What Kind Of Tree Is This On My Property?

Trees are arguably one of the most vital resources on Earth. They provide food, shelter, shade, and building materials. They are natural air purifiers. They are homes to creatures big and small. And they are stunningly beautiful. It’s no wonder trees are automatically included in just about any landscaping project.

Southern magnolia Exmouth flower

When you head to your local nursery, you can search and hunt for the perfect tree and then you will know precisely what you are getting for your home. You can choose trees by their leaf shape or color, by height, or by the type of fruit they bear.

But what if you have a tree on your property that you didn’t plant? Maybe it doesn’t look as healthy as it should, and you need to know how to care for it. Perhaps you love it and want to get another one. You need to figure out what kind of tree it is. No problem, right? Well, it turns out that identifying a tree can be somewhat tricky. Earth is home to over 60,000 species of trees, so it isn’t always a quick job to learn a specific identity. There are, however, several ways to channel your inner arborist. Let’s take a look.

Arbor Day Foundation

As you might expect, the Arbor Day Foundation is an excellent resource for helping to identify a mystery tree. It maintains a website that walks you through a series of questions, starting with questions about the leaves or needles, helping you to determine the species. Arbor Day also offers a printed field guide for use when hiking or camping. As a bonus, you may learn a whole lot of vocabulary about leaves. Looking for lobed margins, anyone?

Vibrant red maple tree

Leafsnap App

For the techie tree hugger, Leafsnap provides a quick way to identify a species. Take a picture of a leaf, and the app will most likely be able to tell you what kind of tree it comes from. The app is not quite perfected yet, as it primarily identifies only trees found in the United States, but it is a great tool.

Call In a Tree Expert

For a surefire identification, reach out to Tampa Tree. Our expertly trained tree specialists can help you determine the type of tree on your property and, more importantly, guide you in its proper care and maintenance. Let us help you get to know your new tree friend.