Identify 11 Trees By the Bark (Easy Tips)

Here we show how to identify 11 trees using only the bark. This is really helpful in winter (for deciduous trees that lose their leaves) and also for trees that are dead or have been cut down. Here is a full list of the trees that we cover with jump links, so you can skip straight to the one you're most interested in:
0:00 Intro
0:22 Beech
0:49 Sycamore
1:18 Walnut
1:52 Hackberry
2:18 Birch
2:43 Mulberry
3:25 Cherry
4:14 Aspen
5:02 Cedar
5:48 Hickory
6:20 Pine
Note that most of the trees we cover in this video are common (or can at least be found) in Midwest or Northeastern America.

[@PhatChin]

I'm 41 and up until now, a 'tree' was just a tree. I really did not make any effort to learn or distinguish them. But now that I walk in the local parks more often and take the time to absorb my surroundings, I am interested to learn. This is the best video I've seen so far and I've actively browsed quite a bunch. Thank you.

[@pmacc3557]

Same here... becoming more curious

[@TimDeGraff]

By far the best bark comparison video I’ve seen. And so concise. Thanks for making this!

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks!

[@coropinion]

Agreed

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Was on a walk today and saw bark that I remembered from this video. Rewatched your video and sure enough, it was a Hackberry tree. Haha, it made my day. It is currently winter here in Ohio and I’m trying to identify trees by just their bark. Thanks for your help.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Glad to hear it! Once you know what to look for it gets pretty easy to spot Hackberry.

[@robertgulfshores4463]

That was an IMPRESSIVE cherry tree. I've never seen one that big.

[@sjtherese6011]

Thank you so much for this video. Please do more series identifying trees. I’ve watched SO many videos online trying to explain and yours was truly the most informative/clear/easy to understand. The tips about the inside color of trees is going to help SO much. Could you do a video showing oak, elm, ash, and poplar? I keep getting these confused with one another. Another amazing video would be differentiating between trees that are very similar. Like Ash/Elm/Poplar

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hi there - thanks very much, so nice of you to say. I enjoy making these tree ID videos and think Oak, Ash, Elm and Poplar would be great ones to cover. I think most of those are easier to identify using the leaves, so maybe I’ll do some leaf identification videos. Been busy recently, but would love to do more of this in the future. Cheers.

[@justinwogan4629]

I'm watching this video and looking at your comment and it gives me hope that maybe there is true love or there. Lol I'm not happy in my current relationship. We have nothing in common

[@budgillett9627]

You’ve no idea how much I enjoy there videos! I heat with wood therefore spend considerable time amongst trees and there’s many I cannot identify. I’m usually harvesting my firewood after the leaves have fallen therefore identification is much more difficult. I live in south central Nebraska and we don’t have, IMO, a large number of different tree species mostly Cottonwood, Chinese Elm and Ash. Very interesting and thank you.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey Bud - thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy making these videos and learning more about trees and firewood as I go. You mentioned Cottonwood, I don’t think I’ve done a “deep-dive” style firewood video on that species yet, but I’m considering doing more of them this year. Anyway, thanks for hanging out on the channel. Cheers.

[@icantdraw9243]

Thanks a ton. This was both fast yet just comprehensive enough to help me in identifying trees.

[@Stthomasmommy]

Love this!! Thanks so much for posting. I’m trying to learn ly trees and limber and I appreciate the information! Subscribed!

[@claresmith7227]

Walked in our local park yesterday and found trees labeled with id, name, and numbered by path distance. It was still very difficult to id them with certainty in deeper woods. Next day, I found you and your helpful tips, Thank-you. You are much better than our tree labels.

[@ronmax8262]

Excellent information, thank you!

[@brianwalter9289]

Thankyou sir for sharing your knowledge. Very informative. I'm going to show this to my Grade 6 class.🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@markb7067]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

[@scottparrish2422]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@takkopete7755]

This is extremely helpful, thank you

[@hhiikkii]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you so much! Now I know the trees around my house.☺️🌲🌳

[@COLDROLD73]

There are some woods that have a very distinct scent. Like this stuff.

[@leatherkeds]

Outstanding info Jon!! Very helpful as always!! thanks!!

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks Ricc!

