General Introduction to Trees

Scientists estimate there are around 73,000 species of trees found around the world, on every continent except Antarctica. Trees exert a tremendous influence on the Earth’s environment and climate, as well as providing humans with food, building material, paper, and much more.

What Is a Tree?

Of course, most people can identify a tree just by looking at it, but what makes a tree a tree? From a taxonomic point of view, trees are not part of the same group or family, but are instead a variety of species of plant with similar characteristics. The majority of tree species are woody plants with a single main stem, or trunk, and branches concentrated at the top of the plant.

Outside of this typical type of hardwood deciduous tree (such as elms, oaks, and maples), there are softwood gymnosperms that are most often evergreen plants (including ginkgos, cycads, and all types of conifers). And of course there are palm trees, bananas, and bamboos that fall outside of the normal definition but are still considered to be trees.

Why Do People Grow Trees?
There are many great reasons that people decide to grow trees, from appearance to energy efficiency to providing a habitat for birds and animals. Here are some of the popular reasons to consider adding one or more trees to your yard:
  • Trees filter toxins and pollutants from the environment and release oxygen. Because they produce so much oxygen (as well as absorbing carbon dioxide), planting a tree can be a small but concrete step toward reversing the effects of climate change.
  • Tree roots reduce soil erosion and flooding.
  • Shade trees protect your home from the intense summer sun, keeping it cooler and lowering energy consumption.
  • Trees make a home more private by providing a visual barrier and absorbing noise from the street or neighbors.
  • Fruit trees provide food right in your own yard. Citrus, avocado, pear, apple, and cherry are popular options.
  • Mature trees in the landscape can increase the property value of your home by as much as 15%.
  • Trees provide shelter for birds and animals. Flowering trees attract and feed bees and other pollinators. This brings more life to your yard and supports the local ecosystem.
  • Being around trees lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.
Some Popular Trees for Yards
The choice of what tree to grow is clearly going to depend on the environmental conditions (water, sunlight, soil, etc.) and your purpose in growing the tree. But this list goes through some of the best and most popular tree species and what makes each one special.
  • icon_number_1@3x Japanese Maple: Compact and easy to care for, Japanese Maples have beautiful leaves year-round.
  • icon_number_2@3x Crape Myrtle: This tree has attractive foliage and blooms in white, purple, red, or pink. It’s also low-maintenance and can be grown in a variety of climates.
  • icon_number_3@3x Redbud: Redbuds stay small so they can be used in places where larger trees aren’t suitable. They have bright pink flowers every spring.
  • icon_number_4@3x Paper Bark Birch: This tree is suitable for colder climates and has a unique white bark that peels off in strips when the tree is mature. It is known for growing quickly.