1.

The Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)

Discover the different types of Ficus trees here.

The banyan tree both a deciduous and evergreen tree. When fall comes, the leaves do not change color but merely fall off. The
banyan is part of the fig tree family, and it bears fruit in the form of a syconium (this is an enlarged, pitless fruit with multiple
ovaries inside).
Native to tropical and subtropical climates, the banyan tree is usually found in places like Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka,
China, Taiwan, Central America, South America, and a few tropical places in the United States as well.
The banyan tree begins its life as an epiphyte. This means that the seed will germinate and thrive in the crevice of another tree
or plant. Seeds that fall to the forest floor will often be eaten before it can ever grow into a tree. Eventually the banyan tree will
overtake the host tree and kill it entirely. This is why the banyan tree has been nicknamed “the strangler fig”.
This incredible type of tree has aerial prop roots, meaning that they grow in shallow and swampy soils, but span a larger
surface area. This is how that enormous trunk can be properly supported. The leaves of the banyan tree are enormous, thick,
and leather-like in texture. Locals will actually use the leaves of this tree as plates!

2. The Black Ash Tree (Fraxinus nigra)

Discover the different types of Black Ash trees here.

The black ash tree is another deciduous variety that commonly occurs in swamps or other water-logged soils. They are native
all over eastern Canada and north eastern America, in provinces and states like Manitoba, Newfoundland, Virginia, and Illinois.
The black ash will grow up to 20 metres in height, with a trunk of around 24 inches in width. The bark of this tree is a dark
grey color, corky in texture, that tends to fissure as it ages. Its leaves are pinnately compounded, and in the winter will sport
lovely dark brown, velvety buds. The fruit of the black ash tree is of the samara variety, meaning it is a winged pod. They look
rather dazzling as the fall to the earth.
Unfortunately, the black ash tree is on the verge of extinction due to an infestation of the invasive species: the emerald ash
borer. This nasty little bug has managed to kill off 7.5 billion ash trees already, and there will likely be no more after the
decade is over.
This is particularly detrimental to frog species who live in shared areas as well. The leaves of the black ash tree will fall into
ponds where tadpoles live, and that is their main source of food. Other types of leaves are too rich in tannins, which are
indigestible to frogs. So if there are no more black ash trees, the frog population is also directly threatened.
The wood of the black ash tree is used by humans in the form of electric guitars and bass manufacturing. Apparently this wood
has excellent resonant qualities! In Native American cultures, the black ash is an excellent option for basket weaving, as the
wood does not having connecting fibers holding the growth rings together.
 3. The White Ash Tree (Fraxinus americana)

White ash trees are very similar to their sibling, the black ash variety. One of the only differences is where they grow, and the
colors of their leaves. The white ash prefers to grow in mesophytic hardwood forests (not too hot or wet, not too cold or dry)
around sugar maple trees.
White ash trees can be found all over North America from Nova Scotia in Canada, to Minnesota, Florida, Wyoming, and
Colorado.
The white ash gets its name from its leaves’ glaucous underside. This is a naturally occurring grey/blue metallic color that can
also be found on certain types of beetles and bugs! The white ash leaves will turn a very vibrant red and yellow in the fall, with
lovely compound leaves.
The white ash suffers from the same threat as the black ash does, the emerald ash borer. Although the white ash does seem to
appear slightly more resilient against this invasive species than its siblings, the white ash is also on the critically endangered
list.
Due to the extremely dense and straight grained wood, white ash is one of the most cultivated trees in North America. Its wood
is used in many areas, from manufacturing baseball bats, to furniture, to flooring.