[@annetrudel-inglis5387]

Excellent video. Especially appreciated the easy to understand terminology for us laymen (non-arboretum people). Great detailed explanation on identifying a tree from the bark colour, pattern and branch formation. Hope you made more videos like this. Especially looking for a way to differentiate all the Conifers in North America. Thank you.

[@timobrien2738]

Thank you very much for your video. I found it very informative and useful as a beginner woodsman. Much appreciated.

[@theycallmemcgyver]

Fantastic! Great timing! Have been identifying in earnest dozens of trees the past few weeks (in the northeast). Stumbled on your older videos two weeks ago and was wondering if the tricks would be mingled together in a single video. Subbed. Your explanations are concise and very informative. Very much appreciated! If you are up to diving deeper, would appreciate videos which distinguish the various common oaks and various common maples.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey Steve - much appreciated! And I’ve actually been considering doing some deeper dive videos similar to what you’ve mentioned. In particular, I’ve been tossing around the idea of a deep dive into different species’ of Oak, Pine, and possibly Hickory or Maple. I’ll see what I can do!

[@brianatucker9982]

This is great ! Thank you ❤

[@victorcaceres9603]

Hello BB. First time viewer and very grateful for this video. I recently got "switched on" to identifying Trees and Plants in my neighborhood and this video has been a great tool in how to better identify trees on sight. I do have an app that I like, but having someone point out the nuances is priceless. Many thanks!

[@cgriebel1]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@ashleyhurkens7236]

Thanks for this , great video!

[@AlyoshaKaramazov.]

Phenomenal. Loved it! Subscribed!

[@BirdIsAVerb]

Nice job! Stumbled across your video while I'm refreshing a bit before leading a school ecology class's field trip to learn about trees. Something I was taught that always stuck with me and really helped me learn my trees is that you should use several different factors to confirm your ID; always go through the entire identification of the tree and never stop midway just because you think you know what the tree is. I've been fooled a lot by those pesky Black Gums because their bark or shape looked like a different tree.

[@RajashreeDarastekar]

Thank you for the video 🌷

[@dude36]

Great job!

[@Jimmy-wv9oq]

You out done yourself Beaver, Great video I have lot woods land you explained excellently some my trees wondered what they are. Now I know Thank you .

[@762gunr]

Great video.

[@muma6559]

thank you, that was awesome

[@gregmerckx8557]

Great video!

[@ebXXY]

Outstanding thank you.

[@Vissi8]

Great video! This is a lifesaver for my upcoming botany field exam.

[@georgeliu390]

Thanks, I learned a lot

[@passiton4life]

Thank you so very much for doing this video, my girlfriend just wanted to make sure she found out what type of tree was in our yard, and we just found out from you our tree is a river beech.

[@rspruett8936]

Excellent video. Thank you for taking the time to help so many!

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!

[@pmacc3557]

Great video thanks 🙏👍

[@big66bob66]

great video, thanks

[@MakeItMakeCentsChannel]

this was a pretty dope video man, very informative. I was outside looking at a beech tree tying to identify it.

[@brianoneil3532]

Holy jeeps where in the world did you make this video?? Such a diversity of mature trees within walking distance on the same-fooging-day!!! Awesome video THANK YOU

[@Drumstop969]

Great vid thanks man

[@ariellegreenstone6165]

Studying for high school science olympiad regionals (tomorrow)! This is so helpful, thank you so much. Really concise and specific.

[@brendanmccann5695]

Great video. Very informative. Thank you.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey Brendan - thanks a bunch! Glad you liked it.

[@eliserich9839]

Thank you!

[@theronroberts5573]

Yes very informative. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure I will be watching this video several times in the future to I.D a tree 🌲

[@NeroCloud]

I love videos like this you get learning an life lessons. cause every tree an help you if you to what it can do

[@timgiles9413]

That was awesome. I wish you would do the same type of video on every (major) tree east of the Mississippi and west as well. I have 34 acres full of trees in West Virginia and I need help identifying them. Thanks for the video :)

[@DrumApe]

Thanks!

[@themurph930]

That shag-bark hickory bark looks like it would be good for roofing on a shelter in a survival situation.

