Minnesota's native trees

Minnesota is home to 53 native tree species.

The first step in identifying a tree is determining whether it is coniferous or deciduous. Coniferous trees have needles and seeds in cones. Deciduous trees have leaves and covered seeds. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall while coniferous trees keep their needles year-round, except for tamarack which drops its needles in the fall.

To distinguish different species of trees, you need to examine the tree’s form, bark, leaf or needle, and fruit.

red pine branch with pine cones

Coniferous

 
Quaking Aspen leaves

Deciduous

 

To learn more about Minnesota's native trees, check out the following:

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