types of trees_作文_星云百科资讯 (2023)

Tree | Definition, Structure, Uses, Importance, & Facts | Britannica

tree

, woody

plant

that regularly renews its growth (

perennial

). Most plants classified as trees have a single self-supporting trunk containing woody tissues, and in most species the trunk produces secondary limbs, called branches.

To many, the word

tree

evokes images of such ancient, powerful, and majestic structures as

oaks

and

sequoias

, the latter being among the most massive and longest-living organisms in the world. Although the majority of

Earth

’s terrestrial

biomass

is represented by trees, the fundamental importance of these seemingly

ubiquitous

plants for the very existence and

diversity

of life on

Earth

is perhaps not fully appreciated. The biosphere is dependent on the metabolism, death, and recycling of plants, especially trees. Their vast trunks and

root

systems store

carbon dioxide

, move water, and produce oxygen that is released into the atmosphere. The organic matter of the soil develops primarily from decayed leaves, twigs, branches, roots, and fallen trees, all of which recycle nitrogen,

carbon

, oxygen, and other important nutrients. There are few organisms as important as trees for maintaining Earth’s

ecology

This article discusses the historical, popular, and

botanical

classifications of trees, their evolution, their importance to humans, and their general structure and patterns of growth. For more information on the three botanical groups that include trees,

see

fern

(e.g., the

tree ferns

gymnosperm

(including

conifers

), and

angiosperm

(the flowering plants). For general information on plants,

see

plant

Classification of trees

The

ancient Greeks

developed a classification about 300

bce

in which plants were grouped according to their general form—that is, as trees, shrubs, undershrubs, and vines. This classification was used for almost 1,000 years. Modern classifications of plants attempt to assign a plant to a particular taxon and establish relationships with other plants based on genetics, cytology, ecology, behaviour, and probable evolutionary lineages, in addition to gross

morphology

. Popular classifications, however, remain useful tools for studying the common stresses that the

environment

exerts on all plants and the general patterns of

adaptation

that are shown no matter how distantly plants are related.

Britannica Quiz

Trees of the World

Phylogenetic classifications

Trees are represented in each of the major groups of the vascular plants: pteridophytes (seedless vascular plants that include the

tree ferns

gymnosperms

(

cycads

ginkgoes

, and

conifers

), and

angiosperms

(flowering plants).

Although

tree ferns

account for only a small percentage of

ferns

, many are

conspicuous

members of a

forest

, attaining heights of 7 to 10 metres (23 to 33 feet); some are 15, 18, or occasionally 24 metres tall (49, 59, or 79 feet). These graceful trees, which are natives of humid montane forests in the tropics and subtropics and of warm temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere, have huge lacy leaves; they are the remnants of a vastly more numerous flora that populated much of Earth during the

Carboniferous Period

(about 358.9 to 298.9 million years ago).

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Cycads

compose the

Cycadophyta

, a division of gymnospermous plants consisting of 4 families and approximately 140 species. Natives of warm regions of the Eastern and Western hemispheres, they also are remnants of a much larger number of species that in past geologic ages dominated Earth’s flora.

The

ginkgo

is the only living representative of the gymnosperm division

Ginkgophyta

. It is a relic that has been preserved in cultivation around ancient Buddhist temples in China and planted elsewhere as an ornamental since the mid-18th century; the tree probably no longer exists in a wild state.

Conifers

(division Pinophyta) are the largest group of gymnosperms and include trees and shrubs in 7

extant

families and 545 species. Familiar representatives are

araucarias

cedars

cypresses

Douglas firs

firs

hemlocks

junipers

larches

pines

podocarps

redwoods

spruces

, and

yews

Dominating Earth’s present flora are the

angiosperms

, with about 300,000 species, among which are the majority of the world’s trees. Angiosperms are sometimes divided on the basis of a group of characteristics into two major groups: the monocotyledons and the eudicotyledons. The most numerous of the monocotyledonous trees are

palms

; others include

agaves

aloes

dracaenas

, screw pines, and

yuccas

. By far the greatest number of tree species are eudicotyledons; they are represented by such familiar groups as

birches

elms

hollies

maples

oaks

poplars

ashes

, and

willows

Ecological and evolutionary classification

The tree is not an immutable biological category but rather a human concept based on visual

criteria

. Perhaps a general definition would describe a tree as a

perennial

woody plant that develops along a single main

trunk

to a height of at least 4.5 metres (15 feet) at maturity. This may be contrasted with a

shrub

, which might be loosely defined as a woody plant with multiple stems that is, in most cases, less than 3 metres (about 10 feet) tall. However, a species fitting the description of either in one area of the world might not necessarily do so in other regions, since a variety of stresses shape the habit of the mature plant. Thus, a given woody species may be a tree in one set of habitats within its range and a shrub elsewhere. For example, the

spruce

and

fir

may thrive in the tree form at the base of a mountain but assume a shrub form near the mountaintop, the variation due principally to stresses exerted by such environmental conditions as altitude, temperature, and oxygen tension.

As seen in the section above, trees are found among many plant families that also include shrubs and herbs, so that the concept of tree is not a phylogenetic one. Further, there is no clear

consensus

as to whether the tree form is the advanced or primitive condition. Some paleobotanists suggest that trees are the most primitive members within these plant families. However, tree forms are found in all the vascular plants, from the

club mosses

and

ferns

to the

gymnosperms

and

angiosperms

. It is furthermore true that, among the flowering plants, trees are found not only among the most primitive members (order

Magnoliales

) but also among the more specialized, or advanced, members, such as the roses (order

Rosales

Consequently, from both a taxonomic and a phylogenetic perspective, the tree is an artificial category. On an ecological basis, however, the tree can be recognized as a natural construct, as it represents an adaptive strategy by many different taxa to exploit and dominate the habitat above the ground.

In the early stages of the development of terrestrial life, land plants were rootless and leafless. Since they had their origins in aqueous

environments

, they did not require the specialized conducting and supporting tissues afforded by

roots

and

stems

, nor did they require localized regions of

carbohydrate

synthesis, since each cell was involved in metabolism, water and nutrient absorption, and respiration. Habitats farther from the water as well as aerial habitats represented available uninhabited environments.

One key to exploiting terrestrial habitats is increasing complexity of the plant’s form to allow specialization of function. This requires physiological and morphological complexity as well as biological optimization. If all the tissues of massive tree trunks were alive, for example, the physiological cost of maintaining these structures in the living state would be enormous and probably unattainable. An elegant solution came in the form of

tremendous

structural adaptations: new tissues and organs permitted localization of the functions of the plant body.

The evolution of discrete plant body parts with separate functions allowed plants to move onto the land and undergo an incredible

adaptive radiation

Leaves

evolved as specialized

photosynthetic

organs. Stems provided mechanical strength as well as a conductive capacity to transport water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. Roots provided anchorage and absorption of sufficient water and nutrients to support the remainder of the plant.

Graeme Pierce Berlyn

42+ Common Types Of Trees With Names, Facts, and Pictures

There are thousands of different tree species in the world, but they can be categorized into several types.

Here are the types of trees and their distinctive features.

Category of trees

1. Coniferous trees

In common terms, this category would refer to evergreens. This means that the foliage of these types of trees will remain green all year round.

Their most distinct characteristic is their needle-like leaves. Coniferous trees would be the likes of

pines

cedars

and

Christmas trees

2. Deciduous trees

This category refers to hardwoods. Their most common characteristic is annual foliage shedding during fall. Hardwoods have more varieties to note.

They have unique appearances and characteristics particularly in terms of shapes of leaves.

Trees With White Flowers

Trees With Purple Flowers

Popular Types of trees

It is one of the most preferred landscaping trees in North America and is a part of the olive family. It has more or less than 60 species and the most popular of them are black, green and white ash.

They are drought tolerant and hardy being able to retain their foliage all year long. Its leaves will turn yellow and burgundy during fall. Females produce winged fruits while males don’t. Diamond-shaped ridges will appear in the bark when they reach maturity.

It is considered as the most widespread tree in North America. It is distinguishable for its tube-like overall appearance, white, soft trunks and yellow foliage in the fall.

A group of aspens is called a clone because each one is the exact genetic replica of another making them stand out for their generic appearance.

It has one of the most prolific and extensive rooting rates even after it is chopped down, it would be hard to extinguish the tree altogether.

Interesting fact, these trees were the first types of trees to emerge right after the glaciers of the ice age receded.

They belong to the genus Betula with more than 50 species (18 of which could be found in North America alone). They have distinguishable papery white bark with irregular shaped black-brown furrows.

They are considered as rare deciduous that are popular in winter landscapes. However, they cannot live long compared to hardwoods as they could only last for 20 years but not for 100 years.

Source

These trees are popular winter trees because they are used as Christmas trees. As wide and high growing evergreens, they are commonly found in streets, parks, wide gardens and boulevards.

It is native to the Himalayas and around the Mediterranean. In the US, it is grown as an ornamental because there are no native species available in the country. They retain their green foliage year-round and have a distinct holidays spice scent.

5. Cherry trees

These trees typically last for only 20 years except for the black cherry which lasts for up to 250 years. It is commonly associated with spring as its first blooms appear in the first week of spring.

A lot of spring events are dedicated to it especially in the US and Japan. Some cherry trees produce edible fruits while others are grown solely as ornamentals like the cherry blossoms.

Nonetheless, all cherry blossoms are edible and are dried for tea. They can grow huge (up to 80ft in the wild) and their black-brown trunks are sturdy.

Types of Cherry Trees

6. Conifer trees

It is one of the largest groups of gymnosperms in all continents except Antarctica with more than 800 species. They don’t produce flowers and fruits.

It is one of the tallest growing trees and includes the Giant Sequoias of North America. They are economically valuable as they produce a steady supply of good quality timber and in paper production.

7. Cottonwood trees (Populus deltoids)

It is a large deciduous tree that is strikingly fast-growing but with shorter lifespan. It is native to Canada, Mexico and the US.

It niches alongside streams and lakes but can be cultivated anywhere in high altitude places. It has smooth, yellow green bark that will turn ash gray when mature.

It has long, triangular leaves that are toothed in the edge. It is considered as an ornamental tree but it is also used to manufacture boxes.

Types of poplar trees

Source

Any apple tree that produces fruits with 2-inches in diameter is considered as a crabapple.

It produces a multicolor façade in the summer with its dark-colored buds and lively colored flowers. Its leaves are dark green in the summer and spring and turn to red, bronze, yellow and purple in the fall.

Its fruits are used in tarts, jams, ciders and other preserves. It is native to Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan and has existed for 6,000 years.

These trees provide an exquisite show year-long with their deep green foliage, large crepe-like blooms in hues of white, lavender and pink and slender, green-brown trunk.

They can be cultivated as garden shrubs in gardens but full-blown trees are usually seen in parks and streets.

The more sun it receives, the more blooms it will produce. It is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a wide range of growing conditions.

10. Cypress trees

The cypress is one of the most famous ornamental evergreen as it is also used as an alternative Christmas tree for a winter landscape.

Most cypresses look like open umbrellas including the Monterey cypress which grows at 70ft tall. Christmas cypress would include the Arizona cypress while the smallest growing cypress is the Gowen cypress.

It has green-blue leaves that overlap like braids. The most popular is the Lone cypress covering a 17-mile drive in California.

Source

They may be small-sized ornamentals but aesthetically, they will never disappoint. It produces masses of tiny, white/yellow flowers in spring contrasting in an acid gray-brown bark.

Because its wood is coarse and hard, it is also used in the production of tool handles, golf club heads, butchers’ blocks, mallets and jewelry boxes.

12. Elm trees

This semi-deciduous/deciduous tree is found deep in forests around the world. This tree is native to Europe and Asia and there are more than 40 genus of elms around the world.

The most famous of these would be the American, English and Slippery elm. Its leaves are yellow green but will turn darker as they mature.

Its leaves are notable for having a rough underside. It also has unique gray bark with odd furrows in it. As it grows older, the bark will flake and inside it will be white and brown wood. It is used to make boxes, crates and barrels.

Types of elm trees

They are also called the weeping fig and are known for their glossy, deep green foliage. They are also notable for their longevity either as houseplant or in the wild.

They have minimum care requirements and are low growers making them easy to naturalize in home gardens.

Its most popular species are Midnight known for their curly and dark leaves, the Starlight with deep green leaves with white edges and Judith with deep green leaves and yellow edges.

These trees are known to thrive in warmer climates. They grow delectable fruits with nutty taste, significantly referenced in the Judeo-Christian traditions.

Despite being known to grow in long summers, they can also be kept as indoor plants in temperate and colder regions.

Its most popular species is the common fig especially for new homeowners as they do not need pollinators to facilitate growth.

Other fig cultivars are harder to grow since they need specific pollinators which are wasps. Its fruits are preserved and are used as ingredients for cooking.

17 Best Plants That Repel Wasps And Bees

15. Fir trees

Source

Fir trees are very popular in North America because they are commercially sold as Christmas trees.

There are more than 55 species of this tree but the famous species are the Balsam and Fraser fir. No fir tree could be grown as shrubs. At mature phase, they can reach a height of up to 260ft and their trunks could reach 13ft in diameter.

They have a pyramid shape appearance and they are distinguished from pines for their winged seeds and erect cones.

16. Flowering trees

As the name implies, this type of trees refer to trees or shrubs that either bloom with flowers only (ornamentals) or will bloom flowers that will turn into fruits after (fruit-bearing, flowering trees).

Flowering trees that will bloom year-round would be Dogwoods, Redbuds, Cherries and Fringes. Forsythia, magnolias and flowering crabapples are also included in the list of flowering trees.

Various fruit trees could thrive in various conditions but most of them will survive in temperate climates from zones 5-7.

All fruit trees are considered flowering trees too because their flowers will turn into fruits as they mature. But it has to be clarified that fruit trees are limited to trees that bear fruits for human consumption.

Once all the growing conditions are established, it will continue to bear fruits in the years to come and shall require minimum care conditions.

18. Hardwood trees

The term hardwood botanically refers to trees but astoundingly with no similar characteristics. Instead of needle-like leaves, hardwoods have large leaves.

They are also distinguishable because they produce fruits that are most of the time referred to as nuts.

Most importantly, they grow dormant during the winter and come back when temperatures stabilize. It is interesting to note that 40% of all trees in North America are considered hardwoods.

19. Hawthorn trees

They may be small in size but Hawthorn trees form a large group distinguished through their fruits and flowers.

All Hawthorn trees have recognizable scaly brown or gray barks and small, simple leaves. It is mostly used as a shrub in landscaping and for other commercial uses.

20. Hickory trees

These trees are exotic looking, with sturdy, dark brown trunks found in lines in state parks and large gardens. It is divided into two major divisions: common/true hickories or pecan hickories.

The pecan hickory is the sole species in this group that have commercial value because it produces good timber. All hickories have distinct oblong-shaped leaves that will change from deep green into yellow during fall.

They have gray-brown barks that peel as they mature. They are also known for their longevity as they could reach 300 years of age.

Types of Hickory Trees

21. Juniper trees

These trees thrive in arid regions and are considered as one of the most common trees around the world with almost 70 species.

The common juniper, to be specific, is the only species that lives in both North America and Europe. Junipers have two types of leaves: awl-like and scale-like.

Most bear two types of leaves while some features only one type of leaf. Because they produce small tree rings, they are valuable for timber production. They are also known for their longevity. Rocky Mountain junipers are documented to have existed from 2,000 years ago.

22. Lilac trees

Lilacs can be cultivated as either shrub or tree and can be further divided between upright lilacs and densely branched lilacs.

Upright lilacs are also called common lilacs and are known for their wide color selection and fragrance types.

On the other hand, densely branched lilacs are specifically bred because they bloom in masses in cramped up spaces. The most popular densely branched lilacs are the Manchurian and Meyer lilac.

23. Lime trees

This type has more than 80 cultivars and hybrids in its cluster. They are popular trees because they produce edible, sweet, acidic fruits.

Its most popular species is the Mexican lime because of its economic value. It is used in culinary purposes and common in the beverage and confectionery industry.

Its peels are also processed and dried for many functions in Asia and the Americas. In terms of appearance, they often share irregularly branching twigs, small, glossy leaves and thorns in their stems.

This type comes from the pea family and can be grown through shrubs and trees. All species of locusts are native to all regions in North America and are cultivated for many functional reasons including erosion control and for garden hedging.

Because of their white, cascading flowers, they are also cultivated as ornamentals. The most popular locust is the black locust tree.

25. Mahogany trees

This medium-size evergreen has small pointy leaves and hard fruits. It is native to southeast Asia, the Caribbean and south Florida.

It has a sturdy, thin trunk and gray bark that will turn darker as it gets old. It is one of the most popular industrial trees because of its rich brown color.

It is used to manufacture musical instruments, boats, caskets and furniture. Its bark is also scrubbed for its potency as astringent.

26. Mango trees

Mangoes are famous tropical trees since below 30 degrees could already damage the tree itself and its fruits.

It can grow very tall at 100ft and can provide a wide foliage canopy at 35ft. It is long, pointy, leathery leaves and small, yellow flowers emitting a sweet aroma before producing fruits.

Mangoes receiving enough light will have red stems while those with less than 6hours of light everyday will have brown-black barks.

It is dubbed as the most important North American forest tree group. They are known for being valuable woods in wildlife conservation and as highly aesthetic forest trees.

Its most popular species is the sugar maple as it is the source of maple syrup. The bark color depends on the maple tree type but its most distinguishable feature would be its twig, bud and leaf arrangement and color.

These trees have gained popularity through the years because of their ornamental value and fleshy, edible fruits that are added to tarts, pies and fermented as wine.

But since they are favorites of insects, butterflies and even pests, they are extinguished because of these pesky guests and because they also tend to become invasive.

The most famous mulberries are the black and red species.

29. Oak trees

These trees are found almost everywhere in New York City. There are at least 300 known

oak species

and 55 of them come from North America.

Oaks are divided between black and white oaks. White oaks have sweet tasting acorns while black oaks have bitter acorns and bristled leaves. They niche in forests and valleys.

30. Palm trees

This is another tropical tree with more than 2600 species. It is also one of the most planted trees because of their immanent benefits from food products, wood supply, oil, fuel and more.

They are also very common in parks, coastal boulevards and hotels but in regions that do not experience frost.

Palm trees

are also symbolic in many cultures and traditions.

31. Pear trees

This type of tree is another multifunctional tree that is why pears are popular orchard trees for homeowners.

Its fleshy fruits can be eaten raw or can be added in pastries, ciders and in savory dishes. Its sturdy, fine wood is also used in woodworks, in timber production and in furniture making.

The most commercially sold varieties are the Bartlett, Comice, Concorde, D’Anjou and Seckel.

32. Pecan trees

This type of tree produces the well-loved pecan nuts added to many baked goods and savory dishes. It could get quite messy though because its foliage, twigs and fruits have a habit of profuse shedding during fall.

In the wild, it could grow up to 130ft tall and its trunk can have a diameter of 75ft. It is very common in the southern US specifically in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri.

These coniferous trees are some of the most famous types of planted trees around the world. In colder regions, they are used as alternative Christmas trees.

They have a cone-shaped appearance and have fine, needle-like leaves. Pines have more than 250 types in its cluster with huge economic value especially in timber production. They require low care requirements (even in acidic and low-nutrient soils).

At their mature phase, they can provide good canopy making them a famous evergreen.

34. Plum trees

It might be an unknown fact to many but plum trees provide exquisite purple and white flowers during spring. These are ornamental plums.

The common thing that we know about plum trees is that they bear fleshy, edible fruits that can be eaten raw or used as ingredients for pastries and savory dishes. It is also fermented as cider or wine.

These are fruiting plums. It has ovate leaves that are deep green in spring and summer and turns orange, yellow, or purple-red during fall.

38+ Trees With White Flowers (With Pictures)

They are also called Judas trees because according to biblical scholars, the tree where Judas Iscariot hanged himself was an eastern redbud tree.

They make beautiful ornamental trees because of their explosive papery lavender and white flowers in the spring. They have distinct heart-shaped leaves and long stems but their bloom time is relatively short compared to other ornamentals.

They are not large trees though, only achieving a maximum height of 30ft and 20ft in width. It has brown, soft bark and a divided trunk.

36. Redwood trees

Redwoods are considered as nature’s skyscrapers because they are the tallest trees in the world since it includes the Giant Sequoia and the California redwood.

They can reach a mature height of more than 250ft and 30ft diameter. These very tall-growing trees are extensively seen in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

They have distinctive characteristics including the proverbial cinnamon-red bark. They also live very long. The Giant Sequoias in the Sequoia National Park is recorded to be more than 3,500 years old.

37. Spruce trees

With its more than 40 species, spruces can be grown as full trees or as ornamentals. They are used as an alternative for

Christmas trees

and winter landscapes.

They are cousins of pine as they are members of the same family called Pinaceae and are native to North America and the rest of the northern hemisphere.

Spruces also have high economic value as they are the main sources of paper and timber production.

They are also used in manufacturing musical instruments including sounding boards for violins and pianos. They are also used in industry level manufacture especially for boats, barrels and in aircraft.

38. Weeping willow trees

This type is native to northern and is one of the most recognizable trees out there. It has a lush, curved form and whimsical cascading leaves. Aside from its uses, it has also established a strong presence in films, literature and in certain religious traditions.

They get their name from their cascading foliage that looks like tear drops. Their strong presence is well-referenced in Psalms as they are said to be found in the rivers of Babylon. They are also featured in Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and in Pocahontas, among others.

39. Sycamore trees

These tall deciduous can be found streams, river bottoms and damp woodlands. It is tough and relatively hard but not that strong.

It is also grained and coarse, making it a tough wood to work with. It has an interesting bark though with its bottom half with dark brown color and it peels up until the top half to reveal a yellow green bark.

It is used in woodwork specifically in making crates, tobacco boxes and butchers’ blocks. It is also significant in Judeo-Christian traditions.

40. Teak trees

This tall evergreen could reach to up to 30ft. Its large leaves resemble tobacco but with white-blue color. It also bears small, brown fruits with papery texture.

Its light brown bark with white-gray furrows are used traditionally in treating fever and headache. Its wood is also used in woodwork particularly in making boats, windows and doors.

It is a popular deciduous because of well, the loved walnuts. Aside from its culinary significance, it also makes good timber.

It is sturdy, durable and heavy. It is easy to work with when it comes to woodworks. Its rich brown color is popular for high end furniture including interior fixtures, cabinets and even gunstocks.

It has an outer black bark with gray furrows and an inner dark brown bark.

