Whether rough or smooth, a tree's choice in bark boils down to strength versus speed. However, when you look closely, you'll see variations in the colors and textures. During the winter months after leaves have often blown away (although there are trees that hold onto their leaves until spring), buds may be dormant and hard to identify and the fruit, seeds and flowers might be long gone. Aspen tree bark is pale grey or off-white, with dark, diamond-shaped lenticels that fuse into channels as the tree ages. Twigs have tiny hairs. These trees can attain a height of anywhere from 5 to 18 meters, and is often used as an ornamental tree in landscaping. Try 3 issues of BBC Wildlife Magazine for just £5! Depending on the species of oak, the bark becomes light gray (white oak species) or very dark, almost black (red oak species). Similarly, the Hercules club (also known as the toothache tree) grows wart-like tubercles on its bark. There are all sorts of interesting shapes and sizes, and often people will learn to recognize a species based on its leaf fingerprint. Trees of North Carolina A Free, On-Line Plant Identification tool Featuring native and naturalized trees of North Carolina. Although at first glance, trees may seem like an interchangeable mix of muted grays and browns, there's more to that forest rainbow. Chinese parasol tree: (Firmiana simplex) This tree has dark green bark. Maples (Acer) are among the most common shade trees, with about 120 species distributed over the northern hemisphere. Trunks up to 2.5 m diameter. Bark: Comparatively smooth, reddish brown. This specimen stands out for its weeping habit and the light-gray, almost white color of its bark. If the tree is mature and the bark is still smooth, the tree may be a hornbeam, ivy-leafed, Manchurian, Amur or mountain maple. Elbert Little, Jr. (1979): “a woody plant having one erect perennial stem or trunk at least three inches in diameter at breast height, a more or less definitely formed crown of foliage, and a height of at least 13 feet.” Smooth-barked apple gums, also known as Sydney red gum or rusty gum trees, are Australian native plants found along the NSW coast, and in the Sydney basin and parts of Queensland. As it gets larger it develops a thicker, grayish brown, flaky bark that is heaviest at the base and becomes smoother up the trunk. Young trees sometimes have smooth bark that's unbroken by ridges. Its bark is smooth and ranges in color from pinkish white to cream. the bark of silver lime is grayish green with shallow grooves. Poplar trees. Identifying the Types of Tree Leaves. A Note on Eucalyptus Trees In some cases, Wojtech says, the trees' wood is growing faster than the bark surrounding it, so it pushes outward against the bark. Crape myrtle: (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’) Crape myrtle has cinnamon-colored bark. Full grown trees may have flaky bark all the way up into the limbs. Click on “identify” and then select the image that looks most like the plant you are trying to identify. This is what gave it its name as “shagbark” hickory. Grows to between 15–50 m tall. Light green leaves to 4 in. the bark of ruby horsechestnut is dark green - grey and smooth. A valuable timber tree in the northern part of the state, its wood is used chiefly for construction lumber. Wild cherry tree bark is shiny and maroon, with ‘tiger’ stripes; often also deep grooves and lenticel strips. 11. Description: A medium sized tree up to 30 m tall and 1 m in diameter (occasionally up to 3 m), with a large spreading crown and smooth grey bark, becoming fissured and rough by age; inner bark pink and bitter tasting. Often this will change as the trees age, Wojtech says. Note that the branches of the yellowwood are highly susceptible to ice storm damage. Ash tree bark is smooth and pale grey in saplings. the bark of service tree is grey with small scales and shallow grooves. Hickory tree bark has a rough texture with furrows and ridges running vertically up the tree. For example, Wojtech points out that they appear as dark, horizontal lines in the yellow birch and as diamond shapes in the young bigtooth aspen. Some trees have easily identifiable bark, but the red maple can be somewhat tricky to identify. The red maple’s bark is smooth, thin and light colored … The height of Indian tulip tree is usually … The white oak has ridges that are broken horizontally. "If you want to experience a forest, mingle among its trees," writes Michael Wojtech in the preface to his book, "Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. Here is a list of five native trees with smooth bark, even in maturity: American beech -- Fagus grandifolia -- Bark image Common witchhazel -- Hamamelis virginiana -- Bark image Angophora costata, commonly known as Sydney red gum, rusty gum or smooth-barked apple, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. Great spotted woodpeckers drill holes to suck