains.
Podzolic soils generally form under coniferous forest in temperate and wet or in cold and moist climates. Podzols are typically well drained and coarse textured and undergo intense leaching of clay, organic matter, iron and aluminum from upper to lower mineral horizons. Podzols dominate most of the coastal region, the interior wet belt and the mountain systems of British Columbia. Regosolic soils are very weakly developed and often very shallow, although some may have significant accumulations of organic matter in the surface layer. Regosols do not cover extensive areas of British Columbia except in high mountains.