Tree Leaf IdentifierWhat tree is this leaf from?
Compare a leaf’s shape, edge, and veins with free guides for oaks, maples, pines, and more—or scan a leaf photo with our iPhone app.
For walkers, gardeners, and anyone asking “what tree is this?”
What tree is this leaf from?
To identify the tree a leaf came from, compare the whole leaf, its edge and veins, and how it attaches to the twig. Then check bark, fruit, and location against a regional guide. A clear leaf photo can suggest candidates, but one detached leaf may not confirm the species.
References: NC State Extension: tree identification · University of Florida IFAS: How to Identify a Tree.
Follow the leaf photo checklist →Compare the shape and edge, then check the twig, bark, or fruit. These free guides help you narrow down a match before opening the iPhone app.
Identify an unfamiliar leaf
A photo checklist for shape, leaflets, veins, and arrangement.
Start the beginner’s guide →Red oak or white oak?
Compare pointed and rounded lobes with labeled photographs.
Compare oak leaves →Check a white oak leaf
Match rounded lobe tips and compare the leaf with northern red oak.
See white oak features →Tree leaf identification guides
Learn what to look for before you scan: leaf shape, edges, lobes, arrangement, and seasonal changes.
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
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European White Elm
Ulmus laevis
Horse-Chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
White Oak
Quercus alba
Look closely. Learn as you go.
Photograph the leaf
Use a bright, in-focus photo that shows the whole leaf, including its edge and stem.
Check the result
Compare leaf traits, scientific name, growing range, and seasonal details—not just the image.
Save the discovery
Build a personal collection of the trees you encounter on walks, trips, and in your garden.
What kind of tree is this leaf from?
What if a leaf photo matches more than one tree?
Keep both candidates and compare a feature that separates them, such as twig arrangement, intact lobe tips, or attached fruit. Record your location and use a regional guide. If the distinguishing feature is missing, leave the identification unresolved.
Can leaf color identify a tree?
Color can provide context, but season, leaf age, damage, and garden cultivars can change it. Check the outline, edge, veins, twig arrangement, and fruit before relying on color.
Does this website identify uploaded leaf photos?
This website provides illustrated identification guides and comparisons. Photo scanning is available in the separate Tree Leaf Identifier iPhone and iPad app. App suggestions should be checked against visible features and a regional reference.
What kind of tree is this leaf from?
Start with the whole leaf: check its shape, edge, and veins, then look at how it attaches to the twig. Compare several leaves, the bark, and your location with a regional guide. A single detached leaf may narrow the possibilities without confirming the species.
How can I identify a tree from a leaf photo?
Take a sharp photograph of the whole leaf, including its stalk, in natural light. Photograph the underside and the twig too. On iPhone, Tree Leaf Identifier can suggest a match; compare the result with visible features before accepting it.
Can I identify tree leaves online for free?
You can compare the free leaf photographs and identification guides on this website without installing the app. Photo scanning is available in the separate iPhone and iPad app, which is free to download and offers in-app purchases. Some app features require a subscription.
What tree has a leaf shaped like this?
Notice whether the leaf is lobed, smooth-edged, toothed, or divided into leaflets. Rounded and pointed lobes can help compare oaks; maple-like leaves need a check of twig arrangement and fruit. Shape alone is not enough to name every tree.
Can I identify a tree from a fallen leaf?
A fallen leaf can provide clues, but wind may have carried it from another tree. Look nearby for attached leaves with the same features and photograph the twig, bark, buds, or fruit to check where it came from.
Follow the leaf identification photo checklist → · Compare free tree leaf pictures →
Carry a tree leaf identifier in your pocket.
Learn the clues behind a tree name
Pine Needle Identification: Start with the Bundle
Learn what to photograph when identifying a pine: intact needle bundles, attachment points, cones, bark, and location.
Read article →Field skillsCan You Identify a Tree by Its Bark? What to Photograph
Build a useful bark identification record with trunk context, close-ups, twig details, and a check for changes as trees mature.
Read article →Field skillsIdentify a Tree by Seeds and Fruit: Keep the Leaf in the Picture
Use attached winged seeds, acorns, and other fruit alongside leaves and twigs, and avoid assigning fallen fruit to the wrong tree.
Read article →