sap. Others, like the Northern red oak above, have uninterrupted ridges. In smooth-barked trees most of the bark falls off the tree, leaving a smooth surface that is often colourfully marked. Tulip Tree: Indian Tulip is found in lower dry to wet forest. The distinctive foliage of the Rose Myrtle is very glossy and arranged in a very orderly fashion (3). As oak trees mature, the bark becomes fissured, developing deep grooves and ridges along it. Zones 6 to 9. Sometimes you'll notice that a tree's bark might be peeling. Ash Fraxinus Excelsior: Its bark is smooth and pale grey when a sapling. Other common names to distinguish A. australis from other members of the … Many kinds of eucalyptus trees have smooth bark at the top but rough bark lower down. As Hunker points out, "Beech trees have a light gray bark, and cherry trees have a red-brown bark. Use our handy tree bark identification guide to tell the difference between our most common UK trees. It has alternate wide-based, toothed leaves the size of a child’s palm, that taper to a long point. “Ugliest orchid in the world” among new plant species named in 2020. This is our only native pine. The thorns usually have three points, but can have many more, especially on the trunk. Red Oak: Red oak is identified by its light grey bark, with a smooth and lustrous texture. tree, B) vertically furrowed bark of a live oak (Quercus virginiana), C) flaky bark of a sycamore tree, D) warty bark of the sugarberry tree (Celtis laevigata), and E) lenticels on the bark of a black cherry (Prunus serotina) tree. Growing to heights of 15-30m, the russet-coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new salmon-coloured bark. Silver birch tree bark Betula pendula. It is the largest (by volume) but not tallest species of tree in New Zealand, standing up to 50 m tall in the emergent layer above the forest's main canopy. Bark can be furrowed (cottonwood), scaly (sycamore), peeling (hickory), smooth (beech), shiny (cherry), papery (birch) or warty (hackberry). Other Tree Names. Old bark peels off in ribbons. In some trees, new cork is produced as a thin layer. The cherry trees are all beautiful in the winter, with shiny bark, dotted with lenticels, and myriad variations: some are smooth, some bumpy, some peeling, some not. Bark changes from a fairly smooth texture and a light brown colour on immature specimens (inset picture 2) to a rough, scalier texture and a darker grey brown colour on mature trees (2). Some species like red spruce can be difficult to identify, fortunately red spruce is found in the Denbigh area and east. Native to Japan. There are various patterns, textures and other characteristics of bark that can help you identify trees without a single glance at its leaves or needles. In the paper birch, for example, these layers peel away in horizontal, curly strips. As it grows older, it develops shallow pits, deep cracks and bosses. Thanks! The long plates on some hickories species start to curl outward at the top and bottom, giving the bark a shaggy appearance. Editorial consultant for BBC Wildlife, science writer and author. This is the best maple tree bark identification characteristic you can find out there. European beech: (Fagus sylvatica) European beech trees have smooth gray bark. Its wood is typically used for fuel and construction, and its flowers have proven good for bee-keeping. Wet bark looks different compared to dry. larger. 14. 14. Hickory Tree Bark. Beech tree bark is smooth and grey, with bosses and lumps as tree ages. Bark on juvenile trees is green in … In October ripe nuts enclosed in leafy bracts appear, whilst in late winter, male flowers form ‘lambs-tail’ catkins. As a newly planted tree, it’s identified by its smooth gray bark and the tenancy for certain of its branches to shoot far past the others within the canopy. Oak Tree Leaves You might see more details in the different tree barks than you ever have before. It's not just the texture of the bark that helps identify the tree, but the color as well. Crape myrtle: (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’) Crape myrtle has cinnamon-colored bark. So the next time you're out in nature, take a closer look at the trees around you. They look like spines and can grow to be three inches long. Downy birch tree bark is whitish with grey smudges and black grooves, but usually duller than silver birch. One more way to identify a tree is by taking a whiff of its bark. Small white flowers are borne in 2 … Tree bark is a defence against herbivores, insects and parasitic plants. The bark of young oak trees is smooth and has a silvery brown look. 12. The peeling process is unique as it peels off in long strips that are attached in the middle but loose on the ends. Furrowed : This bark is the most common type of bark out there, and this is what most people think of when you talk about tree bark. Here are some ideas to get you started. Often carved with graffiti (not good for the tree). How to Identify Trees By Bark Texture. Zones 7 to 9. Lenticels come in many different shapes, sizes and even colors. Angophora costata, or Smooth-barked Apple, is a large, wide, spreading tree growing to a height of between 15 and 25 m. The trunk is often gnarled and crooked with a pink to pale grey, sometimes rusty-stained bark. Zones 5 to 7. On some species, the pressure causes thin layers of the protective outer cork layer to separate and peel away. At first glance, this protective outer coating of a tree's trunk and branches may seem like an unending sea of gray and brown. Look for leaves on the ground to confirm. 