Common trees: useful tips on how to identify them.
1. Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum Common trees in Ontario.
The sugar maple is a classic Canadian icon and a symbol of the fall season. Here's how to identify it: - Leaves: The leaves of the sugar maple typically have five lobes and are dark green in color. In the fall, they turn bright yellow, orange or red. - Bark: The bark of a mature sugar maple tree is gray to brown in color and has vertical furrows separated by narrow plates. - Height: Sugar maples can grow up to 30 meters tall.
2. Eastern White Pine - Pinus strobus
The eastern white pine is the provincial tree of Ontario, and it's a common sight in many forests and parks. Here's how to identify it: - Needles: Eastern white pines have long, soft needles that grow in groups of five. The needles are blue-green in color and can grow up to 15 cm long. - Cones: The cones of the eastern white pine are long and slender, and grow up to 20 cm in length. - Bark: The bark of a mature eastern white pine tree is gray to brown in color and has deep furrows and ridges. - Height: Eastern white pines can grow up to 40 meters tall.
3. White Birch - Betula papyrifera
The white birch is a common tree throughout Ontario, and it's known for its striking white bark. Here's how to identify it: - Bark: The white birch has characteristic white bark that peels in thin, papery layers. The bark underneath is reddish-brown. - Leaves: The leaves of the white birch are triangular in shape and have a pointed tip. They are light green in color and have a serrated edge. - Height: White birches can grow up to 20 meters tall.
5. White Spruce - Picea glauca Common trees in Ontario
The white spruce is a coniferous tree that's commonly found in the boreal forests of Ontario. Here's how to identify it: - Needles: White spruce needles are sharp and are blue-green in color. They grow in a spiral pattern around the branches of the tree. - Cones: White spruce cones are slender and can grow up to 10 cm long. - Bark: The bark of a mature white spruce tree is gray-brown in color and has thin, scaly plates. - Height: White spruces can grow up to 30 meters tall.
4. Red Oak - Quercus rubra
The red oak is a popular tree for landscaping and is known for its tall, straight trunk. Here's how to identify it: - Leaves: The leaves of the red oak are broad, with pointed lobes and smooth edges. They are dark green in color and turn red in the fall. - Acorns: Red oak trees produce acorns with a cap that covers less than half the nut. - Bark: The bark of a mature red oak tree is dark gray in color and has deep, furrowed ridges. - Height: Red oaks can grow up to 30 meters tall.
