Leaves

Tree Designations
With Leaves and Bark

1. Alder, Red
R. Merrilees, Illustrator
Red alder is the largest native alder species in North America. It is also the
most extensively utilized of the native species. Red alder trees invade clearings
or burned-over areas and forms temporary forests. Over time, red alders build
up the soil with their copious litter, and enriched it with nitrogen compounds
formed by symbiotic bacteria that live in little nodules on their roots. Red alder
stands are eventually succeeded by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and sitka
spruce.
2. Ash, Green
Green ash is the most widely distributed of all the American ashes. Naturally a
moist bottom land or stream bank tree, it is hardy to climatic extremes. The
large seed crops provide food to many kinds of wildlife. Green ash is seriously
threatened in some areas, particularly Michigan, by the emerald ash borer, a
beetle introduced accidentally from Asia to which it has no natural resistance.
3. Ash, White
The name White ash derives from the blueish white undersides of the leaves. It
is similar in appearance to the Green ash, making identification difficult. White
ash is widely grown as an ornamental tree in North America. Cultivars selected
for superior fall color include 'Autumn Applause' and 'Autumn Purple'.
4. Aspen, Quaking
The name quaking aspen references the quaking or trembling of the leaves that
occurs in even a slight breeze due to the flattened petioles. Aspens do produce
seeds, but seldom grow from them. Aspen propagates itself primarily through
root sprouts, and extensive clonal colonies are common.
5. Beech, American
The American beech is a shade-tolerant species, favoring the shade more than
other trees, and commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession
called a climax forest. Although American beech wood is heavy, hard, tough
and strong the tree is typically left during lumbering and often left uncut to
grow. As a result, many areas today still have extensive groves of old beeches.
6. Basswood, American
American basswood is dominant in the sugar maple-basswood association,
most common in western Wisconsin and central Minnesota, but occurs as far
east as New England and southern Quebec where the soils are mesic with
relatively high pH. Basswood is a prolific sprouter and forms clumps from
stumps. Basswood flowers draw hordes of bees and other insects and has been
called the "humming tree".
7. Birch, Paper
Paper birch is a pioneer species. It needs high nutrients and a lot of sun. The
bark is highly weather-resistant. Often, the wood of a downed paper birch will
rot away leaving the hollow bark intact. This easily recognized birch bark is a
winter staple food for moose even-though the nutritional quality is poor. Still,
the bark is important to wintering moose because of its sheer abundance.
8. Birch, River
While river birch's native habitat is wet ground, it will grow on higher land, and
its bark is quite distinctive, making it a favored ornamental tree for landscape
use. A number of cultivars have very attractive bark and selected for garden
planting, including 'Heritage' and 'Dura Heat'. Native Americans used the wild
birch's boiled sap as a sweetener similar to maple syrup, and the inner bark as
a survival food. It is usually too contorted and knotty to be of value as a timber
tree.
9. Birch, Yellow
The name "yellow birch" reflects the color of the tree's distinctive bark. Betula
alleghaniensis is the provincial tree of Québec, where it is commonly called
merisier, a name which in France is used for the wild cherry. Yellow birch
thrives in moist woodlands and often seen on root stilts that have developed
from seedlings that have grown on and over rotting stumps.
10. Boxelder Maple

The names "Box Elder" and "Boxelder Maple" are based upon the similarity of
its whitish wood to that of boxwood and the similarity of its pinnately compound
leaves with those of some species of elder. The less than "respectable" maple is
not particularly desired in the landscape because of rapid trunk rotting, prolific
sprouting and branch shedding. Still, it been planted in cities and on farms
because of its rapid growth.

11. Butternut
Juglans cinerea, commonly known as butternut or white walnut, is a species of
walnut native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. The nut,
once plentiful, is rarely seen. If you find a supply, you have found a nut with
the highest oil content and highest food value of all the walnuts and hickories.
Butternut is seriously threatened by an introduced canker disease called
Melanconis. In some areas, 90% of the Butternut trees have been killed. Some isolated
single trees are surviving.
12. Cherry, Black
The black cherry is a pioneer species. In the Midwest, it is seen growing mostly
in old fields with other sunlight loving species, such as black walnut, black
locust, and hackberry. It is a moderately long-lived tree, with ages of up to 258
years known. Black cherry it is prone to storm damage with branches breaking
easily but any decay resulting progresses slowly. It is the largest native cherry
and one of the most abundant wild fruit trees.
13. Cottonwood, Black

Black cottonwood, also known as western balsam poplar or California poplar, is
a deciduous broadleaf tree species native to western North America. It is used
for timber, and is notable as a model organism in plant biology. Its full genome
sequence was published in 2006. It is the first tree species to be sequenced.
Balm-of-Gilead poplar is an ornamental clone and hybrid of this tree.
14. Cottonwood, Eastern
Eastern cottonwood typically lives 70 to 100 years, but they have the potential
to live 200 to 400 years if they have good genetics, and if they have a good
growing environment. The leaf is unique, some saying it looks like an "Egyptian
pyramid, with its coarse teeth as stone steps". Eastern cottonwood has fast
growth and a spreading root system that will control erosion but will also
damage pavement and clog sewers.
15. Cucumber Magnolia
Cucumber magnolia is one of the largest magnolias and one of the cold-
hardiest. It is a large forest tree of the northeastern United States and
southeastern Canada (Ontario). It is a tree that tends to occur singly as
scattered specimens, rather than in groves. Cucumbertree is an excellent shade
tree for parks and gardens and gets its common name for the color and shape
of unique fruit that resembles a cucumber.
16. Dogwood, Flowering

