Oregon Tree ID: Looking Up in the Beaver State

There is a lot to love about Oregon, but the greenery that comes along with its geography is one of the best things about the state. Are you a resident or a visitor interested in Oregon tree identification? Then you’ve come to the right place.

The right place meaning not just Oregon — but Inexpensive Tree Care, too! Oregon is home to many tree species. In fact, we have such a variety of different trees native to Oregon, it can be hard to identify all of them. But the Portland tree experts at ITC know all about them. (It helps to be led by a certified arborist.)

Next time you are out and about in your neighborhood enjoying the Pacific Northwest springtime or summer sun, keep an eye out for what the leaves look like in some of these common native tree types.   

The first thing to learn is the three basic leaf types: needles, scales, and broadleaf. 

Evergreen trees have needles or scales, and broadleaf trees are mostly deciduous, which means their leaves drop during dormancy.

The shape of broadleaf trees will help you identify what type of tree they come from. 

They range in sizes such as egg-shaped, long and narrow, triangular, round, or heart-shaped.

Let’s look at a few more common trees in Oregon. You’ll find all kinds of trees in Eastern Oregon, Western Oregon, and from north to south. 

Maples

Bigleaf maples, as their name suggests, have the largest leaves of all the maple trees — sometimes more than 12 inches wide. That’s because the trees themselves are also quite large, ranging from 40 feet to 100 feet tall.

Aspen

These leaves are stunning! They are usually bright yellow, gold, red, and orange. These are on the small side, generally less than three inches, and are thin, firm, and round.

Douglas Fir

Douglas fir needles are slightly rounded, soft to the touch, and are usually 1-and-a-quarter inches. They are very fragrant and are found in neighborhoods, parks, and forests around Oregon. It is the tallest conifer tree in the Northwest.   

Ash

The Raywood Ash tree is a common urban tree, with leaves that are about 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. This tree will usually be 40 feet to 80 feet in height. The leaves are usually dark green. However, during the autumn, they will turn a stunning shade of red, and then purple before falling.

Oak

Oak trees come in a variety of different hybrids, which can make determining the tree a bit more difficult. These trees, however, are deciduous and are usually egg-shaped, with a triangular or narrow wedge-shaped base and a rounded point near the top.

No matter what time of year you are out exploring Oregon’s beauty, you are sure to find trees of all varieties to admire. The trees here are truly a showpiece in Oregon’s landscape and can bring joy to nature lovers of all ages.

Need help identifying trees on your property or need work done on the same? Conifers, broadleaves, Oregon white oaks, red alders, you name it!Get in touch with Inexpensive Tree Care today. We provide full-service tree care in Portland and the surrounding areas, including tree removal, tree trimming, tree pruning, and view improvements.