Start with my Tree Finder and Leaf Key if you are not sure what kind of tree you have and the tree has leaves. If you have a dormant tree with no leaves in winter, review my Winter Tree Finder and my Dormant Tree Photo Gallery for extra help.
The Most Common Trees
Identification of the Hardwoods
- Identify trees variously known as Angiosperms, broadleafs, deciduous and hardwoods.
- Identify those trees with leaves that are broad, flat and thin and generally shed annually.
- Identify those trees with fruit described as nuts, berries, pomes, drupes, samaras, capsules.
Identification of the Conifers
- Identify trees variously known as gymnosperms, conifers, evergreens and softwoods.
- Identify trees with needles or scalelike leaves and cones which normally (but not always) keep foliage or needles through the entire year.
- Identify those trees with fruit described as woody, leathery or fleshy cones.
Helpful Extra Resources
Tree Identification Glossary: Definitions of terms used in tree identification.
How to Identify a Tree: A quick review of tree anatomy and the identification process.
Making a Tree Leaf Collection: Build a field guide from your leaf collection.
North American Timber Types: Maps of common tree ranges.
Quizzes to Test You Identification Skills
Leaf Quiz 1 | Leaf Quiz 2 | Leaf Quiz 3 | Leaf Quiz 4 | Leaf Quiz 5 | Leaf Quiz 6: Tree leaf identification quiz based on 30 common native North American trees
