Tree Identification Guide

Welcome to the University of Tennessee Arboretum Tree Identification Guide!

For this guide, we have chosen some of the trees commonly found on the trails at the Arboretum. If you would like to know the common name, scientific name, or characteristics of a tree at the Arboretum but you only know the shape of the leaf, perhaps this guide will help identify it.

Start by choosing one of the three categories below. Each will lead to a description of the tree.

Simple Leaves

Beech Leaf — American Beech
Fagus grandifolia

Black Cherry Leaf — Black Cherry
Prunus serotina

Black Gum Leaf — Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica

Black Oak Leaf — Black Oak
Quercus velutina

Blackjack Oak Leaf — Blackjack Oak
Quercus marilandica

Catalpa Leaf — Catalpia
Catalpa speciosa

Chestnut Oak Leaf — Chestnut Oak
Quercus montana

Dogwood Leaf — Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Cornus mas

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Dogwood Leaf — Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood

Ginkgo Leaf — Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba

Pawpaw Leaf — Pawpaw
Asimina triloba

PostOak Leaf — Post Oak
Quercus stellata

Red Bud Leaf — Red Bud
Cercis canadensis

Red Maple Leaf — Red Maple
Acer rubrum

Sassafras Leaf — Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Sourwood Leaf — Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum

Southern Red Oak Leaf — Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata

Southern Red Oak

Sweet gum Leaf — Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua

Tulip Poplar Leaf — Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera

White Oak Leaf — White Oak
Quercus alba

Compound Leaves

Mockernut Leaf — Mockernut Hickory
Carya tomentosa

Mockernut Hickory

Pignut Hickory Leaf — Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra

Shagbark Hickory Leaf — Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

Black Walnut Leaf — Black Walnut
Juglans nigra

Trees with Needle and Scale-like Leaves

Bald Cypress Leaf — Bald Cypres
Taxodium distichum

Red Cedar Leaf — Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Red Cedar

Japanese Cedar Leaf — Japanese Cedar
Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese Umbrella Pine Leaf — Japanese Umbrella Pine
Sciadoitys verticella

Japanese Umbrella Pine

Tigertail Spruce Leaf — Tigertail Spruce
Picea polita or Picea torano

Tigertail Spruce

Virginia Pine Leaf — Virginia Pine
Pinus virginiana