4. The Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica)

The neem is both a deciduous and evergreen tree, and it is often referred to as either a nimtree, or an Indian Lilac. It belongs to
the family meliaceae, or mahogany. It is considered evergreen, however in severe droughts there is a chance they may shed
their leaves.
The neem tree is usually found in tropical and semi tropical regions, and is known for its resistance to draught. It prefers
annual rainfall of around 800ml, with temperature hovering around 80 degree Fahrenheit, never falling below 39. Locations
that possess all of the conditions are Iran, India, Laos, Cambodia, Bengal, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The neem tree grows incredibly fast, and will shoot up to an impressive 40 metres in its lifetime. Its branches are spread very
wide and high, and on the ends of those you will find pinnate, dark green leaflets. In the spring it will explode with white,
bisexual flowers, each branch sprouting a baffling 300 flowers per season!
This tree is utilized for its shade, as it is one of the only shade giving trees that is able to grow in these harsh regions. They’re
often found around public spaces like temples and schools. The neem tree was actually labelled as a weed, and is able to
spread overwhelmingly quickly. For this reason, it is illegal to transport any neem seeds or plants for risk of it becoming
invasive in a foreign region.
 5. The Bigtooth Aspen Tree (Populus grandidentata)

Discover the different types of Aspen trees here.

Also referred to as the large-tooth aspen, American aspen, or Canadian poplar, this thin and disorienting tree is native to
eastern North America. It is a deciduous tree with strange leaves, which is where it gets its scientific name. Populus
grandidentata is latin for sharp teeth, basically.
Found in Virginia, Maine, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and beyond, the bigtooth aspen can adapt to a large variety of
soil types. It is abundant in loamy sand, but is also capable of thriving on alpine, rocky sites (hello, Colorado!). They would
prefer to exist in well aerated soils, but they definitely do no tolerate shade.
Seed production begins around 10 years for the bigtooth aspen, and each year the tree will release around a million seeds!
Another way this tree reproduces is through suckers. If an aspen dies, suckers grow from the roots and eventually evolve into
little clones of their mother tree. Kind of alien, huh?
These trees live short and fast, but provide necessary shade and food for their animal neighbors. Humans utilize bigtooth
aspen wood in the form of pallets, log homes, chopsticks, and ladders. This is because their wood is straight grained with very
fine texture.
The tree has thick leaves that tremble and clatter in the wind, with thin and smooth olive green bark that eventually turns
white. In maturity, the bark will then start fading to grey and become thick and riddled with strange grooves.

6. The Quaking Aspen Tree (Populus tremula)

Discover the different types of Aspen trees here.

The quaking aspen is a very different tree than its sibling, the bigtooth aspen. This particular species of deciduous tree is very
tolerant to cold winters and short summers, and that is way it can be found in the coolest, most temperate regions of Europe
and Asia.
Spanning from Iceland to the British Isles, Scandinavia, Russia, Spain, Turkey, North Korea, and Japan, the quaking aspen
prefers to grow at high altitude in mountain ranges. This tree is highly demanding of water and sunlight, and for that reason it
grows extremely quickly to beat out the canopy competition.
The quaking aspen can grow to be up to 40 metres tall with a trunk 1 metre in diameter. The bark is a light greenish-grey in
color, that is smooth in their youth, and grows more rough with lenticels (porous tissue) as it ages. This tree gets its name
because of the way the trees clatter and tremble at the slightest breeze. It’s leaves are small and round with toothed edges (like
its sibling, the bigtooth aspen).
*A nickname for the quaking aspen is langues des femmes which translates to “the tongues of women”. Decipher that as you
wish.
This aspen reproduces by either wind pollination, or by root sprouts. Funnily enough, the reason why aspens grow so close to
one another, is that the suckers sprouting from the roots will grow anywhere from 40 metres from its mother tree, regardless
of how much space there is.
The wood of the quaking aspen is rather soft and light, and so its used by humans for lumber and matches, and it very popular
in the pulp and paper industry as well. The aspen is also an important habitat for insect and fungus species.
 7. The Mahogany Tree (Swietenia mahagoni)

