Trees in Buffalo, New York
Learn to identify the 30 most common trees in the Buffalo area. Each profile includes photos, identification tips, and interesting facts.
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
The Sugar Maple is one of the most important hardwood trees in North America. Known for its brillian...
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Red Maple is one of the most widespread and adaptable trees in eastern North America. Named for its ...
Norway Maple
Acer platanoides
Norway Maple is a non-native tree widely planted in Buffalo for its tolerance of urban conditions. W...
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
The Northern Red Oak is a majestic tree that dominates many forests in the northeastern United State...
White Oak
Quercus alba
White Oak is a long-lived, majestic tree native to Buffalo's forests. Known for its strong, water-re...
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak is a massive, drought-tolerant oak distinguished by its large acorns with fringed caps. In B...
White Ash
Fraxinus americana
White Ash was once one of Buffalo's most common trees before the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer. T...
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green Ash is highly adaptable and was widely planted in Buffalo as a street tree. Like other ashes, ...
American Elm
Ulmus americana
American Elm was once the dominant street tree in Buffalo, creating cathedral-like canopies over roa...
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Paper Birch is famous for its striking white bark that peels in papery layers. Native to Buffalo's c...
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Yellow Birch is a large native tree common in Buffalo's mature forests. Its bronze or yellowish bark...
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Eastern White Pine is the tallest tree in northeastern forests and New York's state tree. Once domin...
Norway Spruce
Picea abies
Norway Spruce is a non-native evergreen widely planted in Buffalo for windbreaks and ornamental use....
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Eastern Hemlock is a graceful evergreen native to cool, shaded ravines around Buffalo. Its delicate ...
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
American Beech is a majestic tree with smooth, gray bark that remains smooth even on old trees. Comm...
American Basswood
Tilia americana
American Basswood is a fast-growing native tree valued for its fragrant flowers that attract bees an...
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Black Cherry is a valuable native tree common throughout Buffalo's forests. Its dark bark with horiz...
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Silver Maple is a fast-growing native tree common along Buffalo's waterways. Named for the silvery u...
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
American Sycamore is a massive tree easily identified by its mottled bark that flakes off to reveal ...
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Quaking Aspen is named for its leaves that tremble in the slightest breeze due to flattened leaf ste...
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
Black Walnut is a valuable native tree prized for its timber and edible nuts. Common in Buffalo's ri...
Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Hackberry is a tough native tree that thrives in Buffalo's urban conditions. Its warty bark and elm-...
Honey Locust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Honey Locust is a fast-growing native tree with delicate, fern-like foliage that casts filtered shad...
Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Northern Catalpa is a fast-growing tree with huge heart-shaped leaves and showy white flowers. Nativ...
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo is a unique living fossil tree with no close relatives, planted throughout Buffalo for its di...