It is a medium-sized deciduous found in streams, lakes and deep in the forest where it is most moist.

It is known for its black/brown bark with thick, rough scales all over it. It also has an eerie vibe to it thanks to its cascading leaves. Its uses are not for timber production because its trunk is soft and crooked.

As such, the willow tree is used for making boxes and pulps. It is also a famous tree due to successful movies such as the Lord of the Rings and Pocahontas.

24 Different Types of Arborvitae Trees for Your Yard (With Pictures)

Conclusion

To conclude, there are a lot of things you should master about the types of trees. For one, you should be able to at least know the basic distinguishing characteristics of trees, specifically growing habit, rooting type, color of bark and of course if it is an evergreen or a deciduous type.

You should also know the growing conditions they require and knowing where they are natives of could be a good start to know what they need and where they will grow best.

With all things considered, knowing the various types of trees is of prime importance to landscape design and homeowners.

A Homeowner’s Guide To Proper Tree Care And Maintenance

87 Types of Trees (With Pictures and Names) - Identification Guide

All types of trees play an important role in our ecosystem. Trees provide shade, shelter, oxygen, and many even produce fruit. There are over 60,000 species of trees that come in all shapes and sizes, from majestic cedars to smaller

fruit trees

and shrubs. Identifying the different kinds of trees usually depends on examining their leaves and bark. Some types of trees have wide oval leaves, some have star-shaped ones, and many evergreen trees have needle leaves.

All species of trees are classified into two main types: deciduous trees and evergreen trees. Deciduous trees shed their leaves at a certain time of the year – usually in the autumn while

types of evergreen trees

keep their leaves throughout the year.

Trees are woody perennial plants that are a member of the kingdom

Plantae

. All species of trees are grouped by their genus, family, and order. This helps make identifying and studying trees easier.

Apart from providing oxygen for the planet and beauty when they bloom or turn color, trees are very useful. Certain species of hardwood and softwood trees are excellent for timber, making furniture, and paper. When managed properly, trees are a good source of renewable energy and construction material.

In this article, you will learn how to identify 87 different types of trees. Most of these trees are common in North America, Europe, and other countries around the world.

Two Main Categories of Trees

All of the thousands of species of trees fall into two categories – deciduous trees and evergreen trees.

Deciduous trees

Deciduous trees shed their leave usually in the autumn

Deciduous trees are the kind of trees that lose their leaves at certain times of the year. The term deciduous literally means to “fall off at maturity.”

In North America, Europe, and temperate counties, deciduous trees such as oak,

walnut

elm

, and

birch

shed their leaves in fall. This is usually preceded by the leaves turning wonderful colors including shades of orange, brown, and yellow.

In tropical countries, species of deciduous trees lose their leaves during dry seasons.

Evergreen trees

Evergreen trees retain their leaves all year around

Species of evergreen trees

such as spruce,

pine

, and

fir trees

keep their leaves throughout the year. There are about 14 family groups of evergreen trees, and these trees provide color in gardens and landscapes all year long. Evergreen trees are the reason why forests look so beautiful in winter landscapes.

Identifying the Types of Tree Leaves

The shapes of the leaves help to identify the tree species

Tree identification is usually possible by examining the leaves.

There are three basic leaf types: broadleaf, needles, and scales.

Broadleaf

Most, but not all, deciduous plants have

broadleaves

that can be in all shapes and sizes. The leaf shapes can be oval, rounded, long and narrow, triangular, or heart-shaped. Some easily identifiable broadleaves are the iconic maple leaf and the oak leaf with its lobed leaves.

Needle leaves

Many evergreen

trees such as conifers

, pines, and spruce trees have needle leaves. These can be long, thin and straight and grow in clusters. Or, the needles could be soft needles that grow sparsely on the twig.

Scale leaves

Some types of evergreen trees like juniper and cedar have scale-like leaves. Their leaves look more like scales than needles.

Other ways to identify trees by their leaves include:

Opposite leaves

grow directly across from each other on the leaf stem.

Alternate leaves

grow in a staggered, alternating pattern along the stem.

Types of Trees With Pictures and Identifying Features

Here is a list of many types of common trees that grow in forests, woodlands, fields, and gardens.

Birch Trees

Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with white peeling bark

There are about 60 species of hardwood birch trees of the genus

Betula

and in the family

Betulaceae

. Birch trees can be easy to identify as their bark is often white or silver-colored and the long drooping branches have small thin leaves. Wood from birch is hard and is good for making furniture and plywood and is also a good source of firewood.

Tree identification

: Birch trees have small triangular-shaped leaves with a slightly serrated edge. Another recognizable feature is that the bark of birch trees is papery. Depending on the species of birch, the smooth bark can be dark gray to white.

Maple Trees

Japanese maple (botanical name: Acer palmatum) is a small deciduous tree with many cultivars growing worldwide

Maple trees

are beautiful deciduous shade trees with deeply lobed leaves. Maple trees have dark brown furrowed bark, small winged fruits, and narrow reddish-brown twigs.

Maple trees belong to the genus

Acer

in the family

Sapindaceae

. Although the maple tree is commonly associated with Canada, most of the species are native to Asia. The most common maple tree species in Europe is the sycamore maple tree (

Acer pseudoplatanus

), and there are 10 species native to Canada.

Some of the most popular maple trees are the sugar maple (

Acer saccharum

‘Autumn Blaze’ maple (

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’

), red maple (

Acer rubrum

), and

Japanese maple (

Acer palmatum

The most famous product made from maple trees is the sweet maple syrup made from the tree’s sap. Although you can make syrup from any maple tree, it’s only the sugar maple tree (

Acer saccharum

) that produces quality sweet syrup.

Maple is a hardwood tree that is also useful for making baseball bats and its timber is valued in the construction industry.

Tree identification

: Maples can be woody shrubs growing about 33 ft. (10 m) tall or large majestic trees up to 150 ft. (45 m) tall. The most common identifying feature of maple trees is their lobed leaves growing opposite each other on branches.

Ash Trees

Ash trees are medium to large size and most of them are deciduous

Ash trees

(

Fraxinus)

are medium to large deciduous trees with a rounded crown of dark green leaves.

Ash trees

have lanceolate pinnate leaves that grow in groups of five, seven, or nine leaflets. Most species of mature ash trees have gray bark with a pattern that looks like a fishnet.

Most varieties of ash trees grow to between 50 and 80 ft. (15 – 24 m) tall. The medium-sized trees have a spreading round canopy up to 50 ft. (15 m) wide. Most varieties of ash trees grow in USDA zones 3 to 9 in full sun.

Ash is a species of tree native to North America and it’s a common tree in parks,

deciduous forests

, woodlands, and residential neighborhoods.

Ash trees are a species of hardwood tree in the genus

Fraxinus

and family

Oleaceae.

This means that ash trees are related to olive trees and woody

lilac bushes

Ash tree wood is prized for its strength and flexibility. The grain in the wood is also attractive and this makes the tree valuable for furniture makers.

Tree identification

: Ash trees have large, pinnately compound leaves. Ash tree leaves have narrow and slightly oval shape and they usually have five or seven leaflets. Mature ash trees have bark with ridges that form diamond shapes. Ash tree branches grow oppositely from each other.

Further reading:

Ash Tree: Types, Bark and Leaves – Identification Guide

Oak Trees

Oak trees live in a wide range of habitats and are the national tree of many countries.

Oak trees

are hardwood trees that are common in North America and Europe. There are over 90 oak species in the United States. Oaks can be trees or shrubs and are in the genus

Quercus

and the family

Fagaceae

Oak trees are well-known for producing wood that is extremely hard, durable, and resistant to disease. Oak wood has been prized for centuries and was used to make ships, create interior paneling, and also barrels for storing wines and spirits.

Oak trees are divided into two groups:

white oaks

(Quercus, subgenus leucobalanus) and

red oaks

(Quercus, subgenus Erythrobalanus). White oak trees have gray-colored bark and leaves with rounded lobes. Red oak trees have darker-colored bark and leaves with pointed lobes.

Oak trees are known for

their acorns

(also called oak nuts). Acorns have a smooth leathery shell that sits in a cup called a cupule. The acorns of white oak trees have a sweet or slightly bitter taste, however the acorns from red oak trees have a very bitter taste.

Tree identification

: Most species of oak are deciduous trees and a few are evergreen (such as the

live oak tree

Oak trees can be identified by their lobed leaves

with pointed or rounded tips. Oaks also produce acorns which are oval-shaped nuts sitting in a small cup-like structure called cupule.

Types of Oak Trees and How to Identify them (Pictures)

Sycamore Trees (

Platanus

)

Sycamores are large flowering deciduous trees that grow easily from seeds

Sycamore trees

are large deciduous trees with a broad, rounded crown of lush green foliage. Sycamore trees have large serrated lobed leaves that look like maple leaves. These huge trees have thin, peeling reddish-brown bark. Sycamore trees can grow to huge proportions with some reaching heights of 130 ft. (40 m).

In the late autumn or winter sycamore trees have round brown seed balls hanging on their branches.

Sycamore is a species of large hardwood tree in the genus

Platanus

. Sycamore wood is very hard and dense and not easy to work with.

Sycamore trees are fast-growing popular shade trees in city landscapes and parks. However, their roots have a destructive effect on sidewalks and building foundations. They are one of the largest deciduous trees native to North America.

The most common sycamore tree species in North America is the

Platanus occidentalis

which is also called the American sycamore. Other common names for the American sycamore tree are buttonwood tree, western plane tree, American plane tree, and water beech.

London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia)

London Plane tree (Platanus × acerifolia)

Another type of sycamore tree is the

London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia)

. This is a hybrid deciduous tree of the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and Oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis) species. London plane tree grows between 66 and 100 ft. (20 – 30 m) with a large, rounded crown up to 75 ft. (22 m) wide. The hybrid tree grows well in urban environments. It is found in major cities across the United States as a popular street tree.

Tree identification

: Sycamores trees often have bark that easily flakes off, giving the trunk a reddish-brown, multicolored look. Sycamore trees have large lobed leaves that look similar to maple leaves. The leaves grow alternately on stems and have 3 to 5 lobes with toothed edges.

Cedar Trees (

Cedrus)

Cedars are evergreen coniferous trees

Cedar trees

are large evergreen coniferous trees that have needle-like leaves that are arranged spirally on scented woody branches. Cedar trees are native to the Mediterranean region. True cedar trees are in the plant family

Pinaceae

and the genus

Cedrus

Cedar trees are a type of hardwood and can grow especially tall with some of the largest species growing up to 164 ft. (50 m) high. Because of their grace and elegance, cedars are popular ornamental trees and are often cultivated as bonsai trees. Cedar trees are also popular for their aromatic wood and fragrant foliage.

There are hardwood trees native to North America that have “cedar” in their common name. But these types of cedars are in the list of false cedar trees. If you check their scientific name, many are species of junipers in the family

Juniperus

Tree identification

: Cedar trees have scale leaves that grow in dark green or bluish-green spiral clusters. There could be between 15 and 45 clusters on short shoots that make up the leaves on branches.

Juniper Trees (

Juniperus)

Junipers are coniferous evergreen trees that vary in size and shape

Juniper trees are often called cedars but they belong to a different genus and family. Junipers (genus

Juniperus

in the family

Cupressaceae

) are evergreen conifers trees and shrubs with needle-like or soft scaly leaves that have a pine scent and dark-blue berry-like aromatic fleshy cones.

Species of juniper trees are tall columnar evergreens that grow between 66 and 103 ft. (20 – 40 m) tall. However, junipers can also grow as low-growing, spreading shrubs growing as little as 1 ft. (0.3 m) or as tall as 5 or 6 ft. (1.5 – 1.8 m). Junipers also grow in many climates and can withstand freezing temperatures.

Some popular types of junipers in North America include the Common juniper (Juniperus communis), California juniper (Juniperus californica), the

eastern red cedar (

Juniperus virginiana

) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma).

Tree identification

: Most species of juniper have needle-like leaves when they are immature that grow into scale leaves as the tree ages, with dark blue berry-like cones.

Further reading:

Juniper Trees and Shrubs: Types, Leaves, Berries – Identification Guide

Willow Trees

Willows are deciduous

flowering trees

and shrubs that prefer very moist soil

Willow trees

are easily identified by their long drooping branches covered in oval elongated leaves. The leafy woody plants in the willow family are deciduous and can be low-growing shrubs or medium-sized trees.

There are about 400 species of willow that belong to the genus

Salix

. Willows can be large weeping trees, dwarf trees, or low-growing creeping shrubby plants.

One of the interesting features of willow tree leaves is their color. Willow leaves can be greenish-yellow, bluish-green or have red blushing.

Wood from willow trees tends to be soft and flexible and the branches are often used for making wicker baskets.

Tree identification

: Willow leaves are simple and elongated with serrated edges. Willows are usually last to drop their leaves in fall.

Pine Trees

Pine is an evergreen coniferous that is fast growing and long lived tree

Pine trees are often used as ornamental trees and are a softwood type of conifer. Evergreen trees in the genus

Pinus

are probably the most recognizable type of coniferous tree.

Pine trees produce hard cones and their leaves are clusters of needle leaves. Pine trees grow tall and straight with some of the largest species reaching heights of 268 ft. (81 m). Because of their fast growth, pine wood is important in the construction and furniture industries.

Most

types of pine trees

have reddish-brown or gray bark and there is also a species called the Red pine.

Tree identification

: Their tall straight trunks and needle like leaves that grow near the top of the tree make these evergreens easy to identify.

Hickory Trees

Hickory are deciduous trees and include about 18 species

Hickory trees

are deciduous trees in the genus

Carya

that are common in North America, China, and India. Hickory trees are well-known for their edible nuts.

There are 18 species of hickory trees, 12 of which are native to North America. The most common types of hickory trees are shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) and shellbark hickory (also called kingnut or Carya laciniosa).

Pecan trees are also a type of hickory tree as they are in the

Carya

genus and their botanical name is

Carya illinoinensis.

Pecan tree bark is interesting because the bark splits and peels as the tree grows.

Hickory trees are related to

walnut trees

because they are in walnut family (

Juglandaceae

). Hickory is a type of hardwood that is used for making sports equipment such as bats and sticks, as well as being used for smoking cured meats.

Tree identification

: Hickory trees can be identified by their large green leaves that have a pointed tip at the end and they grow alternately on the stems.

Hickory produces edible nuts

that are in a “double” shell.

Redbud Trees

Blooming Redbud tree

Redbud trees are small

flowering trees

that are famous for their beautiful pink or white spring flowers. Redbud trees have heart shaped leaves and their seedpods have dark brown color. Redbuds are deciduous trees that have green leaves in the summer that then become yellow, orange or red during autumn. Redbud trees belong to the plant family

Fabaceae

and the genus

Cercis.

One of the most common redbud trees is the Eastern Redbud (

Cercis canadensis

). The Eastern redbud tree is named for where it commonly grows, which is in eastern North America.

Some of the names of

redbud tree varieties to plant in your yard

are: Ruby Falls redbud, Forest Pansy redbud, and Ace of Hearts redbud.

Tree Identification

: Redbud trees can be identified by their pink flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Many cultivars in the redbud species

Cercis canadensis

have different flower colors and tree size. Redbud trees can have light pink, white, or dark pink flowers.

Mahogany Trees

There are many species of mahogany tree but “true” ones are in the genus Swietenia

Mahogany is a type of redwood tree that is famed for its hardness and straight grains. Genuine mahogany trees are 3 species in the genus

Swietenia

and are native to North and South America. Other types of mahogany tree in the family

Meliaceae

grow in Asia, Africa, and New Zealand.

Mahogany wood is highly rated for its reddish-brown color and durability. Mahogany also is rot-resistant and has tonal properties making it the perfect type of wood for constructing musical instruments.

Tree identification

: Rich brown-red colored wood that gets darker with age. Mahogany tree leaves have oval shape and they grow opposite each other on the stem.

Teak Trees

The tropical teak is large deciduous tree and is known for its high quality

Teak are massive deciduous trees that are species of trees in the genus

Tectona.

Some species of teak tree can grow up to 131 ft. (40 m) tall and their branches produce thin, papery leaves.

Teak is a type of hardwood that is popular with furniture makers and boat builders is teak. The reason why teak wood is widely used is that it is very weather resistant. Often, outdoor furniture, window frames, flooring, and boat decks are constructed from teak trees.

Tree identification

: Teak tree leaves are large and ovate with a smooth surface and edges.

Walnut Trees

Black walnut tree is has a commercial importance for lumber and walnuts production

Walnut trees are best well-known for their delicious and healthy edible nuts. Walnuts are deciduous trees are in the genus

Juglans

and the family

Juglandaceae

. Walnut trees also tend to be large, massive trees that grow to between 33 and 131 ft. (10 – 40 m) tall. They also have a large spread.

The most important species of walnut tree for nut production is the

Juglans regia,

or black walnut. This species of walnut is an important source of hardwood timber.

Walnut trees

generally have rough bark with deep fissures. The ridges in their bark run vertically up and down the trunk. The color of the walnut bark can be light gray to dark brown.

Tree identification

: Walnut tree leaves are alternate and are comprised of leaflets that grow opposite each other.

Further reading

Walnut Trees: Types, Bark and Leaves – Identification Guide

Apple Trees

Apple tree is a very popular and common

type of fruit tree

that is cultivated worldwide and has a beautiful blossom

Apple trees are a genus of large trees in the family

Rosaceae

that produce beautiful flowers and a crop of apples.

Apple trees grow in most countries in the world and the most common species is the

Malus domestica

tree. It is reckoned that apple trees are the oldest cultivated tree in history. It is estimated that there are over 7,500 different kinds of apple trees.

Apple trees can grow to 40 ft. (12 m) tall and have a spread of the same size. There are plenty of dwarf apple tree cultivars for gardens that may just grow 3 – 6 ft. (1 – 2 m) high.

Tree identification

: Apple tree leaves are alternate and simple and their shape is egg-shaped. Many types of apple trees have ovate leaves that come to a point.

Crabapple Trees

Crabapple Purple Prince (Malus ‘Purple Prince’)

Crabapple trees (botanical name

Malus

) are like miniature apple trees (

Malus domestica

). The smallest crabapple trees can be small shrub-like bushes around 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Larger crabapples can grow to between 20 and 30 ft. (6 – 9 m).

Crabapple trees are stunning ornamental flowering trees. Crabapple flowers come in spectacular shades of pink, white, purple, orange, and red. Additionally, crabapple trees produce small tart fruits called crabapples.

Crabapple fruits are generally up to 2” (5 cm) in diameter

and can be yellow, amber, orange, red or purple. The taste of crabapples ranges from sweet to very sour and bitter, and they are made into jellies, sauces, pickled crabapples, and jams.

Further reading:

Crabapple Trees (Malus): Types, Flowers, Fruits

Ornamental Flowering Pear Trees

Ornamental pear trees flower with beautiful white flowers every spring. In the picture: Bradford ornamental pear tree in bloom

Ornamental pear trees (

Pyrus calleryana

are) are deciduous flowering trees with shiny green leaves, cup-shaped white flowers, and beautiful fall colors. Most varieties of

Pyrus calleryana

have a pyramidal, upward growth shape. Ornamental pear trees grow between 32 and 40 ft. (10 – 12 m) tall and around 22 to 30 ft. (7 – 9 m) wide.

Although all flowering pear trees—including

Pyrus calleryana

—actually produce fruit, the tiny pears on ornamental pear trees are too insignificant to be useful. The pears are exceedingly small, measuring only about half an inch (1 cm).

Pyrus calleryana

fruit also tastes bitter, and, for most people, the small pears are inedible.

Ornamental pear varieties are heat and drought-tolerant and are resistant to many fruit tree diseases. These facts make ornamental pear trees popular for front and backyards. Ornamental flowering pear trees grow in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Further reading:

Types of Ornamental Flowering Pear Trees – Fruitless Pear Trees

Cherry Trees

Cherry trees have many cultivars that include edible fruit trees, ornamental flowering trees, weeping and dwarf trees

Cherry trees (

Prunus

) are spectacular deciduous flowering trees that bloom in spring. There are hundreds of varieties of cherry trees – Species of cherry trees are categorized by their fruit or blossoms.

There are

sweet cherries

(

Prunus avium

), sour cherries (

Prunus cerasus

), and

ornamental cherry blossom trees

, such as Japanese cherry blossom tree (Prunus serrulata) and Yoshino cherry (Prunus

x yedoensis).

Typically, fruit from cherry blossom trees is too small and sour to eat—although they are a favorite of many birds.

If you have a small garden or a compact space, you can choose

dwarf cherry blossom trees

. Typically growing in USDA zones 5 through 8, you can easily grow a stunning dwarf cherry blossom tree in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil.

There are also

weeping cherry trees

, such as weeping Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) and

dwarf weeping cherry tree

varieties, such as

Prunus jacquemontii ‘Hiromi’

that grows between 3 and 6 ft. (1 – 2 m).

Cherry trees have beautiful whitish-pink blossoms in spring between mid-March and mid-April covering bare branches. Cherry trees have glossy green oval leaves with pointed tips and serrated edges.

Cherry trees grow in USDA zones 5 through 9. However, some cold-hardy cherry trees can withstand temperatures in zone 4.

Further reading:

Types of Cherry Trees with Their Leaves and Flowers – Identification Guide

Hawthorn Trees

Most hawthorn trees grow between 5–15 m (16–49 ft.) tall and have edible berry-like fruit

The botanical name for

hawthorn trees

Crataegus

and they are in the same family (

Rosaceae

) as apples. Hawthorns are a type of tree or shrub that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Leaves from the hawthorn tree grow spirally on long shoots.

Because of their attractiveness, hawthorns are grown as street trees or ornamental trees and the smaller shrubs also make great hedges.

Other names for hawthorns include ‘thornapples,’ ‘hawberries,’ ‘mayhaw,’ or ‘May-tree.’

Tree identification

: Hawthorn leaves come in many different shapes. Some types of hawthorn trees have leaves that are deeply lobed and look like large parsley leaves. Other hawthorn leaves look more ovate due to having shallow lobes.

Elm Trees

Elm trees can grow tall and are popular street trees

Elm trees

are a common type of forest tree that are classed as deciduous or semi-deciduous. There are about 35 species of elm in the genus

Ulmus.

Some common species of elm include

American elm (

Ulmus americana

), European elm (

Ulmus glabra

), and Slippery elm (

Ulmus rubra

Elm trees are large shade trees that can grow up to 100 ft. (30 m) tall with a wide spread of around 75 ft. (22 m). Some elm species have tall, upright growth, and other types of elm trees have an umbrella-shaped canopy.

