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

Beech

Black Cherry Leaf
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina

Black Cherry

Black Gum Leaf
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica

Black Gum

Black Oak Leaf
Black Oak
Quercus velutina

Black Oak

Blackjack Oak Leaf
Blackjack Oak
Quercus marilandica

Blackjack Oak

Catalpa Leaf
Catalpia
Catalpa speciosa

Catalpia

Chestnut Oak Leaf
Chestnut Oak
Quercus montana

Chestnut Oak

Dogwood Leaf
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Cornus mas

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Dogwood Leaf
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood

Ginkgo Leaf
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo

Pawpaw Leaf
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba

Pawpaw

PostOak Leaf
Post Oak
Quercus stellata

Post Oak

Red Bud Leaf
Red Bud
Cercis canadensis

Red Bud

Red Maple Leaf
Red Maple
Acer rubrum

Red Maple

Sassafras Leaf
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum

Sassafras

Sourwood Leaf
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum

Sourwood

Southern Red Oak Leaf
Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata

Southern Red Oak

Sweet gum Leaf
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum

Tulip Poplar Leaf
Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera

Tulip Poplar

White Oak Leaf
White Oak
Quercus alba

White Oak

Compound Leaves

Mockernut Leaf
Mockernut Hickory
Carya tomentosa

Mockernut Hickory

Pignut Hickory Leaf
Pignut Hickory
Carya glabra

Pignut Hickory

Shagbark Hickory Leaf
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

Black Walnut Leaf
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra

Black Walnut

Trees with Needle and Scale-like Leaves

Bald Cypress Leaf
Bald Cypres
Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress

Red Cedar Leaf
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Red Cedar

Japanese Cedar Leaf
Japanese Cedar
Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese Cedar

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

Virginia Pine