How to Identify Trees

A tree's leaves offer clues to its species.

A tree generally refers to a woody plant that has many branches growing off of the main trunk in a perennial life cycle, which means that it survives for more than one growing season. Identifying an unknown variety is difficult because trees are found throughout the world in all sizes and colors, with some even producing flowers or fruit. Fortunately, the traits you discover are all characteristics you can use to identify the tree in question.

Things You'll Need

• Camera (optional)

Instructions

1. Write down where you see the tree in question. The American hornbeam, for instance, is native to Missouri and found throughout the eastern states, while the pacific silver fir, appears on the West Coast in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

2. Watch the tree leaves to note whether it is deciduous or evergreen. A deciduous variety loses its leaves during the fall, but an evergreen tree retains most of its foliage throughout these months.

3. Record the characteristics of the blossoms, including their color(s), the way they grow on the tree and the month(s) that you see them. The eastern redbud, for example, produces pinkish-purple flowers between the end of April to early May and blooms in groups of four to eight on the branches and trunk.

4. Inspect the leaves of the tree to note the shape, size and color(s). For example, the sourwood grows elliptical-shaped foliage that measures 3 to 8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches to 3 1/2 inches wide. In the summer, the leaves are glossy, dark and bright green, but in the autumn, the foliage changes to plum, scarlet and maroon tones.

5. Point your browser to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) "Advanced Search" page to submit your tree information. Use the menus to select the appropriate choices and then click the "Display Results" button on the page. Click the resulting links until you identify your tree.

Tips & Warnings

• For additional help, photograph your tree and take the picture and your notes to a local garden center to get help identifying it.

References

• Aggie Horticulture: Annual, Perennial, Biennial?
• Missouri Botanical Garden: American Hornbeam
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Pacific Silver Fir
• Washington State University Extension: Propagating Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs, Trees and Vines with Stem Cuttings
• University of Connecticut: Eastern Redbud
• University of Connecticut: Sourwood

Resources

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Advanced Search
• Natural Resources Conservation Service: Trees and Shrubs Pocket ID Guide
• Arbor Day Foundation: Tree Guide