Tree identification

: Elm is a thick, dense hardwood tree and some species are especially ornamental and beautiful. Elm leaves are classed as broad-leaves that can be between 7 and 16 cm long and their ovate shape tapers to a point. Elm bark is a dark grayish-brown color with deep furrows and a scaly appearance. Elm tree seeds are small and round and are protected in an oval papery casing called a samara.

Types of Elm Trees with Their Bark and Leaves – Identification Guide

Spruce Trees

Spruce trees are slow growing and are important in the building industry

Spruce trees

make up many of the

types of forests

in North America and are a type of coniferous evergreen tree. Spruces are classed as large trees that belong to the

Picea

genus. One feature of spruce trees is that they are extremely cold hardy. Some of the larger spruce species are very imposing because they can be as high as 200 ft. (60 m).

All of the 35 species of spruce trees have pine needles that radiate equally around the stems and can be prickly. The most common spruce trees in North America are the Red spruce, Black spruce, and White spruce. Spruce trees are also traditionally used as Christmas trees. Spruce trees are also one of the most important trees for the timber industry.

Tree identification

: Spruce tree cones are long and cylindrical that hang down off the tree. Also, the leaves of spruce trees are rows of green, bluish-green, or silver-green needles.

Fir Trees

Fir trees

are large evergreen conifer trees that are mainly found in forests in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have needle-like leaves that stay green all year long. Some species of fir tree such as the Fraser fir, balsam fir, and noble fir are popular

types of Christmas trees

The easiest way to identify fir trees is by looking at their needles and cones. The needles of fir trees tend to be softer than pine or spruce. Unlike the clusters of pine needles on a branch, fir tree needles attach individually to the branches and not in clusters. Also fir cones tend to grow straight upward from the branches.

The bark of young fir trees is usually smooth and gray. As the tree matures the bark becomes ridged.

Types of Fir Trees – Identification

Hemlock Trees

Cones and foliage of Canadian hemlock (

Tsuga canadensis

)

Hemlock trees (botanical name Tsuga) are a species of large evergreen coniferous trees native to North America that belong to the pine family.

Native hemlock trees generally grow between 30 and 230 ft. (10 – 70 m) tall. However there are dwarf cultivars of the popular Eastern hemlock or Canadian hemlock that are beautiful landscaping trees to suit small gardens.

Hemlock trees are identified by their conical shape, flat, aromatic needle-like leaves, oval or cylindrical seed-bearing cones, and reddish-brown bark. Hemlock needles are recognizable by their flat appearance and blunt, rounded tips, with a smooth, shiny dark green upper side and parallel white stripes on the underside.

Hemlocks are cold-hardy evergreens that grow in USDA zones 3 to 7. They perform well in damp soils and can be found growing in wetlands.

Further reading:

Hemlock Trees (Tsuga): Canadian, Western, Leaves, Bark – Identification

Locust Trees

Flowers of black locust tree

Locust trees

are fast-growing flowering trees that grow to between 66 and 98 ft. (20 – 30 m) and belong to a family of flowering plants called

Fabaceae

. Most types of locust trees grow in the eastern states of North America.

The most common types of locust trees are the black locust and honey locust tree. Locust trees have fragrant sweet spring flowers and colorful fall foliage. Many varieties of locust trees have long sharp thorns and there are a few thornless species.

Locust trees are hardy trees that are known for their hard and durable wood that is used for making furniture, fence posts, flooring, and small boats.

Identifying species of locust trees can be done by features such as their flowers, color of bark, height of the tree, the thorns, as well as by the shape and color of its seed pods.

Types of Locust Trees with Identification Guide and Pictures

Cottonwood Trees

Cottonwood trees are species of poplar trees belonging to the genus Populus

Cottonwood trees

are huge deciduous forest trees that have large green leaves, thick foliage and deeply fissured grayish-brown bark. One of the common features of all types of cottonwood trees is the fluffy cotton-like strands that appear in early summer .These large trees can grow to between 50 and 80 ft. (15 – 24 m) and some species can grow even higher.

Cottonwood trees are common in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia. Cottonwood trees are popular because they are fast-growing, their timber is cheap, and they thrive in wetlands and arid environments.

For many people, the fluff from cottonwood trees is a nuisance and can cause allergic reactions. However only the female species of cottonwood trees produce the white fluff for which the tree is known.

Cottonwood Trees: Facts, Identification, Pictures and More

Poplar Trees (Populus)

White poplar tree (Populus alba)

Poplar (Populus) trees are large deciduous trees with rounded to triangular leaves, attractive grayish bark, and small clusters of drooping flowers.

Many poplar trees are identified by their bark’s color— white, gray, or black— and triangular, ovate leaves. The white poplar is the most common poplar tree and has white bark and white and green leaves that seem to ‘twinkle’ in gentle breezes.

Apart from the common white poplar tree (Populus alba), other types of poplars include the black poplar (Populus nigra) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera).

Many poplar species are large ornamental trees with wide canopies, making for excellent shade trees. Native poplar trees are easy to grow and have a relatively short lifespan. These

fast-growing trees

are good choices for planting in wet, moist ground where there is plenty of space.

Poplar trees range in height and grow in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Further reading:

Poplar Trees: Types, Bark, Leaves – Identification

Arborvitae Trees (Thuja Trees)

Arborvitaes (Thuja)

are evergreen conifers with soft, lush feathery foliage. Different types of arborvitaes grow as upright

columnar trees

, small conical trees, or globe-shaped shrubs. Arborvitae trees and shrubs are ideal for natural privacy screens, wide hedges, living fences, or specimen trees.

The American arborvitae (

Thuja occidentalis

) and Giant arborvitae (

Thuja plicata

) are native to North America, where they are popular garden landscaping plants. American and giant arborvitaes can grow to a height of 49 ft. (15 m) tall, however

small cultivars

have develop to suit smaller spaces.

The ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae is one of the most popular landscaping trees in the

Thuja

species. Also called ‘Smaragd,’ this upright columnar arborvitae has compact growth and reaches up to 14 ft. (4 m) tall.

Varieties of Arborvitae Hedges, Trees, and Shrubs

Cypress Trees (Cupressus)

Mediterranean Cypress / Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) trees, foliage and cones

There are various trees with the common name cypress, however not all of them are true cypress tress.

True

cypress trees

belong to the coniferous plant genus

Cupressus

. Cypress trees have soft, feathery evergreen foliage and produce cones that look like large acorns. Cypress trees such as the Monterey cypress (

Cupressus macrocarpa

) and the Mediterranean Cypress / Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) are true cypress trees.

False cypress trees are evergreen and deciduous

coniferous trees

that also have the common name cypress. However, they are not from the cypress genus

Cupressus

. The bald cypress (

Taxodium distichum

) and Pond Cypress (

Taxodium ascendens

) are examples of false cypresses. The Hinoki cypress (

Chamaecyparis obtusa

) and Lawson Cypress (

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

) are other false cypress varieties.

True and False Types of Cypress Trees

Eucalyptus Trees

Lemon eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus citriodora / Corymbia citriodora)

Eucalyptus trees

have evergreen aromatic leaves and attractive smooth peeling bark. The unusual eucalyptus flowers have a fuzzy look and can be white, cream, yellow, pink, or bright red colors.

Eucalyptus plants are flowering trees and shrubs with over 700 species. Some species of eucalyptus trees can grow as tall as 330 ft. (100 m). Eucalyptus shrubs—known as mallees—grow up to 33 ft. (10 m) tall.

Some types of Eucalyptus trees are called gum trees, and fruit from eucalyptus plants are called gumnuts. Eucalyptus plants are native to Australia but also grow in tropical and temperate climates throughout the world.

Further reading:

Types of Eucalyptus Trees: Leaves, Flowers, Bark

Dogwood Trees (Cornus)

Flowering dogwoods are small to medium size trees. They add decorative touch to any garden

Dogwoods

are beautiful flowering deciduous trees belonging to the genus

Cornus

with distinctive flowers, berries, bark, and leaves. Dogwood flowers bloom in spring and are typically white, but some species produce yellow, pale red or pink blossoms.

Dogwood trees are small to medium-sized trees, growing between 10 and 25 ft. (3 – 7.6 m) tall. Most species of dogwood are fast-growing ornamental trees that are ideal for garden landscapes. Some types of dogwoods look like shrubs as they are small shrubby multi-stemmed plants.

To grow dogwood trees, plant them in partial shade or full sun. Dogwoods flower every spring and require well-draining soil that is always moist. After the small trees are established, you only need to water them regularly on hot summer days.

Further reading:

Flowering Dogwood Trees and Shrubs: Types, Leaves, Bark – Identification

Crape Myrtle Trees (Lagerstroemia)

Large and small crape myrtle trees grow best as specimen trees and add a focal point to a landscaped garden

The ornamental

crape myrtles

belong to the

Lagerstroemia

genus of flowering trees and shrubs that thrive in warm climates. Popular in garden landscapes, crape myrtle trees produce masses of red, pink, purple, and white flowers throughout the summer.

Crape myrtle shrub-like trees have deciduous or evergreen foliage, colorful peeling bark, multiple stems, and bushy growth. Most species of crape myrtle trees thrive in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Dwarf crape myrtle trees are large shrubs that are perfect for compact gardens. Typically, dwarf myrtle trees grow between 6 and 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall, such as the ‘Acoma’ crape myrtle that is a multi-stemmed shrub-like tree with masses of white flowers and a rounded spreading crown. Other crape myrtle trees grow between 15 and 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m).

Further reading:

Crape Myrtles: Trees, Dwarf Plants and Shrubs

Mesquite Trees (Prosopis)

Honey Mesquite Tree (Prosopis glandulosa)

Mesquite is the name for several large deciduous shrub-like trees in the genus

Prosopis

and pea family

Fabaceae

. Mesquite shrubs and trees can be a few feet tall or grow up to 50 ft. (15 m). From the 40 species of mesquite, around seven are

native to Texas

, California, and Northern Mexico.

Mesquite trees are short and thorny with feathery leaves, white or yellow flowers, and seed pods containing peas. The most common types of mesquite trees are the honey mesquite tree (

Prosopis glandulosa

), velvet mesquite tree (

Prosopis velutina

), and screwbean mesquite tree (

Prosopis pubescens

Mesquite trees thrive in USDA zones 7 through 11 in full sun and well-draining soil. You can find mesquite

trees growing in deserts

, grasslands, along streams, and on hillsides. Because of their fast growth and extensive root system, mesquite plants are considered invasive in some areas.

Further reading:

Mesquite Trees: Types, Leaves, Flowers, Bark – Identification Guide

Magnolia Trees

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Magnolia is a genus of large

flowering shrubs or trees

in the family

Magnoliaceae.

Magnolia grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or a single trunk tree. The

beautiful landscape tree

is characterized by its fragrant pink, purple, yellow, or white flowers, glossy leathery leaves, and cone-like fruits.

Magnolias can be deciduous or evergreen depending on their growing zone. There are some 125 species of magnolia suitable for growing in most zones. There are 8 species of magnolia native to the United States.

The most popular magnolia types are the Southern Magnolia (

Magnolia grandiflora

), Star magnolia (

Magnolia stellata

), and Saucer magnolia (

Magnolia × soulangeana

Most varieties of magnolia thrive in full sun or partial shade. Magnolia trees and shrubs adapt to various soil types and grow well as long as the soil is well-draining.

Further reading:

Types of Magnolia Trees and Shrubs with Their Flowers and Leaves – Identification Guide

Buckeye Trees (Aesculus)

Buckeyes are deciduous ornamental trees that are popular in parks and open spaces

Buckeye is a variety of ornamental deciduous trees in the genus

Aesculus

and family

Sapindaceae

that is related to the

horse chestnut tree

. There are four main varieties of buckeye trees. Common varieties of buckeyes are the Ohio buckeye, the California buckeye, and the yellow buckeye.

Buckeye trees grow between 12 and 40 ft. (3.5 – 12 m) tall. You can find buckeyes growing in the

deciduous forests

and grasslands in the Midwest. They are also popular trees in parks and open spaces in states along the East Coast and the Southern states. Ohio buckeyes are found all the way from New York to Kentucky and down to Texas.

Buckeye trees are identified by their large round inedible nut-like seeds that look like the eye of a buck, green palmately compound leaves, and creamy-yellow or red flower clusters.

Further reading:

Types of Buckeye Trees with Their Flowers and Leaves – Identification Guide

Horse Chestnut Trees (Aesculus hippocastanum, Aesculus carnea)

Horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a flowering deciduous tree commonly found in parks and open landscapes

The horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanumis) a species of large deciduous flowering tree in the genus Aesculus. With its stout branches and oval to rounded crown, the tree grows 50 to 70 ft. (15 – 21 m) tall and up to 65 ft. (19 m) wide. Horse chestnuts grow in USDA zones 3 through 8.

Horse chestnut tree has spiky green balls containing a large, oval inedible brown seed like the nuts (seeds) from a buckeye tree. A horse chestnut tree is easy to identify in the landscape due to its large, rounded leaves, white-pinkish flowers growing in conical clusters, domed crown, and tall stature. Although too large for most gardens, horse chestnut trees are popular in parks and streets.

There are two primary varieties of horse chestnut trees: Aesculus hippocastanum and the red horse chestnut tree (Aesculus carnea), which is a smaller tree that grows 30 to 40 ft. (9 – 12 m) tall, and its rounded crown spreads up to 35 ft. (10 m) wide.

Red horse chestnut tree (Aesculus carnea)

The red horse chestnut is a hybrid tree of the Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus pavia (red buckeye). The red horse chestnut isn’t as tall as the regular horse chestnut, and it has deep red showy flowers rather than white ones.

The red horse chestnut is suitable for growing in USDA zones 5 through 8. Like most species of Aesculus, the leafy flowering tree performs well in full sun or partial shade. The attractive shade tree grows well in most soils that are well-drained.

Further reading:

Horse Chestnut Tree: Leaves, Flowers, Bark (Pictures) – Identification

Vitex Trees (Chaste Trees)

Vitex is a woody plant that can grow as a shrub (left) or as a multi-stemmed shrubby tree (right)

Vitex tree (also named chaste tree) is a large type of multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with attractive spikes of lavender-colored flowers that bloom in summer. Although referred to as the vitex tree or chaste tree, the vitex plant generally grows as a sizeable bushy shrub. But in warmer climates, vitex can grow as a small multi-trunked tree.

Chaste trees (

Vitex agnus-castus

) have many characteristics that make them desirable garden shrubs/trees. Apart from the clusters of small violet flowers, these plants have aromatic grayish-green, lanceolate leaves. The large deciduous shrubs/trees have a vase-shaped growth that spreads upward and outward.

Vitex trees grow best in USDA zones 7 through 9. In warmer climates, the large shrub can grow up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall and, as a tree, up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall. In zones 5 and 6, the shrubby plant experiences winter die-back. However, frost rarely affects the roots, and vitex bushes come back to life the following spring.

Further reading:

Vitex Trees (Chaste Trees): Types, Flowers, Leaves, Care

Larch Trees (Larix)

American Larch (Larix laricina) is a popular type of larch and is native to Canada and the northeastern states of the US

Larch is a species of deciduous, coniferous tree in the genus Larix and pine family Pinaceae. There are between ten and twelve species of larch trees. The two most popular species of larch are the American Larch (Larix laricina)—also called tamarack—and the Western Larch (Larix occidentalis).

Larch trees are identified by their pyramidal growth, typical of most conifer species. However, unlike most conifers, larch trees turn golden yellow in the fall before dropping their leaves (needles). Larches are one of the few conifer trees to have bare branches with no foliage in winter.

Larch tree leaves are soft, flat needle-shaped leaves characteristic of many pine trees. Like all true conifers, larch is a cone-producing tree with male and female cones growing on the same tree.

Larches are also tolerant of freezing temperatures, and they thrive growing in zones 2 through 5.

Further reading:

Larch Trees: Types, Leaves, Cones, Flowers – Identification Guide

Alder Trees (Alnus)

Alders are large deciduous trees that grow well in wet areas

Alder (Alnus) is a genus of flowering deciduous trees in the family Betulaceae. There are about 35 alder species, comprising of large trees and smaller shrub-like trees.

Alder trees are known for their drooping flower clusters and brown woody cones called strobiles. The alder cones develop from catkins (conical flower clusters) and stay on the tree throughout the winter, giving the bare branches a distinguishable look.

It’s easy to identify alders in landscapes due to their vast, rounded crown, serrated green leaves, and brown conifer-like cones.

Several species of alder trees are native to North America and Europe, with the Red Alder (Alnus rubra) and Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) being the two most common.

Alders thrive in marshy, damp ground. Most alder species thrive in USDA zones 5 through 8; however, some individual species may be more or less cold-hardy.

Further reading:

Alder Trees: Leaves, Bark, Flowers, Cones – Identification

Sweetgum Trees (Liquidambar)

The American sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) is also called gumball tree

Sweetgums are ornamental flowering deciduous trees in the genus Liquidambar and the family Altingiaceae. You can find sweetgums growing in eastern North America from Connecticut to Florida and as far west as Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

There are 15 species of sweetgum trees that reach a mature height between 32 and 130 ft. (10 – 40 m). Sweetgum trees get their name from the sweet, sticky, resinous substance the oozes from the cut trunk.

Identifying features of sweetgum trees are large lobed leaves that can be orange, red, yellow, or purple colors in the fall, small globular flowers, and seed-containing spiky gumballs measuring up to 2” (5 cm) across.

The most popular sweetgum tree is the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) which is also called gumball tree and is a beautiful shade or lawn landscaping tree.

Further reading:

Sweetgum Trees (Gumball Tree, Liquidambar): Types, Leaves – Identification Guide

Linden Trees (Tilia)

The flowering deciduous linden trees are typically large and suitable for landscaping spacious areas

Linden trees (genus Tilia and the family Malvaceae) are large deciduous shade trees with large heart-shaped broadleaves and clusters of fragrant yellowish-white flowers. In the fall, linden tree leaves turn a spectacular bright yellow color.

There are around 30 species of linden trees and shrubs that typically grow to between 65 and 130 ft. (20 – 40 m) tall and 50 ft. (15 m) wide.

Linden tree identification is by their thick furrowed trunks, rounded crown, dense leafy foliage, and pyramidal growth habit.

European linden trees are also called lime trees, and North American lindens are called basswood trees. They thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist soil with excellent drainage.

Further reading:

Linden Trees: Types, Leaves, Flowers, Bark – Identification

Basswood Trees

American Basswood trees (American Linden) thrive in USDA zones 3 – 8, but they may also grow in sheltered areas of zone 2

The main linden tree species in North America is the American basswood (Tilia americana) which is also named American linden.

American basswood is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree with fragrant yellowish-white flowers, large heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges and pointed tip, and a domed crown. In fall, the leaves of deciduous basswood trees turn pale yellow to yellowish-green.

After blooming, the flowers of basswood tree develop into basswood fruit. The small round nut-like balls measure up to 0.4” (1 cm) in diameter and dangle from long narrow leaf-like bracts.

The American basswood tree is a popular ornamental shade tree due to its dense foliage and spreading canopy. Popular American basswood cultivars include Carolina basswood, Redmond basswood and white basswood.

The American basswood tree is the only native North American species in the genus Tilia and is often found growing in eastern and central North America. Other tree species in the genus Tilia are known as linden trees.

Further reading:

American Basswood Trees (American Linden): Types, Leaves, Flowers – Identification

Aspen Trees (Populus)

Quaking Aspen Tree (Populus tremuloides) is the main species of aspen growing in North America

Aspen trees are flowering medium-sized deciduous trees belonging to the genus Populus. Aspens are characterized by their straight, slender trunks with gray-white bark, round leaves with toothed margins, and clusters of dangling flower spikes called catkins.

The quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) are the most common aspen trees in North America. You can find aspens growing as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico.

Aspen trees have a unique spreading root system that produces new clone trees. You will often find smaller aspen trees growing alongside large, mature aspens as the tree suckers sprout up from roots.

Aspen trees typically grow among coniferous trees in North America. Aspen trees are cold-hardy trees that thrive in USDA zones 2 through 8.

Further reading:

Aspen Trees: Types, Leaves, Flowers – Identification

Acacia Trees

Acacia trees and shrubs can be of varying sizes and are tolerant of dry, arid conditions

Acacia thorny trees and shrubs are an evergreen plant species with unique fern-like leaves and showy clusters of fragrant yellow or white fuzzy flowers. Acacia fruit looks like peapods that can be straight, coiled, or twisted. The pods grow in clusters on acacia trees and can be green, brown, or black.

Many species of Acacia are native to Australia, and some are native to Africa. In North America, acacias grow in warm states such as Texas, Arizona, and California.

Also called wattles, acacia trees grow best in full sun and well-draining, loamy, or sandy soil. The drought-tolerant plant hardly needs any water after it’s established in the landscape. It’s a trouble-free, low-maintenance evergreen tree that don’t require much care.

Acacia trees are fast-growing and relatively short-lived trees that grow between 20 and 30 years.

Species of trees and shrubs in the genus Acacia thrive in USDA growing zones 9 through 11.

Further reading:

Acacia Trees: Types, Leaves, Flowers, Thorns – Identification

Beech Trees (Fagus)

American Beech Tree (Fagus grandifolia)

Beech trees (botanical name Fagus) are tall deciduous shade trees with green ovate leaves with finely toothed margins, creating a dense, rounded crown. In the fall, beech tree foliage turns from green to beautiful autumn shades of orange, yellow, and golden brown.

All varieties of beech trees produce small clusters of yellow-green flowers (catkins), followed by beech tree unique looking fruit or beechnuts. The fruit (nuts) from beech trees are triangular in appearance and are contained in spiky husks called cupules.

The most common types of beech trees are the American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia) and the European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica).

Beech trees are easy-care, versatile trees that thrive in various conditions. Native to temperate climates in North America and Europe, beech trees grow in rich, fertile soil with excellent drainage.

Further reading:

Beech Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark — Identification Guide

Catalpa Trees

Catalpa tree is identified by its long and slender seed pods

Catalpa trees are flowering deciduous ornamental shade trees with large, heart-shaped or triangular leaves, white or yellow fragrant flowers, and long, slender dangling seed pods appearing in fall and persisting until winter or even spring. The unusual masses of long seed pods on catalpa trees look green and gradually turn dark brown.

Two species — the northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) and southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) — are native to North America. The other common type of catalpa tree is the Chinese catalpa (Catalpa ovata), which is native to China.

Catalpa trees are typically fast-growing trees that grow best in full sun and are adaptable to growing in various soil types.

