How to identify trees by their leaves
Learn how to identify the trees in your local area by looking at the shape, texture and form of the leaves.
Learning objectives
- Explore nature in the local environment
- Identify and name common trees
- Understand how trees change through the seasons and their role in supporting wildlife and biodiversity
Curriculum links
- Science: Plant identification, seasonal changes, habitats, and biodiversity
- Geography: Local environments, fieldwork skills, and sustainability
- Art and Design: Observational drawing and nature-inspired artwork
- Environmental Science: The role of trees in ecosystems and climate
- PSHE: Conservation, responsibility, and environmental awareness
Key vocabulary
Common tree leaves
Alder
Loving swampy areas, alder leaves are round-tipped, dark green, and slightly sticky. They turn brown in autumn.
Ash
Ash trees have smooth, oval leaves that grow in pairs. They move toward sunlight and fall while still green. Ash trees are sadly at risk of total wipeout due to ash dieback.
Beech
Often called the "queen of British trees," beech leaves are small, oval, and wavy-edged, turning from lime green to dark green as they mature.
Common lime
Lime trees are rarely spotted in the wild, they’re mostly found in botanical gardens or country estates. They have heart-shaped, dark green leaves that turn yellow in autumn.
Field maple
A hedgerow favourite, field maple leaves have five lobes and turn golden-yellow before falling in winter.
Hawthorn
Often found in hedgerows, hawthorn leaves are small, shiny, and lobed. They turn yellow in autumn before falling.
Hazel
With soft, rounded, serrated leaves, hazel trees are known for their bendy stems which are often used as garden supports.
Hornbeam
A tough tree that keeps its leaves through winter. Hornbeam leaves are small, serrated, and pointed at the tip.
Horse chestnut
Famous for its shiny conkers, horse chestnut leaves have 5-7 leaflets spread in a fan shape. They turn bright yellow and red in autumn.
Oak
A mighty tree in British history, oak leaves have rounded lobes and turn yellow-brown in autumn. Oaks support more wildlife than any other tree species in the UK!
Plane
Common in London, plane tree leaves are large with five triangular lobes, looking similar to sycamore leaves.
Rowan
Rowan leaves are long with 5–8 pairs of serrated leaflets and one at the tip. They provide valuable food for caterpillars, bees, and birds.
Scot's pine
The UK’s only native pine, Scots pine has blue-green, twisted needle-shaped leaves that stay on the tree for up to three years.
Silver birch
With striking white bark, silver birch have small, triangular, serrated leaves. Butterflies love them, and they can even be used to make vitamin C-rich tea!
White willow
The largest willow species, its long, thin, glossy leaves are dark green on top and fuzzy underneath.
Yew
Yew leaves are small, dark green, and needle-like. They stay on the tree all year making them a popular hiding place for wildlife.
Top tips
- Collect different leaves through different seasons to see how they change in colour or shape
- Document how the trees change through the seasons through sketches, nature journals or poetry
- Support local biodiversity and plant a tree in your school grounds if you have space