Flowering dogwood is one of the most popular ornamental landscape trees in
eastern North America. They are usually displayed beneath large oaks or pines,
both in the wild and as an ornamental. Dogwoods are among the earliest
springtime blooming trees. With its dense crown, flowering dogwood provides
good shade, and due to its small stature, it is useful in the smallest yards. This
beloved tree is the state tree of Missouri, North Carolina and Virginia.
17. Elm, American
American elm has long been very popular as a street or avenue tree but never
really took to parks and cities. It is now being replaced by better trees like
London plane-tree (Platanus X acerfolia) and Japanese zelkova (Zelkova
serrata). Once extensively planted as a shade tree, Dutch elm disease has
killed many of these. Isolated trees seem to be less susceptible to the disease
while mass plantings tend to exacerbate the problems. American elm is of little
value as a forest product.

18. Elm, Rock
Rock elm or cork elm, is a deciduous tree native primarily to the Midwestern
United States. The wood is the hardest and heaviest of all elms. It is also very
strong and takes a high polish which offers a wide range of uses, notably
shipbuilding, furniture, agricultural tools, and musical instruments.
19. Elm, Slippery

Slippery elm is reputedly less susceptible to Dutch elm disease than other North
American elms but is severely damaged by the Elm Leaf Beetle. Slippery elm is
one of the smallest native North American elms but with one of the largest
leaves. The tree never grows in pure stands. The tree has a slimy (slippery)
inner bark, tastes like licorice and is has some food and medicinal value.
20. Hackberry
Hackberry is easily distinguished by its cork-like bark with wart-like
protuberances. The leaves are distinctly asymmetrical and coarse-textured. It
produces small (edible) berries that turn orange-red to dark purple. Hackberry
is not an important timber tree. The wood resembles elm but is difficult to
work.
21. Hickory, Bitternut
Bitternut hickory is probably the most abundant and most uniformly distributed
of all the hickories. Bitternut hickory grows in moist mountain valleys along
streambanks and in swamps. Although it is usually found on wet bottom lands,
it grows on dry sites and also grows well on poor soils low in nutrients. Because
bitternut hickory wood is hard and durable, it is used for furniture, paneling,
dowels, tool handles, and ladders. It is a choice fuel for smoking meats.
22. Hickory, Mockernut
Mockernut hickory is very common and abundant southward through Virginia,
North Carolina, and Florida but grows from Massachusetts south to northern
Florida, west to Kansas and Texas and up to Iowa. The tree grows largest in the
lower Ohio River Basin. Nearly 80 percent of harvested mockernut hickory is
used to manufacture tool handles, for which its hardness, toughness, stiffness,
and strength make it especially suitable.
23. Hickory, Pignut
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a common but not abundant species in the
oak-hickory forest association in the Eastern United States. The range of pignut
hickory covers nearly all of eastern United States. Pignut hickory frequently
grows on dry ridgetops and sideslopes throughout its range but it is also
common on moist sites, particularly in the mountains and Piedmont.
24. Hickory, Shagbark
The shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a common hickory in the eastern United
States and southeast Canada. Shagbark hickory has the most distinctive of all
the hickory bark because of its loose-plated bark. Its hickory nut is edible and
has a very sweet taste. Shagbark hickory wood is used for smoking meat and
was used for making the bows of Native Americans of the northern area.
25. Hickory, Shellbark
Shellbark hickory nuts are the largest of all hickory nuts and are sweet and
edible. Wildlife and people harvest most of the nuts and those remaining
produce seedling trees readily. This hickory is distinguished from other
hickories by large leaves, large nuts and orange twigs.
26. Holly, American