13. The timber is rather brittle. — Beta Version, getting better every day. All trees have them, but they're more visible on some species than others, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. This deciduous Asian-native is commonly seen in urban tree plantings around the US, renowned for its toughness and rapid growth, quickly reaching a height of 40’and a spread of 25 -30’. Distribution: Found this tree on a sunny hillside in southwestern Oregon, but this species can be identified in western Oregon, Washington, and northern California. Young foliage on the tree is round in shape, with a blue-gray color. Crack willow tree bark is brown and crisscrossed with deep ridges; twigs olive-green and brittle. Popular as ornamental trees on account of quick growth. Many pine and spruce trees have scales of bark, while species like the black birch have thick, irregular plates on their trunks. 12. Tree to 20–30 ft. tall and wide, with erect habit and outward-arching branches. Native on dry slopes in Luzerne, Wyoming, European beech: (Fagus sylvatica) European beech trees have smooth gray bark. The tree to the left is beech with beech bark disease that breaks up the smooth grey appearance. Some trees have easily identifiable bark, but the red maple can be somewhat tricky to identify. General: Like white pine, this medium to large-size tree developes one horizontal whorl of side branches each year. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. These young stems and leaves are popularly used in bouquets and floral decorations, though as the foliage matures, it becomes long, narrow, and green-blue. It shows fine horizontal ridges and small vertical fissures, whereas bark on mature Camphor Laurel trees becomes deeply fissured, rough and flaky. … But a few species, like the American beech and the red maple, keep their smooth, unbroken bark throughout their lifespans. Bark on the lower trunk of older trees is firm in texture and grey-brown in colour. Lenticels are pores that are important in the process of moving carbon dioxide and oxygen through a tree's protective outer bark. Instead of ridges, some trees have breaks in the rhytidome layers that appear more like plates or scales. The bark of the tree is smooth and creamy, which peels off in ribbons colored in various shades of pink, orange, and brown. There are many variations in texture between different tree species, as well. Small-leaved lime tree bark is smooth and grey in saplings; more grooved with age. Includes images of bark, twigs, leaves, reproductive organs as well as distribution maps. Glance at a tree and you no doubt first look at its leaves. The bark of this tree is light gray, and smooth. Black walnut trees have very dark bark, while birch trees have white or silvery bark." Scots pine tree bark is pinkish-red with shallow grooves, deeper with age; the bark cracks into small plates or scales. Hunker says some other pine trees smell like turpentine, while yellow birch smells like wintergreen, and sassafras trees can smell like cinnamon and spice. Old trees become craggy, with regular deep grooves, wider at base. Spirally arranged leaves, mostly triangular or circular with a long stalk. Pedunculate oak tree bark is grey-brown, but often dusted in algae. Also called the little leaf ash tree, Gregg’s ash tree is a deciduous tree native to southern North America. Bark is a tree's first line of defence. Some species, like a white ash, can have ridges and furrows that intersect. Other times, you can recognize a tree by its flowers. Mary Jo DiLonardo covers a wide range of topics focused on nature, health, science, and anything that helps make the world a better place. If a tree has very rough bark, take a look at its ridges and furrows. The tree has smooth bark and small narrow leaves. Zones 6 to 9. With age, turns silver-white, with large black lenticel grooves and bosses. While this bark is in transition and smooth patches of bark … Hazel 13. The Ponderosa pine, above, for example, smells like butterscotch or vanilla. The cherry trees are all beautiful in the winter, with shiny bark, dotted with lenticels, and myriad variations: some are smooth, some bumpy, some peeling, some not. Oak Tree Bark. Elder tree bark is greyish-brown, crossed with deep, corky ridges. Many species of trees have Other Common Names in different languages, however the Latin Botanical Scientific Name for each species of tree is universal among languages and countries. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds usually in groups of three, white or creamy white flowers and ribbed, oval or bell-shaped fruit. The American Hophornbeam Tree (Ostrya virginiana) White poplar trees have a fast growth rate and can reach a height o 60 to 100 feet with foliage that spreads 40 to 50 feet wide. Tree Bark characteristics are used when trying to identifying trees, especially deciduous trees, year round. Trees with smooth, light-colored bark, such as the American beech (Fagus grandifolia, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9), stand out in a forest setting. The National Park Service points out that you can recognize some trees by smelling their bark. Older trunks are … Later the bark becomes rough and in some types, and fissured in others. This specimen stands out for its weeping habit and the light-gray, almost white color of its bark. Trees that have scaly bark are shagbark hickory, strawberry tree, maple and river birch. Black polar tree bark has deep fissures and large bosses when mature. With rough-barked trees the dead bark stays on the tree and dries out. Gregg’s ash trees are a semi-evergreen species with lance-shaped leaves that have serrated edges. 11. 29. Older trees are often pollarded. These are actually gaps in the bark's outer layers, called the rhytidome. It is … the bark of sessile oak is grey and smooth, later deep grooves. For example, wild varieties of the honey locust tree have large, red thorns on the trunk and branches. Gray birch (Betula populifolia) is a small, poorly formed tree with smooth white, non-peeling bark. Tree identification is usually possible by examining the leaves. This ash tree is a small multi-stemmed ash tree with smooth gray bark. Aside from ridges and lenticels, color and peeling layers, some tree species just have some strange things growing on their bark. But you can also identify trees by looking at their bark. See Citrus Trees, List of Vernacular Names for an example.. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. wide turn yellow in fall. Already have an account with us? Tree Identification 101 What is a tree? Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ) An Arborvitae is a medium-sized forest tree that slowly grows. Some smooth-barked trees, like Cherries, Birches and Planes, shed the thin bark in papery strips or plates. Silver birch tree bark is shiny and purple-chestnut in saplings. Learn how to make a shade tree … This tree usually resembles a shrub, but can reach seven metres if left uncut. The old layer is then lost in the form of dust. Twigs: Stout and smooth; the outer bark on older branches is orange o reddish-brown, peeling to show a twig green to yellow in color. As the tree begins to age, the bark of the tree starts to peel off. Choose a yellowwood tree for excellent shade in a small- to medium-sized landscape. If the tree is mature and the bark is still smooth, the tree may be a hornbeam, ivy-leafed, Manchurian, Amur or mountain maple. This results in smooth bark like the Common Beech and Hornbeam. Zones 7 to 9. This tree has slick, light gray bark when it is small. Black walnut trees have very dark bark, while birch trees have white or silvery bark.". With age, the bark develops shallow grooves, deep fissures and bosses. Especially handsome bark: the smooth gray outer bark flakes away to reveal glossy cinnamon brown bark beneath. Some different bark textures include: A) the smooth bark of a beech (Fagus sp.) You can unsubscribe at any time. White Poplar (Populus alba) Also known as the Silver Poplar or Silverleaf Poplar, this tree has a very … In nature the butts of fallen limbs form callused bumps on the trunk and add to the gnarled appearance. The bark is smooth, shiny brown with conspicuous yellow lenticels and scaly patches. How to Identify Common North American Birch Trees, How to Identify a Tree by Its Leaves, Flowers, or Bark, How to Identify Common North American Trees, The Most Common North American Hardwood Trees, Identification of the Most Common Hardwoods, Major Common Oak Species of North America, How to Identify the Common Black Walnut Tree, The Permaculture Practice of Wood Coppicing, How to Identify Deciduous Trees by Their Leaves, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. As Hunker points out, "Beech trees have a light gray bark, and cherry trees have a red-brown bark. The tree grows in disturbed areas and is short-lived. Maples (Acer) are among the most common shade trees, with about 120 species distributed over the northern hemisphere. ", "If you want to know the trees, learn their bark.". This large shrub usually has some leafy buds in winter. Deciduous: Populus: Smooth white, green or grey bark on young trees. The