Further reading:

Catalpa Tree: Types, Leaves, Flowers, Seed Pods

Serviceberry Trees (

Amelanchier)

Autumn Brilliance Apple Serviceberry Tree (

Amelanchier × grandiflora

‘Autumn Brilliance’)

Serviceberry is a group of small deciduous fruit trees or multi-stemmed shrubs with beautiful white flowers that bloom in early spring. Serviceberry trees and shrubs are identified by their long oval leaves with finely serrated edges, clusters of showy white 5-petalled flowers, smooth gray bark, and small round edible purple pome fruits. Serviceberry trees are excellent garden landscaping plants because they have a visual appeal in all four seasons.

There are 20 species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus

Amelanchier

and rose family

Rosaceae

. Serviceberries are native to North America and grow widely throughout the United States and Canada.

Serviceberry trees thrive in full sun to partial shade in USDA zones 4 to 9. They grow between 10 and 25 ft. (3 – 7.5 m) tall and up to 20 ft. (6 m) wide. Because serviceberry is a multi-stemmed tree that sends up suckers, if you to grow it as a tree, it’s vital to remove suckers to prevent it from developing into a bushy shrub.

Further reading:

Serviceberry: Trees, Shrubs, Leaves, Flowers – Identification

Tulip trees (

Liriodendron

)

Tulip tree flowers are not easily spotted among the green foliage

Tulip trees are flowering deciduous trees in the genus

Liriodendron

and magnolia family

Magnoliaceae

. The two species of tulip trees are the American tulip tree (

Liriodendron tulipifera

) and the Chinese tulip poplar (

Liriodendron chinense

Also called the tulip poplar or tuliptree, these impressive trees are easy to identify in landscapes with their straight trunk, oval or pyramidal canopy, yellow-green flowers, and beautiful golden yellow fall colors. The cup-shaped or trumpet-like flowers appear in late spring and complement the bright green, unusually shaped leaves. Being a type of deciduous tree, the tulip poplars lose their leaves in the fall when the foliage turns golden yellow.

Tulip trees thrive in USDA zones 4 to 9. They grow between 60 and 160 ft. (18 – 50 m) tall and have a pyramidal crown measuring 30 to 50 ft. (9 – 15 m) wide in their native habitat. Tulip trees are relatively fast-growing but grow for between 15 and 20 years before the trees produce flowers.

An issue with growing tulip poplars in garden landscapes is that they can be messy. Apart from their enormous size, the flower petals and autumn leaves can litter the ground. Additionally, the trees secrete a sticky sap that sticks to cars, paths, and driveways.

Further reading:

Tulip Trees (Tulip Poplar): Leaves, Flowers, Bark – Identification

Sumac Trees (

Rhus

)

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

Sumac (genus

Rhus

) is a group of flowering small trees and shrubs. Sumacs are identified by their fern-like pinnate leaves, conical clusters (panicles) of white or green flowers, and fuzzy red berries. In the fall, sumac trees and shrubs turn brilliant autumn shades of red, orange, or purple.

There are around 150 species of sumac, with 14 being native to the US. Sumac trees and shrubs grow in most soil types and are often seen growing in dry and poor soil.

Native North American sumac trees grow in USDA zones 3 through 9. Trees and shrubs in the genus

Rhus

grow between 3 and 33 ft. (1 – 10 m).

Sumac trees such as the staghorn sumac (

Rhus typhina

), smooth sumac (

Rhus glabra

), and fragrant sumac (

Rhus aromatica

) produce edible red berry-like drupes. Most species of sumac are

deciduous trees

that lose their leaves in the fall. The native tobacco sumac (

Rhus virens

) is an

evergreen variety

with glossy green, leathery leaves.

A characteristic of sumacs is their suckering growth habit. This feature means that sumacs can grow as multi-stemmed shrubs if you don’t remove the suckers.

Further reading

Sumac Trees: Types, Leaves, Berries – Identification Guide

Hackberry Tree (

Celtis

)

Common Hackberry Tree (Celtis occidentalis)

Hackberry (

Celtis

) is a group of medium-sized, deciduous trees with long ovately-shaped leaves, clusters of small fuzzy spring flowers, and small purple fruits. Low-maintenance

hackberry trees

are hardy trees that withstand many conditions, including drought, wet soil, strong winds, and air pollution.

The common hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis) grows 40 to 60 ft. (12 – 18 m) high and wide. The attractive landscape tree has a pyramidal crown when immature. As the tree grows, the tree develops an open, spreading canopy of arching zigzag branches.

Hackberry bark is its most recognizable feature. The smooth light brown or grayish bark has characteristic wart-like growths, ridges, and a corky texture giving the tree’s bark a distinctive pattern.

The common hackberry is native to many states in the Midwest and Eastern areas of North America. In addition, some species of hackberry, like the sugarberry (

Celtis laevigata

), are common in Texas and other warm states in the south.

Most hackberry trees thrive in USDA zones 2 to 9. The sugarberry—or southern hackberry—grows best in zones 5 to 10.

Further reading

Hackberry Trees (Celtis): Common Types, Leaves, Bark, Fruit – Identification

Mulberry Trees (Morus)

Old mulberry tree

Mulberry trees (botanical name

Morus

) are popular deciduous trees that produce delicious edible white, red, or black berry-like fruits. Commonly called mulberries, the medium-sized,

berry-producing trees

have attractive heart-shaped leaves, spikes of tiny white flowers (catkins), and thick grayish-brown bark.

The common species of mulberry trees are red mulberry (Morus rubra), white mulberry (Morus alba), and black mulberry (Morus nigra). They thrive in USDA zones 4 through 9, full to partial sun, and well-drained soils. In addition, the mulberry tree is relatively resistant to pests and disease.

The mature size of mulberry tree depends on the species. White mulberry is the tallest at 80 ft. (24 m), and the common red mulberry grows up to 70 ft. (21 m). The black mulberry is the smallest species, with a height of around 30 ft. (9 m).

Additionally, there are many mulberry cultivars, such as the weeping mulberry tree (Morus alba ‘Pendula’), fruitless mulberry tree, and dwarf mulberry tree which is ideal for containers, and grows 2 to 6 ft. (0.6 – 1.8 m) tall.

Further reading

Mulberry Trees: White, Red, Black with Flowers and Leaves

Mimosa Trees (Albizia Julibrissin)

Mimosa tree flowers and leaves

The mimosa tree (slso called the Persian silk tree) is a fast-growing ornamental tree with silky pink pompom-like fluffy flowers, fern-like leaves, and brown flat, bean-like seed pods. The mimosa tree is a deciduous, medium-sized tree in the genus Albizia and legume family Fabaceae. A full-grown mimosa tree can measure between 10 and 50 ft. (3 – 15 m) and up to 50 ft. (15 m) wide.

Mimosa trees are native to Asia and thrive in warm climates in USDA zones 6 through 10. These trees have a rapid growth rate, growing around 3 ft. (1 m) per year and can be invasive. However, they are short-lived trees. Their average lifespan is only 30 years. Additionally, the trunk and branches are weak and brittle and easily break in strong winds.

Mimosa trees grow well in containers and are excellent patio, deck, or balcony plants. Keeping them in a large container and pruning will limit their height.

The Chocolate mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’) is not as invasive as other varieties. It is a small deciduous tree with chocolate-burgundy foliage that grows between 15 and 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) tall and up to 20 ft. (6 m) wide.

Further reading

Mimosa Trees (Albizia Julibrissin): Facts, Flowers, Leaves

Yew Trees (Taxus)

Yew trees, which have dense evergreen foliage, love pruning and are a great as privacy hedge or topiary

Yew (botanical name Taxus) is a genus of slow-growing coniferous evergreen trees and shrubs. Yews are typically long-lived trees that can live for hundreds or even thousands of years. Ornamental yew trees grow between 35 and 65 ft. (10 – 20 m) tall and up to 20 ft. (6 m) wide.

Yews are cold-hardy evergreen trees that thrive in USDA zones 3 to 7. Yews can grow in temperatures as low as -13°F (-25°C); however, the shade-loving trees don’t perform well in prolonged hot temperatures.

Yews are identified by their thin, scaly brown bark, tiny single-seed cones, red fruits, and linear flat leaves. The English yew (Taxus baccata) is the most common species. But Irish yew, Western yew, and Japanese yew are also ornamental conifer trees.

If you want to plant a yew tree as a

tall hedging plant

, it is best to choose a shaded spot because the evergreen trees grow well in partial sun or deep shade. Ensure that the ground is well-draining and protect yew trees from heat, drought, and full sun for more than six hours a day.

Further reading

Yew Trees: Types, Berries, Leaves – Identification

Sassafras Trees

Sassafras albidum

Sassafras is a group of deciduous trees with three species of sassafras native to North America and Asia—Sassafras albidum, Sassafras randaiense, and Sassafras tzumu. The common Sassafras albidum matures at 30 to 60 ft. (9 – 18 m) tall and 25 to 40 ft. (7.6 – 12 m) wide.

However, the shrub-like tree also has suckering tendencies and can quickly become a large multi-stemmed shrub. In open woodlands, it’s not unusual to see colonies of sassafras that are all connected to the same parent tree.

Sassafras trees thrive in USDA zones 4 to 9. The trees are commonly found on the east coast of the United States. Sassafras trees grow best in full sun to partial shade. In garden landscapes, sassafras trees thrive in well-drained, acidic soil. In ideal conditions, sassafras trees are fast-growing trees that grow between 12” and 24” (30 – 60 cm) a year.

Recognizable features of sassafras trees are unusually lobed leaves, clusters of golden-yellow flowers, and dark blue berry-like drupes. Sassafras trees are also highly aromatic trees. In fall, when the foliage turns spectacular orange, scarlet, yellow, and purple colors, the leaves give off a strong fragrance. In the spring, the blossoms smell of root beer. Sassafras trees are relatively fast-growing trees that grow between 12” and 24” (30 – 60 cm) a year.

Further reading

Sassafras Tree: Leaves, Flowers, Bark – Identification Guide

Chokecherry Tree

(Prunus virginiana)

You can remove suckers around the central trunk to grow a single-stemmed chokecherry tree

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a small deciduous tree or multi-stemmed shrub that sends up suckers. Typically, a chokecherry trees grows between 3 and 20 ft. (1 – 6 m) tall and up to 20 ft. (6 m) wide. However, it’s not unusual for some chokecherry trees to reach 30 ft. (9 m) tall.

The fruit-bearing trees or shrubs are common throughout the northern states of the US and Canada. Chokecherry trees are known for their tart, bitter, berry-like drupes and are used to make jams and jellies. The tart flesh of Chokecherry fruit is edible, however don’t eat the seeds that contain toxins.

Identifiable features of chokecherry plants are relatively smooth gray bark, glossy green egg-shaped leaves, white spring flowers, and dark red or black summer fruits.

As a cold-hardy shrub or tree, the chokecherry thrives in USDA zones 2 through 10. The attractive flowering plant grows best in full sun or part shade, and when established, chokecherry is tolerant of drought.

Further reading

Chokecherry Tree: Leaves, Chokecherries, Flowers – Identification

Plumeria Tree (Frangipani)

Plumeria tree

Plumeria is a group of small flowering trees or shrubs and is famous for highly scented, exotic, showy flowers. Plumeria flowers are shaped like a star and come in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, and multi-colors.

Plumeria trees are also called frangipani. The tropical trees are classed as deciduous or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs. However, there are a few evergreen plumeria tree species like the

Plumeria obtusa

and

Plumeria pudica.

The spectacular flowering trees thrive in USDA zones 9 through 12. They commonly grow in Florida, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, Mexico, and Central America.

Frangipani trees are moderate to fast-growing plants that can grow up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall. However, in most tropical and subtropical garden landscapes, the exotic trees reach between 6 and 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall.

The only care plumeria trees require is plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, water, and fertilizer.

Further reading

Plumeria Tree: Growing and Care Guide

Ginkgo Biloba Tree

Ginkgo trees have a unique leaf shape that helps identify them

Ginkgo biloba tree is a slow growing spectacular deciduous ornamental tree with large fan-shaped leaves that turn a stunning buttery-yellow color in the fall. Ginkgo biloba is the only species of tree left in the genus Ginkgo and the family Ginkgoaceae.

Ginkgo trees grow 50 to 75 ft. (15 – 23 m) with a broadly spreading pyramidal crown that grows up to 60 ft. (18 m) wide. However there are many varieties and smaller cultivars.

Also called the maidenhair tree, the ginkgo tree thrives in loamy, well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and in growing zones 3 to 9.

Male ginkgo tree is identified by its long drooping flower-like cones that “bloom” in mid-spring. The female ginkgo tree is identified by its orangey globular fruits growing in dangling clusters. Each round fruit contains a single large seed.

The main complaint of the ginkgo tree is the offensive stink from the fruit. Also, the slimy flesh of the female ginkgo fruit is particularly messy. If you have a small, compact garden, it’s best to choose male dwarf cultivars.

Further reading

Ginkgo Tree: Identification and Growing Guide

Holly Tree (Ilex)

American holly tree (Ilex opaca)

Holly plants belong to the genus Ilex and the family Aquifoliaceae. The various types of hollies include large trees, bushy shrubs, and dwarf cultivars.

Holly trees can grow between and 30 and 80 ft. (10 – 24 m) tall. However, holly bushes typically grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall and are multi-stemmed plants.

Although most species of hollies are evergreen plants, there are some deciduous hollies that drop their leaves in winter. The most common holly species are the American holly (Ilex opaca) and the English holly (Ilex aquifolium). Both these evergreen holly trees are famous for their shiny, jagged leaves and winter red berries.

Holly leaves are typically ovate or oblong, glossy green with wavy margins that are spiked, serrated, or smooth. Some of the most spectacular varieties of holly trees and bushes are variegated cultivars. The inedible berry-like fruits of holly are usually red but can be other colors, such as yellow and black.

Further reading

Holly Trees and Bushes: Identification Guide

Chestnut Trees (Castanea)

American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata)

Chestnut trees are large deciduous trees with large, pointed leaves with coarsely toothed margins, long finger-like flower clusters (catkins), and brown edible nuts.

Chestnuts are easily identifiable due to the spiky burs growing in clusters and containing the fruit—a brown-shelled nut encasing creamy-white flesh. Chestnut trees have a straight, broad trunk with deeply furrowed bark and a large spreading rounded canopy.

Species of chestnut trees belong to the genus Castanea and the beech family Fagaceae. The flowering trees mostly grow in temperate regions of the world in USDA zones 5 to 7. Chestnut trees perform best in full sun and loamy, well-draining soil.

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) used to be in the timber industry, however due to chestnut blight fungal disease it is almost extinct in the wild now. It can grow up to 75 ft. (22 m) tall and wide.

Further reading

Chestnut Trees – Identification Guide

Redwood trees

Redwood trees are the largest and tallest trees on the planet. Redwoods are famous for their towering stature, with the tallest trees reaching 360 ft. (110 m) tall.

Two evergreen redwood species are native to California: California redwood/coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and giant redwood/sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). The deciduous dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is native to China.

Sequoias are the largest trees in the world in terms of volume, and they have immense trunks. Redwoods are the tallest trees and have slender trunks.

Redwoods require humid conditions with substantial rainfall in spring, fall, and winter. In addition, the foggy conditions common along the northern Pacific coast allows redwoods to thrive.

As a coniferous trees, redwoods produce seed-bearing cones, green needle leaves, and tiny yellowish-brown flowers. The cinnamon-red or reddish-brown bark is one way to identify redwood trees.

Further reading

Redwood Trees: Types, Facts and Identification

Orchid Tree (Bauhinia)

Variegated orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata)

The orchid tree is a genus of flowering shrubs and trees in the genus Bauhinia and the family Fabaceae. Orchid trees are native to Asia and commonly grow in India, China, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Some orchid tree species also grow in the wild in Texas in the Anacacho mountains.

Orchid trees are fast-growing large tropical shrubs or trees that reach a height of 20 to 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) with a spread of 10 to 20 ft. (3 – 6 m). The trees are famous for their brightly colored orchard-like flowers that bloom in winter and persist until early summer.

The flowers of orchid tree are beautiful pink, red, orange, yellow, white, or purple flowers resembling flowers growing on orchid plants. After flowering, the tree develops long, flat brown seed pods, common of many trees in the pea family Fabaceae. In addition, orchid trees have distinctive leathery, double-lobed green leaves that resemble the print of a cow’s hoof.

Some species of orchid trees are evergreen trees. Still, others are deciduous trees that drop their leaves during the dry season or in winter.

Orchid trees thrive in the warm regions of USDA in zones 9 to 11. Although some varieties of orchid trees survive a light frost, they are generally heat-loving trees that thrive in full sun and moist soils. The minimum temperature to grow orchid trees is 22°F (-6°C).

Further reading

Orchid Tree (Bauhinia): Types and Care Guide

Tabebuia Tree

(Trumpet Tree)

Tabebuia impetiginosa (Pink Trumpet Tree)

Tabebuia tree, also called the trumpet tree, is a spectacular showy flowering tree with pink, light purple, or bright yellow flowers.

Tabebuia trees thrive in hot climates where the deciduous trees add color, strong fragrance, and beauty to garden landscapes. The small to medium-sized trees are easy to grow in full sun as an ornamental tree or shade tree, and they grow well in containers.

Tabebuia trees thrive in warm, humid climates. The leafy deciduous flowering tree performs best in USDA zones 10 and 11.

The most common varieties of tabebuia tree grow around 15 to 30 ft. (4.5 – 9 m) tall and 40 ft. (12 m) wide. However, some species can reach heights of 60 ft. (18 m).

Some botanists give the tree the botanical name Handroanthus. However, Tabebuia is still an accepted and well-known name for this tropical tree. The common name trumpet tree refers to the spectacular blooms that appear throughout the summer.

To identify a tabebuia tree, look for the leathery oval or oblong palmately compound leaves, showy trumpet flowers in dangling clusters, and slightly rough, fissured, tan-colored bark. Tabebuia leaves are dark glossy green, made up of five to seven leaflets. The tree’s characteristic showy pink, pale purple or yellow flowers grow abundantly in large clusters.

Further reading

Tabebuia Tree: Types, Leaves, Flowers (with Pictures) – Identification

Zelkova Tree

Zelkova serrata tree (Japanese zelkova)

Zelkova is a genus of deciduous trees in the elm family Ulmaceae. There are six species of zelkova trees and various cultivars. The common Zelkova serrata tree is the most common and grows up to 100 ft. (30 m) tall. However, zelkova tree cultivars are typically smaller and grow between 10 and 80 ft. (3 – 24 m).

The popular

Zelkova serrata

tree is native to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. This is a reason why the leafy ornamental tree has the common name Japanese zelkova. Furthermore, because the zelkova trees are related to elms, the tree also goes by the name Japanese elm.

Part of the popularity of zelkova trees is that they are tolerant of a range of conditions. The shade tree with its bushy green foliage tolerates urban conditions, making it ideal as a street tree or ornamental residential tree. In addition, the graceful zelkova tree is tolerant of drought, wind, and heat.

Identify a zelkova tree by its short central trunk and spreading branches forming a vase-shaped crown. Zelkovas have grayish-white peeling bark revealing light orange inner bark. Large green serrated ovate leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow in the fall. Yellowish insignificant flower clusters and nut-like drupes grow on the tree.

Zelkova trees are cold-hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8.

Further reading

Zelkova Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark – Identification

Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus Dioicus)

The Kentucky coffee tree is the only native tree in the genus Gymnocladus in the legume family Fabaceae. The Kentucky coffee tree got its name from the coffee-like beverage you can brew from the roasted seeds.

The attractive deciduous tree with its open, irregular crown grows between 60 and 70 ft. (18 – 21 m) and 40 to 50 ft. (12 – 15 m) wide.

The Kentucky coffee tree is a popular ornamental tree, thanks to its appearance and growth habit. It has pinnate green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall, greenish-white flowers, and large reddish-brown seed pods. Native to the Midwest, the Kentucky coffee tree is identified by its irregular oval crown with open branches that provide partial shade. Additionally, scaly gray-brown furrowed bark and reddish-brown twigs help identify the tree in winter.

Male trees tend to cause less mess as they don’t produce seed pods, making them suitable for planting in a residential landscape. Additionally, the Kentucky coffee tree is tolerant of drought and urban air pollution.

Kentucky coffee trees are relatively hardy deciduous trees that thrive in USDA zones 3 through 8. The coffeetree performs well in full sun and fertile, well-drained soils. However the tree performs just well in compacted clay soil as in sandy, loamy soil.

Further reading

Kentucky Coffee Tree – Identification and Care

Hornbeam Tree (Carpinus)

American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) tree

Hornbeam trees are a group of deciduous, flowering hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus. Hornbeams are ornamental landscape trees with a wide canopy, dark green, ovate leaves with serrated margins that turns golden yellow in the fall, and slim clusters of green-yellowish flowers (catkins). Common species of hornbeam trees—the American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) and European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)—are popular in home garden landscapes and parks.

The most popular hornbeam cultivar is the ‘Fastigiata’ European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’). This columnar landscape tree has a pyramidal shape and dense canopy, making it ideal for growing as a hedge plant, privacy screen, or natural fence. The ‘Fastigiata’ hornbeam grows 30 to 40 ft. (9 – 12 m) tall with a narrow habit of 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) wide.

Hornbeam trees have relatively slow growth and have an average growth rate of 12” (30 cm) per year. Growing for between 50 and 150 years, the American hornbeam tree reaches an average mature height of 20 to 30 ft. (6 – 10 m). The European hornbeam has an average height of 40 to 60 ft. (12 – 20 m).

Hornbeam trees thrive in full sun or partial shade and grow in most types of soils, as long as they are well-drained. The hardy American hornbeam trees grow well in USDA zones 3 through 9. The European hornbeam is winter hardy in zones 4 to 7.

Further reading

Types of Hornbeam Trees – Identification

Purple Leaf Plum Trees (Prunus cerasifera)

Purple leaf plum trees (Prunus cerasifera) are also calles cherry plum trees

The purple leaf plum tree is a beautiful ornamental flowering tree with dark burgundy or purple leaves, fragrant whitish-pink spring blossoms, and an attractive shape. Also called the cherry plum tree, the purple leaf tree also produces small edible plum-like yellow or red edible fruit. In a garden landscape, the relatively small deciduous tree has many ornamental uses.

The purple leaf plum tree grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 8 m) tall and thrives in USDA zones 4 through 9. The easy-to-grow landscape tree grows best in moist but well-drained soil that is moderately fertile. The attractive dark foliage tree performs well in full sun and can tolerate some shade. However, too much shade causes the leaves to turn green.

