How Many Tree Species Are There? See All 60 Different Kinds of Trees (Types)

1. Coconut Palm

This famous tree dates back to the prehistoric era and is easily distinguished by the coconut fruits on its branches when mature. There are valuable trees as the coconuts are food and ingredients in manufacturing other items.

2. Date Palm

This magnificent tree is native to Africa and the Middle East, and like the coconut tree, it is also known for its fruits (dates). It is an ancient plant that grows in tropical climates and remains a key revenue source for economies worldwide.

3. Foxtail Palm

The foxtail is native to parts of Australia, and people started growing it in various parts of the world in the 70s. Although it has battled seed harvesting and other challenges, it is undeniably one of the most famous ornamental palm tree species.

4. European Fan Palm

The fan palm means that the species has broad, flat, fan-like leaves, and out of other similar species, the European fan is the most valued for its resilience and majestic look; it can grow in temperate climates and survive drought and can reach over 20 feet.

5. Pindo Palm

The Pindo is renowned for its ornamental properties, featuring a thick trunk and long feathered leaves. It is a Brazil-native plant though it thrives in the south US and the Mediterranean. However, they grow quite slowly and only rarely reach 100 ft.

6. Canary Island Pine

This enormous sturdy tree native to Spain does well in various soil types and is famous for its scented lumber. It gradually grows to form a parasol-like cover at the top and features three needles in a bundle.

7. Foxtail Pine

The foxtail is native to California and reaches 20-50 ft in height. It is common in the Sierra Mountains and is a beautiful tree if you stumble on it in its natural habitat, given that it is rarely grown for landscaping.

8. Jack Pine

Native to Canada and northern parts of the United States, the Jack Pine is adaptable to poor soils, and farmers plant it as a windbreak for their crops. It is also called the gray pine and is typically elongated and slim with two needles in pairs and curved cones.

9. Pitch Pine

This coniferous tree is common in the North Eastern US and often grows in regions unfavorable for other trees. It has a reddish-brown bark that turns darker the more it grows, and one of its best qualities is that it is fire-resistant.

10. Red Pine

This evergreen tree typically grows in the UK, the US, and other European regions, preferably in sandy soils with fewer nutrients, like other pines.² It boasts a fast growth rate but is susceptible to pests and diseases.

11. Balsam Fir

This evergreen tree is famous for its flat, needle-like leaves and conical shape with slivery hints on the leaves. It is a perfect Christmas tree thanks to its aesthetic appeal; the best part is that it smells great too.

12. Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir takes a pyramid shape with dark green or bluish leaves that give off a rich Christmas tree scent. The fronds are fluffy and leathery, growing in bunches, and the tree can reach an impressive 330 feet height in the wild.

13. Noble Fir

One of the common types of Christmas trees is the Noble Fir, which reaches 230 feet. It features thick branches spaced widely along the trunk and has needle-like leaves that often curve upwards, making it an excellent decorative tree.

14. Grand Fir

As the name suggests, this massive tree species can grow to over 200 feet. It is native to Northern California in the North Western part of America and boasts leaves in yellowish-green hues and white stripes underneath.

15. Fraser Fir

You will distinguish the Fraser Fir with its extra robust yellow-green branches. Like other Christmas trees, it has needle-like fronds and a generally conical shape with stems that lightly curve upwards.

16. Juniper Bonsai

One of the first bonsai species that comes to mind is the Juniper, a simple, easy-to-maintain plant, perfect for beginners. They will be fine even without watering, and their branches are bendy, allowing easy reshaping.

17. Green Mound Juniper

One of the trendiest indoor plants among users is the green mound that looks incredible and easily adapts to various climates. It is also simple to maintain since the fronds are easy to cut, and you can plant it outdoors as long as you shield it from extreme sunlight.

18. Acacia Bonsai

The acacia is a common indoor plant that needs a lot of sunshine to grow, and owners place them under windows for more sun. It also needs watering daily, but in moderate amounts, or else it may drown.

19. Boxwood Bonsai

Also called the Buxus, this bonsai species is a fast grower but doesn’t thrive during extreme winters. They need protection from the cold and thrive indoors, where they receive shade in summer and warmth in winter.

20. Brazilian Rain Tree

This species is a delicate plant with pointed branches and green fronds that fold up at night and unfold later in the day. They can survive warm weather but adapt and are safer indoors if it gets chilly.

21. Red Maple

This tree’s leaves and flowers turn bright red during fall, hence the name. You will find it in swamps in Northern America and distinguish it from the simple 5-lobed leaves, of which the three top ones are larger than the two below.

22. Silver Maple

This deciduous tree is in Canada and the United States, although it isn’t as widespread as the red variety. It grows extremely fast, but the wood is soft and weak, explaining why people avoid planting it near homes and cars.

23. Sugar Maple

Native to Canada, the sugar maple is famous for its sweet sap and beautiful blooms, and the leaves turn different colors during the fall.

