An open or closed canopy community that occurs on talus slopes composed of calcareous bedrock such as limestone or dolomite. The soils are usually moist and loamy; there may be numerous rock outcrops.

The combination of rich vegetation indicating calcium enriched bedrock and steep rocky slopes (talus) identify this community. Talus should make up at least 50% of the substrate and is typically at least partially moss-covered. Talus should be derived from cliff rockfall or from landslides and slopes that average about 20 degrees, but can be as steep as 45 degrees. Plant communities of a calcareous talus slope woodland can range from closed canopy forests to a sparse canopy woodlands to steep, open slopes of non-vegetated bare rock. Plants that can be found on calcareous substrates include sugar maple, white ash, eastern hop hornbeam, basswood, northern white cedar, butternut, bladdernut, alternate-leaf dogwood, and mountain maple. Ferns that grow on the rocks often include bulbet fern, maidenhair spleenwort, fragile fern, and walking fern. Other characteristic plants that might grow on the rocks and calcium rich soil include herb robert, Solomon's seal, wild ginger, white baneberry, early meadow rue , blue cohosh, and blue-stem goldenrod.

Known examples of this community have been found at elevations between 50 feet and 1969 feet.