If a tree falls in the forest…

Intro to West Virginia Tree Identification

Colors peak throughout autumn

West Virginia is the 3rd most forested state in the US

But how do we tell ALL those trees apart?

Easy IdentificationMethod 1: shapes of leavesMethod 2: characteristics of bark

First we’ll look at leaf outline shapes and tree bark

Let’s ID WV’s most common trees

Step 1:Go out and enjoy the beauty of West Virginia!

Step 2:Gather a variety of leaves

Step 3:Take pictures or rubbings of the bark

Step 4:Organize your leaves, pictures and rubbings by likeness

Step 5:Use this guide to ID your trees

1. Yellow Poplar

1. Yellow Poplar

2. White Oak

2. White Oak

3. Red Maple

3. Red Maple

4. Chestnut Oak

4. Chestnut Oak

5 & 6. Northern/Other Red Oak

5 & 6. Northern/Other Red Oak

7. Hickory

7. Hickory

8. Sugar Maple

8. Sugar Maple

9. American Beech

9. American Beech

10. Black Cherry

10. Black Cherry

11. American Basswood

11. American Basswood

12. White Ash

12. White Ash

13. Virginia Pine

13. Virginia Pine

14. Eastern Hemlock

14. Eastern Hemlock

15. White Pine

15. White Pine

All living things can be classified in much the same way as we’ve identified and classified these most common trees of West Virginia