Worldwide, the number of tree species may exceed 50,000. With this said, I would like to point you in a direction that will help you identify and name the 100 most common of 700 tree species that are native to North America. A bit ambitious, maybe, but this is one small step toward using the Internet to learn about trees and their names.
Oh, and you just might want to consider making a leaf collection as you study this identification guide. A leaf collection will become a permanent field guide to trees you have identified. Learn How To Make a Tree Leaf Collection and use it as your personal reference for future identifications.
Let's start with the definition of a tree.
What is a tree?
A tree is a woody plant with a single erect perennial trunk at least 3 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH). Most trees have definitely formed crowns of foliage and attains heights in excess of 13 feet. In contrast, a shrub is a small, low growing woody plant with multiple stems. A vine is a woody plant that depends on an erect substrate to grow on.
Just knowing a plant is a tree, as opposed to a vine or a shrub, is the first step in it's identification.
Identification is really quite simple if you use these next three "helps":
- Find out what your tree and its parts look like.
- Find out if your tree will or won't grow in a particular region.
- Find a key .
Tips: Collecting a branch and/or leaf and/or fruit will help you in the next discussions. If you are really industrious, you need to make a collection of wax paper leaf pressings. Here is How to Make a Wax Paper Leaf Pressing.
If you have a common leaf but don't know the tree - use this Tree Finder!
If you have a common leaf with an average silhouette - use this Leaf Silhouette Image Gallery!
If you don't have a leaf and don't know the tree - use this dormant Winter Tree Finder!