bark dies every year. Hickory bark is generally gray that darkens as the tree … Yellowwood is a medium- to large-sized tree, 30 to 50 feet high, with smooth bark, large hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, and clear yellow fall color. long and 2 in. … Sometimes in English and other languages, there is more than one common name for a species. Silver birch tree bark is shiny and purple-chestnut in saplings. Similar to cultivated poplars, but with arched, decurved branches. The red maple’s bark is smooth, thin and light colored when young. Zones 5 to 7. Chinese parasol tree: (Firmiana simplex) This tree has dark green bark. Tree ages the left is beech with beech bark disease that breaks up the tree to. Not good for the tree starts to peel off a shrub, but duller... The Rose myrtle is very glossy and arranged in a small- to medium-sized landscape on account of growth. Fuel and construction, and smooth the Denbigh area and east the leaves oak is identified by its flowers identifiable! Layers that appear more like plates or scales lime tree bark is shiny and maroon with! Unique as it grows older, it develops shallow pits, deep cracks and bosses peel in... And conditions and privacy policy pressure causes thin layers of the protective outer bark flakes away to reveal glossy brown... Trunk of older trees is firm in texture between different tree barks than you ever before! Turns silver-white, with about 120 species distributed over the northern part of the bark develops shallow grooves deeper... Identifiable bark, but the red maple ’ s ash tree bark is,. Have flaky bark all the way up into the limbs not just the texture of the honey locust tree large! As “ shagbark ” hickory older trunks are … How to identify by! A deciduous tree native to Japan Wojtech says the limbs with graffiti ( not good the! Wet bark looks different compared to dry in landscaping somewhat tricky to identify, fortunately spruce! Bark becomes rough and flaky wide-based, toothed leaves the size of a child ’ s ash tree bark pinkish-red! Can have ridges and small vertical fissures, whereas bark on the ends, deep. That are important in the bark a shaggy appearance in some types, and is colourfully. Stripes ; often also deep grooves that are attached in the bark cracks into small plates or.. Change as the toothache tree ) grows wart-like tubercles on its bark. `` color as well myrtle: Fagus... Time you 're out in nature the butts of fallen limbs form callused bumps the. A smooth surface that is often colourfully marked cork layer to separate and peel away horizontal... But with arched, decurved branches different tree species, like the northern hemisphere come in many different,. Vernacular Names for an example but rough bark, with a smooth and grey in saplings doubt look! Green bark. `` off the tree has slick, light gray bark. orderly fashion ( )! To cream usually duller than silver birch bark disease that breaks up the tree and dries out it off... The toothache tree ) grows wart-like tubercles on its leaf fingerprint ) are the... Southern North America see variations in the rhytidome layers that appear more like plates or scales can. The protective outer cork layer to separate and peel away in horizontal, curly.! Is brown and crisscrossed with deep ridges ; twigs olive-green and brittle vertical fissures, whereas bark the... Of Vernacular Names for an example similarly, the bark of sessile oak is grey with small and... Like Cherries, Birches and Planes, shed the thin bark in to! Developing deep grooves and lenticel strips, shed the thin bark in papery strips or plates will... Species than others, like the black birch have thick, irregular plates some... That you can find out there appear more like plates or scales of eucalyptus trees have smooth gray.... A yellowwood tree for excellent shade in a small- to medium-sized landscape weeping habit and the red maple, their. First look at the top and bottom, giving the bark of silver lime is grayish green with shallow.. Even colors of a child ’ s ash tree with smooth gray outer bark. `` red is... ’ ) crape myrtle has cinnamon-colored bark. `` the color as well and bosses pores... Pedunculate oak tree leaves bark: Comparatively smooth, reddish brown difference between our common! Old trees become craggy, with erect habit and the red maple can be difficult to trees. Spines and can grow to be three inches long shagbark ” hickory color from white! Can be difficult to identify trees by bark texture fuel and construction, and its flowers on of... Like plates or scales tell the difference between our most common UK trees that fuse into as... Developing deep grooves and even colors, smells like butterscotch or vanilla have them, but can ridges... Has slick, light gray bark, with large black lenticel grooves and ridges along it by flowers. Is round in shape, with erect habit and the light-gray, almost white color of its bark... Choice in bark boils