Did you know that more than half of Canada’s land is covered in forests? If you’re wanting to identify the trees you see while out on hikes, or even in your own backyard, be sure to look at its leaves, needles and bark. Continue reading to learn more about Canada’s most common tree species…
What is the difference between a coniferous tree and a deciduous tree?
Every tree that grows in Canada can be distinguished as being a conifer or deciduous tree. Conifer trees are often referred to as evergreens or “needle-leaved” trees (although there can always be exceptions). Conifers are known as softwood trees. Deciduous trees are usually called broadleaf trees because most of their leaves fall during the autumn months. Deciduous trees are known as hardwoods.
Do you want to plant a tree in Canada?
TreeEra community funds the planting of trees in Canada so that individuals and businesses can offset their emissions and reduce their carbon footprints. Is this something you are interested in? Let’s plant trees!
Common Canadian Tree Species
American Beech Tree
Native to Canada, the American beech tree is known for producing edible nuts that are often consumed by animals and people. The nuts must be split open in order to consume as they are covered by a prickly shell.
Where can American Beech Trees be found?
American beech grows across southern and central Ontario.
Balsam Fir Tree
The balsam fir is a small coniferous tree that is usually recognized by its narrow top and dense, dark-green needles. For thousands of years, indigenous people actually used the balsam fir for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.
Where do balsam fir trees grow?
This North American fir is native to most of eastern and central Canada.
Coast Redwood Trees
These coniferous trees are famous for their old-growth characteristics. Redwood trees are some of the largest and tallest trees in the world. Redwood trees can live for thousands of years!
Where can redwood trees be found?
Redwood trees grow on the west coast of Canada. Redwood forests are very common on Vancouver Island.
Read: Why Old-Growth Logging Needs to be Stopped
Eastern White Cedar
This coniferous tree provides food and shelter to many Canadian birds, deer, and other small mammals. The eastern white cedar is known for growing very slowly but can live for well over 200 years.
Where do eastern white cedars grow in Canada?
The tree is mostly found in swampy areas around Ontario, Canada.
Paper Birch Tree
This tree is called a paper birch because of its thin, white, paper-like bark. The paper birch is a medium-sized deciduous tree that is, unfortunately, usually short-lived as it does not handle heat and humidity well. They live approximately 30 years. In colder climates, the paper birch can live up to 100 years.
Where are paper birch trees found?
Paper birch trees are native to Canada and grow all across the country.
Follow TreeEra on Instagram for more tree facts, quotes, images, and information about what is going on in our communi-tree!
Quaking Aspen Tree
These trees are often referred to as quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, or golden aspen. They have very tall, thin trunks with white, smooth bark with identifying black “scars”.
Where do aspen trees grow in Canada?
This native, deciduous tree grows across Canada but is most commonly found in the prairie provinces.
Red Oak Tree
Red oak is popular for its wood as it is the preferred material for many in the furniture and flooring industry. It is important to support companies who log sustainably as the red oak is often impacted the most when it comes to unsustainable logging practices in Canada.
Where can red oak trees be found?
The red oak tree is found in lower Eastern Canada. It is actually the official tree of Prince Edward Island!
Spruce Tree
The spruce tree is Canada’s most common tree and is usually easy to identify as they have needles, not leaves. There are about 40 known species of spruce trees worldwide and 5 of those are native to Canada.
Where do spruce trees grow in Canada?
White and black spruce trees grow all over Canada. The Sitka spruce grows in a small area along the West Coast. The Engelmann spruce is native to the Rocky Mountain area. Red spruce is found in the Arcadian forest region.
Spruce Tree vs. Pine Tree vs. Fir Tree
The main differentiating factor between a spruce tree, a pine tree, and a fir tree is their needles! Spruce trees have individual needles that are stiff and have a pointy, sharp tip. Fir tree needles also grow individually but are soft and flat. Pine tree needles grow in clusters of 2, 3, or 5.
Sugar Maple Tree
The sugar maple tree is well known for its trademark red leaf that famously appears on the Canadian flag. The tree is also known for its vibrant fall colors. The sugar maple treeโs syrup and timber contribute a large amount of revenue to the Canadian economy.
Where do sugar maple trees grow?
Sugar maple trees thrive in full sun environments and are native to eastern North America.
Tamarack Tree (also sometimes known as a larch tree)
These are a special type of deciduous. Tamarack and larch trees have needles like other evergreens, but is actually considered a deciduous tree, or sometimes the term “deciduous conifers”. Typically, a tamarack tree is one of the last trees to change its color in the autumn months.
Where are Tamarack trees found?
These trees can grow all over Canada. They are mostly found in eastern Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland.
Larch vs. Tamarack Tree
Although larch and tamarack are considered different species, they are of the same genus and the tree names are often used interchangeably. Tamarack trees are smaller, usually growing to about 70-75 feet, while larch trees can sometimes exceed 180 feet. Larch trees also live approximately 200 years longer than tamarack trees.
TreeEra helps individuals and businesses reduceย human impact on the planet we love byย community-funding the planting of trees.
Interested in getting involved?