The cherry plum tree ‘Purple Pony’ is suitable for small, compact gardens. This dwarf plum tree grows 10 to 12 ft. (3 – 3.6 m) tall and wide.

Flowers on purple leaf plum trees are usually the first to appear in spring. The single small pink or white flowers grow in dense clusters, covering the beautiful tree in bright colors. Cherry plum tree leaves are identified by their pointed ovate shape with serrated margins and a deep red or rich purple color. Fruit on purple leaf plum trees is round yellow or red drupes that are juicy plums. The cherry plum fruits are typically ready from mid-July to mid-September.

Further reading

Purple Leaf Plum Trees: Types, Flowers, Leaves, Bark – Identification

Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach)

Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach)

The chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The tree is in the flowering plant genus Melia and the family Meliaceae.

The chinaberry tree is an ornamental tree with small, fragrant purple flowers, long compound leaves, and small yellow berries. A chinaberry tree is recognizable in the landscape by its rounded open crown, brownish-red bark, and bright yellow fall color. In some warm climates, the chinaberry tree is a beautiful shade tree for a garden landscape. However, in other places, this non-native tree is invasive and can take over the landscape.

A mature chinaberry tree grows between 20 and 40 ft. (7 – 12 m) tall and wide. Although not native to the United States, chinaberry trees grow widely in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Chinaberry trees thrive in a wide range of soils. The trees grow in full sun or partial shade and thrive in alkaline or acidic soils. Once established, the non-native tree is relatively drought-tolerant and resistant to disease.

Chinaberry tree also goes by the following names: chinaberry bead tree, pride of India, China ball tree, Persian lilac, Texas umbrella tree, white cedar, or China tree.

Further reading

Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) – Identification and Care

Palo Verde Trees (Parkinsonia)

Blue palo verde tree (Parkinsonia florida) in bloom

Palo verde is a group of large flowering shrubs or small trees with green branches, yellow pea-like flowers, brown seed pods, and small leaves that appear for a short time after rainfall. This deciduous

flowering desert tree is native to the hot, arid regions of California

, Arizona, and Mexico. The multi-stemmed ornamental tree thrives during drought and is an excellent landscape tree for filtered shade during scorching weather.

Several species of palo verde trees are native to North America. The most common trees in the species are the foothill palo verde which is also called Mexican palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata), blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida), and desert museum palo verde (Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’).

Palo verde trees grow between 16 and 40 ft. (5 – 12 m). Most species of palo verde trees have sharp spines or thorns growing on the branches. The exception to this is the desert museum palo verde hybrid, which is a thornless tree. Palo verde trees also have distinctive green bark that create visual appeal.

Palo verde trees are suitable for growing outdoors in USDA zones 8 through 11.

Further reading:

Palo Verde Trees – Identification Guide

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)

Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) flowers are usually vibrant pink hues, but the plumes can be in shades of red, orange, yellow, or creamy-white

The smoke tree is a stunning large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with eye-catching purple or green foliage and feathery flower clusters resembling puffs of pink smoke. Also called smoke bush, the colorful deciduous tree creates a spectacular visual interest in a garden landscape from spring until fall.

Smoke trees grow 16 to 23 ft. (5 – 7 m) tall and have a spreading, irregular habit. The smoke tree or smoke bush is a deciduous shrub that can be trained to grow as a tree. Cotinus is a suckering shrub-like tree, so to ensure a tree shape, remove all suckers apart from the primary central stem. You should remove the stems throughout the year as they appear.

Varieties of smoke trees are cold-hardy large shrubs that thrive in USDA zones 4 through 9. Smoke trees tend to perform best in full sun to partial shade, which helps maintain their vibrant foliage.

Flowers on the smoke tree are distinctive airy plume-like panicles consisting of small five-petalled flowers. However, the fine hair-like filaments on the spent flower stems are the identifying feature of the plant, giving the smoke tree its fuzzy appearance.

The ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree is one of the most popular Cotinus plants. The outstanding characteristics of the purple smoke tree are oval to egg-shaped deep purple leaves, clusters of tiny yellow flowers that develop into wispy plumes, and a compact growth habit. The ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree grows 10 to 15 ft. (3 – 4.5 m) high.

Further reading:

Smoke Tree – Varieties and Care Guide

Laurel Tree (

Laurus nobilis

)

Laurel tree (Laurus nobilis) is a multi stemmed tree or a large shrub

Laurus nobilis is a multi stemmed evergreen tree or large shrub with aromatic, dark-green, lance-shaped leaves, clusters of pale-yellow flowers, and small black berries. Laurel leaves, or bay leaves, are commonly used to flavor many soups, stews, and sauces.

Also called sweet bay, the plant thrives in warm climates as a tree, potted shrub, or evergreen hedge. Native to the Mediterranean region, a laurel tree grows 23 – 60 ft. (7 – 18 m) tall. Due to its Mediterranean origins, a laurel tree is suitable for growing in USDA zones 8 through 10.

The best place to plant a laurel tree is in an area with full sun and free-draining soil. Sweet bay laurels thrive when they get at least six hours of sunshine daily. However, the evergreen plant will grow just as well in partial shade.

Bay laurel adapts well to many soil types. But the most important factor when planting a bay laurel tree is that the ground is well-draining.

Further reading:

Laurel Tree (Sweet Bay) – Identification and Care Guide

Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum)

Sourwood tree in autumn

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is a small deciduous tree in the heath family Ericaceae. Also called the sorrel tree, a unique feature of Oxydendrum arboreum is that it’s the only species in the Oxydendrum genus.

This native tree grows throughout the Eastern United States from Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina north to Pennsylvania.

The name sourwood comes from the tree’s bitter yet edible foliage. Sourwood trees are relatively small, slow-growing, and reach 20 to 30 ft. (6 – 10 m) tall and wide.

The ornamental flowering sourwood tree is famous for its white bell-shaped flowers, green lanceolate leaves that turn deep red in the fall, and gray and reddish-brown patterned bark. Fruits on sourwood trees are small oval, egg-shaped capsules with a yellowish or greenish color that mature to grayish-brown color.

Sourwood trees are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. They grow best in well-drained organically rich acidic soil and full sun.

Further reading:

Sourwood Tree – Identification and Care Guide

Hazel Trees (Corylus)

Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna) young and mature trees

Hazel is a group of large deciduous multi-stemmed shrubs or trees in the plant genus

Corylus

and the birch family

Betulaceae

that produce tasty round hazelnuts. Hazel trees and shrubs are identified by their rounded leaves with toothed margins and dangling cylindrical flower clusters called catkins.

The hardy deciduous hazel trees thrives in USDA zones 4 through 9 and perform best in full sun and moist but well-drained organically rich soil. Usually, hazel trees and shrubs produce nuts after two or three years.

While most species of hazels are multi stemmed shrubs, the Turkish Hazel (Corylus colurna) is a deciduous tree with a recognizable pyramidal crown and central trunk.

Turkish hazels are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7 and grow throughout the United States, apart from Florida, southern Texas, and California. The hardy tree tolerates cold winters, hot summers, drought, wind, and various soil types. The Turkish hazel is a tall, majestic nut tree that grows 40 to 80 ft. (12 to 24 m) tall and has a distinct attractive conical shape.

Further reading:

Hazel Trees and Shrubs – Identification Guide

Black Tupelo Tree (Nyssa sylvatica)

Black tupelo tree (Nyssa sylvatica) is an ornamental deciduous tree that has beautiful fall colors

The black tupelo tree is an attractive, medium-sized ornamental tree in the plant family Nyssaceae, which is native to North America. Also called the black gum or sour gum, the deciduous tree is identified by its oval, dark green glossy leaves, bark resembling alligator skin, clusters of inconspicuous greenish-white flowers, and bluish-black fruits.

The spectacular feature of black tupelo trees is its eye-catching fall foliage, which can turn vibrant orange, bright red, yellow, or purple shades. The most common use for black tupelo trees is an ornamental shade or specimen tree in parks and extensive gardens.

This beautiful tree, with its conical shape, grows between 50 and 80 ft. (15 – 24 m) in ideal conditions. However, the average black tupelo’s height in residential settings is 30 to 50 ft. (10 – 15 m). It is suitable for planting in USDA zones 4 through 9. The growing conditions are full sun, evenly moist, well-drained soils, and shelter from cold winds.

The best location to plant a black tupelo tree is deep, acidic soil that stays evenly moist. Although damp ground is ideal for growing black tupelo, the tree tolerates occasional drought.

Further reading:

Black Tupelo Tree: Identification and Care Guide

Jacaranda Tree

(

Jacaranda mimosifolia

)

Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

The

jacaranda tree

is a beautiful ornamental flowering tree with spectacular clusters of intense purple-blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Also called blue jacaranda, the tree has green fern-like leaves, and a spreading umbrella-like canopy.

Jacaranda tree is native to South and Central America and a popular

flowering tree in Florida

and California.

Jacaranda tree is a semi-evergreen tree that grows 25 to 50 ft. (7.5 – 15 m) tall and has a spreading rounded crown of 15 to 30 ft. (4.5 – 9 m). The tree has upright branch growth with an open habit.

Jacaranda trees are semi-tropical southern trees that thrive in USDA zones 10 and 11. You may also have success growing a blue jacaranda tree in warmer areas of growing zone 9b.

The identifying feature of the jacaranda tree is its showy lilac-blue flower clusters that bloom in the late spring or early summer. Jacaranda tree has gray-brown, finely scaly bark, brown circular seed pods, and an easily recognizable umbrella canopy covered in pinnately compound, fern-like leaves.

The best location to plant a jacaranda tree is in a place where it can get full sun. It is also vital to plant the tree at least 15 ft. (4.5 m) away from any buildings.

Katsura Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)

Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)

The katsura tree

is a beautiful deciduous tree in the genus Cercidiphyllum and native to Japan and China. Katsura trees have a medium growth rate and mature at a height of 40 to 60 ft. (12 – 18 m) tall and a trunk up to 6.5 ft. (2 m) in diameter.

The weeping katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’) is a small to medium-sized tree with droopy branches that grows up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall and 15 ft. (4.5 m) wide.

Katsura trees have multiple stems but can be grown as a single-stemmed trees and are identified by their attractive pyramidal rounded crown.

Katsura trees are also identified by their heart-shaped finely serrated dark green leaves, that turn an impressive golden-yellow color in autumn and emit a sugary, caramel aroma. The deciduous, multi-trunk tree also has recognizable grayish-brown bark that peels in thin strips and pinkish-red flower buds.

The katsura tree thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8 and performs best in full sun to partial sun in moist, well-drained soil. Some protection from the afternoon sun is preferred in hot, sunny climates.

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Royal poinciana

is a stunning flowering tree in the genus Delonix and pea family Fabaceae. The flame tree grows 30 to 40 ft. (9 – 12 m) tall and 40 to 70 ft. (12 – 21 m) wide. Due to its vast spread, the flame tree is an excellent blooming shade tree for hot, humid climates.

Also called the flame of the forest, peacock flower tree, flamboyant tree, or flame tree, the royal poinciana is known for its masses of showy red-orange flowers in late spring and early summer, fern-like leaves and mahogany

seed pods

Royal poinciana trees thrive in USDA zones 10 through 12 and are common throughout Florida, southern Texas, Central America, and the humid regions of Mexico.

Although classified as a tropical evergreen tree, royal poinciana has deciduous foliage in areas with a mildly cool winter or dry season.

The royal poinciana tree has a fast growth rate and increases in height about 5 ft. (1.5 m) per year. After planting, it can take a young royal poinciana tree 5 to 12 years to start flowering.

Ironwood Tree (Ostrya virginiana)

Ironwood tree (Ostrya virginiana)

The ironwood tree (Ostrya virginiana)

is a small to medium sized deciduous tree identified by its light green, pointed, lance-shaped leaves with doubly-serrated margins, dangling catkins and hop-like fruits, and light to dark brown shaggy, narrow strips of bark.

Ironwood tree is also called the American hop hornbeam and belongs to the genus Ostrya in the birch family Betulaceae. The ironwood tree grows 20 to 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) tall and up to 30 ft. (9 m) wide.

Ironwood trees grow slowly, and it will take 15 years to grow 10 to 15 ft. (3 – 4.5 m) tall. Young ironwoods have a typical pyramidal shape that gradually becomes more oval and rounded as it matures.

Ironwood trees thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9. The cold-hardy tree performs well in all growing conditions — from deep shade to full sun. As long as the soil is well-drained and not prone to flooding, ironwoods grow well in most soils.

Rowan Tree (Sorbus)

The American rowan tree (Sorbus americana) is also called the American mountain ash

The rowan tree

is a small to medium ornamental flowering tree with an attractive crown consisting of pinnately compound leaves. Rowan trees are known for their showy clusters of white spring flowers followed by colorful orange or red berries appearing in the fall. Cold-hardy deciduous rowan trees are found throughout North America and Europe.

The two main species of rowan tree are the American rowan tree (Sorbus americana) and the European rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia).

The American rowan tree grows 15 to 35 ft. (4.5 – 10 m) tall and wide. Also called the American mountain ash, this rowan species thrives in USDA zones 2 through 6. The American rowan performs best in full sun but will also tolerate some shade during the middle of the day.

The European rowan tree is a small to medium deciduous multi-stemmed tree that grows 20 to 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) tall and 8 to 25 ft. (2.4 – 7.6 m) wide.

Also called the European mountain ash, the European rowan tree performs best in USDA zones 3 through 7. However, the small decorative tree may struggle in the coldest zones unless planted in full sun.

Boxelder Tree (Acer negundo)

Boxelder tree is a deciduous multi-trunked tree which is cold hardy and tolerates poor wet soil

The boxelder

(also written box elder) is a fast-growing, short-lived deciduous tree native to North America. The tree is a species of maple tree in the genus Acer and soapberry family Sapindaceae. Due to their fast growth and suckering nature, boxwoods are sometimes considered invasive or weedy.

Boxelder trees grow between 35 and 80 ft. (10 – 25 m) tall. A characteristic of boxelder trees is their multiple trunks that can form dense thickets like huge shrubs. Therefore, regular pruning is necessary to remove suckers.

Boxelders thrive in USDA zones 2 to 10, meaning they are incredibly cold-hardy. However, they are also tolerant of drought and withstand the hot sun. The medium-sized boxelder thrives in full sun or part shade and performs well in most soils.

The identifying features of a boxelder tree are its thick, multi-stemmed growth, irregular canopy, and dense foliage. In addition, this medium-sized tree has bright green, lance-shaped ovate leaves,

papery winged samaras that flutter from the tree like helicopters

, and small yellow-green flowers that bloom in the spring.

Floss Silk Tree (

Ceiba speciosa

)

Floss Silk Tree (Ceiba speciosa)

The floss silk tree is an unusual tropical thorny tree with spiky conical prickles on its erect trunk. The floss silk tree’s horizontal branches are also covered in prickles and grow to form an attractive rounded canopy. The tree’s dark green leaves contrast with the beautiful pink hibiscus-like flowers.

The floss silk tree grows up to 82 ft. (25 m) high and it has a bottle-shaped trunk that bulges near the base. The floss tree has pink flowers, with creamy-white and yellow centers and they have five slender petals in a star shape.

The floss silk tree is easily identified by its grayish conical prickles covering the cylindrical green trunk.

Sandbox Tree (

Hura crepitans

)

Sandbox Tree (Hura crepitans)

The sandbox tree is a spiky tree with smooth brown bark covered in extremely sharp, pyramid-shaped pointed prickles. The sandbox tree produces small red petal-less flowers, large ovate leaves up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide, and small roundish pumpkin-like fruits that explode when ripe.

The sandbox tree can be identified by its sharp, prickly protrusions on its trunk and its roundish pumpkin-like fruit.

The sandbox tree grows 200 ft. (60 m) tall and thrives in wet soils in USDA zones 10 and 11.

Devil’s Walking Stick Tree (

Aralia spinosa

)

Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)

The devil’s walking stick is a small thorny deciduous tree with slender stems covered in sharp brown to tan spines. The spiny tree has large leaves measuring up to 45” (120 cm) long and a rounded, umbrella-shaped crown. The tree blooms in late summer with small, creamy-white flowers that develop into purplish-black berries.

With its spiny stems, the devil’s walking stick grows up to 26 ft. (8 m) tall.

The devil’s walking stick tree can be identified by its huge tropical leaves and stems with stout, sharp spines.

Kapok (

Ceiba pentandra

)

Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra)

Kapok is a species of large tree with sharp thorns growing extensively on its bark. Kapok trees have thorny buttress roots, large palmate leaves, and clusters of tiny yellowish-white flowers. The unique characteristic of the tree is its cotton-like downy substance surrounding the seed pods.

Kapok trees are giant tropical trees that thrive in USDA zones 10 to 12. The

thorny trees

can grow 75 to 125 ft. (22 – 38 m) tall and up to 75 ft. (22 m) wide.

The thorny kapok tree is identified by its straight trunk covered in stout, sharp thorns, palmate compound leaves, and creamy-white flower clusters consisting of bell-shaped flowers.

Chittamwood Tree (

Sideroxylon lanuginosum

)

Chittamwood Tree (Sideroxylon lanuginosum)

The Chittamwood tree is a small, shrub-like tree with thorny branches. The deciduous Chittamwood tree can be identified by its spiny, stiff, woolly branches, oblong green leaves with fuzzy undersides, and clusters of purplish-black fruits. The multi-stemmed Chittamwood tree grows up to 40 ft. (12 m) tall and has a straight trunk and rounded, narrow crown.

Other common names of Chittamwood tree include woolly buckthorn, gum bumelia, and gum bully.

Osage Orange (

Maclura pomifera

)

Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera)

The osage orange tree is a mid-sized, multi-stemmed tree with sharp thorns on its interlacing branches. This thorny deciduous tree has a rounded crown of shiny, dark green leaves and small greenish spring flowers. Due to the nasty thorns on the small shrub-like tree, the tree can be used as a security hedge or

living fence

The identifying feature of osage orange tree is its large orange-like round yellowish-green fruits. The unusual round, inedible fruits are about the size of a baseball.

Osage orange trees grow 25 to 60 ft. (7.5 – 18 m) tall. The osage orange treethrives in USDA zones 4 to 9.

Podocarpus Trees (Podocarpus macrophyllus and Podocarpus gracilior)

Podocarpus trees: Podocarpus macrophyllus (left) and Podocarpus gracilior (right)

Podocarpus trees

are types of conifers in the family Podocarpaceae with dense evergreen foliage.

Podocarpus macrophyllus is a slow-growing small to medium-sized evergreen tree which has upright, pyramidal growth and grows to between 20 and 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) high.

Podocarpus macrophyllus trees thrive in rich, slightly acidic soil that has excellent drainage. They don’t need much watering and are relatively drought-resistant. Podocarpus macrophyllus trees thrive in zones 7 – 9.

The species Podocarpus macrophyllus also goes by the names fern pine, yew plum pine, and Buddhist pine. Although the Podocarpus plant is commonly called the Japanese yew, it’s not a true member of the Taxaceae family, which the yew belongs to.

Another type of podocarpus tree is Podocarpus gracilior which is a medium-sized evergreen conifer with a pyramidal shape. Also called weeping podocarpus trees or African fern trees, the tree has soft, dense evergreen foliage. The slow-growing shade tree grows up to 40 ft. (12 m) high. Podocarpus weeping trees thrive in zones 9 – 11.

Manzanita Tree (

Arctostaphylos

)

Big berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca)

Manzanita trees

are a group of small trees with shrubby growth belonging to the flowering plant genus Arctostaphylos.

The trees are native to the western coast of the United States and grow in USDA zones 8 through 10. There are around 60 species of manzanita trees, all of which have evergreen foliage apart from one.

Manzanita trees are attractive flowering plants with eye-catching red bark. The small ornamental trees bloom with bell-shaped pale pink or white flowers. The manzanita flowers are followed by small edible berries. However, the most attractive feature of the evergreen small trees is the distinctive reddish-brown or mahogany bark covering twisted, gnarled branches.

The largest species of manzanita trees, like the big berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), grow as tall as 20 ft. (6 m).

Manzanitas are valuable trees for dry landscapes because they are suitable for growing in various soil types and tolerate full sun and drought.

101 Different Types of Trees (2023 List: Names, Species, Photos & Details) - Home Stratosphere

It’s time to start getting curious about the different types of trees. These gentle giants have been our neighbors for as long as the human race has existed. They live a life of different in function and purpose, but the surviving elements between us are strikingly similar.

Trees live on an entirely different time scale than we do. Old growth forests prove to us that trees can outlive us tenfold, and this patience is exactly what allows them to thrive.

But if we get down to the nitty gritty, we discover that just like us, trees communicate, eat, exist in families, learn, adapt, thrive, and perish. Only each minute for us, is extended to a year for them.

So in celebration of trees, we thought it necessary to dive in to a very small fraction of some incredible trees.

Below you will find:

a list of trees

names of trees

species of trees

examples of trees

photos of trees

Welcome to 101 Types of Trees.

Types of Mesquite Trees

Types of Redbud Trees

Types of Fig Trees

Types of Palm Trees

Types of Cotton Wood Trees

Types of Fruit Trees

What is a River Red Gum Tree

Types of Heliotrope Flowers

Different Types of Trees

For the sake of organization, we’ve divided the trees into two main categories:

deciduous trees

, and

evergreen

trees

Deciduous tree types

Deciduous trees are also referred to as hardwoods; this type of tree has leaves that will change color and eventually shed come fall time. The tree will be bare for the entire winter. Once spring arrives, new leaves will take their place. Deciduous trees will commonly have broadleaves.

Deciduous trees do this so prepare for winter months. There is not enough sunlight in the winter to allow for efficient photosynthesis, and so trees go dormant during cold months. During this dormancy period they are still alive, but don’t put any energy towards growth.

Evergreen tree types

Evergreen trees will be green all year round despite the changing seasons. Although some varieties of evergreen trees do shed their leaves, it is not an annual or seasonal occurrence. It is usually due to an unexpected environmental happening.

Most evergreen green trees are also conifers. Coniferous trees possess needles and cones instead of flat and delicate leaves. However, there is a small handful of coniferous trees that are deciduous!

But the question then arises “what is the importance of understanding the different types?”

If you are looking into

landscaping

of any space, it is important to know what the trees will look during the different seasons. Since trees are what ultimately add beauty to a garden because of their glorious look, it is important to plant a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.

Apart from the aesthetics, having trees placed correctly lessens the cooling and heating costs of a home.