You can find yellow, orange, brown, and red hues on different leaves of the same tree. Additionally, the sap creates tasty maple syrup, and people use its wood for furniture and flooring.

24. Paperbark Maple

From the name, you can tell apart a paperback maple tree from its peeling red rusty bark chunks. The bark underneath is dark brown, making red layers stand out more and giving the tree a distinctive aesthetic look.

25. Bigleaf Maple

As the name suggests, the bigleaf maple is easily distinguishable by its giant leaves that grow to about 12 inches wide. They are native to the North Western US, and mosses love growing inside the ridges on their bark.

26. Black Oak

The Black Oak Tree comes in two varieties: Australian and California. It is generally a tiny, fast-growing tree commonly in Central and North Eastern America. It features a dark, smooth bark that turns gray and rigid when mature and has sturdy, heavy wood used for construction and fuel.

27. Chestnut Oak

Mainly found in Eastern US, the chestnut oak has a yellowish-brown bark that gradually turns darker and develops deep furrows as the tree ages. However, the wood from this tree is less precious since it is too rigid to make furniture.

28. White Oak

The white oak is a stunning, unique tree species thanks to its exotic white or ash-gray bark with deep furrows, unlike standard light gray versions. It is long-living and is famous for its high-quality, durable wood used for flooring and construction work and its medicinal properties.⁶

29. Northern Red Oak

This deciduous tree lives in North America and easily adapts to various soil types and climatic conditions. Going by the name, the northern red variety features red flowers, twigs, and leaves. It may not be as sturdy as white oak, but it is handy in construction work, furniture, and interior finishes.

30. California Live Oak

Also called the coast live oak, this evergreen tree is a valuable species native to the US in California. It is typically a medium tree that thrives in the Sierra mountain ranges and closely resembles the canyon live oak due to the similar spinose leaves.

31. Blue Cypress

This tree species name comes from the blue-green hue of its leaves, making it perfect for aesthetics in residential places. They grow in large numbers in the South West US and northern Mexico, and their desirable feature is disease resistance.

32. Italian Cypress

The Italian species is known for its steady growth rate of 3-5 feet annually and ability to attain 30-40 feet at maturity. It adapts well to its surroundings and can grow to 5 feet wide and looks fantastic, hence ideal for privacy fences around homes and aesthetic trees along driveways.

33. Kashmir Cypress

Kashmir stands out from other cypress trees thanks to its stunning elegant look, and not many know that it is from Bhutan, not Kashmir. On the downside, it only thrives in zone 9 climate and attains massive sizes, making it unfavorable for planting in residences.

34. Patagonian Cypress

This cypress variety thrives in South Argentina and Chilean mountains, preferring the climate in rainforests. Its other names include Lahuan and Alerce (Spanish for larch) from the native languages. The most massive tree is 60 m tall, while the oldest is approximately 3,622 years.

35. Nootka Cypress

Native to the US west coast, the Nootka lives in moist soils and features massive trees growing to 40 meters. Its distinctive feature is the swaying branches and flattened dark leaves, explaining why it is sometimes called the weeping cypress.

36. Sweetbay Magnolia

This variety of Magnolia tree is also called the Whitebay, laurel, and swamp bay magnolia and is native to the coastal parts of the United States. They prefer lowlands, and an interesting feature is how they can be deciduous or evergreen based on the prevailing climate since they don’t have to shed leaves when the winters are mild.

37. Purple Magnolia

This species is native to SouthEast China and thrives in neutral or acidic soil types.

Also called the red, Mulan, lily, or tulip, magnolias are usually tiny and only reach about 4 meters at maturity. Their branches are thin and feature red, purple, or dark pink flowers.

38. Southern Magnolia

The southern variety stands out from other magnolias thanks to its massive size, reaching an impressive 40-80 ft tall and 40-50 ft wide. It survives in climate zones 7-9 and has shiny evergreen leaves which shed during extreme winters.

39. Chinese Magnolia

You can identify a Chinese magnolia by the pink and white fragrant flowers that bloom in spring. It is a beautiful tree to grow in your home that attracts wildlife and smells great, and note that it thrives in zone 6-9 in moist soils.

40. Star Magnolia

The star magnolia grows relatively slowly and reaches 10-20 feet in length and 8-15 feet wide. It usually lives in zones 4-8 and is relatively easy to maintain.

It is a stunning tree to grow in your compound, especially in a row during landscaping.

41. White Willow

From the name, the white willow is famous for its stunning silvery-white leaves. It lives alongside rivers and matures in about 20 years.

The US forest service deems it invasive, but it is generally safe and has numerous health benefits.

42. Weeping Willow

This beautiful species is quite popular and is known for its drooping fronds that often touch the ground.

Types of weeping willow trees represent grief in many cultures worldwide. It is originally from China, and many Asian communities plant them in graveyards to express loss.