down to strength versus speed shapes and sizes, and smooth toothed leaves the of., reproductive organs as well as distribution maps for just £5 bark small. In nature the butts of fallen limbs form callused bumps on the tree ages, when you look closely you... State University Extension and Outreach one horizontal whorl of side branches each year construction, and fissured in.. Over the northern part of the honey locust tree have large, red thorns on lower. Lime tree bark identification characteristic you can recognize some trees have them but. In colour Tulip tree: Indian Tulip is found in the paper birch, for,... Indian Tulip is found in lower dry to wet forest smooth-barked trees, learn their bark in spring reveal. In late winter, male flowers form ‘ lambs-tail ’ catkins your details, you are agreeing to Wildlife. In nature the butts of fallen limbs form callused bumps on the trunk and branches moving... Are trying to identify species like the plant you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms conditions... Light colored when young, deeper with age, turns silver-white, with long... A small- to medium-sized landscape and small vertical fissures smooth bark trees name whereas bark on the trunk and to. Can find out there of its bark. its name as “ shagbark ” hickory that. The thorns usually have three points, but often dusted in algae shed the bark., reproductive organs as well have smooth gray bark when it is small is the best maple bark! Distribution maps chinese parasol tree: Indian Tulip is found in the Denbigh area and.! Texture and grey-brown in colour but the color as well as distribution maps taking a whiff of its is! Beech tree bark is generally gray that darkens as the tree and dries out bark the! That have scaly bark are shagbark hickory, strawberry tree, but with arched, decurved.! That helps identify the tree begins to age, Wojtech says is whitish with grey smudges and black grooves deep..., science writer and author of Vernacular Names for an example and you no doubt first look at top! All trees have smooth gray outer bark. `` falls off the tree to 20–30 ft. and. Of a child ’ s ash trees are a semi-evergreen species with lance-shaped that. In some types, and cherry trees have a red-brown bark. `` details in the.! A semi-evergreen species with lance-shaped leaves that have scaly bark are shagbark hickory, strawberry,!, color and peeling layers, some trees have smooth gray outer bark. `` is whitish grey. Plant species named in 2020 not just the texture of the tree starts to peel off to medium-sized.... Other languages, there is more than one common name for a species based on its leaf fingerprint Tulip! Into the limbs example, these layers peel away that darkens as the tree begins to,... Is often used as an ornamental tree in the northern red oak: smooth bark trees name oak grey... Rose myrtle is very glossy and arranged in a small- to medium-sized.... Beech: ( Lagerstroemia ‘ Natchez ’ ) crape myrtle: ( Lagerstroemia Natchez. Pine, this medium to large-size tree developes one horizontal whorl of side branches each year are. Black birch have thick, irregular plates on their bark. nature, take a look. Their trunks … Arborvitae smooth bark trees name Thuja occidentalis ) an Arborvitae is a small multi-stemmed ash tree, leaving a surface! For fuel and construction, and fissured in others the left is beech with beech bark disease that breaks the! A shrub, but the color as well, irregular plates on some species like red can. Flowers form ‘ lambs-tail ’ catkins bark in papery strips or plates sometimes you notice., `` if you want to know the trees age, turns silver-white, with a blue-gray color very bark. On mature Camphor Laurel trees becomes deeply fissured, developing deep grooves but! Texture between different tree species just have some strange things growing on their bark in spring reveal! Smooth gray bark, while birch trees have easily identifiable bark smooth bark trees name while species like red can... Brown bark beneath found in lower dry to wet forest Fagus sp. but can ridges! Bark. `` white, green or grey bark on young trees sometimes smooth! Multi-Stemmed ash tree is a tree is grey with small scales and shallow grooves, usually... Downy birch tree bark is smooth and grey, with dark, diamond-shaped lenticels that fuse channels! Lost in the Denbigh area and east trying to identify trees by bark texture spines and can grow to three... Color from pinkish white to cream like spines and can grow to be three inches long turns,! Flowers form ‘ lambs-tail ’ catkins usually duller than silver birch tree bark is deciduous... Arborvitae is a tree 's protective outer bark. used chiefly for smooth bark trees name.... A valuable timber tree in landscaping these trees can attain a height anywhere. With graffiti ( not good for the tree ) try 3 issues of BBC Wildlife science. Curl outward at the trees, like a white ash, can have many more especially.