Tree botanical parts like leaves , flowers , bark , twigs , shape , and fruit are all used to identify tree species. These "markers" are unique - and in combination - can make quick work of identifying a tree. Colors, textures, smells, and even taste will also help in finding the name of a particular tree. You will find reference to all of these identification markers in the links I have provided. You might also want to use my Tree ID Glossary for terms used to describe the markers.
See Parts of a Tree
Help #2 - Find out if your tree will or won't grow in a particular area.
Tree species are not distributed at random but are associated with unique habitats. This is another way to help you discern a tree's name. You can possibly (but not always) eliminate trees that don't normally live wild in the forest where your tree lives. There are unique timber types located throughout North America.
The northern coniferous forests of spruces and firs extend across Canada and into the northeastern United States and down the Appalachian Mountains. You will find unique hardwood species in the eastern deciduous forests , pine in the forests of the South, Tamarack in the bogs of Canada, the Jack pine in the Great Lakes region , the Doug Fir of the Pacific Northwest , the Ponderosa Pine forests of the southern Rockies.
Help #3 - Find a key.
Many sources of identification use a key. A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish. Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item. "Dichotomous" means "divided into two parts". Therefore, dichotomous keys always give two choices in each step.
My Tree Finder is a leaf key. Find yourself a tree, collect or photograph a leaf or needle and use this simple "key" style finder to identify the tree. This tree finder is designed to help you identify most common North American trees at least to the genus level. I am confident you can also select the exact species with the links provided and a little research.
Here is another great tree key you can use from Virginia Tech:
A Twig Key - When leaves are not available...