USFS
American holly typically grows as an understory tree in forests. It is rare in the
north of its range in New England and New York, and always small there. It is
abundant further south on the southern coast and in the Gulf states, reaching
its greatest size on the bottomlands of southern Arkansas and eastern Texas.
Holly is a popular Christmas decoration and is inseparably connected with
Christmas time. The custom in North America is to use holly and mistletoe for
decoration of homes and churches. The American holly is the state tree of
Delaware.
27. Locust, Black
Black locust has nitrogen-fixing bacteria on its root system. For this reason it
can grow on poor soils, increases soil fertility and is an early colonizer of
disturbed areas. The wood is extremely hard, resistant to rot and long lasting,
making it prized for fence posts and small watercraft. As a young man, it is
reported that Abraham Lincoln spent a lot of time splitting rails and fence posts
from black locust logs. Black locust is a major honey plant in eastern USA, and,
having been taken and planted in France, is the source of the renowned French
acacia monofloral honey.
28. Magnolia, Southern
The Southern magnolia or bull bay, is a magnolia native to the southeastern
United States, from coastal Virginia south to central Florida, and west to East
Texas. The tree is a very popular ornamental tree throughout the southeastern
United States, grown for its attractive foliage and flowers. The Southern
magnolia is the state tree of Mississippi, and the state flower of Mississippi and
Louisiana.
29. Maple, Bigleaf
Acer macrophyllum (bigleaf maple or Oregon maple) is a large deciduous tree
in the genus Acer. It is native to western North America, mostly near the Pacific
coast, from southernmost Alaska south to southern California. Bigleaf maple is
the only commercially important maple of the Pacific Coast region.
30. Maple, Red
Acer rubrum or red maple is one of the most common and widespread
deciduous trees of eastern North America. Red maple is adaptable to a very
wide range of site conditions, perhaps more so than any other tree in eastern
North America. Its ability to thrive in a large number of habitats is largely due
to its ability to produce roots to suit its site from a young age. Red Maple is
widely grown as an ornamental tree in parks and in the landscape. Dozens of
red maple varities have been developed and the tree is prized for its fall color
31. Maple, Silver
Silver maple is a weak tree but often introduced in the landscape to the dismay
of many who plant it. It can be saved for planting in wet areas or where
nothing else will thrive. The maple is also aggressive, growing into septic tank
drain fields and into broken water and sewer pipes. Silver maple is closely
related to the red maple, and can hybridise with it, the hybrid being known as
the Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii). The Freeman maple is a popular
ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, combining the fast growth of silver
maple with the less brittle wood. The tree has very little value as a forest
product.
32. Maple, Sugar
Sugar maple is a maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North
America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and
Texas. Sugar maple is an immensely important species to the ecology of many
forests in North America. Sugar maples engage in hydraulic lift, drawing water
from lower soil layers and exuding that water into upper, drier soil layers. This
not only benefits the tree itself but also many other plants growing around it.
Sugar Maple is the major source of sap for making maple syrup and prized for
furniture and flooring.
33. Oak, Black

Black oak has readily hybridized with other members of the red oak group of
oaks being one parent in at least a dozen different named hybrids. This single
species' compatibility is fairly uncommon in the [i]Quercus[/i] genus group.
Black oak is seldom used for landscaping. The inner bark of the black oak
contains a yellow pigment called quercitron, which was sold commercially in
Europe until the 1940s.
34. Oak, Bur
The bur oak, (Quercus macrocarpa), sometimes spelled burr oak, is a species of
oak in the white oak group. Bur Oak typically grows in the open, away from
forest canopy. For this reason, it is an important tree on the eastern prairies,
where it is often found near waterways in more forested areas, where there is a
break in the canopy. It is an excellent landscaping tree.
35. Oak, Cherrybark
Cherrybark oak (Q. pagodifolia) is fairly common large tree of bottomland
forests, similar to the upland Southern red oak (Q. falcata), of which it was
formerly considered a variety. The cherrybark tree has heavy strong wood that
makes it an excellent timber tree for furniture and interior finish. It is a
commercially desirable tree and managed for various forest products.
36. Oak, Laurel
Laurel oak or (Quercus laurifolia) is commonly used as an ornamental tree in
landscaping because of its fast growth and pleasing appearance; it is planted
with little regard to soil type. The Latin laurifolia means laurel-leaved or having
leaves like a laurel. Swamp laurel oak grows rapidly and usually matures in
about 50 years which has led to its wide use as an ornamental.
37. Oak, Live
Live oak is a symbolic tree of the Deep South. Quercus virginiana has a squat
and leaning form with a large diameter tapering trunk. The Angel Oak near
Charleston, South Carolina, is a live oak that has been determined to be the
oldest tree in the eastern United States at 1400 years. Live oak is the state tree
of Georgia.
38. Oak, Oregon White
Oregon white oak is the only native oak in British Columbia and Washington
and the principal one in Oregon. Though commonly known as Garry oak in
British Columbia, elsewhere it is usually called white oak, post oak, Oregon oak,
Brewer oak, or shin oak. Its scientific name was chosen by David Douglas to
honor Nicholas Garry, secretary and later deputy governor of the Hudson Bay
Company, 1822-35.
39. Oak, Overcup
Overcup oak is a medium-sized deciduous oak that is valued as a "white oak"
wood. Commercial overcup oak varies extremely with site, fire damage, and
degree of insect and decay defect. It is a quite ordinary oak with a unique
acorn. The large acorns with hardened cups that enclose all or most of the nut
are diagnostic.
40. Oak, Pin

