Overview
Virginia's forests run from Blue Ridge hardwood coves to piedmont oak-hickory and coastal-plain pine. A few leaf and bark clues quickly narrow down its common trees.
This guide covers common and iconic Virginia 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
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
The Virginia state tree — a small understory tree with tiered branches, oval leaves, and showy white (occasionally pink) spring "flowers" that are actually bracts, followed by red berries.
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
A very tall, straight hardwood with distinctive four-lobed "tulip"-shaped leaves and orange-and-green tulip-like flowers high in the crown.
White Oak
Quercus alba
A stout oak with rounded-lobed leaves (no bristles) and pale, flaky gray bark. Long-lived and a mainstay of Virginia ridges.
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
An adaptable maple with three-to-five-lobed toothed leaves, red twigs and buds, and reliably scarlet fall color. Red flowers appear before the leaves.
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
A tall, soft-needled pine with needles in bundles of five and long, slender cones. Common in the mountains and piedmont.
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
A huge riverside tree with broad, maple-like leaves and unmistakable mottled bark that flakes to creamy-white on the upper trunk and limbs.
Seasonal Guide
- Spring: dogwood blooms across the understory before the canopy leafs out.
- Fall: red maple, tulip tree, and oaks carry the color across the Blue Ridge.
- Winter: pale flaky white-oak bark and creamy sycamore bark are easy to pick out.
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.