Texas Tree Leaf Identification

Texas is home to hundreds of different kinds of trees, some of which are native and some of which have been introduced into the state. Because the geography of the state varies so much, the types of trees found in different regions also vary. Examining leaves is one of the easiest ways to identify an exact species of tree. All of the examples below are native Texas trees.

Arizona Cypress

Despite its name, this tree is native to Texas, although it only grows in the high canyons of southwestern Big Bend National Park. The Arizona cypress has small, thin, scaly leaves that are bluish-green in color, but often look gray from a distance due to the dull white blooms that grow beside them.

Baldcypress

This deciduous conifer grows mainly in East Texas and in some wetter areas of Central Texas. Its slight, flat leaves are only about one-half inch in length, but appear in thick, feather-like arrangements along branches of four to six inches in length. During the summer the leaves are light green in color, but change to copper or reddish brown during the fall months.

Bigtooth Maple

This small, densely structured native tree has the classic maple leaf structure marked by five lobes and blades. Unlike some maples, the lobes between blades are rounded rather than sharp. Most leaves are about two inches to five inches in length and width, with blades protruding about half that measurement.

Red Buckeye

This deciduous native shrub is common in rich soils near streams of eastern and central Texas. The smooth leaves with serrated edges appear in clusters of five, organized into leaflets on the ends of twigs. Leaflets are usually between three and six inches long. Leaves appear dark green during summer, turning yellowish-brown during the fall months.

Rio Grande Palmetto

Also known as the Texas sabal palm, the Rio Grande palmetto is a native evergreen found naturally only in the state's southern Valley. The tree produces thin, blade-like leaves organized into fan-shaped fronds that average about four feet long and six feet wide. The leaves contain no thorns, which distinguishes Rio Grande palmetto from the non-native California fanpalm often planted in coastal regions.

Shortleaf Pine

This native of East Texas can also be found in the Pineywoods area in the northeast region. The tree itself grows extremely tall, up to 100 feet, with few branches on the lower trunk. The long, slender, flexible pine needles appear in paired bundles three to five inches long. The needles are usually a dark bluish-green hue.

Sweetgum

Most people recognize the sweetgum tree by its distinctive spiked ball fruit that grows to about one inch in diameter. Many can also recognize the sweetgum by its five-pointed star-shaped leaf. The stars are usually four to seven inches in width and length. During the fall months the green leaves turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red or purple.

References

• Trees of Texas: ID by Leaf

Resources

• Texas Geographic Regions