[@morrisfoster5106]

This kid is great Love for all kids to have this knowledge

[@RuffLifeGoldens]

Thank you so much!!

[@aedrdeaslzr8955]

thanks! keep it up!

[@elihyland4781]

This was super helpful! 🥳🏄🏼‍♂️

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks!

[@chetusher444]

Very good video. You're an excellent presenter.

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

Subscribed Brother! I have just in the last two years started heating my boat building shed with wood. I live on 35 acres in NW Missouri and we have a lot of honey locust and hedge but some of the other deciduous trees are harder to identify. We have some walnut, some varieties of oak too /. Good video thanks

[@lauralayton8024]

NICE Thank you

[@livbrooks4194]

I was always told the trunk of a beech tree looks like an elephants leg! so cool.

[@barbarahood144]

Thank you

[@dvittum32]

Cool to identify these guys

[@objuan6]

well done

[@thomasbest8599]

Thanks

[@SirDydimus86]

Another thing with Aspen trees is they have a powdery film that, I was told in school, you can use as a low SPF sunscreen. Was told in the same breath that the needles from pine trees with clusters of 2-5 can be suckled on for their vitamin C.

[@jasonburns9320]

Love these kinds of videos. Identifying trees in different seasons. Are you in Indiana?

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks Jason - in these videos I bounce around between Ohio and Indiana.

[@morrisfoster5106]

I have 70 a res Of trees on my farm and would to here more on tree's sugar maple and other trees . that is awesome hearing a kid knows more than I do about Trees and is worth listening to .

[@mistergrendel32]

Very nicely done and educational video. A neighbor gave me some split firewood that came from a friend his property. He tells me it’s Oak, but I have my doubts. Most of it doesn’t seem heavy enough to be Oak. 🤔

[@haroldhprittjr7007]

I think you did a great job . There are a lot of hickory tree verity’s but the ones you got there are good to know most don’t change a lot . Oak has white and red I’ve heard them talk about chestnut oak . Poplar wood young is smooth as it grows it cracks up and down but the branches stay smooth until they get older . The bath looks like the maul berry tree but no green ridges are straight up and down and deep

[@user-fi7rw3nx6u]

I like this video

[@veggieSxDBD]

Peace and thank you✌🏻💨nj732 i never knew this, im in the woods daily

[@stephaniek5435]

Excellent video! EXACTLY what i needed with nothing i didn't. Thank you! I think it would be great if you did these in parts based on region. Like north east, North West, etc.. possibly even world wide if you were up for it 🤷🏻‍♀️ idk much about trees, more now than i did 15 minutes ago;) but i think most people searching for this are probably living somewhere and need info specific to their region. i thought a region by region video series wouldn't hurt your viewing base;) i just subscribed so keep up the good work! 👍🏻👍🏻🌲🌳🍁🌴

[@zachn2642]

nice video

[@AllenFirewoodllc-ut1uh]

I never knew how to identify hackberry I always got rid of it but that's very useful because I log it

[@aprilpatriarca1518]

Hey Jon great video! Can I suggest if you can cover woods with high smoke point and low smoke point? I was just thinking on your pass video you have suggested hickory and others are great for bbq. I know that also moisture level effects but if the wood is properly season and dried.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey April - I love suggestions! Can you clarify, what do you mean by smoke point? Are you talking about the AMOUNT of smoke a given wood produces? Or the TEMP at which the wood starts smoking? Sorry if “smoke point” is BBQ jargon, I don’t know much about smoking meat, just a bit about the most popular woods for it.

[@cringlememes]

the aspen and birch you got mixed together in the video

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hi there - sorry, I disagree. I’m quite confident in the Birth and Aspen identification in the video. Maybe have a second look?

[@jbbolts]

Thanks this was really helpful.. Im looking for a tree bark that will have a tendency to stay on if left on the log ....I want to make some small signs with rounds with the bark still on...which tree do you think would lend itself to a live bark edge cookie? thanks again

[@jeffmacdonald4923]

Your really good other wise. Then again I've seen goofy bark before. I would have to see the top. Leaf would really help.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Yep - sometimes bark is a little unpredictable, so it’s not 100% accurate. The leaves can be more accurate, but there’s variations there as well. I believe the most accurate and consistent way to ID trees is by using the twigs and the buds.

