Overview
New York's northern hardwood and mixed forests give the state its famous fall color, plus the great white pines and hemlocks of the Adirondacks and Catskills. A few leaf and bark clues name most of what you see.
This guide covers common and iconic New York trees — how to tell them apart by leaf, bark, and habit. Pair it with a photo of the leaf or bark and the app to confirm any tree you find.
Key Species to Know
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The New York state tree — a hardwood with five-lobed leaves that blaze orange and red in fall, and the source of maple syrup. Smooth gray bark furrows with age.
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
A tall, soft-needled pine with needles in bundles of five and long, slender cones. The largest conifer of the northeastern forest.
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
A large oak with glossy, bristle-tipped lobed leaves that turn russet-red in fall and dark bark with pale "ski-trail" ridges. A common forest and street tree.
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
A hardwood with smooth, gray "elephant-skin" bark and oval, toothed leaves that fade to pale tan and often hang on through winter.
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
A graceful evergreen with short, flat needles (white-striped beneath) and tiny cones, casting deep shade in cool ravines and north slopes.
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
A slender tree with peeling, chalky-white bark and small toothed leaves that turn yellow in fall. A signature tree of the north woods.
Seasonal Guide
- Fall: sugar maple and red oak drive New York's famous foliage — peak runs north to south from late September.
- Winter: smooth gray beech bark and white birch bark stand out in the bare woods.
- Summer: white pine and hemlock give the forest its dark evergreen backdrop.
Safety Reminder
This is an identification guide only — it does not cover edibility or foraging. Observe trees without damaging bark or breaking limbs, and stay on established trails.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.