20 Different Types of Trees to Look for on Long Island
Long Island boasts plenty of natural beauty and a large part of it is because of the many gorgeous trees that grow throughout the area. There are several trees that are native to the Long Island area, but there are also some that are considered to be invasive trees that were brought into the area over the years. Either way, the trees definitely contribute to the beauty of Long Island and this article will inform you of which ones you can expect to see if you are walking or driving around the Long Island area.
1. Balsam fir
The balsam fir tree, also known as Abies balsamea, is a North American fir that is native to most of the northeastern part of the United States, including Long Island, as well as the central area of Canada. After this tree has matured, it will stand about 40 to 60 feet tall and its trunk will be one to two feet wide. The wood from this tree is used as pulp in the making of paper as well as for dimensional lumber, including two by fours and five by eights. You can scope this tree out by looking for bark that is a grayish color and thin as well as smooth. The leaves of this tree are needle-like and lie flat and this is how to tell that it is a member of the fir tree family.
2. Douglas fir
The Douglas fir pine tree is also referred to as a Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, or Colombian pine. It is an evergreen conifer species and is part of the pine family, Pinaceae. This tree’s needles can be found on the twig and they are easy to identify since they are slightly rounded and blunt on the end and they’re flat with two sides to them. They are very soft to the touch and only grow to about one and a quarter inches long. This tree has a very beautiful fragrance to it and is considered to be an ornamental tree, which means many people use it as their Christmas tree each year during the holidays. Beavers, along with elk, deer, and even rabbits, eat the foliage and twigs from this tree, and occasionally bears may even feed on the sapwood as well as the inner bark of this tree during the spring and summer months of the year.
3. Hemlock
The Hemlock tree, also known as Tsuga, is a genus of conifers in the subfamily Abietoideae of Pinaceae, which happens to be part of the pine family. Unlike the hemlock bush by the same name, this tree sports needles that are not poisonous and very easy to identify since they have two white racing stripes on the underside of them. The needles are egg-shaped and similar to a cone and the very fine branches of this tree give it a lacey appearance. It is a beautiful tree that you can find sprinkled throughout Long Island.
4. Larch
Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix and part of the family Pinaceae. This tree boasts plenty of bunches that sport bright green pine needles. This tree’s bark is used for timber since it is very tough and durable. The resin from this tree makes turpentine. This tree can grow to about 80 feet tall and is one of the few coniferous trees that is able to change colors and loses its needles in the fall.
5. Spruce
The spruce trees that you can find on Long Island are Evergreen conifers which have clusters of leaves that are long and shaped like needles. The spruce pine is one of the largest trees in eastern North America when it comes to the pine tree family, and it can reach heights of around 125 feet tall. The trunk of this tree often twists and bends as it grows, which then creates a canopy of shade underneath it. This tree’s bark is used for making paper and in the construction of things like interior trim, paneling, doors, and even beautiful furniture. It is even a much sought-after wood to use in the creation of sounding boards for musical instruments.
6. Norway pine
The Norway pine tree is many times referred to simply as a red pine tree. Its scientific name is Pinus resinosa and it is native to North America. The bark from this tree is very commonly used for pulpwood in the production of high-grade printing paper and even wrapping paper. It can also be used for veneer, pilings, cabin logs, posts, and lumber. The leaves of this tree are a dark yellow-green color and it has two needles in each fascicle that snap when they are bent.
7. Pitch pine
The pitch pine tree is a small to medium-sized tree that is native to the eastern area of North America. According to Tree Removal Long Island, its scientific name is Pinus rigida and you can find it growing in Long Island as well as from central Maine to New York and even into Canada and as far south as Virginia. This tree grows better in poor soil but its distribution is hit or miss. It can grow in soil that is acidic with a very low amount of nutrients. This tree is used for pulpwood and the creation of paper as well as for crates and even fuel. It once played a huge role in the production of wooden ships and railroads even though its rough wood is grained and not very strong. The bark does contain a large amount of resin, though, and it is resistant to decay. This is a medium-sized tree that normally does not grow over 82 feet tall and three feet wide. Its branches may very well be gnarly or twisted.
8. Eastern White Pine
You can find eastern white pine trees sprinkled throughout parks and very spacious yards since it is so beautiful and grows quickly. It is still very valuable as a commercial tree, but most people love it for its beauty. White pine trees can normally live to at least 200 years in age, and some will even live more than 400 years. It will normally grow to a height of 100 to 150 feet tall and is considered to be one of the tallest trees in the New England area as well as Rhode Island. It has many other names, including Pinus strobus, northern white pine, white pine, Weymouth pine, and even soft pine.
