Tree Plant Flower ID

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

Juniperus virginiana — Eastern Redcedar

• Range / Ecoregion: Prairies, limestone soils.
• Leaf: Scale-like on adults; awl-like on juveniles.
• Bark: Fibrous, reddish, shredding.
• Bud: Inconspicuous.
• Fruit: Blue, berry-like cone.

Thuja occidentalis — Northern White Cedar

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to northern Midwest (MN, WI, MI); swamps, calcareous fens, limestone cliffs, cool forests.
• Leaf: Scale-like; flattened sprays; aromatic when crushed.
• Bark: Reddish-brown to gray; fibrous; shredding in narrow strips.
• Bud: Very small; inconspicuous; pressed to twig.
• Fruit: Small upright cones (8–12 mm); green maturing light brown; 6–8 scales.

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Larix kaempferi — Japanese Larch

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to Japan; planted ornamentally and in windbreaks in the Midwest; adaptable to cool upland sites.
• Leaf: Needles soft, 2–5 cm; blue-green; borne singly on long shoots and in clusters on short spurs; deciduous.
• Bark: Reddish-brown; scaly, becoming fissured with age.
• Bud: Small, rounded; reddish-brown; on short spur shoots.
• Fruit: Small upright cones (2–4 cm); reddish when young, maturing brown; persistent on branches.

Larix laricina – Tamarack

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to northern Midwest (MN, WI, MI); bogs, peatlands, cold wet lowlands.
• Leaf: Needles soft, 2–4 cm; light blue-green; in clusters on short spurs; deciduous.
• Bark: Reddish-brown to gray; thin, scaly; becoming flaky with age.
• Bud: Small, rounded; reddish-brown; on short spur shoots.
• Fruit: Small upright cones (1–2 cm); red when young, maturing brown; persistent on branches.

Pinus banksiana — Jack Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern Midwest; boreal sands
• Leaf: Short needles in 2s; twisted
• Bark: Thin, flaky
• Bud: Small, resinous
• Fruit: Serotinous cones, often curved

Pinus mugo – Mugo Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to central & southern Europe; widely planted ornamentally in the Midwest
• Leaf: Needles in 2s; stiff, dark green, slightly twisted
• Bark: Gray-brown; scaly to flaky
• Bud: Ovoid, brown; resinous; terminal clusters
• Fruit: Small ovoid cones; brown at maturity

Pinus nigra – Austrian Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to central & southern Europe; widely planted in Midwest landscapes and windbreaks.
• Leaf: Needles in 2s; long (8–15 cm), stiff, dark green.
• Bark: Dark gray to black; thick, deeply furrowed with age.
• Bud: Large, ovoid; light brown to silvery; resinous.
• Fruit: Ovoid cones (5–8 cm); yellow-brown at maturity; short prickles on scales.

Pinus parviflora — Japanese White Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to Japan; planted ornamentally in the Midwest; well-drained upland sites.
• Leaf: Needles in 5s; soft, 5–7 cm; blue-green with white stomatal bands.
• Bark: Gray; smooth becoming scaly with age.
• Bud: Ovoid; light brown to whitish; lightly resinous.
• Fruit: Ovoid cones (4–7 cm); brown at maturity; thick scales.

Pinus resinosa — Red Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Upper Midwest; sandy soils.
• Leaf: Needles in bundles of 2; stiff, snap cleanly.
• Bark: Reddish-orange plates.
• Bud: Ovoid, resinous.
• Fruit: Egg-shaped cone.

Pinus strobus — Eastern White Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern & eastern Midwest; mesic forests.
• Leaf: Needles in bundles of 5; soft, flexible.
• Bark: Smooth gray → dark plates.
• Bud: Slender, resinous.
• Fruit: Long, narrow cone (10–20 cm).

