Have you ever wondered what type of tree is on your street or in your yard? Taking a close look at the leaves, needles, and trunk can help you identify the tree. A large portion of Canadian territory is covered with trees which are an essential resource to Canada’s economy and culture. In fact, more than 53% of the country’s total land area is covered by forests. Here’s what you need to know to recognize some of the most common trees in the country.
Spruce
The spruce is the most common tree found in Canada. About 40 spruce species are found worldwide, while five of those are native to Canada. The white and black spruce are found all over Canada, the Sitka spruce is found in a small area along the West Coast, the Engelmann spruce is found in the Rocky Mountains and the red spruce is located in the Acadian forest.
Spruce trees are relatively easy to recognize because they have needles, not leaves. If you want to know if the tree is spruce or fir, examine the needles. Spruce needles have four sides and have a small dip at the bottom. Sitka needles, on the other hand, do not have four sides and have a flattened appearance.
Sugar Maple
The sugar maple is well known for its trademark red leaf that appears centrally on the Canadian flag. The tree is also known for its tasty maple syrup and vibrant fall colours. Both the tree’s syrup and timber are essential resources and contribute a large amount of revenue to the Canadian economy.
Their leaves can most easily identify sugar maples. Sugar maple leaves have a dark green shade on the outside and a lighter green color on the leaf’s underside. The leaves turn vibrant shades of orange, red and yellow during the autumn months. Sugar maple trees can also be identified by their distinctive bark, twigs and small fruit.
Red Oak
The Red Oak is found in lower Eastern Canada and is the official tree of Prince Edward Island. The red oak is the preferred material for many furniture and flooring types and is under constant strain from unsustainable logging practices.
Red oak trees are most often identified by their leaves. Red oak leaves are smooth and have a light green appearance during the spring and summer months. The leaves’ underside is a lighter green shade and have tiny hairs with long, straight veins. These leaves are thinner to the touch than many other types of tree leaves.
Eastern White Cedar
The eastern white cedar is a vital tree to Canadian wildlife as it provides food and shelter to birds, deer and other small mammals. They can grow up to 45 feet in height and the branches are flat, dark green on the top and brownish on the underside. The bark is often a reddish-brown color and is strongly tapered at the base.
American Beech
The American beech is an everyday staple in Canadian forests, growing up to 80 feet in height and producing edible nut consumed by people and animals. Their bark and nuts easily identify these trees. The bark is a soft gray color that remains vibrant even as the tree ages. The nuts must be split open to consume and are covered by a prickly outer shell.
Work With A Professional Tree Service
If you are like many homeowners, you know that overgrown trees and unsightly stumps can quickly take over your yard without proper maintenance. Founded in 2009, Martin’s Tree Service provides residential and commercial tree services in the Waterloo area. We service Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge and the surrounding areas. Our technicians offer services including pruning, tree removal and stump grinding. Contact us today to schedule a property inspection.
Steve Martin