9. Gray Birch
Betula populifolia, more commonly called a gray birch, is considered to be a deciduous tree that is native to the eastern area of North America. This tree grows about two feet every year but only lives for about 20 years. Some of these trees will have a narrow tree trunk similar to that of a column, while others will have multiple trucks. It’s a smaller tree with bushy slender branches that hang down towards the ground and its white bark will become darker as the tree ages.
10. Acer Nugundo
The Acer Nugundo is also known as the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple, or ash-leaved maple and is one of the many maple trees that are native to North America, including Long Island. This tree grows quickly and boasts leaves that are two to four inches long. The leaves resemble that of other maple trees but they are a lighter green and more pale in color. It gets its name from the fact that its bark is a shade of white and resembles an Old World Evergreen shrub called the common box, hence the reason for the name box elder.
11. Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark hickory, also known as Carya ovata, sports a bark that peels off in long curls from the track. This is a large tree that can reach about 80 feet tall and some will even grow as tall as 120 feet. It has a narrow oblong crown with bright yellow-green leaves that become a beautiful golden color during the fall and dry to a warm brown shade. This tree produces hickory nuts with thick shells that are edible for you to eat.
12. Common Hackberry
The common hackberry, also referred to as Celtis occidentalis, will grow as tall as 60 to 100 feet into the sky. It has an erratically shaped broad crown to it that features spreading or even slightly drooping branches that often give it a resemblance to a witch’s broom. Its leaves are a dull green color and rough to the touch. It produces berries that are either a dark purple color or an orange-brown and its bark is sometimes used to make furniture, plywood, boxes and crates, and even athletic goods. You will see many different types of birds, such as quails and pheasants, munching on the berries from this tree.
13. Black Walnut
The black walnut is a large, rugged, deciduous tree that is also known by its more formal name of Juglans nigra. It will grow as tall as 75 feet normally, with some trees reaching a whopping 150 feet in height. It has a very dark-colored trunk and its branches spread out wide to create a crown that looks like an umbrella in the middle of the woods. Its leaves can grow up to two feet long with five to 11 pairs of leaflets along the stem. The leaflets come out in very late spring and are yellow-green in color. In the fall time of the year, the leaves are a clear yellow and it has flowers that form in green clusters. This is the time when you will see the delicious nuts appear throughout the tree if you get there before the squirrels and other wildlife. The black walnut tree is considered the most valuable in North America of all the nut trees.
14. Canadian Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis, more commonly referred to as the Candian Serviceberry tree, can be found on Long Island. If you like a lot of color and a smaller tree, you will love this one since it does not grow to be very tall and its roots are not invasive. Be careful if you pick any of its fruit since it will stain your hands as well as anything underneath it, including sidewalks and driveways.
15. Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as tupelo, black tupelo, sour gun, or black gum, is a medium tree that is native to Long Island and can be found in several other states within the United States as well.
16. Sugar Maple
The sugar maple tree has leaves that are smooth and are various shades of orange, yellow, and scarlet during the fall time of the year. This tree’s scientific name is Acer saccharum and it is part of the soapberry and lychee family of Sapindaceae. It is a great source for maple syrup and it offers beautiful, brightly colored foliage in the fall. It likes to grow in sand or silt and can even be found in more swampier areas. These trees grow to about 150 feet tall and can live for more than 400 years.
17. Red Oak
Quercus rubra, more commonly called the northern red oak, is native to Long Island. It produces acorns that are enjoyed on a regular basis by deer, raccoons, squirrels, birds, and sometimes, bears. This tree is part of the beach family and has leaves that are bristly and yellow-green in color.
18. Tulip Tree
A fast-growing deciduous shade tree, the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is very interesting since its leaves turn into large flowers that resemble, you guessed it, tulips. This tree is actually part of the Magnolia family, and it is native to Long Island. It makes a good timber tree, but it is also very attractive to bees and other insects. This street grows quickly and will reach heights of about 70 to 90 feet. It will first bloom when it is around 15 to 20 years old.
19. Scarlet Oak Tree
When you are walking around Long Island, keep your eyes open for a large tree with a very rounded crown that is open and full of glossy foliage with brilliant color during the autumn. This will more than likely be a scarlet oak tree that will grow to about 75 feet tall. According to Treehugger.com, some will even reach 150 feet in height. It has short stout branches with a dark brown trunk that has an inner bark that is red in color and sometimes even an orangish pink color. Its twigs are mostly reddish brown and the wood from this tree is great for timber.
20. Eastern Red Cedar
The Eastern red cedar tree, also known as Juniperus virginiana, is a very aromatic tree that is part of the Evergreen family. It grows into a pyramid shape and can reach hikes up to about 90 feet tall. Its foliage is course to the touch and can vary in color from a gray-green to a blue-green to even a light or dark green. All the colors tend to be more of a shade of brown during the winter months. On the female red cedar trees, you will even see clusters of blue fruit on a silvery bark that covers its single trunk.
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