15 examples of Trees
All types of trees play an important role in our ecosystem. Trees provide shade, shelter, oxygen, and many even
produce fruit. There are over 60,000 species of trees that come in all shapes and sizes, from majestic cedars to
smaller fruit trees and shrubs. Identifying the different kinds of trees usually depends on examining their leaves
and bark. Some types of trees have wide oval leaves, some have star-shaped ones, and many evergreen trees
have needle leaves.
1. PINE TREES (Pinus)
Pine trees are often used as ornamental trees and are a softwood type of conifer. It
produce hard cones and their leaves are clusters of needle leaves and grows tall and
straight with some of the largest species reaching heights of 268 ft. (81 m). Because of
their fast growth, pine wood is important in the construction and furniture industries.
Their tall straight trunks and needle like leaves that grow near the top of the tree make
these evergreens easy to identify.
2. MAHOGANY TREES (Swietenia )
Mahogany is a type of redwood tree that is famed for its hardness and straight grains.
Mahogany wood is highly rated for its reddish-brown color and durability. Mahogany
also is rot-resistant and has tonal properties making it the perfect type of wood for
constructing musical instruments.
Rich brown-red colored wood that gets darker with age. Mahogany tree leaves have
oval shape and they grow opposite each other on the stem.
3. TEAK TREES (Tectona)
Some species of teak tree can grow up to 131 ft. (40 m) tall and their branches produce
thin, papery leaves.
Teak is a type of hardwood that is popular with furniture makers and boat builders is
teak. The reason why teak wood is widely used is that it is very weather resistant.
Often, outdoor furniture, window frames, flooring, and boat decks are constructed
from teak trees. Teak tree leaves are large and ovate with a smooth surface and edges.
4. CYPRESS TREES (Cupressus)
True cypress trees belong to the coniferous plant genus Cupressus. Cypress trees have
soft, feathery evergreen foliage and produce cones that look like large acorns. Cypress
trees such as the Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) and the Mediterranean
Cypress / Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) are true cypress trees.False
cypress trees are evergreen and deciduous coniferous trees that also have the common
name cypress.
5. EUCALYPTUS TREES
Eucalyptus trees have evergreen aromatic leaves and attractive smooth peeling bark.
The unusual eucalyptus flowers have a fuzzy look and can be white, cream, yellow,
pink, or bright red colors. Eucalyptus plants are flowering trees and shrubs with over
700 species. Some species of eucalyptus trees can grow as tall as 330 ft. (100 m).
Eucalyptus shrubs—known as mallees—grow up to 33 ft. (10 m) tall.
6. MESQUITE TREES (Prosopis)
Mesquite is the name for several large deciduous shrub. Mesquite shrubs and trees can
be a few feet tall or grow up to 50 ft. (15 m). Mesquite trees are short and thorny with
feathery leaves, white or yellow flowers, and seed pods containing peas. The most
common types of mesquite trees are the honey mesquite tree, velvet mesquite tree, and
screwbean mesquite tree.
7. LINDEN TREES (Tilia)
Linden trees (genus Tilia and the family Malvaceae) are large deciduous shade trees
with large heart-shaped broadleaves and clusters of fragrant yellowish-white flowers.
In the fall, linden tree leaves turn a spectacular bright yellow color. There are around
30 species of linden trees and shrubs that typically grow to between 65 and 130 ft. (20
– 40 m) tall and 50 ft. (15 m) wide. Linden tree identification is by their thick furrowed
trunks, rounded crown, dense leafy foliage, and pyramidal growth habit.
8. ACACIA TREES
Acacia thorny trees and shrubs are an evergreen plant species with unique fern-like
leaves and showy clusters of fragrant yellow or white fuzzy flowers. Its fruit looks like
peapods that can be straight, coiled, or twisted. The pods grow in clusters on acacia
trees and can be green, brown, or black. Also called wattles, acacia trees grow best in
full sun and well-draining, loamy, or sandy soil. Acacia trees are fast-growing and
relatively short-lived trees that grow between 20 and 30 years.
9. MIMOSA TREES (Albizia Julibrissin)
The mimosa tree is a fast-growing ornamental tree with silky pink pompom-like fluffy
flowers, fern-like leaves, and brown flat, bean-like seed pods. It is a deciduous,
medium-sized tree in the genus Albizia and legume family Fabaceae. A full-grown
mimosa tree can measure between 10-50ft. (3-15m) and up to 50ft. (15m) wide. These
trees have a rapid growth rate, growing around 3ft./ year and can be invasive. Its
average lifespan is only 30 years. Its trunk and branches are weak and brittle and easily
break in strong winds.
10. RUBBER TREE (Hevea Brasiliensis)
This trees can grow up to 10-feet in height and feature beautiful dark green leaves and
slender branches. It is a popular choice for beginner plant parents since it doesn’t
require much maintenance besides periodic repotting and pruning. You just need to
make sure to dry out the soil in between watering it and place it in a well-lit area.
11. MANZANITA TREE (Arctostaphylos)
Manzanita trees are attractive flowering plants with eye-catching red bark. The small
ornamental trees bloom with bell-shaped pale pink or white flowers. The manzanita
flowers are followed by small edible berries. However, the most attractive feature of
the evergreen small trees is the distinctive reddish-brown or mahogany bark covering
twisted, gnarled branches. The largest species of manzanita trees, like the big berry
manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), grow as tall as 20 ft. (6 m).
12. YLANG-YLANG TREE (Cananga odorata)
Ylang-ylang is a fast-growing tree in the Philippines that could grow to as tall as 12
meters if grown in an ideal climate. It has these long, silky leaves and greenish-yellow
drooping flowers. However, you might have to wait a little longer before it blooms as
ylang-ylang seedling can take up to five years to flower.
13. MANGO TREE (Mangifera Indica)
Easily grown from seed, the mango tree needs full sun to bear good fruits. It can
survive in any soil type as long as it is well-drained. Known for its sweet fruit, the
mango can reach maturity at three years, and from then it flowers and bears fruit rather
quickly, especially if it is in season.
14. NARRA TREE (Pterocarpus)
The reliable Narra tree is the Philippines’ national tree. If you’ve got a space in your
backyard to spare, having one of these durable trees in your home is the ultimate way
to showcase the beauty of Filipino flora. Vibrant yellow flowers bloom from the Narra
trees’ branches every February to May, yielding sweet honey and a slight fragrance
that perfumes the surrounding environment.
15. DAP-DAP TREE (Erythrina variegate)
This tree can grow up to 27 meters tall and is often found along the seashore. Its most
notable feature is its beautiful bright red flowers, which are used as an organic
medicine to treat infections and joint pain.
