How Many Tree Species Are There in North America?

As you look around at the many trees on your home landscape and even in your local neighborhood, you might find yourself daydreaming about trees. We completely understand; we daydream about trees, too.

In fact, you might be asking yourself, “How many tree species are there?” This tends to be a question that comes up especially when you’re looking to add a new tree to your landscape.

Between deciduous trees and evergreen trees, there are so many varieties.

In the entire world, there are approximately 64,000 species of trees The United States alone has more than 228 billion trees with roughly 30% of the country covered with forests. Alaska is its most forested state. And Canada has 318 billion trees with approximately 40% of its land being tree covered. Spruce trees are the most common tree species in Canada.

Let’s talk about some fun tree facts and tree identification basics.

How To Tell How Old A Tree Is

You can count the dark tree rings to calculate a tree’s age.

But since you don’t want to cut your tree to determine its age, you can also tell a tree’s age by measuring its trunk at about 1 meter up from the ground. Measure to the nearest centimeter and then divide that number by 2.5 to get the tree’s age in years.

What Is The Oldest Tree In The U.S.?

A Great Basin bristlecone pine called Methuselah is considered the oldest tree in the United States, as well as the world.

According to tree-ring data, Methuselah is 4,853 years old. This means it was growing at the time Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza.

Fun Tree Facts

As we talk about the different tree types, the list wouldn’t be complete without sharing some tree facts that make these gentle giants even more loveable.

• One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen annually.
• Trees can live from less than 100 years to more than a few thousand years, depending on the species.
• Without trees, formerly forested areas would become drier and more prone to extreme droughts, rains would cause floods, and erosion would negatively impact marine habitats.
• The Pando aspen grove in Utah is the world’s oldest and heaviest living organism, connected by a giant network of roots, that weighs 6,600 tons.
• 58% of tree species are unique to a single country.
• For the first 4 billion years, Earth was hot, barren, and suffered frequent meteor strikes and volcanic eruptions. It wasn’t until 470 million years ago that the first mosses grew and another 85 million years before the emergence of the first tree.

Ever Wondered About The Benefits Of Planting Trees? Check Them Out Here.