Pin oak is one of the most overused landscape oak in the midwest and eastern
United States. The oak is popular due to an attractive pyramidal shape and
straight, dominant trunk, even on older specimens and availability. A lot of that
popularity has been challenged because of iron-deficiency chlorosis, persistent
brown leaves on the tree into the winter, and a ragged look with the stubby
twig "pins" that stand out and is a negative to some.
41. Oak, Post
The name post oak refers to the use of the wood of this tree for fence posts. Its
wood, like that of the other white oaks, is hard, tough and rot-resistant. The
"Maltese cross" form of the distinctive post oak leaf is a key identifier. Both the
post oak and the blackjack oak form the "Cross Timbers" in Texas and
Oklahoma. This area comprises the border where trees transition to prairie
grassland.
42. Oak, Northern Red
USFS
Any oak with pointed, bristle-tipped leaf lobes belong to the red oak group,
including Northern red oak. Red oak is the fastest growing of all oaks and when
on the right site, one of the largest and longest lived. Northern red oak and is
an easily transplanted, popular shade tree with good form and dense foliage.
Northern red oak is well adapted to periodic fires.
43. Oak, Nuttall
Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii), not distinguished as a species until 1927, is also
called red oak, Red River oak, and pin oak. It is one of the few commercially
important species found on poorly drained clay flats and low bottoms of the
Gulf Coastal Plain and north in the Mississippi and Red River Valleys. The acorn
or winter buds identify Nuttall oak, easily confused with pin oak (Q. palustris).
The lumber is often cut and sold as red oak. In addition to producing timber,
Nuttall oak is an important species for wildlife management because of heavy
annual mast production.
44. Oak, Scarlet
Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) is best known for its brilliant autumn color. It is
a large rapid-growing tree of the Eastern United States found on a variety of
soils in mixed forests, especially light sandy and gravelly upland ridges and
slopes. Best development is in the Ohio River Basin. In commerce, the lumber
is mixed with that of other red oaks. Scarlet oak is a popular shade tree and
has been widely planted in the United States and Europe.
45. Oak, Shumard
Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) is one of the largest Southern red oaks.
Other common names are spotted oak, Schneck oak, Shumard red oak,
southern red oak, and swamp red oak. It is a lowland tree and grows scattered
with other hardwoods on moist, well-drained soils associated with large and
small streams. It grows moderately fast and produces acorns every 2 to 4 years
that are used by wildlife for food. The wood is superior to most red oaks, but it
is mixed indiscriminately with other red oak lumber and used for the same
products. This tree makes a handsome shade tree.
46. Oak, Southern Red
All the red oaks, including Southern red oak, is most prized hardwood species
in the United States. The uses of oak include almost everything that mankind
has ever derived from trees-timber, food for man and animals, fuel, watershed
protection, shade and beauty, tannin, and extractives.
47. Oak, Water

The water oak is also called possum oak or spotted oak. The oak's habitat is
commonly found along southeastern watercourses and lowlands on silty clay
and loamy soils. Water oak is a medium-sized but rapid-growing tree is often
abundant as second growth on cutover lands. Water oak is planted widely as a
street and shade tree in southern communities.
48. Oak, White
The white oak family members also include the bur oak, chestnut oak and
Oregon white oak. This oak is immediately recognized by rounded lobes plus
the lobe tips never have bristles like red oak. White oak is less favored than red
oak because it is difficult to transplant and has a slow growth rate.
49. Oak, Willow
The medium to large willow oak has unique willow-like foliage and is known for
its rapid growth and long life. A favored shade tree, willow oak is widely planted
as an ornamental. It is also a good species to plant along margins of
fluctuating-level reservoirs.
50. Osage Orange
The osage orange creates a dense canopy, making it useful as a windbreak.
Young osage oranges can develop an upright, pyramidal habit and the fruit is
unique, roughtextured, heavy green balls which ripen to yellowgreen and fall in
October and November. The large, three to six-inch long by two to three-inch-
wide, shiny, dark green leaves turn bright yellow in fall and are quite noticeable
in the northeastern United States.
51. Paulownia, Royal
Royal paulownia is an introduced ornamental that has become well established
in North America. It is also known as princess-tree, empress-tree, or
paulownia. Paulownia has a tropical look with very large catalpa-like leaves
although the two species are not related. The paulownia has been touted as
growing very valuable wood under correct management strategies.
52. Pecan
Pecan is, economically, the most important member of the hickory family, of
the genus Carya. Pecan production is a multimillion dollar business and one of
North America's favorite nuts. C. illinoensis is an excellent multipurpose tree for
the home landscape because it provides nuts and grand esthetic value.
53. Persimmon
Common persimmon is an interesting, somewhat irregularly shaped native
small to medium tree. Persimmon bark is grey or black and distinctly blocky
with orange in the valleys between the blocks. Except for cleaning up the
messy fruit if it falls on a patio or sidewalk, persimmon maintenance is quite
easy and it could be planted more. Locate it where the slimy fruit will not fall on
sidewalks and cause people to slip and fall.
54. Redbud
Redbud is a small tree that shines early in Spring (one of the first flowering
plants) with leafless branches of magenta buds and pink flowers. Quickly
following the flowers come new green leaves which turn a dark, blue-green and
are uniquely heart-shaped. C. canadensis often has a large crop of 2-4 inch
seedpods that some find unappealing in the urban landscape.
55. Sassafras
Young sassafras seedlings are usually unlobed but older trees add unique
mitten-shaped leaves with two or three lobes. In addition to sassafras' value to
wildlife, the tree provides wood and bark for a variety of commercial and
domestic uses. Tea is brewed from the bark of roots. The leaves are used in
thickening soups.
56. Sourwood
R. Anderson/Bugwood.org
Sourwood is one of the first trees to turn colors in the Eastern forest. By late
August it is common to see foliage of young sourwood trees along roadsides
beginning to turn red. The fall color of sourwood is a striking red and orange
and associated with blackgum and sassifras.
57. Sweetgum
Sweetgum is sometimes called redgum, probably because of the red color of
the older heartwood and its red fall leaves. Sweetgum grows from Connecticut
southward throughout the East to central Florida and eastern Texas and is a
very common commercial timber species of the South. Sweetgum is easy to
identify in both summer and in winter. Look for the star-shaped leaf as foliage
grows in the Spring and look for the dried seed balls in and under the tree.
58. Sycamore, American
American sycamore is a massive tree and can attain the largest trunk diameter
of any of the Eastern U.S. hardwoods. The native sycamore has a grand branch
display and its bark is unique among all trees - you can always identify a
sycamore just by looking at the bark. The alternate maple-looking leaves are
large and also unique to those familiar with sycamore.
59. Tupelo, Black
Black gum trees have moderate growth rate and longevity and are an excellent
food source for wildlife, fine honey trees, and handsome ornamentals. Black
tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) is divided into two commonly recognized varieties,
typical black tupelo (var. sylvatica) and swamp tupelo (var. biflora). They are
usually identifiable by their differences in habitats: black tupelo on light-
textured soils of uplands and stream bottoms, swamp tupelo on heavy organic
or clay soils of wet bottom lands.
60. Tupelo, Water
Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), is a large, long-lived tree that grows in southern
swamps and flood plains where its root system is periodically under water. It
has a swollen base that tapers to a long, clear bole and often occurs in pure
stands. A good mature tree will produce commercial timber used for furniture
and crates. Many kinds of wildlife eat the fruits and water tupelo is a favored
honey tree.
61. Walnut, Black
Black walnut used to be a very common old-growth forest tree. Black walnut
wood is now relatively scarce and highly coveted, used mainly for high quality
woodworking. The tree hates shade (intolerant)and best growth occurs in a
sunny open location and a moist rich soil, common along stream banks in its
native habitat.
62. Willow, Black
Black willow is named for its dark gray-brown bark. The tree is the largest and
most important New World willow and is one of the first trees to bud in the
spring. The numerous uses of the wood of this and other willows is furniture
doors, millwork, barrels and boxes.
63. Yellow Poplar
Yellow poplar or tulip poplar is the tallest hardwood tree in North America with
one of the most perfect and straight trunks in the forest. Yellow poplar has a
very unique leaf with four lobes separated by rounded notches.
64. The Top Conifers in North America

