Tree Encyclopedia
Identify over 350 tree species via large-format diagnostic photos, detailed botanical and landscape information. 
Species accounts are arranged by family. Please select text links or thumbnails for more images and information on each family and species.
Table of Contents
Fungus Seen as Cure for Ash Borer Beetle
A soilborne fungus already used for keeping many insect pests in check, is being eyed as a possible control for an invasive beetle that has already killed more than 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario.
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Best Trees For The Street
Scientist John Hammond of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency, has announced the findings of a four-year project to determine the best trees to use in urban spaces. More >>

Tree Family Aceraceae - Maples
The Maples are some of our most familiar and beloved trees. They are famous for their fall colors, from vibrant yellow to blaze orange. The sugar maple is perhaps one of the most famous tree species in the world.

Miyabe Maple - Acer miyabei

Tree Family Betulaceae - Alders, Birches, Hornbeams
The birches have long been popular ornamental trees in America, chiefly in the northern United States and Canada. Several are native Americans, but many species have been introduced from Europe and Asia. In general, they are graceful trees, the most popular being those with white bark on trunks and larger branches. Some of the others are very serviceable, either because they will grow well in wet soil or because they will exist as well as any other trees, or better, in dry, poor soils.

Black Alder
Trees Increase Property Values
Homeowners can increase the value of their property with healthy, mature trees - they add an average of 10%. Properly-placed trees around buildings can reduce air conditioning and heating costs between 20 and 50%.
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Warning: Check Tree-care Credentials
Several autumn fatalities linked to dangerous tree care practices are prompting a coalition of arborists and urban foresters to urge contractors (and others) to hire only certified tree-care professionals.
More >>
 

Family Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle, Viburnum, Elderberry
Caprifoliaceae are perennial and mostly woody plants that include vines, shrubs, and small trees. 15 genera and 400 species (7 genera native to U.S.); mostly of North Temperate and boreal regions, and of tropical mountains (New Zealand and the Andes Mtns. in S. America). About 3/4 of the species belong to Lonicera and Viburnum, with about 150 species in each.


Tree Hardiness Zone Map

Hardiness zone map courtesy the Arbor Day Foundation*
 
Tree Family CupressaceaeRedwoods, Cypress, Arborvitae, and Juniper
There are thirty (many monotypic) genera and 142 species in the family Cupressaceae, now widely regarded as including the Taxodiaceae, previously treated as a distinct family. The Cupressaceae are found in the fossil record as far back as the Jurassic Period, about 210 million years ago.



Tree Family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) The Fabaceae, or Legumes, are mostly herbs but include also shrubs and trees found in both temperate and tropical areas. They comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants, numbering some 400 genera and 10,000 species. Peanuts, beans, peas, wisteria and locust trees are among the family.


Twisty Baby™ Black Locust
 

 

Tree Family Fagaceae - Beeches, Chinkapins and Oaks
There are about 900 species in this family worldwide, about 65 trees and 10 shrubs of which are native to North America. The Oak genus, Quercus, includes some of our most important native hardwoods, and are some of the most-recognized trees in our nature-starved populace. The beech genus, Fagus, contains 10 species native to temperate Europe and North America.

 

Tree Family Hamamelidaceae: Witch Hazel Family
Includes
23 genera of shrubs and trees native to both tropical and warm temperate regions. It includes mildly popular ornamentals such as witch hazel, winter hazel, and sweet gum trees.


 

Tree Family Hippocastanaceae - Horse-chestnuts, Buckeyes
Three genera and 15 species: Asia (Himalayas to Japan), SE Europe, North America, also Central and South America (Billia); two genera (one endemic) and five species (two endemic, two introduced) in China.


Yellow Buckeye - Aesculus flava

Tree Family Juglandaceae - Walnuts, Hickories, Butternut and Pecan
The Walnut family is a large group of deciduous, aromatic trees including hickories, pecan, butternut and walnuts. There are about 50 species worldwide, 17 in North America.

Tree Family Magnoliaceae -- Magnolias
The magnolia genus is one of the most ancient among flowering trees. Growing to 30 meters (100 ft.), cucumber tree is the most widespread and hardy of the eight magnolia species native to the United States, and the only magnolia native to Canada.



Tree Family Moraceae: Figs and Mulberry. Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines, both evergreen and deciduous; mainly woody and tropical, they are most abundant in Asia. The largest genus is Ficus, with about 750 species of figs. Species bearing edible fruit include the mulberries, breadfruit and jackfruit.

Although weeping figs and rubber plants are often sold as houseplants, economically the most important species are related to the silk trade; they serve as food plants for the silkworm, Bombyx mori.


Osage Orange Tree
Maclura pomifera

Japanese Mulberry - Morus australis
Japanese Mulberry
Morus australis


 

Tree Family Pinaceae: The Pines, Cedars, Spruce, and Firs
The Pine family is the most varied of all the groups of trees that bear cones. Pinaceae contains more than 250 species which are native to, and which form the dominant forest cover over much of the northern hemisphere.

Tree Family Rosaceae - Hawthorn, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Almond, Mountain-Ash and Whitebeams. The Rose family is a large assemblage of trees, shrubs and herbs encompassing many of our most familiar and valued fruits, the drupes and pomes. The family is characterized by the flowers, which have the sepals, petals and stamens attached to the receptacle margin.
Tree Family Rutaceae - Cork trees, Citrus trees.
The Rutaceae are herbs, shrubs, and trees with glandular punctate, commonly strongly smelling herbage comprising about 150 genera and 1,500 species that are further characterized by the common occurrence of spines and winged petioles. The
Citrus genus includes the edible fruit trees: orange, lime, grapefruit, kumquat, and mandarine.

Amur Cork Tree - Phellodendron amurense
Amur Cork Tree
Phellodendron amurense

Chinese Cork Tree - Phellodendron chinense
Chinese Cork Tree
Phellodendron chinense

 
Tree Family Salicaceae -- Willows, Cottonwood and Poplars
There are only two genera in this family, Salix (willows), with about 300 species, and Populus (poplars), with barely 40 species. Salicaceae are found throughout the temperate parts of the world, with the majority of species occurring in the north. Both willows and poplars have a strong affinity for water, and are commonly found near ponds and along watercourses.

 
Tree Family Taxaceae - Yews
There are 17 species in five genera 5 in this small family. The Yews are evergreen trees or shrubs, usually not resinous or aromatic. The Taxaceae are now generally included with all other conifers in the order Pinales.

 


Tree Family Tiliaceae - Basswoods, Lindens
50 genera and 400 species; widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, with relatively few species in temperate regions. Especially abundant in Southeast Asia and Brazil.

 

 

Tree Family Ulmaceae - Zelkovas, Hackberries and Elms
There are about 200 species of trees and shrubs in Ulmaceae. 14 trees and 2 shrubs are native to North America. The Elms fell victim to Dutch Elm disease during the 1950's; until that time, they were the premiere shade tree along the streets of our towns and cities.

Common Hackberry


Accolade Elm

 



Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum


Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus

Weeping Katsura
C. japonicum 'pendulum'
India Quassia
India Quassia
Picrasma quassioides

Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus

Sour Gum
Nyssa sylvatica

Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra

American Sycamore Tree
Platanus occidentalis

Dwarf Dogwood
Cornus pumila
 
Mock Orange
Philadelphus x virginalis
Winterberry Euonymus - Euonymus bungeanus
Winterberry Euonymus
Euonymus bungeanus
Japanese Tree Lilac
Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata
Poison Ivy - Toxicodedron radicans
Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
              
 
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*Map courtesy Arbor Day Foundation published under Creative Commons license