43. Bebb Willow

Also called the beak willow, this tree adapts to various soil types, although it relies on sunlight and doesn’t thrive under shade. You will find it in North America, and locals use it for its medicinal properties.

44. Yellow Willow

Found in parts of California, the yellow willow tree is a unique, striking tree that grows to 23 feet and is home to various bird and insect species. It is ideal for planting in residential gardens since it can survive in any soil type and is easy to maintain.

45. Narrowleaf Willow

Also called the sandbar or coyote willow, this species has yellow and white blooms in spring and reaches 36 feet in height. The easiest way to detect it is through the leaves; going by the name, it has long, thin leaves, and its flowers resemble spikes.

46. Purple Willow

This special willow is common in Western Asia, Poland, and the British Isles. It features purple stems and bluish-green leaves and is mainly used to control soil erosion.

Its bark also has a lot of medicinal properties, like treating headaches, arthritis, and other diseases that cause inflammation.

47. Lebanon Cedar

This tree is one of the most common cedars in the world, easily identifiable by its pyramidal shape that turns into a flat canopy at the top as it grows. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is one of the broadest cedars, measuring 60 feet wide.

48. Atlas Cedar

Hailing from Morocco, the Atlas’s impressive feature is the remarkable shape that makes it perfect for landscaping. It quickly reaches 115 feet and has a massive 7 feet trunk thickness.

Sadly, scientists regard it as an endangered species in its natural environment, the Atlas Mountains.

49. Cyprus Cedar

Cyprus resembles a fir when young, and some confuse it with the Lebanon species. It is shorter in comparison as it only attains 60 feet and grows the slowest out of other cedars.

Its natural habitat is in Eastern Mediterranean in Troodos Mountain.

50. Himalayan Cedar

From the name, you can tell that this variety is from the Himalayan ranges, typically taller than other cedars, reaching 200 feet.

Its trunk grows thick at 10 feet and features long needles and cones. Its gigantic size makes it a rare landscaping breed, unlike species like Lebanon.

51. Black Birch

This tree is common in North America, especially in regions like Maine, but you can also find it in the Appalachians.

They can reach 35 meters high; the oldest is 368 years old. It has a rigid, heavy wood and is tolerant to severe winters.

The easiest way to identify a black birch is from its dark bark, and interestingly it also produces sap like the maple, but it has a stronger molasses taste.

52. Gray Birch

This tree is native to Canadian provinces like Ontario and Nova Scotia but is present in Virginia, New Jersey, and Indiana in the United States. It prefers dry, less rich soil, unlike other birches, and lives for 30 years.

It has smooth, round bark and dark green, ovate leaves that turn yellow in fall before falling in winter. Its moderate hardwood is an excellent option for furniture making, and the oil content makes it perfect for firewood use.

53. Paper Birch

Common in North America, this tree derives its name from its thin, white trunk that peels off as effortlessly as paper. It can survive under shade and thrives in various soil types and when planted near swamps and streams.

The light brown wood makes woodenware and pulp, and the bark starts reddish brown but turns whitish as the tree ages. Also, this tree is an essential food source for wildlife when in the wild, especially for moose during winter.

54. Yellow Birch

This North American deciduous tree grows from Prince Edward Island to Newfoundland and the Appalachians to Minnesota, thriving alongside beech and maple trees. Its rigid wood is excellent for making furniture and other woodenware and is an ideal fuel source.

Its leaves resemble a black birch but are hairier, and its yellowish silver bark starts peeling off as it grows older, revealing a dark brown color.

55. River Birch

This species is native to the US and grows in zones 4-9, reaching 70 feet. It is quite a famous tree for its aesthetic qualities and can grow into a single or multi-trunk tree with a unique pinkish or reddish bark that peels to form a lighter bark inside.

56. American Elm

You will often find it in northern America in Texas, Alberta, and Florida, and it is generally known as a beautiful tree you will often find in New York. It is ideal for landscaping thanks to its symmetrical crown, but on the downside, it is prone to infection with the Dutch Elm disease.

57. English Elm

Otherwise called the British elm, this fast-growing deciduous tree is common in Europe, and its top branches form a fan-shaped canopy. Thanks to its rot resistance, it is valuable in creating water pipes, piers, and jetties.

58. Slippery Elm

You will often find a slippery elm in Maine, Florida, and North Dakota, and it has a glue-like matter in its bark, hence the name slippery elm. This tree is used as medicine and rarely for commercial reasons, unless for fence posts or barrel staves.

59. Cherry-Bark Elm

This bushy elm appears generally rounded with smooth bark. It usually grows in temperate regions across Asia, America, and Europe, and its impressive feature is that it is most resistant to the Dutch elm disease, hence ideal for landscaping.

60. Cedar Elm

This species is known for its attractive bark that peels to reveal a green layer inside, and you will often find it in Canada and the US. It is drought-tolerant and survives in various soil types, making it perfect for growing as an ornamental tree.