The common softwood trees that are usually evergreen, bear cones, and have
needles or scalelike leaves. They include pine, spruces, firs, and cedars.
A conifer is a tree belonging to the cone bearing order Coniferales. These trees
with needles or scale-like leaves are very different from hardwood trees which
have broad, flat leaves and usually without cones.
Also called evergreens, these perennial trees normally keep foliage or needles
through the entire year. The notable exceptions are baldcypress and tamarack
which shed needles annually.
These "softwood" trees usually bear cones and include pines, spruces, firs, and
cedars. Wood hardness varies among the conifer species, and some are actually
harder than some hardwoods.
1. Baldcypress
Rebecca Merrilees, Illustrator

Tree associates of baldcypress include water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), swamp
tupelo (N. sylvatica var. biflora), red maple (Acer rubrum), sweetbay (Magnolia
virginiana), southern magnolia (M. grandifolia), sweetgum (Liquidambar
styraciflua), and various oaks Quercus spp.), ashes (Fraxinus spp.), and pines
Pinus spp.)
2. Cedar, Alaska
S. Porse/Wikimedia Commons
Alaska-cedar occasionally grows in pure stands but is usually found singly or in
scattered groups mixed with other tree species. Associated species change with
latitude but can grow alongside spruces, firs, pines, and hemlocks.
3. Cedar, Atlantic White

Because Atlantic white-cedar grows characteristically in pure stands it is found
mostly in one forest cover type, Atlantic White-Cedar (Society of American
Foresters Type 97). It is also listed as an associate in six other types: Pitch Pine
(Type 45); Slash Pine-Hardwood (Type 85); Baldcypress (Type 101); Water
Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo (Type 103); Baldcypress-Tupelo (Type 102); Sweetbay-
Swamp Tupelo-Redbay (Type104).
4. Cedar, Northern White (arborvitae)

