Tree leaves come in many shapes and sizes. They may resemble hearts or stars. They may have smooth edges or jagged, or they may be lobed, as if a creature took bites out of them. Leaves may grow opposite each other on a branch, or they may alternate. Their veins may run parallel or fan out from the base of the leaf. Leaves are beautiful in their variety, and they can help you tell one tree from another. Let’s test your leafy knowledge right now!
1: This leaf comes from a popular tree, chosen as the official tree of more states than any other. What is it?
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The sugar maple is the state tree of New York, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Vermont. The familiar maple leaf shape also graces the Canadian flag. Sugar maples provide us with maple syrup, of course, by way of their boiled sap.
2: Can you identify this leaf from the state tree of Connecticut?
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Oak leaves vary in size and shape, but all have lobes. Some oaks are evergreens; most are deciduous. You can recognize an oak by its acorns. Did you know that you can make acorn flour from mature brown acorns? Acorn starch is a common ingredient in Korean recipes.
3: Can you identify this leaf that comes from a member of the plane-tree family?
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A sycamore leaf resembles a maple, with deep lobes, but you can tell the difference because the sycamore’s leaves and branches alternate, while the maple’s leaves and branches grow as opposites. The sycamore tree symbolizes protection and hope.
4: Don’t be sad—dry your tears and identify this leaf!
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The weeping willow is easily identified by its drooping branches that sway in the breeze. Its leaves are long and narrow. Napoleon was famously buried beneath a weeping willow, his favorite tree.
5: If you know the state tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota, you can identify this leaf. What is it?
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The leaves of the American elm are oblong and serrated. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow. In Greek mythology, when Orpheus played a love song for Eurydice on his harp, an elm grove suddenly grew.
6: Can you name this evergreen that originated in northern Europe?
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Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you’ll recognize Scots pine needles from traditional Christmas trees. Pine trees are evergreens, and they produce pinecones that are 1 to 3 inches in length.
7: What leaf frames flowers on a tree that’s grown in one region of the U.S.?
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The leaves of the southern magnolia are leathery and can be 10 inches long, but they’re outshone by the huge, gorgeous white flowers that bloom in summer. The southern magnolia’s bloom is the state flower of both Louisiana and Mississippi.
8: This leaf comes from the Cercis canadensis tree—do you know the tree’s common name?
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When a redbud tree is festooned with rose-pink flowers in the spring, there’s no doubt what kind of tree it is. In other seasons, look for heart-shaped leaves that are dark green in summer, yellow in the fall. The redbud is the state tree of Oklahoma.
9: The seventh president of the United States got his nickname from this tree. What is it?
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President Andrew Jackson was known as “Old Hickory.” Hickory leaves are compound, with pairs of leaflets and a single terminal leaflet growing on one stalk. Did you know that pecan trees are related to hickories?
10: Can you identify this leaf from the state tree of Oregon?
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Fir trees are evergreens, and they are a popular choice for Christmas trees. Fir needles are often softer than pine, and fir cones usually grow straight upward. In floral arrangements, fir branches represent time, and they are aromatic.
11: This leaf’s tree is from the pea family, surprisingly. Do you know what it is?
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The leaves of the black locust are alternate and compound. Watch out for this tree’s thorns! The black locust is considered to be an invasive species in some areas.
12: The Sunday before Easter is named for this leaf. Can you identify it?
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For many Christians, the Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. The United States has nine native species of palm trees, plus five palm species that are not trees. The leaves of palm trees are called fronds, and most grow from the crown or top of the tree.
13: What odiferous tree is also known as the maidenhair tree?
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Ginkgo trees are easily identified by their fan-shaped leaves that turn yellow in the fall. Unfortunately, they can also be identified by their foul-smelling fruit. The ginkgo can live for 1,000 years and is a symbol of longevity.
14: What kind of tree did a larger-than-life man famously plant in parts of the U.S. in the late 1700s?
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John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, planted apple trees in several states, sharing his religious beliefs along the way. The leaves of apple trees are egg shaped, and some come to a point. Experts believe that apple trees have been cultivated longer than any other type.
15: The wood from this tree is often used to make guitars. Do you know what it is?
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Mahogany leaves are oval and grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. The wood is reddish-brown and rot resistant. Mahogany wood is a superior tonewood, ideal for making musical instruments.
16: If you can’t identify this leaf, ask a baseball fan. What tree is it from?
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Ash trees have compound leaves. Many baseball players choose bats made of ash wood because of its flexibility. Unfortunately, ash trees are facing extinction because of an invasive boring beetle.
17: Can you identify this leaf from the state tree of Louisiana?
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Bald cypress trees are conifers, but they are not evergreens. They shed their needles in the fall, inspiring the “bald” part of their name. Bald cypress trees thrive in swamps, and their roots sometimes grow up out of the water to form knees, which may help provide the trees with oxygen.
18: New Hampshire has chosen this leaf’s owner as its state tree. Can you name it?
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The leaves of the white birch—and all types of birch—are simple, with small teeth. White birch trees have lovely white bark that sets them apart from other trees. The papery outer bark can be used to start a fire, even when it’s wet.
19: Ancient Greeks and Romans valued the nuts from this tree as “imperial nuts.” Can you name the tree?
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The leaves of the black walnut are alternate and compound. Walnuts are delicious, of course. Black walnut trees are found in the eastern half of the continental U.S.
20: The name of this tree is mentioned in a children’s song, although the song is about a bush. Can you identify it?
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“Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush.” Some types of mulberry can grow to be 80 feet tall, and their fruit resembles blackberries. Their leaves have a saw-toothed edge, and some have lobes or sinuses. In Germany, mulberry trees are associated with evil spirits.
