One old-time favorite is the jacaranda (J. mimosifolia), a lovely lacy-leaved species with a wide-spreading canopy and clusters of violet blossoms in spring. In addition, this handsome tree, up to ...

These deciduous trees are alternate branching, and most leaves have a fuzzy texture. Range: The native species (Morus rubra) is found from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Kansas and Nebraska. The ...

Identifying features: Beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) are deciduous hardwood trees that are typically 60 to 80 feet tall. Their alternate simple leaves have very small teeth on the leaf edges.

ID: A deciduous tree with grey fissured bark and recognisably lobed leaves. You can tell it from the pedunculate or English oak by the leaf stalk, which on a sessile oak is up to 2cm long.

An outstanding book on growing deciduous fruit and nut trees in California is “The Home Orchard” (University of California, 2005), by Chuck Ingels.

Since most deciduous trees drop their leaves in the winter, what clues can we use? Remember to look at the three “Bs" — branches, bark and buds — for all of the information you need.

Conifers don’t complete an annual shed like deciduous trees, but a portion of their oldest needles do drop each year. How long each needle holds on is particular to the species, ranging from two ...