Otherwise, it is worth it to learn about different types of trees simply to gain more knowledge about our slow and silent neighbors. The art of tree and plant identification is a dying skill, but it is time for it to be revived!

Being armored with this kind of information allows one to feel prepared when on forest walks, and encourages deeper curiosity for the things we see every day.

Types of Deciduous Trees

1. The Apple Tree (

Malus Domestica

)

Learn more about the characteristics of the Apple Tree here.

What better place to start this journey, than with the apple tree. The apple tree represents so many things, and these trees have become integral to farming practices all over the planet.

Apple trees are of the deciduous variety, and they prefer to grow in moist, rich, and well drained

soils

, which is very common for

fruit trees

Apple trees are rather short, and will only grow to be between 2 and 5 meters tall. They are known for having lovely white/pink flowers that emerge at the same of the spring foliage. Apple tree leaves are alternately arranged on a twig and are a very dark green color.

Apple trees are grown and cultivated all over the world. Commercial groves have been around for centuries, and the lovely apple fruit that these trees produce could possibly be one of the most iconic and important

fruits

known to the human race!

They go into makes all sorts of desserts, jams, butters, and make a nutritious snack all on their own.

2. The Pear Tree (

Pyrus Communis

)

50+ Types of Trees With Pictures and Facts - Quiet Minimal - Interior Design Inspiration & Ideas

We’re all familiar with at least a few different types of trees. But did you know that there are over 60,000 types of trees? These majestic plants are found all over the world. In fact, they grow on every continent except Antarctica.

I’ll walk you through 50+ tree names and pictures in this guide. So, you can browse through and become an expert on some of the most common tree types.

Or you can use this article as a way to identify a specific tree. You’ll soon become an expert on all the different types of trees in your neighborhood and further afield.

I’ll share all sorts of trees, from tropical trees names to mountain trees names. You’ll find that different varieties grow depending on the ecosystem. So, if you’ve ever wondered about tree types and their meanings, read on.

50 Popular Types of trees

1. Oak Trees

Oak trees are beautiful trees that grow to massive sizes if given a chance. But the process happens very slowly over hundreds of years. From a tiny acorn to a mighty oak, as the saying goes.

These trees are prized for their durable and valuable hardwood. In the past, it was a popular choice for furniture, wood paneling, and even building ships.

There are two main types of oaks, white oaks, and red oaks. As their name suggests, red oaks have darker bark than white oaks. But each type produces acorns, which you may find scattered over the ground near an oak tree.

2. Birch Trees

Birch trees are hardwood deciduous trees that are easy to spot. They have a silvery bark, although it can look white depending on the tree. The leaves are triangular, have a serrated edge, and droop downward.

There are eleven common types of birch trees such as the bog birch, cherry birch, and paper bark birch. There are also local varieties, including the Himalayan and the Japanese white birch.

They grow worldwide in temperate zones and look very pretty, especially in winter. During the colder seasons, it’s easier to notice the silvery look of their trunks.

3. Ash Trees

Ash trees have dense leaves that grow in a well-rounded crown, starting fairly low down. These trees often have a greyish bark and are very strong and dense. They can withstand all sorts of weather conditions and live for centuries.

Many ash trees grow up to around 60 or 70 feet tall. So, they’re not the tallest trees in the woods but still become a respectable size.

There are various types of ash trees, including the almost-extinct black ash tree. The

wood

of this tree is favored for making guitars. But unfortunately, it’s been badly affected by an invasive bug species. And as a result, its numbers are dwindling.

4. Sycamore Trees

Sycamore trees are mighty hardwood trees that grow a huge trunk and a large, leafy crown. You’ll find that the trunk is covered with thinner, reddish bark.

They are popular choices in parks and gardens as they provide a lot of shade. Beneath a sycamore tree is an ideal place to have a picnic! Sycamores grow across Europe, North America, and certain parts of western Asia.

5. Maple Trees

Maple trees are easy to identify, thanks to their distinctive bright red leaves. These leaves also have a unique shape that you’ll recognize from the Canadian flag.

Maples are the national tree of Canada, but they grow much more widely than you might imagine. You can find them all across North America, but also in China and Japan. Maples are native to many other northern countries, too.

The sugar maple tree is perhaps the most famous type of maple. It produces that world-famous sweet maple syrup that tastes so good on pancakes. But even the varieties that don’t make sweet syrup look bright and beautiful.

6. Cedar Trees

These gorgeous trees are tall evergreens with needles and quite sparse trunks. The branches spiral up from the tree and give off a piney scent. You can find cedar trees in many countries, but they originated in the Mediterranean.

Cedars are hardwood trees that grow to great heights of 150+ feet. They look elegant, making them popular in parks and gardens as ornamental trees. And at the opposite end of the scale, you can also find tiny bonsai cedars. There are many varieties of cedar trees, including:

The Atlantic White Cedar

The Northern White Cedar

The Western Red Cedar

The Atlas Cedar

7. Juniper Trees

Junipers are often mistaken for cedar trees. But they are a different species of trees altogether. The difference is that a juniper tree is an evergreen tree rather than a deciduous one.

As small trees, junipers usually have spiky needles and dense little cones with a strong piney scent. But as they mature, these needles fan out into scaly leaves with clusters of needles.

While junipers can grow up to 100 feet tall, many stop at around 6 feet. So, you’ve probably seen more of the smaller, shrubby junipers than tall, elegant ones.

8. Willow Trees

When you think of a willow tree, you can probably picture this distinctive tree in your head. It’s easily identified by its low-hanging branches and oval leaves. These trees are often found near water, such as lakes, rivers, or streams.

As they’re deciduous trees, they lose their leaves in the winter. And in fact, there are many different types of willow trees, with over 400 in total. These include dwarf willows, smaller shrubs, and giant trees that tower above us.

9. Hickory Trees

Hickory trees grow across China, India, and much of North America. In these countries, they are popular as they produce edible nuts. They are related to walnut trees, and the pecan tree is also from the hickory tree family.

You can identify a hickory tree by looking at the nuts and leaves. Hickory leaves are large and end at a point, while the nuts have thick shells. This hardwood variety is useful for making baseball bats and hockey sticks.

10. Apple Trees

Apple trees are found worldwide and are easy to spot due to their bountiful fruit. There are many different varieties of apple trees (over seven thousand in total). These trees have been cultivated for their fruit for centuries, if not millennia.

They aren’t the tallest trees, growing to around forty feet or slightly less. The branches spread widely and are covered in beautiful blossoms during the spring. Then, in late summer and autumn, you’ll see the crop of apples.

11. Crabapple Trees

It’s easy to get confused between apple trees and crabapples. The second is a smaller variety of apple trees that often appear quite shrubby. They don’t get as big and are excellent additions to a garden or city park.

Brightly colored pink, orange, or purple blossoms bloom in abundance during the spring. And later in the year, they grow crabapples. Although these fruits are pretty sour, they’re

safe to eat.

But due to their sharp taste, they’re not as popular as regular apples.

12. Pear Trees

Pear trees are another fruit tree popular for their delicate white flowers. Thanks to its rich, autumnal shades, it also looks beautiful in the fall. Most pear trees bear juicy, tasty fruit. But some ornamental varieties are too small and can taste bitter.

13. Cherry Trees

Cherry trees also grow all over the world, from North America to Europe and Asia. They’re quite a sensation during the spring when people travel to see the amazing blossoms. Japan and Amsterdam are popular destinations to see cherry trees. They bloom with pink or white

flowers

that draw locals and tourists alike.

There are hundreds of varieties of cherry trees. These include the black cherry tree, pin cherry tree, sweet cherry tree, and sour cherry tree, to name a few.

Cherry trees tend to be medium in size and grow quickly. The wood can be used for furniture and is highly sought after and quite expensive.

14. Peach Trees

While we’re discussing fruit trees, we shouldn’t forget the peach tree. This tree is native to northwest China but has been exported worldwide. Now, you can find peach trees all over, but they grow best in temperature regions. They are of the same family as other stone fruit, such as the plum, apricot, and cherry trees.

Peach trees don’t grow to be very tall, reaching about 20 feet at their largest. They are best known for their pretty flowers and, of course, the juicy peaches in the late summer.

15. Fig Trees

The fig tree is a smaller variety native to western Asia and the Mediterranean. Humans have cultivated this tree for its fruit for thousands of years. And now, it grows almost all over the globe.

Notable features of this tree are its smooth white bark and fruit in the summer months. It tends to reach around 30 feet at its tallest and is a relatively hardy tree. But it will grow best when it gets warm temperatures and plenty of sunlight.

16. Banyan Trees

The banyan tree is perhaps less well known because it grows in much of Asia. But it can also be found growing naturally in Central and South America.

This tree is unique because it starts growing from another plant. First, the seed will fall into a crevice of a tree or land on another

plant

. Then, the banyan tree will live off of this

plant

until it eventually takes it over and kills it off. And that’s where the banyan tree gets the name ‘strangler fig.’

Banyan tree roots extend far around the tree instead of deep below the surface. These trees are best suited to wet soils in tropical climates. And you might not guess it, but they’re actually related to the fig tree.

17. Neem Trees

The neem tree is another exotic tree that grows in tropical areas of Asia. In particular, it’s found in Cambodia, Laos, India, and Thailand, among other countries.

It grows best in countries with plenty of rain and a warm temperature all year round. It won’t survive anywhere the temperature falls too low.

The neem tree is a fast grower and can reach up to 130 feet in height. It has wide branches and blooms with a vast quantity of white flowers in the springtime. But it’s considered a weed in some places as it can be pretty invasive.

18. Mahogany Trees

Mahogany trees have long been famous for their high-quality wood. These trees grow in Florida, the USA, and many Caribbean islands. It’s best suited to tropical regions with plenty of rain and sunlight.

These medium-sized trees can reach around 80 feet in height and have rich, dark trunks. Mahogany leaves are first red but turn green as they grow. Unfortunately, mahogany trees have been cultivated for their wood, leading to large-scale deforestation. But protections are now in place to protect this majestic tree.

19. Teak Trees

The teak tree is prized for its durable, weather-resistant wood. It’s often used to make furniture, boats, and flooring.

This tree grows to lofty heights of 130+ feet and has few branches along the trunk. There are more branches near the top of the trunk, making a small crown. The teak tree leaves are large but thin, with a smooth rather than serrated edge.

20. Walnut Trees

The walnut is another deciduous tree that grows to a large size. It has a large crown and rough bark that may look gray, light brown, or dark brown. The leaves grow alternately along the stem, and it also grows large walnuts in their shells. If you have a walnut tree nearby, you can collect them and eat them as a nutritious snack.

This robust and durable wood can also be used for all sorts of things. In particular, the wood of the black walnut tree is sought after.

21. Elm Trees

You’ll often find elm trees in forests or parks. They’re a great place to sit as they provide plenty of shade. And their low-hanging branches are tempting to climb on.

There are many varieties of elms, including the American elm, English elm, and the slippery elm.

Unfortunately, the Dutch Elm disease has affected many of these trees. But the ones that are still around are beautiful.

You may have heard of slippery elm bark used for traditional medicine. The indigenous people of North America first used it, and it’s still a popular alternative remedy.

22. Hawthorn Trees

The hawthorn tree grows across much of Asia, Europe, and North America. There are many different types and some great myths and tales linked to this tree. In some cultures, it’s seen as a fertility symbol.

Hawthorn trees are related to apple trees. They look pretty and delicate and don’t grow to great heights. So, they make nice ornamental trees along streets or in gardens. These trees produce edible fruits and strong-smelling flowers. These are the best way to identify a hawthorn tree.

23. Spruce Trees

Spruce trees are evergreens that grow widely across the northern USA and Canada. But originally, they came from the boreal regions of northern Europe. These trees can survive even the coldest temperatures and grow up to 200 feet.

There are many types of spruce trees, but all have prickly pine needs. They are commonly used as Christmas trees and also for lumber.

24. Fir Trees

Fir trees grow in cooler regions in the north of Europe, Asia, and North America. They thrive in cool, mountainous areas with loose, fertile soils. These hardy trees can survive in the coldest of temperatures. And of course, these trees are evergreens, so they don’t lose their leaves in the winter.

When you picture a Christmas tree, it’s probably a fir tree that comes to find. They have smooth, gray bark and soft, fragrant needles. There are many types of fir trees, including the balsam fir, Douglas fir, and balsam fir.

25. Beech Trees

In contrast with fir trees, the beech is a beautiful big leafy tree of the deciduous variety. These trees have a well-rounded crown of leaves, providing lots of shade. They look particularly eye-catching as the leaves change color in the fall.

Beech trees produce flowers called catkins as well as a fruit called beechnuts. While these nuts are edible, they taste very bitter and aren’t commonly eaten. There is a North American beech tree variety and a European beech tree species.

26. Cucumber Tree

One of the rarer trees, the cucumber tree grows in certain areas of the USA and Canada. It can mainly be found in Ontario and along the east coast. It gets its name from the unusual bright green fruit that looks like a large, fat cucumber.

The cucumber tree grows best in moist soil in wooded areas or low hills. If you cut a twig from this tree, it emits a lovely scent. These trees are sometimes used as ornamental trees. But although it has delicate flowers, they grow high up and are tricky to see.

27. Cottonwood Trees

Cottonwood trees are easily recognizable in the summer. That’s because they grow seeds covered in a soft, cottony covering.

This distinctive tree gets its name from these strange, fluffy seeds. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to these seeds, and the fluff can make a lot of mess, too.

A cottonwood tree can grow up to 80 feet, although many only reach around 50 feet. A notable feature is the large, heart-shaped leaves that taper to a point.

28. Cypress Trees

A tree originating from the Mediterranean region, the cypress is an evergreen. It produces acorn-like cones and doesn’t lose its leaves in the winter. The cypress leaves are soft and pointy, like a cross between needles and regular leaves.

Confusingly, there are true and false cypress trees. The true cypress varieties are the Mediterranean and the Monterey cypresses.

But others are actually from a different family of trees and are ‘fake’ cypresses. These include the Pond, Hinoki, Lawson, and bald cypress.

29. Eucalyptus Trees

The eucalyptus is a distinctive tree, thanks to its scented leaves. Eucalyptus oil is often used in alternative medicine for coughs and other ailments.

Eucalyptus bark is notable for its smooth appearance, although it can also look like it’s peeling. The tree produces flowers that can vary in

color

, and it can grow anywhere from 30 to 300 feet tall.

These trees are native to Australia, but they’ve been exported all over the world. They grow well in temperature and tropical areas rather than cooler or dry climates.

30. Magnolia Trees

The magnolia tree is well-known for its beautiful flowers. And as there are more than 100 varieties, they bloom throughout the year. The earliest magnolias flower in late March, but others will bloom much later in the year.

A few common types include pink magnolia and lily magnolia. Others are named after the areas where they thrive. For example, the southern magnolia and the mountain magnolia.

The leaves of the magnolia tree are thick, hardy, and feel quite rubbery. The magnolia fares best when it gets some sunlight every day, but it can cope with many soil types.

31. Dogwood Trees

Dogwood trees are common ornamental trees with beautiful white or yellow flowers. They grow across the eastern side of the USA and in northern Mexico. They need plenty of rainfall and sunlight to thrive.

The memorable name comes from the fact that dogwood bark could cure dogs of mange. And while the wood has been used for

timber

, it’s not commonly used nowadays.

32. Poplar Trees

Poplars are fast-growing trees native to large swathes of the globe. They grow naturally in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. As they’re deciduous trees, they lose their leaves in the winter.

They have gray bark and grow clusters of flowers called catkins in the springtime. Some of the most common of this species include the balsam poplar, white poplar, and black poplar.

33. Horse Chestnut Trees

Horse chestnuts are large deciduous trees that can grow to huge heights. They can live for over 300 years and have a large, well-rounded crown that provides shade.

A horse chestnut is recognized by its distinctive round leaves and great height. Plus, you’re sure to notice the shiny round conkers inside their spiky green cases. These grow throughout the year and fall when ripe in the autumn months.

34. Larch Trees

These cone-shaped deciduous trees are easy to spot. They grow flat needles that are soft rather than pointy. But unlike most conifers, they lose their needles in the winter. So, they stand out against other evergreen coniferous varieties. Common varieties include the European larch, the western larch, and the alpine larch.

35. Palm Trees

A very different tree, the palm tree grows in hot, tropical areas. They can be found in tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa. There are different types of palm trees, including the date palm, coconut palm, and oil palm. But in fact, there are more than 2,600 different varieties of palm trees.

36. Linden Trees

Linden trees have distinctive leaves that look like hearts. They bloom with pale yellow flowers in the spring. They also look spectacular in the autumn months when the leaves turn yellow.

These trees can grow from medium to large, ranging from 70 to 130 feet. They have a large well-rounded crown of branches and leaves.

37. Acacia Trees

Acacia trees are endemic in Australia and some parts of Africa. They also grow well in certain states in the southern USA, where they get plenty of sun.

These trees grow fast and need very little maintenance. They’re used to warm climates, so they don’t need much rainfall to survive.

38. Sumac Trees

Compared to some of these large trees, the sumac can look tiny in contrast. Sumacs tend to be smaller trees or shrubs, reaching 30 feet at their highest.

Depending on the time of year, you can identify a sumac by its white berries and clusters of red berries. The leaves also transform into gorgeous autumnal reds and purples in the fall.

39. Mulberry Trees

Mulberry trees are popular and grow across the world in temperate zones. They produce small berries that can be black, red, or white. Mulberries were used to treat ailments in traditional medicine in the past.

Mulberry trees are fast-growing, but they don’t tend to bear fruit for around ten years.

40. River Red Gum Trees

This tree is native to Australia and doesn’t grow anywhere else in the world. These trees thrive in areas prone to flooding and often grow near rivers or ponds. It’s an evergreen flowering tree that comes under the umbrella of the eucalyptus family.

Furniture makers prize the river red gum tree for its sturdy red wood. And in their natural environment, many creatures find their homes in these trees. That includes many types of birds as well as bats and snakes.

41. Hemlock Trees

Hemlock trees are evergreens from the pine family that grow across North America. These trees are often very tall, reaching more than 200 feet.

The distinctive conical shape of hemlock trees makes them easy to identify. They also grow lots of small cones and have long, soft needles. The bark is a reddish-brown color.

42. Redwood Trees

Redwood trees hardly need any introduction as they’re such an iconic species. They’re the tallest trees in the world and can grow to more than 300 feet. These giant trees have slim trunks and rich red bark. This large tree species thrives in areas with plenty of rainfall and humidity.

43. Monkey Puzzle Trees

The monkey puzzle tree is a unique species that’s very easy to identify. It looks bizarre but attractive in a quirky way. These trees originally come from the mountainous regions of Chile and Argentina.

But they’ve since been exported around the world. If you’d like to see one, you can find them in botanic gardens all over Europe and North America.

The monkey puzzle’s leaves are spiky and scaly. They spiral out along the trunk and the branches of this evergreen tree.

44. Peppermint Trees

Despite the name, this tree doesn’t produce peppermint, which is actually a herb. But its flowers smell very like peppermint, hence the name. These native Australian trees have many other names, such as the willow myrtle. And in fact, they look quite similar to willow trees as the long leaves droop downward.

45. Kumquat Trees

Kumquat trees are hardy trees that can survive cool temperatures. They’re of the citrus family and grow across much of Asia. But although they can withstand the cold, they need hot summers to produce their fruit. These trees are small with thick, glossy leaves and may have thorny branches. They bloom with white flowers, and in the summer, they carry dense crops of kumquats.

46. Lemon Trees

The lemon tree is an evergreen flowering tree of the citrus family. It grows natively in India, Myanmar, and China. But you’ll also find it in many other countries around the world, although it grows best in tropical regions. In fact, there are more than thirty different types of lemon trees.

The lemon tree reaches around 10 to 20 feet in height and has small oval leaves. It may have thorny branches and produces lemons after around 5-6 years.

47. Orange Trees

The orange tree is another relatively small citrus variety. It grows to around 20 to 30 feet and doesn’t need much maintenance.

However, you’ll find that it grows best in warm climates. They can’t survive extended periods below freezing temperature.

It produces beautiful, delicate flowers in the summer with a strong, heady scent. Its crop of oranges is ready later in the year, often in the late autumn or winter months.

48. Argan Trees

Argan trees are endemic to Morocco and can survive arid climates. But due to this, these trees grow slowly and don’t reach great heights.

The argan tree has thorny branches to deter animals from eating the argan nuts it produces. These nuts are used to create argan oil for cooking and cosmetic use. And the pulp around the nut is useful for feeding livestock, so nothing is wasted.

49. Olive Trees

The olive tree is often considered a Mediterranean tree. But it also grows in many other places, including Australia, Mexico, and China. It’s one of the oldest trees in existence and can live for thousands of years. These trees grow slowly and produce a crop of olives each year when healthy. They’re essential for providing olives and olive oil for many cuisines.

50. Holly Trees

Last but not least on my list is the holly tree. They vary from small, bushy shrubs to large trees that grow up to 80 feet. These plants are evergreen and often have more than one main stem.

The holly tree is easy to recognize from its thick, shiny, spiky leaves. It produces rich red berries in the winter that look pretty but are toxic to humans. Sprigs of holly are sometimes used as Christmas decorations.

Tree Types FAQ

What are the most common trees?

The most common trees in the world are red alders, although pine trees are close behind. In the USA, the most common trees are the red maple, loblolly pine, and the American sweetgum. And in Europe, it’s the Norwegian spruce, silver fir, beech, oak, and ash trees.

What is the smallest tree in the world?

The smallest tree in the world is the dwarf willow which grows to only 2.3 inches in total. It grows in subarctic and arctic climes. Its small sizer helps it to survive in these harsh regions.

Final Thoughts

Now, you should be an expert on the most common types of trees. From winter trees names to mountain

plants

and trees names, we’ve covered so many varieties.

These pictures of trees with names will help you feel confident identifying trees. And you also know the distinctive features of these trees. So, you should be able to spot some of these trees when you’re out and about.

76 Types of Trees Identification - Names, Facts, Photos | Happy DIY Home

Every type of tree plays a key role in the ecosystem, and they provide shelter, shade, oxygen, and they can produce fruit. To date, there are over 60,000 types of grees available that come in a host of sizes and shapes. Identifying the tree types means looking at the bark and leaves because some come with star-shaped ones while others are wider and more oval-shaped.

Evergreen trees

have needle-shaped leaves.

You can classify all types of trees as either evergreen or deciduous. Deciduous trees will shed the leaves at certain points during the year, and evergreen trees keep the leaves throughout the year.