This variety of mahogany tree goes by many names; American mahogany, Cuban mahogany (this will make sense later), small-
leaved mahogany, and West-Indian Mahogany. This semi-deciduous, semi-evergreen tree loses a portion of its leaves in the
colder seasons, and the new growth starts its life out as a lovely reddish-pink color. Hence the reason for it being semi-
deciduous, semi-evergreen.
This variety of mahogany tree is native to south Florida, and the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, and the
Dominican Republic. As you may have guessed, this tree prefers to live in tropical climates with ample sunlight and ample
moisture.
This is considered as a medium sized tree, growing to heights of 25 meters with larger pinnate leaves. As mentioned before,
when the leaves first sprout they are a blood red color, and quickly change to a dark green. Mahogany trees produce fruit in
wood, winged pods that contain their seeds.
All of those nicknames that swietenia mahagoni has received all comes from the way that it has been cultivated over the years.
The first ever recorded us was in 1514 to build the oldest church in the West Indies, and ever since then mahogany wood has
been a staple in fine furniture making and royal rooms.
Mahogany is also a very coveted choice of material for the making of high end insturments, such as mandolins, marimbas, and
guitars. However, due to irresponsible over harvesting, much of the mahogany available today comes from a different species,
and is lower quality.

8. The Basswood Tree (Tilia americana)

The species of this tree comes from the malvaceae family, and the basswood tree is the only representative of its genus in the
western hemisphere! Otherwise known as American basswood, or American linden, it is a large deciduous tree that grows
faster than any other North American hardwood trees. Not only that, this monster has a 200 year life expectancy.
The basswood tree grows in mesic soils with a rather high pH. A mesic soil is a soil that is neither too wet or dry, and is well
aerated. These types of soils occur in Manitoba and Quebec in Canada, and in New England, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and
Nebrasksa, just to name a few.
This tree grows to be a baffling 37 metres tall with a trunk diameter of 1.5 metres. Its leaves are quite large, simply shaped
with alternating ovate and cordate shaping (oval and heart with wide bases). It’s flowers are small, white, and highly fragrant,
which are actually edible!
The basswood tree has wood that is very pale in color, free of knots but also doesn’t split easily. In the past this wood has been
used to make baskets, fishing nets, and rope. It is also a popular choice of wood to manufacturing guitars as well.
The foliage and flowers of this tree have also been used for medicinal purposes. Usually dried and then made into tea,
basswood flowers help with illnesses, inflammation, headaches, and muscle pain.
 9. The American Beech Tree (Fagus grandifolia)

Discover the different types of American Beech trees here.

Indicative of from its name, the American beech tree can only be found in certain parts of North America. If you want to get
specific about it, it only occurs in the south of Ontario and Nova Scotia in Canada, and in north Texas, north Florida in the
United States.
The American beech is a deciduous tree that grows to be anywhere between 20-35 meters in its lifetime. That being said, it’s a
super slow growing tree and will only reach about 6 meters in 20 years! However, that process can be sped up if it exists in
perfect conditions.
Those conditions are moist, and well drained acidic soils. These are usually found on slopes or rich bottomlands. It grows
alongside yellow birch, sugar maple, and eastern hemlock in forests that have reached ecological succession. The American
beech is strongly intolerant of too much sun, dry soil and any sort of urban pollution.
This variety of tree is largely ornamental, due to the fact that it is so slow growing. It’s a very hardwood that is difficult to split,
but it is quite flexible. This is why it’s a great choice for bentwood furniture – it will bend quite easily went steamed without
breaking.

10. The Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Discover the different types of Tulip trees here.

Here we have a deciduous mammoth that can grow up to 60 meters in its lifetime! This is the largest tree so far in the list. Part
of the magnolia family, tulip trees grow either all over North America, or in China and Vietnam.
They appreciate soil that is mildly acidic, temperate climates, and very moist soil. They are very easily recognized firstly by
their height, but also because of their unique and large leaves. The leaves are shaped into four distinct lobes that vary from 8-
10 inches wide.
A tree with very deep and reaching roots, they also sprout flowers in the spring around 4 inches large, a striking array of
yellow, green, and orange flare. The flowers are the reason for the trees’ name, which strongly resemble tulips.
The wood of the tulip trees is very stable with a fine grain, making it quite easy to work with. It is most commonly used in
inexpensive cabinet and furniture framing. Since it’s not a particularly attractive grain of wood, it is reserved for the
foundation.