BY: G A RY P E I F F E R , D E KA L B E XT E N S I O N , 2 0 1 3

IDENTIFYING COMMON TREES OF METRO ATLANTA

REVIEW:

• WHAT FEATURES/CHARACTERISTICS ARE USEFUL FOR QUICK TREE IDENTIFICATION?:• Leaves – form, arrangement, fall color, etc.• Flowers – time of year, color, arrangement, etc.• Twig characteristics – buds, leaf scars, etc.• Seeds and/or Fruit• Tree form and size • Location for natural or non-planted species• Bark• OTHERS: ???

PICK ONE OR TWO CHARACTERISTICS THAT STICK OUT OR MAYBE THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER – OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT IT IS?

Best or easiest characteristic (s) to use?

Best characteristics to use for this one?

Which characteristics?

Characteristics for this one?

Characteristics?

Oaks alone include 35 species in Georgia! Can you identify them all?

Sub Groups:

Red Oaks – pointed tips at the ends of their leaf lobes. Red also is supposed to refer to the color of their wood and in most cases their fall leaf color.Examples: Northern Red, Southern Red, Shumard,Pin, Willow, Live Oak, Cherrybark, etc.

White Oaks – rounded tips at ends of leaf lobes. Fall color varies but interior wood is whiter in color.Examples: White, Swamp Chestnut, Chestnut, Chinkapin, Bur Oak, Post Oak and Overcup Oak.

Another difference for these is the location of buds on dormant twigs!

EVERGREEN TREE SPECIES – COMMONLY SEEN!

NOT ALL EVERGREENS ARE CONIFERS!

Unfortunately we can not cover all common trees of Metro Atlanta & Georgia!

There are over 100 native tree species and many more introduced just in the Metro area.

If you learn these and you use the ID characteristics Rick Barnes talked about, you can easily learn to identify 100 or more local tree species.

Sources of Information:

Local Extension Offices:DeKalb 404-298-4080

www.ugaextension.com/dekalb

Cobb 770-528-4070Fulton 404-613-7670 404-762-4077Gwinnett 678-377-4010Clayton 770-473-3945

UGA Website: www.caes.uga.edu/publications

Warnell Sch. of Forest Resources: www.warnell.uga.edu