PAGE

Your state

Pennsylvania tree identification: 140 native and common trees

Identify 140 trees that grow in Pennsylvania by their leaves, bark, fruit and twigs. Answer up to 4 questions to narrow it down, then open a tree for its look-alikes and whether it is native.

Quick answer

Start with the leaves. Needles or scales mean a conifer; broad leaves come next by arrangement (opposite or alternate), then simple or compound, then the edge. Of the 140 trees here, 103 are native to Pennsylvania and 37 were introduced, per the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.

Identify a tree in 4 questions

1. What are the leaves like?

Pick an answer to start.

Opposite leaves grow in pairs across from each other on the twig; alternate leaves come off one at a time, staggered. A compound leaf has several leaflets on one stem, and the bud sits where the whole leaf meets the twig, not at each leaflet.

All 140 trees

Find a tree

140 of 140 trees

Tree	Leaves	In Pennsylvania
Allegheny chinquapin Castanea pumila	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American basswood Tilia americana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American elm Ulmus americana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American holly Ilex opaca	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native (some planted)
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American mountain-ash Sorbus americana	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
American plum Prunus americana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Amur corktree Phellodendron amurense	Opposite, compound leaves	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Amur maple Acer ginnala	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Austrian pine Pinus nigra	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Introduced
Baldcypress Taxodium distichum	Soft needles that drop every fall	Introduced
Balsam fir Abies balsamea	Single needles, attached one at a time	Native
Balsam poplar Populus balsamifera	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Bear oak Quercus ilicifolia	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Black ash Fraxinus nigra	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
Black birch Betula lenta	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Black cherry Prunus serotina	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Black gum Nyssa sylvatica	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced (possibly native)
Black maple Acer nigrum	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Black oak Quercus velutina	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Black spruce Picea mariana	Single needles, attached one at a time	Native
Black walnut Juglans nigra	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Black willow Salix nigra	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
Boxelder Acer negundo	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
Butternut Juglans cinerea	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Callery pear Pyrus calleryana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Chestnut oak Quercus montana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Chinese chestnut Castanea mollissima	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
Chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Colorado spruce Picea pungens	Single needles, attached one at a time	Introduced
Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica	Opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Devil’s walking stick Aralia spinosa	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Eastern arborvitae Thuja occidentalis	Tiny scale-like leaves	Introduced
Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Single needles, attached one at a time	Native
Eastern hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tiny scale-like leaves	Native
Eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
English oak Quercus robur	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced
European larch Larix decidua	Soft needles that drop every fall	Introduced
European mountain-ash Sorbus aucuparia	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced
European white birch Betula pendula	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
Flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Fraser magnolia Magnolia fraseri	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced
Gray birch Betula populifolia	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Hawthorn Crataegus species	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced (possibly native)
Horsechestnut Aesculus hippocastanum	Opposite, compound leaves	Introduced
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced (possibly native)
Lombardy poplar Populus nigra	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
Mimosa Albizia julibrissin	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Mountain maple Acer spicatum	Opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Nannyberry Viburnum lentago	Opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges	Introduced
Northern red oak Quercus rubra	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Norway maple Acer platanoides	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Norway spruce Picea abies	Single needles, attached one at a time	Introduced
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Opposite, compound leaves	Native (some planted)
Osage-orange Maclura pomifera	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Introduced
Pagoda dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Paper birch Betula papyrifera	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Pawpaw Asimina triloba	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Pignut hickory Carya glabra	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Pin oak Quercus palustris	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Pitch pine Pinus rigida	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
Post oak Quercus stellata	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Princess tree Paulownia tomentosa	Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Red hickory Carya ovalis	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Red maple Acer rubrum	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Red mulberry Morus rubra	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Red pine Pinus resinosa	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
Red spruce Picea rubens	Single needles, attached one at a time	Native
River birch Betula nigra	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native (some planted)
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Sassafras Sassafras albidum	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Introduced
Shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
Showy mountain-ash Sorbus decora	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Shumard oak Quercus shumardii	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Silver maple Acer saccharinum	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides	Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges	Introduced
Southern red oak Quercus falcata	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina	Alternate, compound leaves	Native
Striped maple Acer pensylvanicum	Opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Sugar maple Acer saccharum	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Sweet cherry Prunus avium	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
Sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native (some planted)
Sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus	Opposite, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced
Table Mountain pine Pinus pungens	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
Tamarack Larix laricina	Soft needles that drop every fall	Native
Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima	Alternate, compound leaves	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
Umbrella magnolia Magnolia tripetala	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native (some planted)
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Needles in bundles, wrapped together at the base	Native
Weeping willow Salix ×sepulcralis	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
White ash Fraxinus americana	Opposite, compound leaves	Native
White fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native
White mulberry Morus alba	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced; invasive (DCNR)
White oak Quercus alba	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Native
White poplar Populus alba	Alternate, simple leaves with lobes	Introduced
White willow Salix alba	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Introduced
Willow oak Quercus phellos	Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges	Native (some planted)
Witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	Alternate, simple leaves with toothed edges	Native
Yellow buckeye Aesculus flava	Opposite, compound leaves	Native (some planted)