[@vinceglauser4770]

Hey Burley, great video. Can you do some videos on poplars?

[@elisemoloney]

Hi what camera do you use? Great picture quality so clear. Thanks for all the tips

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hi there - It’s a Cannon EOS something that I borrowed from my Dad. Sorry, I don’t know the specific model.

[@stanhilinski7280]

Another tree I think is very easy to identify from just the wood and bark is the American Hornbeam (also called musclewood and blue beech).

[@theoccidilian4896]

Please also cover identification by smell. Jefferson and Ponderosa smell like vanilla and pineapple, if you put your nose deep into the cracks of the bark.

[@pamelaspooner7183]

Hackberry: my large hackberry near Dallas, Texas, does not have greenish bark but mostly smooth dark gray with groups of warts! Maybe as you come south of where you are, the varieties change?

[@danielhudon9456]

Excellent work. How about bark differences between pine and hemlock for us here in the northeast?

[@danielhudon9456]

Also, white pine needles come in bunches of five, while red pine needles are in pairs.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey Daniel - I’d have to look into Hemlock a bit more, I haven’t seen many of those.

[@toastedcooking]

hi im curious what is the best tree identification book you know of? looking to get one

[@bigorunge]

A lot of hickory's have different looking bark than the shag(scaley) bark trees here in the southern appalachains. I have a hard time recognizing them once the leaves come off. To me they look similar to our poplar, just a bit darker.

[@burlybeaver6013]

Hey Kirk - yeah, thats true. some of the hickory barks are harder to pick out. I think Shagbark is the easiest one to spot.

[@secondedgeblades]

Is there a key difference between Cherry and Silver Maple? I have a hard time differentiating them.

[@kokopelli121123]

Do other hickory trees also have that shaggy bark? Or is it just the shagbark hickory? Occasionally I come across a hickory with leaves that are a bit smaller, and from guide, I thought maybe they were pignut hickories, but with the shaggy bark. I also thought maybe they were just shagbarks with smaller leaves for some reason. Any help would be appreciated!

[@forrestunderwood3174]

Also, Black Cherries only have a few large limbs and a lot of small ones.

[@jackiedaniel2502]

Arrow root scraps with sasaphras❤

[@Rapid_GT]

The bark from my tree which was about 40ft tall is red underneath but it also had pine needles, so I'm still unsure if it was Cedar or a Pine tree, I've recently had it cut down because the pine needles made such a mess everywhere, it was sad to see it go but I couldn't maintain the mess it made, I'm in the UK btw if you can shed any light on what tree it could have been, cheers

[@timothyboone5003]

Maybe you should explain the difference between a Shagbark and a Shellbark Hickory.

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Very helpful. Thanks. Was that your puppy at 5:11 to 5:15?

[@burlybeaver6013]

Thanks! Glad you liked it, I was really happy with how this video turned out. And lol - you heard that, huh? That was my parent’s dog. I guess he wanted to voice his opinion on tree identification :) If you’ve seen some of my older videos I think he walks in front of the camera in one of my deep dives on a specific type of wood. I don’t remember which one.

[@theycallmemcgyver]

His “bark” gave him away 🤣

[@burlybeaver6013]

Lol that’s a 10/10 on the pun scale

[@tooblessed1364]

Those sycamore trees will really make you sneeze when chipping it

[@jimeburg4828]

Isn't the color or the Mulberry on the inside very similiar to the Osage Orange or Hedgeapple? I have both for firewood and they look very similiar. I do think that the Hedgeapple is more yellow. Thank you for your time.

[@kvandy1340]

Is there any way I can send you a picture of bark and the inside of a tree and have you give me your thoughts on what it is?

[@patrickhowell2502]

Trying to learn some bushcraft type wilderness knowledge and they always talk about what tree for what, but not how to identify which tree as what. So ty

[@davidmayhew8083]

That was nice but I want to see the leaves. And overall typical shape.

[@deannaspencer8988]

Very Nice Shade Trees ,out Back Bill & Heather Spencer 900,000%

[@daveroppel313]

How about maple trees?

[@fredymelendez4773]

What State the video was make ?

[@countryguyproductions5715]

Where was this filmed at?