Know your Trees – A Tree Guide

Some people are "tree whisperers" - they know a lot about trees. They can look at a tree and not only tell you what type of tree it is, but what is produces, how old it is and how tall it will get. While some have a gift of knowing about trees, others struggle to tell you what kind of tree it is just even when examining the leaves. For those who struggle with determining tree types, here is a quick guide:

A Tree Guide

Know your trees through these helpful tree-telling tips:

Oak Trees: Acorn Producers

Oak trees are plentiful in the Lee's Summit, MO and surrounding areas. Oak trees have spirally leaves. Oak trees can get very tall and full, and tend to drop a lot of large, dried leaves. Missouri is known for several types of oak trees including white oak, bur oak, red oak and pin oaks.

Maple Trees: "Whirlybirds"

Maple trees can grow to be 30-145 ft. night and are known for their opposite leaf arrangement. Maple trees flower in shade of green, red, orange and yellow. Maple trees also drop "whirlybirds" or helicopters, as kids call them.

Black Walnut Trees: Walnut Droppers

Black Walnut trees are known for the large, black walnuts that it drops. Because of the growth-inhibiting chemical dropped by the walnuts, trees typically don't grow near other foliage.

Hickory Trees: Curling Bark

The most common hickory tree in Missouri is the shag bark tree. This tree is known for a light-gray bark color that curls away at the bottom.

Flowering Dogwood: Official Missouri State Tree

This tree is known for it's beautiful blooms. As the official Missouri State tree, dogwoods are prevalent in many area neighborhoods and commercial landscapes.

Sweet Gum: Prickly Ball Droppers

Sweet Gum trees may have the most playful name, yet leave the largest headache when it comes to it's "prickly balls" that are dropped. Leaves are star-shaped and turn red and yellow in the fall.