The northern white-cedar type commonly includes some balsam fir (Abies
balsamea) and tamarack (Larix laricina) in the boreal region of Canada but
tends to be mixed with additional species farther south. Balsam fir, black
spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (P. glauca), red spruce (P. rubens),
tamarack, black ash (Fraxinus nigra), and red maple (Acer rubrum) are
common associates on the wetter sites, especially swamps. Yellow birch (Betula
alleghaniensis), paper birch (B. papyrifera), quaking aspen (Populus
tremuloides), bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata), balsam poplar (P.
balsamifera), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and eastern white pine
(Pinus strobus) are common on the better drained sites, especially uplands.
5. Cedar, Port-Orford
R. Hunt/Wikimedia Commons
Port-Orford-cedar is found with an extremely wide variety of associated plants
and vegetation types. It usually grows in mixed stands and is important in the
Picea sitchensis, Tsuga heterophylla, mixed evergreen, and Abies concolor
vegetation zones of Oregon and their counterparts in California.
6. Douglas-fir
Wherever Douglas-fir grows in mixture with other species, the proportion may
vary greatly, depending on aspect, elevation, kind of soil, and the past history
of an area, especially as it relates to fire. This is particularly true of the mixed
conifer stands in the southern Rocky Mountains where Douglas-fir is associated
with ponderosa pine, southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis), corkbark fir
(Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica), white fir (Abies concolor), blue spruce (Picea
pungens), Engelmann spruce, and aspen (Populus spp.).
7. Fir, Balsam
USFS/Bugwood.org
Tree species associated with balsam fir in the boreal region of Canada are black
spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (Picea glauca), paper birch (Betula
papyrifera), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). In the more southerly
northern forest region, additional associates include bigtooth aspen (Populus
grandidentata), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), American beech (Fagus
grandifolia), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), eastern
hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), tamarack
(Larix laricina), black ash (Fraxinus nigra), and northern white-cedar (Thuja
occidentalis).
8. Fir, California Red
Red fir is found in seven forest cover types of western North America. It is in
pure stands or as a major component in Red Fir (Society of American Foresters
Type 207, and also in the following types: Mountain Hemlock (Type 205), White
Fir (Type 211), Lodgepole Pine (Type 218), Pacific Douglas-Fir (Type 229),
Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer (Type 243), and California Mixed Subalpine (Type
256).
9. Fir, Fraser
Fraser fir is a component of four forest cover types (10): Pin Cherry (Society of
American Foresters Type 17), Red Spruce-Yellow Birch (Type 30), Red Spruce
(Type 32), and Red Spruce-Fraser Fir (Type 34).
10. Fir, Grand
R. Merrilees Illustrator
Grand fir is represented in 17 forest cover types of western North America: it is
the predominant species in only one, Grand Fir (Society of American Foresters
Type 213). It is a major component of six other cover types: Western Larch
(Type 212), Western White Pine (Type 215), Interior Douglas-Fir (Type 210),
Western Hemlock (Type 224), Western Redcedar (Type 228), and Western
Redcedar-Western Hemlock (Type 227). Grand fir appears sporadically in 10
other cover types.
11. Fir, Noble
Noble fir is associated with most other Pacific Northwest conifers at some point
in its range. Most commonly these are Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii),
Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), western and mountain hemlocks (Tsuga
heterophylla and T. mertensiana), western white and lodgepole pines (Pinus
monticola and P. contorta), western redcedar (Thuja plicata), and Alaska-cedar
(Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). It is also found growing with grand and
subalpine firs (Abies grandis and A. lasiocarpa), Engelmann and Sitka spruces
(Picea engelmannii and P. sitchensis), western larch (Larix occidentalis), and
whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis).
12. Fir, Pacific Silver
Pacific silver fir is a major species in the forest cover type Coastal True Fir-
Hemlock (Society of American Foresters Type 226). It is also found in the
following types: Mountain Hemlock, Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir, Sitka
Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Redcedar and Pacific Douglas-Fir.
13. Fir, White
The most common associates of California white fir in the mixed conifer forests
of California and Oregon include grand fir (Abies grandis), Pacific madrone
(Arbutus menziesii), tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), incense-cedar
(Libocedrus decurrens), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (P.
contorta), sugar pine (P. lambertiana), Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi), Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii).
14. Hemlock, Eastern
Eastern hemlock is associated in the Northern Forest Region with White Pine,
Sugar Maple,Red Spruce, Balsam Fir and Yellow Birch; in the Central and
Southern Forest Region with Yellow-Poplar, Northern Red Oak, Red Maple,
Eastern White Pine, Fraser Fir and Beech.
15. Hemlock, Western
Western hemlock is a component of the redwood forests on the coasts of
northern California and adjacent Oregon. In Oregon and western Washington, it
is a major constituent of the Picea sitchensis, Tsuga heterophylla, and Abies
amabilis Zones and is less important in the Tsuga mertensiana and Mixed-
Conifer Zones.
16. Larch, Eastern (tamarack)
Black spruce (Picea mariana) is usually tamarack's main associate in mixed
stands on all sites. The other most common associates include balsam fir (Abies
balsamea), white spruce (Picea glauca), and quaking aspen (Populus
tremuloides) in the boreal region, and northern white-cedar (Thuja
occidentalis), balsam fir, black ash (Fraxinus nigra), and red maple (Acer
rubrum) on the better organic-soil (swamp) sites in the northern forest region.
17. Larch, Western
Western larch is a long-lived seral species that always grows with other tree
species. Young stands sometimes appear to be pure, but other species are in
the understory, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) is its most
common tree associate. Other common tree associates include: ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa) on the lower, drier sites; grand fir (Abies grandis), western
hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), western redcedar (Thuja plicata), and western
white pine (Pinus monticola) on moist sites; and Engelmann spruce (Picea
engelmannii), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta),
and mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) in the cool-moist subalpine forests.
18. Pine, Eastern White
White pine is a major component of five Society of American Foresters forest
cover types: Red Pine (Type 15), White Pine-Northern Red Oak-Red Maple
(Type 20), Eastern White Pine (Type 21), White Pine-Hemlock (Type 22), White
Pine-Chestnut Oak (Type 51). None of these are climax types, although the
White Pine-Hemlock type may just precede the climax hemlock types, and Type
20 is very close to a climax or an alternating type of climax on the sandy
outwash plains of New England (42).
19. Pine, Jack
Associated tree species, listed in order of presence on dry to mesic sites,
include northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis), bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), red
pine (Pinus resinosa), bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata), quaking aspen
(P. tremuloides), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), northern red oak Quercus
rubra), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), red maple (Acer rubrum), balsam fir
(Abies balsamea), white spruce (Picea glauca), black spruce (P. mariana),
tamarack (Larix laricina), and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera). In the
boreal forest the most common associates are quaking aspen, paper birch,
balsam fir, and black spruce. In the northern forest they are northern pin oak,
red pine, quaking aspen, paper birch, and balsam fir.
20. Pine, Jeffrey
Incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) is the most widespread associate of
Jeffrey pine on ultramafic soils. Locally prominent are Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesii), Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), ponderosa pine,
sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), western white pine (P. monticola), knob-cone
pine (P. attenuata), Digger pine (P. sabiniana), and Sargent cypress (Cupressus
sargentii).
21. Pine, Loblolly
Loblolly pine is found in pure stands and in mixtures with other pines or
hardwoods. When loblolly pine predominates, it forms the forest cover type
Loblolly Pine (Society of American Foresters Type 81). Within their natural
ranges, longleaf, shortleaf, and Virginia pine (Pinus palustris, P. echinata, and
P. virginiana), southern red, white, post, and blackjack oak (Quercus falcata, Q.
alba, Q. stellata, and Q. marilandica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and
persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) are frequent associates on well-drained sites.
22. Pine, Lodgepole
Lodgepole pine, with probably the widest range of environmental tolerance of
any conifer in North America, grows in association with many plant species. The
lodgepole pine forest type is the third most extensive commercial forest type in
the Rocky Mountains.
23. Pine, Longleaf
The principal longleaf cover types are Longleaf Pine (Society of American
Foresters Type 70), Longleaf Pine-Scrub Oak (Type 71), and Longleaf Pine-
Slash Pine (Type 83). Longleaf pine is also a minor component of other forest
types within its range: Sand Pine (Type 69), Shortleaf Pine (Type 75), Loblolly
Pine (Type 81), Loblolly Pine-Hardwoods (Type 82), Slash Pine (Type 84), and
South Florida Slash Pine (Type 111).
24. Pine, Pinyon
B. Steed/Bugwood.org
Pinyon is a minor component of the following forest cover types: Bristlecone
Pine (Society of American Foresters (Type 209), Interior Douglas-Fir (Type
210), Rocky Mountain Juniper (Type 220), Interior Ponderosa Pine (Type 237),
Arizona Cypress (Type 240), and Western Live Oak (Type 241). It is an integral
component in Pinyon-Juniper (Type 239) over a large area. However, as the
type extends westward, pinyon is replaced by singleleaf pinyon (Pinus
monophylla) in Nevada and some localities in western Utah and northwestern
Arizona. Southward along the Mexican border, Mexican pinyon (P. cembroides
var. bicolor), recently given separate species status as border pinyon (P.
discolor), becomes the dominant tree in the woodlands.
25. Pine, Pitch
Pitch pine is the major component of the forest cover type Pitch Pine (Society of
American Foresters Type 45) and is listed as an associate in nine other types:
Eastern White Pine (Type 21), , Chestnut Oak (Type 44), White Pine-Chestnut
Oak (Type 51), White Oak-Black Oak-Northern Red Oak (Type 52), Shortleaf
Pine (Type 75), Virginia Pine-Oak (Type 78), Virginia Pine (Type 79), and
Atlantic White-Cedar (Type 97).
26. Pine, Ponderosa
Ponderosa pine is an integral component of three forest cover types in the
West: Interior Ponderosa Pine (Society of American Foresters Type 237), Pacific
Ponderosa Pine-Douglas-Fir (Type 244), and Pacific Ponderosa Pine (Type 245).
Interior Ponderosa Pine is the most widespread type, covering most of the
range of the species from Canada to Mexico, and from the Plains States to the
Sierra Nevada, and the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Ponderosa pine is
also a component of 65 percent of all western forest cover types south of the
boreal forest.
27. Pine, Red
In parts of the northern Lake States, Ontario, and Quebec, red pine grows in
extensive pure stands and in the Northeast and eastern Canada in small pure
stands. More often it is found with jack pine (Pinus banksiana), eastern white
pine (P. strobus), or both. It is a common component in three forest cover
types: Red Pine (Society of American Foresters Type 15), Jack Pine (Type 1),
and Eastern White Pine (Type 21) and is an occasional associate in one,
Northern Pin Oak (Type 14).
28. Pine, Shortleaf
Shortleaf pine is now considered a major component of three forest cover types
(Society of American Foresters, 16), Shortleaf Pine (Type 75), Shortleaf Pine-
Oak (Type 76), and Loblolly Pine-Shortleaf Pine (Type 80). Although shortleaf
pine grows very well on good sites, it is generally only temporary and gives way
to more competitive species, particularly hardwoods. It is more competitive on
drier sites with thin, rocky, and nutrient deficient soils. With the species' ability
to grow on the medium and poor sites, it is not surprising that shortleaf pine is
a minor component of at least 15 other forest cover types.
29. Pine, Slash
Slash pine is a major component of three forest cover types including Longleaf
Pine-Slash Pine (Society of American Foresters Type 83), Slash Pine (Type 84),
and Slash Pine-Hardwood (Type 85).
30. Pine, Sugar