Pinus sylvestris – Scotch Pine

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to Eurasia; widely planted and naturalized in parts of the Midwest; sandy soils, old fields
• Leaf: Needles in 2s; 4–7 cm; twisted; blue-green
• Bark: Orange upper trunk; lower trunk gray-brown, scaly
• Bud: Ovoid, pointed; reddish-brown; resinous
• Fruit: Small ovoid cones (3–7 cm); gray-brown; often slightly curved

Picea abies – Norway Spruce

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to northern & central Europe; widely planted in the Midwest; occasionally naturalized.
• Leaf: Needles 4-sided, 1–2.5 cm; dark green; borne singly on woody pegs.
• Bark: Gray-brown; scaly to flaky.
• Bud: Ovoid; reddish-brown; mostly non-resinous.
• Fruit: Large pendulous cones (10–18 cm); cylindrical; light brown at maturity.

Picea glauca — White Spruce

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern forests.
• Leaf: Sharp, bluish-green needles; square.
• Bark: Thin, scaly.
• Bud: Rounded, brown.
• Fruit: Cylindrical cone; thin scales.

Picea pungens – Blue Spruce

Picea mariana — Black Spruce

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern bogs.
• Leaf: Short, blue-green needles.
• Bark: Thin, scaly.
• Bud: Small, rounded.
• Fruit: Small, persistent cones.

Abies balsamea — Balsam Fir

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern Midwest; cool sites.
• Leaf: Flat needles; white stomatal lines beneath.
• Bark: Smooth with resin blisters.
• Bud: Rounded, resinous.
• Fruit: Upright cone; disintegrates on branch.

Abies fraseri – Fraser Fir

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to southern Appalachian Mountains; planted ornamentally and for Christmas trees in the Midwest.
• Leaf: Needles flat, 1–2 cm; dark green above, silvery bands beneath; blunt or notched tip.
• Bark: Smooth gray with resin blisters when young; becoming thin and scaly with age.
• Bud: Small, rounded; resinous.
• Fruit: Upright cones (4–7 cm); purple to brown; disintegrate on the tree at maturity.

Abies concolor – White Fir

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to western U.S.; planted ornamentally in the Midwest; adaptable to upland sites.
• Leaf: Needles flat, 3–6 cm; soft, blue-green; blunt tip; curved upward on twig.
• Bark: Smooth gray when young; becoming furrowed and blocky with age.
• Bud: Small, rounded; resinous.
• Fruit: Upright cones (7–12 cm); green to purple; disintegrate at maturity.

Pseudotsuga menziesii- Douglas Fir

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to western North America; planted ornamentally and in windbreaks in the Midwest.
• Leaf: Needles flat, 2–4 cm; soft, radially arranged; citrus scent when crushed.
• Bark: Smooth gray with resin blisters when young; thick, deeply furrowed with age.
• Bud: Long, narrow, pointed; reddish-brown; non-resinous.
• Fruit: Pendulous cones (5–10 cm); distinctive 3-lobed bracts extending beyond scales.

Tsuga canadensis — Eastern Hemlock

• Range / Ecoregion: Ravines, north-facing slopes.
• Leaf: Short, flattened needles; two white lines beneath.
• Bark: Deeply furrowed, reddish brown.
• Bud: Tiny, round.
• Fruit: Small pendant cone, 1.5–2.5 cm).

Taxaceae (Yew Family)

Taxus canadensis — Canada Yew

• Range / Ecoregion: Northern forests; understory.
• Leaf: Flat needles; soft, dark green.
• Bark: Thin, scaly.
• Bud: Small, globose.
• Fruit: Red aril surrounding seed.

Tamaricaceae (Tamarisk Family)

Tamarix ramosissima — Saltcedar

• Range / Ecoregion: Native to Eurasia; invasive in parts of the Midwest; riparian corridors, saline soils, disturbed sites.
• Leaf: Tiny, scale-like; gray-green; appressed to slender twigs.
• Bark: Reddish-brown; smooth when young, becoming furrowed.
• Bud: Very small; inconspicuous; along slender branchlets.
• Fruit: Small capsules releasing numerous tiny tufted seeds; pink flower spikes in late spring–summer.