Project BudBurst

Citizen Science | Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

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Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

We have identified 82 Deciduous Trees and Shrubs that are easy to identify and widespread across the continental United States.

Click on the plant names below for a printable Identification Guide and Regular Report Datasheet that include pictures, identifying characteristics, and plant specific phenophase descriptions.

	American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
	American elm (Ulmus americana)
	American linden (Tilia americana)
	American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
	Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata)
	Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa)
	Apple (Malus pumila)
	Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
	Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)
	Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)
	Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
	Bigtoothed aspen (Populus grandidentata)
	Black birch (Betula lenta)
	Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
	Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
	Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
	Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
	Black oak (Quercus velutina)
	Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)
	Blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)
	Boxelder (Acer negundo)
	Buttonwillow (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
	California blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
	California rose (Rosa californica)
	California sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
	Cherry (other) (Prunus sp)
	Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
	Chinese lilac (Syringa x chinensis)
	Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
	Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
	Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
	Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
	Coyote willow (Salix exigua)
	Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
	Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
	Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
	Eastern serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
	Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
	Forsythia (Forsythia xintermedia)
	Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
	Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba)
	Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
	Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis)
	Jamaica dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)
	Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
	Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata)
	Lewis' mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
	Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
	Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)
	Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
	Oregon crabapple (Malus fusca)
	Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana)
	Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata)
	Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
	Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
	Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
	Plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
	Prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)
	Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
	Red alder (Alnus rubra)
	Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)
	Red maple (Acer rubrum)
	Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
	Rocky mountain maple (Acer glabrum)
	Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
	Sandhill plum (Prunus angustifolia)
	Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
	Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
	Shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora floribunda)
	Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus)
	Southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
	Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
	Sweet cherry (Prunus avium)
	Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
	Three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata)
	Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata)
	Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
	Western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
	White oak (Quercus alba)
	Willow oak (Quercus phellos)
	Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii)
	Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)

Phenophases

Bud Burst

Date when the protective scale coating is shed from the bud exposing tender new growth tissues of one or more flower buds or leaves.

First Leaf

Date the first leaves are completely unfolded from the bud on at least 3 branches. Leaves need to be opened completely (flat) and the leaf stem or base must be visible (you might need to bend the leaf backwards to see those).

All Leaves Unfolded

Date when at least 90% of the growing leaf buds have reached the first leaf stage.

First Flower

Date the first flowers are fully open on at least 3 branches. When open, you will see the stamens among the unfolded petals or, in the case of wind pollinated plants, flowers will release yellow pollen dust when touched.

Full Flower

Date when half or more of the flowers are fully open on 3 or more branches. For wind pollinated plants, report when half or more of the flowers (or half of the branches) have pollen.

First Ripe Fruit

Date when the first fruits become fully ripe or seeds drop naturally from the plant on 3 or more branches. Ripening is often indicated by a change to the mature color or by drying and splitting open.

Full Fruiting

Date when half or more branches have fully ripe fruit or the seeds are dropping naturally from the plant. If fruits are in clusters or stalks, then record when at least one fruit is ripe on at least half of the branches.

50% Color

Date when half or more of the branches have leaves which have started to change color.

50% Leaf Fall

Date when at least half of the leaves have fallen off the tree or shrub.