Tree Identifier — Name a Tree from Leaves, Needles, or Bark
Start With Whatever Part of the Tree You Have
Printed keys assume you can reach a leaf. In practice you are often standing under a sixty-foot canopy in January with nothing to work from but bark and a few buds. This tool starts from whichever feature is actually within reach — one leaf, a single needle bundle, a patch of trunk, an acorn lying in the grass — and returns the most probable species together with how strong the match was.
It runs in a browser tab, so there is nothing to install and no account to open. Alongside the name you get the conditions the tree needs and a plain statement of whether it poses a risk to cats or dogs.
Three Steps From Photo to Species
Capture the clearest feature
Fill the frame with one leaf, one needle bundle, or a hand-sized patch of bark.
The model narrows the field
Vein pattern, margin teeth, needles per bundle, and bark fissuring all feed the match.
Read the species and its needs
You get the botanical name, the confidence figure, and pet-safety information.
What Separates a Confident Match From a Guess
- Vein pattern and margin teeth carry far more information than the overall outline of a leaf. One sharp close-up beats five hurried wide shots.
- On conifers, count the needles where they join the twig. Bundles of two, three, or five narrow the pines dramatically before shape is even considered.
- Acorns, samaras, cones, and seed pods on the ground beneath the canopy are frequently the single most decisive clue — photograph them next to the foliage.
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Species Identified
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Photos Scanned
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Plant Lovers Served
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Match Confidence
Tree Identifier FAQ
What if the tree is too tall to reach a leaf?
Look down. Fallen leaves, acorns, samaras, or cones lying directly beneath the canopy almost always came from that tree, and a ground-level photo of them is worth far more than a distant shot of the crown. Failing that, photograph bark at chest height together with the lowest branch you can see.
How does it tell similar conifers apart?
Needle attachment does most of the work. Spruce needles are stiff and four-sided and sit on small woody pegs; fir needles are flat and soft and leave a smooth round scar when pulled; pine needles come in bound bundles of two to five. A close photo of the point where needles meet the twig captures all three distinctions at once.
Can I identify a bare deciduous tree in winter?
Often, though with lower confidence than in leaf. Bud arrangement is the key detail: buds set in opposing pairs point toward maple, ash, dogwood, or horse chestnut, while alternating buds cover most other genera. Photograph a twig tip showing several buds plus the bark, and confirm in spring if the answer matters.
Does it cost anything?
No. Sending a photo, reading the species name, and seeing the care and toxicity notes are all free, with no download, no subscription, and no account.