Sugar pine is a major timber species at middle elevations in the Klamath and
Siskiyou Mountains, Cascade, Sierra Nevada, Transverse, and Peninsula
Ranges. Rarely forming pure stands, it grows singly or in small groups of trees.
It is the main component in the forest cover type Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer
(Society of American Foresters Type 243).
31. Pine, Virginia
Virginia pine often grows in pure stands, usually as a pioneer species on old
fields, burned areas, or other disturbed sites. It is a major species in the forest
cover types Virginia Pine-Oak (Society of American Foresters Type 78) and
Virginia Pine (Type 79). It is an associate in the following cover types: Post
Oak-Blackjack Oak (Type 40), Bear Oak (Type 43), Chestnut Oak (Type 44),
White Oak-Black Oak-Northern Red Oak (Type 52), Pitch Pine (Type 45),
Eastern Redcedar (Type 46), Shortleaf Pine (Type 75), Loblolly Pine (Type 81),
and Loblolly Pine-Hardwood (Type 82).
32. Redcedar, Eastern
Pure stands of eastern redcedar are scattered throughout the primary range of
the species. Most of these stands are on abandoned farm lands or drier upland
sites. The forest cover type Eastern Redcedar (Society of American Foresters
Type 46) is widespread and therefore has many associates .
33. Redwood
Redwood is a principal species in only one forest cover type, Redwood (Society
of American Foresters Type 232), but is found in three other Pacific Coast
types, Pacific Douglas-Fir (Type 229), Port-Orford-Cedar (Type 231), and
Douglas-Fir-Tanoak-Pacific Madrone (Type 234).
34. Spruce, Black
Black spruce most commonly grows as pure stands on organic soils and as
mixed stands on mineral soil sites. It is a major component of forest types with
white spruce, balsam fir (Abies balsamea), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and
tamarack and also grows in association with paper birch (Betula papyrifera),
lodgepole pine (P. contorta), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), balsam
poplar, northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis), black ash (Fraxinus nigra),
American elm (Ulmus americana), and red maple (Acer rubrum).
35. Spruce, Colorado Blue
Colorado blue spruce is most frequently associated with Rocky Mountain
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) and Rocky Mountain ponderosa
pine and with white fir (Abies concolor) on wet sites in the central Rocky
Mountains. Blue spruce is seldom found in large numbers, but on streamside
sites it is often the only coniferous species present.
36. Spruce, Engelmann
Engelmann spruce most typically grows together with subalpine fir (Abies
lasiocarpa) to form the Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (Type 206) forest
cover type. It may also occur in pure or nearly pure stands. Spruce grows in 15
other forest types recognized by the Society of American Foresters, usually as a
minor component or in frost pockets:
37. Spruce, Red