Status from the PNHP Pennsylvania Vascular Plant List; invasive flags from the DCNR Invasive Plant List.

Pines in Pennsylvania (8)

Austrian pine (Pinus nigra, introduced), Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), Pitch pine (Pinus rigida), Red pine (Pinus resinosa), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, introduced), Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), Table Mountain pine (Pinus pungens), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana).

Spruces, fir and hemlock in Pennsylvania (6)

Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Black spruce (Picea mariana), Colorado spruce (Picea pungens, introduced), Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Norway spruce (Picea abies, introduced), Red spruce (Picea rubens).

Other conifers: larches, cedars and bald cypress in Pennsylvania (5)

Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum, introduced), Eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis, introduced), Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), European larch (Larix decidua, introduced), Tamarack (Larix laricina).

Oaks in Pennsylvania (18)

Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), Black oak (Quercus velutina), Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), Chestnut oak (Quercus montana), Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), English oak (Quercus robur, introduced), Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), Pin oak (Quercus palustris), Post oak (Quercus stellata), Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima, introduced), Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria), Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), White oak (Quercus alba), Willow oak (Quercus phellos).

Maples and boxelder in Pennsylvania (10)

Amur maple (Acer ginnala, introduced), Black maple (Acer nigrum), Boxelder (Acer negundo), Mountain maple (Acer spicatum), Norway maple (Acer platanoides, introduced), Red maple (Acer rubrum), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), Sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus, introduced).

Hickories and walnuts in Pennsylvania (8)

Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), Black walnut (Juglans nigra), Butternut (Juglans cinerea), Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), Pignut hickory (Carya glabra), Red hickory (Carya ovalis), Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa).

Birches, hornbeam and hophornbeam in Pennsylvania (8)

American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), Black birch (Betula lenta), Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), European white birch (Betula pendula, introduced), Gray birch (Betula populifolia), Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), River birch (Betula nigra), Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis).

Ashes in Pennsylvania (5)

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda), White ash (Fraxinus americana).

Cherries, plums, serviceberries, hawthorns and mountain-ashes in Pennsylvania (12)

Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana), American plum (Prunus americana), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana, introduced), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), European mountain-ash (Sorbus aucuparia, introduced), Hawthorn (Crataegus species), Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), Showy mountain-ash (Sorbus decora), Sweet cherry (Prunus avium, introduced).

Poplars, aspens, cottonwoods and willows in Pennsylvania (10)

Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), Bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata), Black willow (Salix nigra), Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra, introduced), Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), Swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla), Weeping willow (Salix ×sepulcralis, introduced), White poplar (Populus alba, introduced), White willow (Salix alba, introduced).

Elms and hackberry in Pennsylvania (4)

American elm (Ulmus americana), Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila, introduced), Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra).

Magnolias and tuliptree in Pennsylvania (5)

Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri), Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala).

Chestnuts and beech in Pennsylvania (4)

Allegheny chinquapin (Castanea pumila), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), American chestnut (Castanea dentata), Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima, introduced).

Other trees in Pennsylvania (37)

American basswood (Tilia americana), American holly (Ilex opaca), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense, introduced), Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia, introduced), Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica, introduced), Common hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa), Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, introduced), Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos, introduced), Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum, introduced), Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus, introduced), Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin, introduced), Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago), Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa, introduced), Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera, introduced), Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa, introduced), Red mulberry (Morus rubra), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia, introduced), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides, introduced), Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima, introduced), White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), White mulberry (Morus alba, introduced), Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava).

