Tree Identification

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Habitat and form

Leaves

Fruit

Bark

Buds

Related webpages

Invasive plant identification

Pest and disease identification

Being able to identify different trees is a good starting point in getting to know your woods. Much of what we want to do with our woods depends on what types of trees we have or want, from wildlife viewing to recreation to hunting. When learning how to identify trees, you will also learn about the various characteristics that can benefit you and your woodland goals. Tree identification may seem tough at first, but it’s a skill that anyone can develop with a little practice.

A good way to get started is by using a dichotomous key, which offers a series of choices that narrow down what the tree might be. Each choice offers two options for a distinguishing characteristic, such as the branch, leaf, or fruit. For forest trees native to Wisconsin, we recommend the keys offered by UW-Stevens Point and the UW-Green Bay Herbarium. For cultivated trees, check out the Wisconsin DNR’s guide to urban trees (PDF).

A word of caution if you are trying to use an app to identify a plant: although they continue to improve, apps are often incorrect, especially for understory plants. In 2023, the accuracy of the most popular apps ranged from 30% to 75%. Lots of plants, including many trees, cannot be identified from just one photo—instead, you need photos of several different features of the plant in order to pin down an ID. We recommend confirming app-based identifications with an expert before making any important decisions.

Keep reading to learn about the various features that can help you figure out what tree you’re looking at!

Habitat and form

wet vs dry soil

conifer vs deciduous

Alternate vs opposite branching

form (tree, single stem, multi-stemmed, shrub, overall shape)

Leaves

simple vs compound

sinus and lobes

smooth vs serrated margin

patterns of veins

texture

petiole shape

Note the wide variation in leaf size and shape within a single species and often on a single tree (sun and shade leaves, oak example).

Fruit

Define “fruit” botanically.

Samaras, soft fruit, hard mast.

Oaks, cherries.

Bark

it’s tough

Buds

form during the growing season and are present all winter.

Tree Identification

Related webpages

Habitat and form

Leaves

Fruit

Bark

Buds

Further reading