Pure stands of red spruce comprise the forest cover type Red Spruce (Society
of American Foresters Type 32). Red spruce is also a major component in
several forest cover types: Eastern White Pine; White Pine-Hemlock; Eastern
Hemlock; Sugar Maple-Beech-Yellow Birch; Red Spruce-Yellow Birch; Red
Spruce-Sugar Maple-Beech; Red Spruce-Balsam Fir; Red Spruce-Fraser Fir;
Paper Birch-Red Spruce-Balsam Fir; Northern White-Cedar; Beech-Sugar Maple.
38. Spruce, Sitka
Sitka spruce is commonly associated with western hemlock throughout most of
its range. Toward the south, other conifer associates include Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana),
western white pine (Pinus monticola), and redwood (Sequoia sempervirens).
Shore pine (P. contorta var. contorta) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata) are
also associates that extend into southeast Alaska. Toward the north, conifer
associates also include Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), mountain
hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)-trees that
are usually found only at higher elevations toward the south.
39. Spruce, White
Eastern Forest- The forest cover type White Spruce (Society of American
Foresters Type 107) (40) is found in either pure stands or mixed stands in
which white spruce is the major component. Associated species include black
spruce, paper birch (Betula papyrifera), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides),
red spruce (Picea rubens), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea).
Western Forest- Associated tree species in Alaska include paper birch, quaking
aspen, black spruce, and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera). In Western
Canada, subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), balsam fir, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesii), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and lodgepole pine (P. contorta) are
important associates.

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Tree Designations

With Leaves and Bark

10. Boxelder Maple

because of its rapid growth.

13. Cottonwood, Black

14. Cottonwood, Eastern

16. Dogwood, Flowering

17. Elm, American

value as a forest product.

19. Elm, Slippery

21. Hickory, Bitternut

23. Hickory, Pignut

25. Hickory, Shellbark

26. Holly, American

27. Locust, Black

29. Maple, Bigleaf

31. Maple, Silver

33. Oak, Black

40. Oak, Pin

47. Oak, Water

58. Sycamore, American

59. Tupelo, Black

62. Willow, Black

64. The Top Conifers in North America

Rebecca Merrilees, Illustrator

Rebecca Merrilees, Illustrator

Rebecca Merrilees, Illustrator

20. Pine, Jeffrey

29. Pine, Slash

30. Pine, Sugar

32. Redcedar, Eastern

37. Spruce, Red

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