Hopefully you have found the information on this site on useful. However, it is not intended to be an all inclusive site regarding tree care information. There are many other excellent resources providing more information, and we will happily point you to those.

Clicking on any of the links below will open a new browser window and lead you to the respective site.

What Tree Is It by OPLIN (Ohio Public Library Information Network). This is the best tree identification website I have found. Search using a leaf key, by fruit or by name (common or scientific). Once you have identified your tree, there is also a concise description of it.

Virginia Tech Dendrology is loaded with great tools. It is a close second for quality of the identification key. You can search by leaf or twig (especially useful in the winter). There is also an Urban Tree Selector to help you pick the best tree for the site where you are planting it. The fact sheets also give you a lot of information about many common trees.

Ohio State’s site is very good for searching all plants – not just trees. It is lacking an identification key. It does have a nice variety of pictures.

The Ohio Division of Forestry lists trees alphabetical by common name. The list includes the most common trees of the State. The pictures and information about the trees are good. There is not an ID key.

The Auburn site is titled: “Trees of Alabama and the Southeast”, but many of the species included can be found throughout the Eastern United States. This site includes many species not found on the other sites here, but is also lacking some species that would not be found in the Southeast. Again, there is no key for help with identification, but you can use the pictures to help confirm identification. One note on finding your trees here: The site is alphabetized by family, then common name. This can make it a little more challenging to find what you are looking for. If you are not familiar with the family, in MS Internet Explorer, try going to “File”, then “Find” to search the page for the tree you are looking for.

National Arbor Day Foundation Tree Identification Key

National Arbor Day Foundation Tree Guide

Dr. Edward Gilman from the University of Florida maintains probably the most information-packed website about trees. There is information about: selection (for planting), root problems, pruning, storm damage, maintenance and much more. There is a page containing a species index also hosted by UF. There are some great factsheets here.

Northern Tree Selector from the University of Florida. Search for trees that fit your planting site based on search criteria. It can be slow to load, so be patient.

The Hardwood Information Center has a species guide explaining the properties of some common hardwoods. Harvested trees make beautiful wood!

Trees Are Good from ISA has a wealth of information about proper tree care.

The Right Tree Handbook from Minnesota Power has a simple species guide as well as some useful information about planting the right tree near utilities.

The Plants Database from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is just what you would expect – a database on many many plants.

The Silvics of North America manuals from the USDA Forest Service are the “standard” book for learning about the natural habitat (climate, soils, etc.) and life history of most of the major native species found in the forests of the United States. These books are targeted at forest managers, but that does not limit their usefulness to arborists or others caring for urban trees. It is well known that trees growing in their natural environment will be stronger and healthier. By knowing more about that natural environment, we can help put cultural practices in place to give trees the best growing conditions possible.

Others tasked with managing tree-related sites are encouraged to link to www.AdvancedTreeHealth.com to help more people find these useful resources.