These woody perennial plants fall into the Plantae kingdom. All tree species get grouped based on their family, genus, and order, and this makes identifying various types of trees much easier. We’re going to outline quick facts about 76 types of trees and show you pictures of each one to make identifying them easier.

Trees

Stanley Zimney

CC BY-NC 2.0

Two Tree Categories

We mentioned that the thousands of types of trees all narrow down to two broad categories, and they are:

Deciduous

These trees will shed their leaves each year, and this usually happens in the fall months. The name deciduous means to fall off at maturity, and the trees will remain bare until the spring and warmer weather.

In Europe and North America, these tees will start to lose the leaves in the fall months, including the walnut, oak, and elm varieties. The leaves usually turn pretty colors before they fall from the trees. In tropical areas, the trees will lose their leaves during the dry seasons.

Evergreen

Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year-round, and

pine,

spruce, and fir trees all fall into this category. There are roughly 14 groups of evergreen trees, and they’ll give you nice pops of color in your garden or landscape design all year-round.

76 Types of Trees with Pictures

The following shortlist has some of the most popular types of trees available that are hardy and low-maintenance.

1. Acacia

Acacia are thorny trees and shrubs that fall into the evergreen family. They have fern-like leaves with pretty clusters of whtie or yellow fuzzy flowers. The fruit looks like a peapod that can be twisted, coiled, or straight. The pods can also be clusters of black, brown, or green.

Acacia Tree

Alex Proimos

CC BY-NC 2.0

2. Alder

Alder trees have drooping flower clusters with woody, brown cones that are known as strobiles. The cones develop from conical flower clusters called catkins, and they stay on the tree until spring to add texture to the bare branches. This tree has a huge rounded crown, brown conifer-like cones, and serrated leaves in green hues.

Alder Trees

John Clift

CC BY-NC 2.0

3. Apple

Apple trees

fall into a genus of bigger trees in the Rosaceae family, and they produce very fragrant flowers in spring before giving way to an apple crop. The leaves are egg-shaped and alternate, and most apple tree types feature ovate leaves that are pointed.

Apple Tree

Michael Tefft

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

4. Arborvitae

This type of tree is an evergreen conifer that offers feathery, lush foliage. You can get different types that come as small conical trees, columnar trees, or rounded shrubs. The trees and shrubs work wonderfully for wide hedges, natural privacy screens, specimen trees, or living fences.

Arborvitae

Oregon State University

CC BY-SA 2.0

5. Ash

Ash trees showcase pinnately compound, large leaves. The leaves have a slightly oval but narrow shape to them with five to seven leaflets. Mature ash are types of trees with ridges in the bark that form diamond shapes, and the branches will grow oppositely from one another.

Ash trees on the Downs

debs-eye

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

6. Aspen

This type of tree is a medium-sized, flowering deciduous tree that falls into the Populus genus. You’ll get a tree with a slender and straight trunk, round leaves with serrated edges, and whitish-gray bark. The dangling flower clusters are called catkins.

Aspen Trees

Amy Aletheia Cahill

CC BY-ND 2.0

7. Basswood

American Basswood types of trees are a fast-growing option that have whitish-yellow flowers, a domed crown, and big heart-shaped leaves with a pointed tip and serrated edges. The leaves on this deciduous tree will turn yellow and fall during the autumn months.

Basswood

Katja Schulz

CC BY 2.0

8. Beech

Beech types of trees are popular for

hardwood flooring

, and they’re tall trees with ovate, green leaves with finely toothed edges. You get a rounded, dense crown, and the foliage will turn a pretty shade of yellow, orange, and golden brown from the more traditional green.

Beech

tigerweet

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

9. Birch

Birch trees come with triangular-shaped, small leaves with sligh serration on the edges. The bark on this tree is instantly recognizable as its papery, and it can be white or gray, depending on the species you have in your yard.

Birch Trees

saaby

CC BY-SA 2.0

10. Black Tupelo Tree

This is a very attractive, ornamental type of tree that is medium-sized. It’s native to North America in the Nyssaceae family, and you may hear it called the sour or black gum. It offers dark green glossy leaves in an oval shape, bark that looks and feels like alligator skin, and clusters of blackish-blue fruit and greenish-white flowers.

Black Tupelo

Katja Schulz

CC BY 2.0

11. Buckeye

The Buckeye is an ornamental deciduous type of tree in the Sapindaceae family and the Aesculus genus. It’s related to the horse chestnut, and it can get between 12 and 40 feet tall. The round, large but indelible seeds look like the eye of a buck. It also offers pretty green leaves with

red or yellow flower clusters

Buckeye

Eli Sagor

CC BY-NC 2.0

12. Catalpa

This is another deciduous flowering ornamental type of shade tree with triangular or heart-shaped large leaves. They have yellow or white flowers that are fragrant with slender, dangling seed pods that stick around until the spring or late winter. They start out green and turn to brown as the season wears on.

Catalpa Tree

Linda De Volder

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

13. Cedar

Cedar trees offer scale leaves that grow in spiral clusters in greenish-blue or dark green coloring. You could get anywhere from 15 to 45 clusters on short shoots to make up the branches, and it’s a very woody, fragrant tree.

Sun Shining on Cedars

dedhed1950

CC BY-SA 2.0

14. Cherry

Cherry types of trees offer stunning pinkish-white blossoms in the spring from March to April that cover the branches. They have oval, glossy-green leaves with serrated edges and pointed tips. The

cherry tree

grows best in zones five to nine, but there are cold-hardy species that survive to zone four.

Cherry Trees

Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie

CC BY-SA 2.0

15. Chestnut

Chestnut trees are easy to identify because of the clusters of spiky burrs that grow and contain the fruit. The fruit is a brown-shelled nut with a white flesh. You’ll get a broad, straight trunk with a big spreading canopy and deeply furrowed bark.

Chestnut Tree

vhines200

CC BY-ND 2.0

16. Chinaberry Tree

This very fast-growing type of tree is native to Australia, India, and Southeast Asia. It’s a deciduous tree that is in the Meliacea family and the Melia genus. All parts of the plant are poisonous to pets and humans, so be leery around it.

Chinaberry Tree

Leslie

CC BY-NC 2.0

17. Chokecherry

Chokecherry is a type of tree on the smaller side that can also be a shrub with multiple stems that sends up suckers. It can get between 3 and 20 feet tall at full maturity, and up to 20 feet wide. It’s also not unusual for this type of tree to get up to 30 feet tall.

Aronia melanocarpa

Oskar Gran

CC BY-NC 2.0

18. Conifer

This is one of the largest gymnosperm groups in each continent except Antarctica, and it has over 800 species. These trees don’t produce fruit or flowers, and it is one of the tallest growing trees in North America because it includes the Giant Sequoias. They produce a nice supply of timber and in paper production.

Sun in the Trees

Stanley Zimny

CC BY-NC 2.0

19. Cottonwood

Cottonwood is a type of tree that is very common in parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. They offer cheap timber, have fast growth, and do very well in arid environments or wetlands. They will produce cotton-like, fluffy strands in the early summer months that can be a nuisance to clean up.

Fabulous Fall Cottonwoods

Cathy McCray

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

20. Crabapple

This is a stunning ornamental flowering type of tree, and the

crabapple

flowers come in shades of white, pink, red, orange, and purple. They also produce very tart, small fruits called crabapples, and you get deep green leaves in the summer months.

Crabapple trees

sgtgary

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

21. Crape Myrtle Trees

The ornamental type of tree is part of the Lagerstroemia genus with flowering shrubs and trees that do well in warm climates. It’s a shrub-like tree that has evergreen or deciduous foliage, multiple stems, peeling colorful bark, and bushy growth habits. They do well in zones 7 to 10.

Crape Myrtle

vhines200

CC BY-ND 2.0

22. Cypress

True types of cypress trees are part of the Cupressus genus. They offer feathery, soft evergreen foliage and cones that resemble larger acorns. Types of trees like the Monterey cypress or the Mediterranean cypress are considered to be true cypress trees. It gives you year-round interest.

Cypress Trees

Gary J. Wood

CC BY-SA 2.0

23. Dogwood

Dogwoods

are pretty deciduous flowering trees that fall into the Cornus genus and offer distinctive bark, berries, flowers, and leaves. They bloom in the early spring and are usually white, but you can find pink, pale red, or yellow flowers. They’re small to medium-sized, and they grow between 10 and 25 feet high.

Dogwood tree

Carol Von Canon

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

24. Elm

Elm is a type of tree with a very dense, thick hardwood, but you can find beautiful, ornamental types too. This tree has broad leaves that are between 7 and 16 centimeters long, and the ovate shape will form a point. The bark is a brownish-gray color with a scaly look and deep furrows. The seeds are round and small, and they get protected by a samara, or a papery casing.

Elm Trees in Fall

Draculina & Kid

CC BY-ND 2.0

25. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus plants are flowering shrubs and trees that have over 700 species. Some species can get an impressive 330 feet tall, and the shrubs or mallees get up to 33 feet tall. It has a very sharp scent.

Eucalyptus trees

epitree

CC BY-NC 2.0

26. Ficus

Ficus

types of trees or plants are notable for how long they survive both in the wild and as a houseplant. They have very minimal care requirements, and they’re low-growers that love artificial light. They’re easy to naturalize into your garden.

34-IMG_7073

Bethany

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

27. Fig

This type of tree will thrive in much warmer climates, and they grow fruits that have a nutty taste to them. Despite the reputation of growing in areas that have longer summers, you can keep them indoors as a houseplant in colder or temperate climates and have them do well.

Magnificent Fig Tree

Stanley Zimny

CC BY-NC 2.0

28. Fir

Fir types of trees are evergreen, large conifer species that you find growing in forests in Asia, Europe, and North America. They have needle-like leaves that will stay green all year-round. Some species like balsam, Fraser, and noble fir are popular for use as Christmas trees.

Fir Tree Reflection

Stanley Zimny

CC BY-NC 2.0

29. Ginkgo Biloba

This is a very slow-growing,

columnar type of tree

that offers very big fan-shaped leaves that turn a pretty yellow in the fall months. This is the only species of tree left in the Ginkgoaceae family and the Ginkgo genus, and they get between 50 and 75 feet high at full maturity.

Ginkgo Leaves (Ginkgo Biloba)

Shimono_

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

30. Hackberry

This is a group of deciduous, medium-sized types of trees that offer clusters of fuzzy, small spring flowers, ovate leaves, and purple fruit. It’s a very low-maintenance choice, and they’re hardy enough to withstand different conditions, including wet soil, drought, air pollution, and high winds.

Hackberry Tree

Kari Nousiainen

CC BY-NC 2.0

31. Hawthorne

The leaves of this type of tree come in several shapes. Some hawthorn trees have leaves that look like big parsley leaves due to being deeply lobed. Others will have shallow lobes and an ovate shape.

Hawthorn

Mike Seager Thomas

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

32. Hazel Tree

Hazel is a group of multi-stemmed, large shrubs or trees in the Corylus genus and birch family. They produce round, tasty

hazelnuts

when they mature, and you can identify the trees or shrubs by the round leaves with toothed edges. They also have cylindrical, dangling flower clusters.

Corkscrew Hazel Tree

debs-eye

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

33. Hemlock

Hemlock types of trees are bigger evergreen coniferous trees that are part of the pine family and native to North America. You can identify hemlock by the slat, needle-like leaves that are very aromatic, conical shape, reddish-brown bark, and their cylindrical or oval seed-bearing cones.

Hemlock

Liz West

CC BY 2.0

34. Hickory

You can identify hickory trees by the bigger green leaves that come to a pointed tip at the end. The leaves also grow in an alternating pattern on the stem. You’ll get edible nuts that come in a double shell with this tree.

Bitternut Hickory Tree

maurenegrey

CC BY-NC 2.0

35. Holly

Holly trees will get between 30 and 80-feet tall, but the holly bushes can get up to six feet tall. They are multi-stemmed plants, and the leaves are usually oblong or ovate with green, glossy coloring. The leaves have wavy margins that are serrated, spiked, or smooth. Some of the most eye-catching varieties are variegated cultivars, and they produce indelible berry-like fruits.

Holly Tree

Cam Miller

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

36. Hornbeam

Hornbeam types of trees do well in partial shade or full sun, and they will grow well in any soil as long as they drain well. The hardy American hornbeam can grow in zones three to nine, and the European hornbeam will grow in zones four to seven.

The Old Hornbeam

Jason Boldero

CC BY 2.0

37. Horse Chestnut

This is a large species of deciduous flowering trees that fall into the Aesculus genus. It offers stout branches and rounded to oval crown shape, and it can get between 50 and 70 feet tall and 65 feet wide. They like to grow in zones three to eight.

Horse Chestnut Tree

Mike Finn

CC BY 2.0

38. Jacaranda Tree

This is a very pretty type of tree that will flower and work as an

ornamental tree

in your landscape. It offers clusters of blueish-purple trumpet-shaped flowers. It also has pretty fern-like foliage with an umbrella-like canopy that spreads out.

Jacaranda Trees

Chris Eason

CC BY 2.0

39. Juniper

Juniper trees are very fast-growing types of trees that can survive surprisingly well in even the most harsh climates. You’ll get a strong trunk with a branching canopy with dark green leaves, and there are also shrubs in the same family.

Juniper Tree

::ErWin

CC BY-ND 2.0

40. Katsura

This type of tree has several stems, but you can also grow it as a single-stem tree with an eye-catching rounded, pyramidal crown. Additionally, you’ll spot finely serrated, heart-shaped leaves in dark green that will slowly turn to a yellowish-gold color in the fall months. They emit a caramel, sugary aroma.

Katsura tree

Barret Anspach

CC BY 2.0

41. Kentucky Coffee

This unique type of tree is the only native tree in the Fabaceae family and the Gymnocladus genus. As you may have guessed from the name, the tree produces seeds that you can roast to get a coffee-like beverage.

Coffee Tree

F.D. Richards

CC BY-SA 2.0

42. Larch

Larch types of trees are coniferous, deciduous trees in the Larix genus and Pinaceae family. They have a pyramidal growth habit that is easily identifiable, just like most conifers. However, this tree will turn a golden-yellow color in the autumn months before dropping the needles or leaves. ‘

Larch on the Mountains

Theo Crazzolara

CC BY 2.0

43. Laurel

Also referred to as the sweet bay, this type of tree does well in warmer climates as a potted shrub, tree, or an evergreen hedge. It’s native to the Mediterranean, and it’ll get between 23 and 60 feet tall. It’s a multi-stemmed variety or a large shrub with dark green, aromatic leaves in a lance shape. It also produces smaller black berries and

yellow flowers

Portuguese Laurel

Linda, Fortuna Future

CC BY-NC 2.0

44. Linden

Linden trees are big deciduous shade trees that have clusters of fragrant whitish-yellow flowers and big heart-shaped broadleaves. During the fall months, the leaves switch to a deep golden yellow color, and there are roughly 30 species of shrubs and trees in this category that grow between 65 and 130 feet tall and 50 feet wide.

Linden trees

pwiwe

CC BY 2.0

45. Locust

Locust trees are very hardy types of trees that have a durable and hard wood that gets used to make fence posts, furniture, small boats, and flooring. You can identify this type of tree by looking at the bark color, flowers, tree height, the thorns, and at the color and shape of the seed pods.

Locust tree

Chris Holst

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

46. Magnolia

Magnolia

is technically a genus of big flowering shrubs that are in the Magnoliaceae family. These types of trees or shrubs will grow as a single trunk tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. It’s a pretty landscape tree that offers fragrant purple, pink, white, or yellow flowers with cone-like fruits and leathery, glossy leaves.

Magnolia Tree

Odd Wellies

CC BY 2.0

47. Mahogany

This tree’s rich brown wood gets darker as this type of tree ages. The leaves will be larger and have an oval shape to them, and they will grow opposite of each other one the stem. It’s a much larger tree with a spreading canopy.

Mahogany Tree

Becky McCray

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

48. Maple

Maples can be anything from woody shrubs that grow up to 33 feet tall or huge majestic types of trees that get up to 150 feet tall. The biggest identifying feature on this tree is the lobed leaves that grow in opposite patterns on the branches.

Maple Tree

Steve Mays

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

49. Mesquite

Mesquite

is actually the name for several big deciduous shrub-like trees in the pea family and Prosopis genus. They’re much shorter with feathery leaves, yellow or white flowers, and seed pods with peas. They do well planted in zones 7 to 11 as long as they’re in well-draining soil and a sunny location.

Old Mesquite Tree

Karen

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

50. Mimosa

The Persian Silk or Mimosa tree is a very quick-growing ornamental type of tree that offers pink, silky pom-pom fluffy flowers. You’ll also see flat, brown, been-like seed pods and fern-like leaves. It’s a deciduous tree that is native to Asia.

Mimosa Tree

tonynetone

CC BY 2.0

51. Mulberry

Mulberry types of trees are popular deciduous plants that produce edible black, red, or white berry-like fruits. Commonly referred to as mulberries, these berry-producing, medium-sized trees have spikes of small white flowers, heart-shaped leaves, and brownish-gray bark on the trunk.

Mulberry Tree

Franco Bianco

CC BY-SA 2.0

52. Oak

Most oak species are deciduous trees, but you can also find evergreen options like the live oak. They offer identifiable lobed leaves with rounded or pointed tips. They can also produce acorns that are nuts in an oval shape that sit in a cupule, or a small cup-like structure.

Oak Tree in the Mist

Theophilos Papadopoulos

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

53. Orchid

The

orchid

type of tree is a flowering tree or shrub in the Bauhinia genus and Fabaceae family. They are native to Asia, and you will seem them growing throughout China, India, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Some species in this category also grow in Texas in the wild in the Anacacho mountains.

RDW_8479.JPG

Randy Watson

CC BY-NC 2.0

54. Ornamental Flowering Pear

Ornamental pear types of trees are drought and heat-tolerant, and they can resist a lot of fruit tree diseases. This makes this flowering pear tree popular to put in your back or front yard. They grow well when planted in zones five through nine.

April’s Arch

Joana Roja

CC BY-NC 2.0

55. Palo Verde

This is a group of big flowering shrubs or smaller trees with yellow pea-like flowers, green branches, small leaves, and brown seed pods that start to appear right after a heavy rainfall. It’s a deciduous desert tree that is native to Arizona, California, and Mexico’s arid, hot regions.

Palo Verde Tree

Danielle Bardgette

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

56. Pine

The pine tree is one of the most popular types of trees in North America, and they offer straight, tall trunks with needle-like leaves. The leaves grow right to the top of the tree, and this makes them easy to identify.

Pine Tree Forest 01

Milen Mladeov

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

57. Plumeria

This is a group of

flowering

, small shrubs or trees that are famous for their exotic, highly scented flowers. These flowers are shaped like a star, and you can find them in shades of yellow, red, white, pink, or multi-colored.

Plumeria Tree

Daniel Ramirez

CC BY 2.0

58. Poplar

Poplar types of trees are big deciduous trees that have triangular or rounded leaves, small drooping clusters of flowers, and grayish bark. A lot of poplar trees are ones that you can identify by looking at the color of the bark, and it’ll be black, gray, or white. The height will vary from species to species, and they do well growing in zones three to nine.

Poplar Tree

s by

Martin Heigan

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

59. Purple Leaf Plum

The purple leaf plum type of tree will get between 15 and 25 feet tall at full maturity, and it grows best in zones four to nine. The flowers on this tree are some of the first to show up in the springtime. The single small white or pink flowers grow in tight clusters, and they’ll cover the whole tree.

Purple Leaf Plum in Bloom

hose902

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

60. Redbud

You can identify redbud types of trees by the heart-shaped leaves and pink flowers. A lot of cultivars in this species have different colors for the flowers and tree size. You can have anything from dark pink flowers to whtie or light pink coloring.

Redbud Tree

Ross Dunn

CC BY-SA 2.0

61. Redwood

Redwoods are some of the tallest and largest types of trees on earth. They are famous for their towering heights, and the tallest can reach up to 360 feet. Redwood trees require very humid conditions with a large amount of rainfall during the winter, fall, and spring months to thrive. The foggy conditions in the northern Pacific coast allow these trees to do amazingly well.

Redwood Tree

CanonExplorer

CC BY-ND 2.0

62. Sassafras

Sassafras are a group of types of deciduous trees, and three species are native to Asia and North America, including Sassafras randaiense, Sassafras albidum, and Sassafras tzumu. The common species will mature between 30 and 60 feet tall and 24 to 40 feet wide, so it needs room to spread out.

The Sassafras

Julie Falk

CC BY-NC 2.0

63. Serviceberry

Serviceberry is a group of smaller deciduous fruit types of trees, or they can be multi-stemmed shrubs with pretty white flowers. You can identify these trees or shrubs by the oval, long leaves with fine serration on the edges, smooth gray bark, clusters of five-petaled white flowers, and round, small edible purple fruits.

Serviceberry

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

64. Smoke

The smoke tree is a stunning

autumn type of tree

or large shrub with pretty green or purple foliage with feathery clusters of flowers that look like puffs of smoke. Also referred to as the smoke bush, this colorful tree gives spectacular visual interest in your garden from early spring to fall.

Smoke Tree

Stanley Zimny

CC BY-NC 2.0

65. Sourwood

This type of tree is native to the Eastern portion of the United States, including Louisiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The name comes from the tree’s edible but bitter foliage. This is a relatively small tree species that is slow-growing, and it’ll reach between 20 and 30 feet wide and tall.

Sourwood

proteinbiochemist

CC BY-NC 2.0

66. Spruce

Spruce trees have cones that are cylindrical and long and they hang down from the branches. The leaves are rows of needles in silver-green, greenish-blue, or green coloring. These trees make up a lot of forests in the United states, and they’re an evergreen coniferous tree.

Spruce Tree

s by

Sandra Richard

CC BY-NC 2.0

67. Sumac

Sumac is a type of free or shrub that flowers. You can identify this tree by the conical clusters, fern-like pinnate leaves, and green or white flowers with fuzzy red berries. During the fall months, these shrubs and trees turn a pretty shade of orange, red, or purple to create an eye-catching display.

Sumac Trees

James Mann

CC BY-SA 2.0

68. Sweetgum

This is an ornamental flowering deciduous type of tree in the Altingiaceae family and the Liquidambar genus. You can find this tree growing from Florida to Connecticut in eastern North America, and they also grow as far west as Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas.

Sweetgum

Janice Waltzer

CC BY 2.0

69. Sycamore

Sycamore trees

come with bark that will easily flake off, and this gives the trunk on this type of tree a multicolored, reddish-brown look. They have big lobed leaves that look like maple leaves, and the leaves will grow on the stems in an alternate pattern.. They have toothed edges and three to five lobes.

