Tree Identification

Start with a Guide

Begin the process of tree identification by learning the basic characteristics of each tree.

All trees have distinctive traits. Just as members of a single family do not look identical, the members of tree families also have characteristics that differ among varieties.

Knowing which characteristics belong to each tree family as well as the individual tree type will help you with tree identification faster.

A guidebook such as a field guide to trees is a great place to learn the individual characteristics of the most common trees.

Internet searches are also good places to learn tree characteristics. Once you are familiar with the different tree types, tree identification becomes a process of elimination.

Deciduous, Evergreen or Tropical?

The first step in determining what type of tree you have is to sort it into a broad category based on your location.

If you live in a tropical climate, your tree is probably tropical. If you live in a more temperate climate, your tree may be deciduous or evergreen.

Most trees on the planet are either deciduous or evergreen. These trees both have dormant periods in winter.

Deciduous trees typically have flat leaves, which are called broadleaves while evergreen leaves may be needle-shaped.

Leaf Appearance

The appearance of the tree’s leaves will be the next determining factor in tree identification. The shape of a tree’s leaf will help to determine its immediate family.

For example, maple leaves are usually shaped like a hand with spread fingers. This is true of both Japanese maples such as Bloodgood as well as sugar maples.

Broadleaves may be simple leaves that are all one piece or compound leaves composed of many smaller leaflets. These leaflets may be alternating or opposite on the leaf stem.

Other distinguishing features to note include the shape, whether it has thorns or spines and whether the leaf has jagged edges.

In Fall when leaf color changes, these colors are another indicator of the tree species. For example, quaking aspen tree leaves will turn golden yellow while red maple tree leaves will turn deep scarlet.

Needles may be arranged singly on a branch or in bundles. The number of needles per bundle, needle length and shape can also play a factor in identifying the tree.

Bark Appearance

A tree’s bark appearance can be almost as important as the leaf appearance in tree identification. Tree bark texture varies among types of trees.

Some bark has large, plate-like scales, while bark on other trees may have small plates and deep, regular grooves. Bark color may be black, dark brown, silvery gray or even snowy white.

For example, pine trees have brown bark with wide plates and deep grooves while birch bark will have smooth bark that peels away from the tree’s trunk in strips.

Shape

A tree’s overall shape and growth habit is another good indication for tree identification.

Trees come in every shape and size from small trees that are classified as shrubs to giant redwoods that are thousands of years old and hundreds of feet tall.

A tree’s branching habit can also be a clue to its identity. Some trees produce branches that grow opposite one another, while others produce branches that alternate or grow in whirls around the tree.

Flowers/Fruits/Seeds

A tree’s reproduction cycle typically includes some type of fruiting habit. The most familiar of these is the edible fruit such as apple or pear.

But a maple’s “whirly copter” seeds are another version of the fruit/seed cycle that is easy to identify. Some trees also produce seeds in pods.

The fruiting and seeding habit of a tree can help indicate the type of tree.

A set of tree characteristics is as individual to a tree’s cultivar as a fingerprint is to a person.

Many trees have one or two characteristics that are recognizable enough to group them into a family. But only by comparing all characteristics can you make proper tree identification.

Tree Names

Buckeye Tree
Ginkgo Tree
Mimosa Tree
Sassafras Tree
Sugar Maple Tree
Sweet Gum Tree