Invasive trees in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania DCNR defines invasive plants as species that are not native, grow aggressively and push out native plants. 12 trees in this guide are on its list:

Tree	DCNR rank
Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica	1: severe threat
Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima	1: severe threat
Amur corktree Phellodendron amurense	2: significant threat
Callery pear Pyrus calleryana	2: significant threat
Mimosa Albizia julibrissin	2: significant threat
Norway maple Acer platanoides	2: significant threat
Princess tree Paulownia tomentosa	2: significant threat
Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia	2: significant threat
White mulberry Morus alba	3: lesser threat
Amur maple Acer ginnala	Watch list
Sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima	Watch list
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila	Watch list

The list also names trees that are not in this guide: Japanese angelica tree, European black alder, paper mulberry, bee-bee tree, two more corktrees, golden rain-tree and Japanese maple (watch list). Source: DCNR Invasive Plant List.

Native or introduced?

Each tree’s status comes from the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program’s plant list. Of the 140 trees here, 96 are native, 7 are native but also have wild populations that grew from planted trees, 34 are introduced, and 3 are introduced with an unconfirmed chance of native stands.

Questions

What is the state tree of Pennsylvania?

Eastern hemlock. It became Pennsylvania’s state tree by law in 1931, per Penn State Extension.

How do you identify a tree in Pennsylvania?

Start with the leaves: needles or scales mean a conifer. For broad leaves, check whether they are opposite or alternate, then simple or compound, then whether the edge is toothed, lobed or smooth. Bark, fruit and twigs confirm it.

How many of these trees are native to Pennsylvania?

103 of the 140 trees in this guide are native and 37 were introduced, per the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.

Which trees are invasive in Pennsylvania?

DCNR’s invasive plant list includes Common buckthorn, Tree-of-heaven, Amur corktree, Callery pear, Mimosa, Norway maple, Princess tree, Russian olive, White mulberry, Amur maple, Sawtooth oak, Siberian elm among the trees in this guide.

What oak trees grow in Pennsylvania?

This guide covers 18 oaks: Bear oak, Black oak, Blackjack oak, Chestnut oak, Chinkapin oak, English oak, Northern red oak, Pin oak, Post oak, Sawtooth oak, Scarlet oak, Shingle oak, Shumard oak, Southern red oak, Swamp chestnut oak, Swamp white oak, White oak, Willow oak.

What maple trees grow in Pennsylvania?

This guide covers 10 maples: Amur maple, Black maple, Boxelder, Mountain maple, Norway maple, Red maple, Silver maple, Striped maple, Sugar maple, Sycamore maple.

What pine trees grow in Pennsylvania?

This guide covers 8 pines: Austrian pine, Eastern white pine, Pitch pine, Red pine, Scots pine, Shortleaf pine, Table Mountain pine, Virginia pine.

Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheets (identification, in our own words); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced); Pennsylvania DCNR Invasive Plant List; Penn State Extension (state tree). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.

Muthler Landscaping & Construction · Lock Haven, PA

Building near a tree?

Planning a patio, wall or planting bed near a tree? We build them from Lock Haven to State College and Williamsport. Outside central PA? Groundwork Single Space ($349) is a scaled 2D plan of one area with plants matched to your hardiness zone, designed remotely.

Get a quote See landscape design

Also: Pennsylvania tree identification, tree database, tree planting distance guide, Pennsylvania neighbor tree law.

Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584. Call 811 before you dig.

Using this guide? Link to it or cite it. It’s free to use with a link back, and we keep it updated against official sources.

<a href="https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/pennsylvania/trees/">Pennsylvania tree identification: 140 native and common trees</a> (Muthler Landscaping & Construction)

Cite as: Muthler Landscaping & Construction, “Pennsylvania tree identification: 140 native and common trees,” https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/pennsylvania/trees/ (last checked November 14, 2026).

Get an email when your state’s rules change

We re-check every entry against official sources. Tell us your state and we’ll email you when something changes.