Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> Trees

Tree Leaf Identification Resources for Science Projects and Homeowners

Reliable Online Tools for Leaf ID

Whether you're a student tackling a science project or a homeowner curious about your yard's trees, several authoritative online resources simplify leaf identification. Geographic location heavily influences species possibilities, so regional tools work best.

Top Identification Websites

Virginia Tech Dendrology Key: Interactive, region-specific key with detailed species pages. (cnr.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm)
Arbor Day Foundation Tree ID: User-friendly, illustrated guide covering common North American species. (arborday.org/trees/treeID.cfm)
Yahoo Directory – Tree Identification: Curated list of additional specialized resources. (dir.yahoo.com/.../Tree_Identification/)

Tips for Accurate ID

Collect a typical leaf (not unusually large or small), note arrangement (opposite, alternate, whorled), and observe margins (smooth, serrated, lobed). Photograph bark, fruit, and overall form for cross-referencing. Always confirm with multiple sources.

Trees: Black Sooty Mold on Hackberry: Controlling the Aphids and Scale Behind It; Hydrangea Tree Yellowing and Leaf Drop: Water Stress, Not Spray Damage; Dwarf Grapefruit in Greenhouse: Leaf Yellowing and Browning; Lemon Tree Mysterious Decline: No Clear Pathogen, Focus on Cultural Care; Carrotwood Pale Curled Leaves After Pruning: Stress or Pests?; Plumeria Spider Mites: Organic Control and Plant Health; Unknown Backyard Tree: Cherry Species, Need Flowers/Fruit for ID; Pruning Young Empress Trees: Managing Suckers for Strong Structure; Indiana Tree Leaf Identification Resources for Science Projects; Identifying a Non-Blooming Magnolia as Possibly Fraser Magnolia

Garden Articles

Ginkgo Leaf Curl After Wet Spring: Temporary Stress Response

Mango Tree One-Sided Dieback: Prune to Healthy Wood

Ginkgo Tree with Small Leaves and Suckers: Cold Injury and Stress Recovery

Ginkgo Tree Half Leaf-Out: Woodpeckers or Water Issues

Diagnosing Leaf Drop in Ficus Trees

Hibiscus Tree Care: Light, Fertilizer, and Pest Management for Blooms

Reviving a Declining Jasmine Tree: Light, Temperature, and Pruning

Plants

Tree Identification: Mulberry vs. Poison Oak

Raywood Ash Leaf Drop in Phoenix: Normal Winter Dormancy

Identifying Heartleaf Peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata)

Crepe Myrtle Aphids: Sticky Leaves, White Bugs = Systemic Fix

Eliminating Invasive Tree Sprouts: Glyphosate Wipe Technique

Taiwan Ficus Bonsai Leaf Drop: Need Species ID and Details

Paulownia Tomentosa: The Fast-Growing Empress Tree and the Art of Pollarding