Sycamore Tree

Robert Hruzek

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

70. Tabebuia

This type of tree thrives in very hot climates where it adds strong fragrances, color, and beauty to your landscape. This medium-sized to small type of tree is very easy to grow in full sun as a shade tree or an ornamental one, and they grow very well in containers. It’s a very showy flowering tree with light purple, pink, or bright yellow flowers.

黃花風鈴木/Tabebuia chrysotricha

鎮邦

CC BY-ND 2.0

71. Teak

Teak trees

have ovate and large leaves with a smooth surface and smooth edges. They are huge deciduous types of trees in the Tectona genus. Some can get up to 131 feet tall, and the branches have papery, thin leaves.

Teak Tree

alheard

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

72. Tulip

Also referred to as the tulip tree or tulip poplar, this type of tree is very easy to identify when you spot it due to the pyramidal canopy, straight trunk, and greenish-yellow flowers. During the fall months, the leaves take on a golden yellow hue. The trumpet-like or cup-shaped flowers appear later in the spring and contrast nicely with the bright green leaves.

Tulip Tree

Sue Lowndes

CC BY-ND 2.0

73. Vitex

Vitex or chaste trees are a big multi-stemmed shrub or very small tree that offers spikes of

purple flowers

during the summer months. Even though this isn’t technically a tree, it’ll grow into a very bushy and full shrub. In warmer climates, it can grow into a small, multi-trunked tree.

starr-091104-0870-Vitex_parviflora

Forest and Kim Starr

CC BY 2.0

74. Walnut

The walnut tree has leaves that alternate on the stem and feature leaflets that grow opposite of one another. They also tend to be very big, massive trees that can reach 33 to 131 feet with a very large spread.

Walnut Trees

Kevin Burnett

CC BY-NC 2.0

75. Yew

Yew is a genus of very slow-growing types of trees that are coniferous evergreens and shrubs. They live for a long time, and they can survive hundreds or thousands of years with the right conditions. They get between 35 and 65 feet tall and up to 20 feet wide.

Yew Tree planted in 1708 ( 314 years old )

John K Thorne

CC BY 2.0

76. Zelkova

The short centralized trunk on this type of tree with spreading branches make it easy to identify, especially when you look at the vase-shaped crown. It has whitish-gray peeling bark with a lighter orange bark on the inside. You’ll see big serrated leaves in an ovate shape that turn yellow, orange, and red in the fall. The tiny flower clusters are also yellow, and it has nut-like drapes.

Zelkova tree

Amehare

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Bottom Line

You can look at this list of 76 types of trees to find the ones that will complement your landscape design and look nice all year-round. Make sure your tree is hardy to your climate zone, and pay close attention to care instructions to ensure that it thrives.

List of 50 Trees

Arborvitae

(

Thuja occidentalis

)

Black Ash

(

Fraxinus nigra

)

White Ash

(

Fraxinus americana

)

Bigtooth Aspen

(

Populus grandidentata

)

Quaking Aspen

(

Populus tremuloides

)

Basswood

(

Tilia americana

)

American Beech

(

Fagus grandifolia

)

Black Birch

(

Betula lenta)

Gray Birch

(

Betula populifolia

)

Paper Birch

(

Betula papyrifera

)

Yellow Birch

(

Betula alleghaniensis

)

Butternut

(

Juglans cinerea

)

Black Cherry

(

Prunus serotina

)

Pin Cherry

(

Prunus pensylvanica

)

American Chestnut

(

Castanea dentata

)

Eastern Cottonwood

(

Populus deltoides

)

Cucumber Tree

(

Magnolia acuminata

)

American Elm

(

Ulmus americana

)

Slippery Elm

(

Ulmus rubra

)

Balsam Fir

(

Abies balsamea

)

Hawthorn

(

Crataegus

)

Eastern Hemlock

(

Tsuga canadensis

)

Bitternut Hickory

(

Carya cordiformis

)

Pignut Hickory

(

Carya glabra

)

Shagbark Hickory

(

Carya ovata

)

American Hophornbeam

(

Ostrya virginiana

)

American Hornbeam

(

Carpinus caroliniana

)

American Larch

(

Larix laricina

)

Black Locust

(

Robinia pseudoacacia

)

Honey-Locust

(

Gleditsia triacanthos

)

A-Z Guide - British Trees - Woodland Trust

Trees woods and wildlife

Maple, field

Pollution fighter, autumn stunner, syrup maker. The field maple is a sturdy broadleaf, which supports caterpillars, aphids, and all their predators, all while resisting air pollution.

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Tree - Classification and importance | Britannica

Economic importance

Of all the products that come from trees, those that are wood-based are by far of the greatest importance (

see

wood

). Carbonized and fossilized wood (coal) supplies fuel for energy needs; other fossilized products of trees include

amber

, which is formed from the gum of

pines

, and

kauri

gum. From earliest times

wood

has been employed for such items as homes, rafts, canoes, fuel, and weapons.

Primitive

peoples were dependent on trees for many materials in addition to wood. Fruits and nuts of many kinds were important foods for both humans and animals. Leaves of palms and other trees were used for thatching roofs. Cloth and woven fabrics made from

bark

, leaves, and other tree parts were used for clothing. Utensils were fashioned from

calabashes

coconuts

, and other fruits. Medicines, including

quinine

, were obtained from trees, as were dyes,

tanning

materials, and spices.

Modern civilizations are no less dependent on trees. Although substitutes now are commonly used for some tree products, the demand for trees remains strong, as in the manufacture of newsprint and other papers, as well as cardboard and similar packagings. The

plywood

industry

converts

immense numbers of trees into building materials.

Many tree products other than wood and its derivatives are important. Edible

fruits

produced by trees include

apples

cherries

peaches

pears

walnuts

chestnuts

pecans

, and others in temperate climates;

avocados

figs

persimmons

, and

citrus

fruits in warm-temperate and subtropical regions;

breadfruit

jackfruit

mangoes

, and

mangosteens

in tropical regions; and the important

fruit

of desert regions—the

date

. The

coconut

(

Cocos nucifera

), the

oil palm

(

Elaeis guineensis

), and the

olive

(

Olea europaea

) are important sources of oils and fats used as food and for other purposes. From trees come such

spices

cinnamon

cloves

, and

nutmeg

; substances used in beverages, such as

cocoa,

coffee

, and

kola nuts

; and

chicle

, the basis of

chewing gum

. Nonedible tree products exploited commercially include

rosin

turpentine

tanbark

creosote

cork

, and

kapok

fibre.

The history of

wood

use includes incidences of waste, sometimes bordering on elimination of a species from a particular region. Great forests of

cedars of Lebanon

(

Cedrus libani

), for example, were virtually eliminated during early historic times in lumbering operations for such purposes as the construction of King Solomon’s

great temple

and palace. Forests that covered much of the Mediterranean region and the

Middle East

were extravagantly exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. Today the once vast

tropical forests

of the

Amazon

basin and parts of

South Asia

are in

imminent

danger of being deforested primarily for farmland.

15 Astounding Facts About Trees

It's hard to overstate the importance of trees. Their debut more than 300 million years ago was a turning point for Earth, helping transform its surface into a bustling utopia for land animals. Trees have fed, housed and otherwise nurtured countless creatures over time, including our own arboreal ancestors.

Modern humans rarely live in trees, but that doesn't mean we can live without them. About

3 trillion trees

currently exist, enriching habitats from old-growth forests to city streets. Yet despite our deep-rooted reliance on trees, we tend to take them for granted. People clear millions of forested acres every year, often for short-term rewards despite long-term risks like desertification, wildlife declines and climate change. Science is helping us learn to use trees' resources more sustainably, and to protect vulnerable forests more effectively, but we still have a long way to go.

Earth now has

46% fewer trees

than it did 12,000 years ago, when agriculture was in its infancy. Yet despite all the deforestation since then, humans still can't shake an instinctive fondness for trees. Their mere presence has been shown to make us calmer, happier and more creative, and often boosts our appraisal of property value. Trees hold deep symbolism in many religions, and cultures around the planet have long appreciated the

benefits of plants

We still periodically pause to honor trees, with ancient holidays like Tu Bishvat as well as newer tributes like

Arbor Day

, the International Day of Forests, or World Environment Day. In hopes of helping that spirit linger longer throughout the year, here are a few lesser-known facts about these gentle, generous giants.

1. Earth Has More Than 60,000 Known Tree Species

Brazil's many native trees include jabuticaba, whose fruits grow directly on its trunk.

Adriano Makoto Suzuki

/ Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Until recently, there was no thorough global census of tree species. But in April 2017, the

results of a "huge scientific effort" were published

in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry, along with a searchable online archive called GlobalTreeSearch.

The scientists behind this effort compiled data from museums, botanical gardens, agricultural centers and other sources, and concluded there are 60,065 tree species currently known to science. These range from Abarema abbottii, a vulnerable limestone-bound tree found only in the Dominican Republic, to Zygophyllum kaschgaricum, a rare and poorly understood tree native to China and Kyrgyzstan.

Next up for this area of research is the Global Tree Assessment, which aims to assess the conservation status of all of the world's tree species and have it published on the

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

by 2025. This is a massive undertaking, and so far

77% of all trees

have a published conservation assessment.

2. More Than Half of All Tree Species Exist Only in a Single Country

The dragon's blood tree is a vulnerable species endemic to Yemen's Socotra archipelago.

sunsinger

/ Shutterstock

Aside from quantifying the biodiversity of trees, the 2017 census highlighted the need for details about where and how those 60,065 different species live. Nearly 58% of all tree species are single-country endemics, the study found, meaning each one naturally occurs only within the borders of a single nation.

Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia have the highest totals for endemic tree species, which makes sense given the overall biodiversity found in their native forests. "The countries with the most country-endemic tree species reflect broader plant diversity trends (Brazil, Australia, China) or islands where isolation has resulted in speciation (Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia)," the study's authors wrote.

3. Trees Didn't Exist for the First 90% of Earth's History

Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and plants may have colonized land as recently as 470 million years ago, most likely mosses and liverworts without deep roots. Vascular plants followed about 420 million years ago, but even for tens of millions of years after that, no plants grew more than about 3 feet (1 meter) off the ground.

4. Before Trees, Earth Was Home to Fungi That Grew 26 Feet Tall

From about 420 million to 370 million years ago, a mysterious genus of creatures named

Prototaxites

grew large trunks up to 3 feet (1 meter) wide and 26 feet (8 meters) in height. Scientists have long debated whether these were some kind of weird ancient trees, but a

2007 study

from the University of Chicago and the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. concluded they were fungi, not plants.

"A 6-meter fungus would be odd enough in the modern world, but at least we are used to trees quite a bit bigger," study author and paleobotanist C. Kevin Boyce

told New Scientist in 2007

. "Plants at that time were a few feet tall, invertebrate animals were small, and there were no terrestrial vertebrates. This fossil would have been all the more striking in such a diminutive landscape."

5. The First Known Tree Was a Leafless, Fernlike Plant From New York

Several kinds of plants have evolved a tree form, or "arborescence," in the past 300 million years or so. It's a tricky step in plant evolution, requiring innovations like sturdy trunks to stay upright and strong vascular systems to pump up water and nutrients from the soil. The extra sunlight is worth it, though, prompting trees to evolve multiple times in history, a phenomenon called

convergent evolution

An illustration of the ancient Wattieza tree, based on fossils found in what's now New York.

Falconaumanni

/ Wikimedia Commons /CC BY-SA 2.0

The earliest known tree is Wattieza, identified from 385-million-year-old fossils from the mid-Devonian period, found in what's now New York. Part of a prehistoric plant family thought to be ancestors of ferns, it stood 26 feet (8 meters) tall and formed the first known forests. It may have lacked leaves, instead growing frond-like branches with "branchlets" resembling a bottlebrush (see illustration). It wasn't closely related to tree ferns, but did share their method of reproducing by spores, not seeds.

6. Scientists Thought This Dinosaur-Era Tree Went Extinct 150 Million Years Ago—but Then It Was Found Growing Wild in Australia

Wollemia nobilis still exists in a few rainforest hideouts, but it's critically endangered.

Akerbeltz

/Wikimedia Commons /CC BY-SA 3.0

During the Jurassic Period, a genus of cone-bearing evergreen trees now named Wollemia lived on the supercontinent Gondwana. These ancient trees were long known only from the fossil record, and were thought to have been extinct for 150 million years—until 1994, when a few survivors of one species were found living in a temperate rainforest at Australia's Wollemia National Park.

That species, Wollemia nobilis, is often described as a living fossil. Only about 80 mature trees are left, plus some 300 seedlings and juveniles, and the species is

listed as critically endangered

by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

While Wollemia nobilis is the last of its genus, there are also still other middle Mesozoic trees alive today. Ginkgo biloba, aka the ginkgo tree, dates back about 200 million years and has been called "the most ancient living tree."

7. Some Trees Emit Chemicals That Attract Enemies of Their Enemies

Songbirds provide valuable pest control for many trees.

Sander Meertins Photography / Shutterstock

Trees may look passive and helpless, but they're savvier than they seem. Not only can they produce chemicals to combat leaf-eating insects, for instance, but some also send airborne chemical signals to each other, apparently warning nearby trees to prepare for an insect attack. Research has shown that a wide range of trees and other plants become more resistant to insects after receiving these signals.

Trees' airborne signals can even convey information outside the plant kingdom. Some have been shown to attract predators and parasites that kill the insects, essentially letting an embattled tree call for backup. Research has mainly focused on chemicals that attract other arthropods, but as a 2013 study found, apple trees under attack by caterpillars release chemicals that attract caterpillar-eating birds.

8. Trees in a Forest Can 'Talk' and Share Nutrients Through an Underground Internet Built by Soil Fungi

Redwood trees rise toward the night sky at Lake Tahoe, California.

Asif Islam / Shutterstock

Like most plants, trees have symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi that live on their roots. The fungi help trees absorb more water and nutrients from the soil, and trees repay the favor by sharing sugars from photosynthesis. But as a growing field of research shows, this mycorrhizal network also works on a much larger scale, sort of like an

underground Internet that connects entire forests

The fungi link each tree to others nearby, forming a huge, forest-scale platform for communication and resource sharing. As University of British Columbia ecologist Suzanne Simard has found, these networks include older, larger hub trees (or "mother trees") that may be connected to hundreds of younger trees around them. "We have found that mother trees will send their excess carbon through the mycorrhizal network to the understory seedlings," Simard explained in a

2016 TED Talk

, "and we've associated this with increased seedling survival by four times."

Simard later explained that

mother trees may even help forests adapt to human-induced climate change

, thanks to their "memory" of slower natural changes in past decades or centuries. "They've lived for a long time and they've lived through many fluctuations in climate. They curate that memory in the DNA," she said. "The DNA is encoded and has adapted through mutations to this environment. So that genetic code carries the code for variable climates coming up."

9. Most Tree Roots Stay in the Top 18 Inches of Soil, but They Can Also Grow Above Ground or Dive a Few Hundred Feet Deep

Many mangrove trees have stilt roots to help with breathing and stability.

Sayam Trirattanapaiboon / Shutterstock

Holding up a tree is a tall order, but it's often achieved by surprisingly shallow roots. Most trees don't have a taproot, and most

tree roots

lie in the top 18 inches of soil, where growing conditions tend to be best. More than half of a tree's roots usually grow in the top 6 inches of soil, but that lack of depth is offset by lateral growth: the root system of a mature oak, for example, can be hundreds of miles in length.

Still, tree roots vary widely based on species, soil, and climate. Bald cypress grows along rivers and swamps, and some of its roots form exposed "knees" that supply air to underwater roots like a snorkel. Similar breathing tubes, called pneumatophores, are also found in the stilt roots of some mangrove trees, along with other adaptations like the ability to filter up to 90% of salt out of seawater.

On the other hand, some trees do extend remarkably deep underground. Certain types are more prone to grow a taproot—including hickory, oak, pine, and walnut—especially in sandy, well-drained soils. Trees have been known to go more than 20 feet (6 meters) below the surface under ideal conditions, and a wild fig at South Africa's Echo Caves has reportedly reached a record root depth of 400 feet.

10. A Large Oak Tree Can Consume About 100 Gallons of Water per Day, and a Giant Sequoia Can Drink Up to 500 Gallons Daily

The Angel Oak, a roughly 400-year-old southern live oak on Johns Island, South Carolina, produces an impressive 17,200 square feet of shade (1,600 square meters) under its iconic gnarled branches.

Mike Ver Sprill / Shutterstock

Many mature trees require a huge amount of water, which may be bad for drought-stricken orchards but is often good for people in general. The

absorption of water by trees

can limit flooding from heavy rain, especially in low-lying areas like river plains. By helping the ground absorb more water, and by holding soil together with their roots, trees can reduce the risk of erosion and property damage from flash floods.

A single mature oak, for example, is able to transpire more than 40,000 gallons of water in a year—meaning, that's how much flows from its roots to its leaves, which release water as vapor back into the air. The rate of transpiration varies during the year, but 40,000 gallons averages out to 109 gallons per day. Larger trees move even more water. A giant sequoia, whose trunk may be 300 feet tall, can transpire 500 gallons a day. And since trees emit water vapor, large forests also help make it rain.

As a bonus, trees have a knack for

soaking up soil pollutants

, too. One sugar maple can remove 60 milligrams of cadmium, 140 mg of chromium, and 5,200 mg of lead from the soil per year, and studies have shown farm runoff contains up to 88% less nitrate and 76% less phosphorus after flowing through a forest.

11. Trees Help Us Breathe—and Not Just by Producing Oxygen

RollingEarth

/ Getty Images

About half of all oxygen in the air comes from phytoplankton, but trees are a major source, too. Still, their relevance for humans' oxygen intake is a bit hazy. Various sources suggest a mature leafy tree produces enough oxygen for two to 10 people per year, but others have countered with significantly lower estimates.

Yet even without the oxygen, trees clearly offer plenty of other benefits, from food, medicine, and raw materials to shade, windbreaks, and flood control. And, as Matt Hickman

reported in 2016

, city trees are "one of the most cost-effective methods of curbing urban air pollution levels and combating the urban heat island effect." That's a big deal, since more than 3 million people die worldwide each year from illnesses linked to air pollution. In the U.S. alone,

pollution removal by urban trees

is estimated to save 850 lives per year and $6.8 billion in total health care costs.

There's also another notable way trees can indirectly save lives by breathing. They

take in carbon dioxide

, a natural part of the atmosphere that's now at dangerously high levels due to the burning of fossil fuels. Excess CO2 drives life-threatening climate change by trapping heat on Earth, but trees—especially

old-growth forests

—provide a valuable check on our CO2 emissions.

12. Adding One Tree to an Open Pasture Can Increase Its Bird Biodiversity From Almost Zero Species to as High as 80

Trees provide food, housing and other benefits for a wide range of songbirds, like this family of black-naped blue flycatchers nesting in a fork between two branches.

Super Prin / Shutterstock

Native trees create vital habitat for a variety of wildlife, from ubiquitous urban squirrels and songbirds to less obvious animals like bats, bees, owls, woodpeckers, flying squirrels, and fireflies. Some of these guests offer direct perks for people—such as by

pollinating our plants

, or eating pests like mosquitoes and mice—while others bring subtler benefits just by adding to local

biodiversity

To help quantify this effect, researchers from Stanford University developed a way to estimate biodiversity based on tree cover. They recorded 67,737 observations of 908 plant and animal species over a 10-year period, then plotted those data against Google Earth images of tree cover. As they reported in a

2016 study

published in PNAS, four of the six species groups—understory plants, non-flying mammals, bats, and birds—saw a

significant biodiversity boost

in areas with more tree cover.

They found that adding a single tree to a pasture, for example, could raise the number of bird species from near zero to 80. After this initial spike, adding trees continued to correlate with more species, but less quickly. As a stand of trees approached 100% coverage within a certain area, endangered and at-risk species like wildcats and deep-forest birds began to appear, the researchers report.

13. Trees Can Lower Stress, Raise Property Values, and Fight Crime

Urban trees, like these at Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen, offer more than just ambience.

Wayne0216 / Shutterstock

It's human nature to like trees. Just looking at them can make us feel happier, less stressed, and more creative. This may be partly due to

biophilia

, or our innate affinity for nature, but there are also other forces at work. When

humans are exposed to chemicals released by trees

known as phytoncides, for example, research has shown results such as reduced blood pressure, reduced anxiety, increased pain threshold, and even increased expression of anti-cancer proteins.

Considering that, maybe it's little wonder trees have been shown to raise our evaluations of real estate. According to the U.S. Forest Service, landscaping with healthy, mature trees adds an average of 10% to a property's value (some estimates are as high as 20%). Research also shows urban trees are correlated with lower crime rates, including things from graffiti, vandalism, and littering to domestic violence.

14. This Tree Has Been Alive Since Woolly Mammoths Still Existed

Rick Goldwasser

/ Flickr / CC BY 2.0

One of the most fascinating things about trees is

how long some can live

. Clonal colonies are known to endure for tens of thousands of years—Utah's

Pando aspen grove

dates back 80,000 years—but many individual trees also stand their ground for centuries or millennia at a time. North America's bristlecone pines are especially long-lived, and one in California that's 4,848 years old (pictured above) was considered the planet's oldest individual tree until 2013, when researchers announced they'd found a another bristlecone that sprouted 5,062 years ago. (The last woolly mammoths, for comparison, died about 4,000 years ago.)

To intelligent primates who are lucky to have 100 birthdays, the idea of a brainless plant living for 60 human lifetimes evokes a unique kind of respect. Yet even when a tree does finally die, it still plays a key role in its ecosystem. Dead wood has huge value for a forest, creating a slow, steady source of nitrogen as well as microhabitats for all kinds of animals. As much as 40% of woodland wildlife depends on dead trees, from fungi, lichens, and mosses to insects, amphibians, and birds.

15. A Large Oak Tree Can Drop 10,000 Acorns in One Year

The nuts of oak trees are hugely popular with wildlife. In the U.S., acorns represent a major food source for more than 100 vertebrate species, and all that attention means most acorns never get to germinate. But oak trees have boom and bust cycles, possibly as an adaptation to help them outfox the acorn-eating animals.

During an acorn boom, known as a

mast year

, a single large oak can drop as many as 10,000 nuts. And while most of those may end up as a meal for birds and mammals, every so often a lucky acorn gets started on a journey that will carry it hundreds of feet into the sky and a century into the future. For a sense of what that's like, here's a time-lapse video of an acorn becoming a young tree: