Common Trees in Indiana: Identification Guide

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

As Indiana's state tree, the tulip tree reaches some of its finest Midwest expressions in the Hoosier National Forest of south-central Indiana, where tall, straight trunks rise 100 feet or more from the forest floor. It is the dominant canopy species in the moist coves and slopes of Brown County, Monroe County, and Orange County, and produces showy tulip-shaped flowers in late May. The tulip tree is Indiana's tallest native hardwood, and champion specimens have been documented in the ravines near Bloomington. Its distinctive four-lobed leaves and large flower make it one of the most identifiable trees in the state.

Where to find it: Moist upland slopes, coves, ravines, and well-drained bottomlands in southern Indiana.

How to identify it:

• Four-lobed leaves with a flat or notched apex, unique among Indiana trees
• Large tulip-shaped flowers with yellow-green petals and orange band
• Tall, straight trunk with interlacing gray ridges and furrows
• Cone-like dry seed clusters persist on branches through winter

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American beech is the signature tree of Indiana's old-growth forest remnants, recognized immediately by its smooth, elephant-gray bark that resists carving and retains initials for decades — a constant problem at popular state parks. It is abundant in the Yellowwood State Forest and Brown County State Park, where it forms cathedral-like stands with sugar maple. Beech produces small, triangular nuts enclosed in spiny husks that are critical food for wildlife in autumn. Indiana's beech-maple forests are among the finest examples of this climax forest community in the central Midwest.

Where to find it: Moist, well-drained upland slopes, ravines, mature forest interiors.

How to identify it:

• Smooth, unbroken steel-gray bark throughout the tree's life
• Elliptical leaves with sharp, prominent side veins and toothed margins
• Spiny four-parted husks containing small triangular nuts
• Long, slender, lance-like winter buds, copper-colored

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Sugar maple is a co-dominant species in Indiana's climax beech-maple forests, forming the backbone of the forest community across the hilly south-central part of the state. Brown County State Park is one of the most celebrated fall color destinations in the Midwest partly because of its abundant sugar maple stands, which turn brilliant orange, red, and gold each October. Indiana sits within the core of the maple syrup production region, and many landowners tap native sugar maples in the state's southern forests. The tree's dense shade helps maintain the cool, moist microclimate needed for beech-maple community persistence.

Where to find it: Moist upland forests, ravines, north-facing slopes, alongside American beech.

How to identify it:

• Five-lobed leaves with smooth sinuses and a few large teeth on lobes
• Gray-brown bark developing shaggy, plate-like furrows with age
• Paired samaras with wings held nearly parallel to each other
• Brilliant orange to scarlet fall color, among the best in the Midwest

White Oak (Quercus alba)

White oak anchors the upland hardwood forests of southern and central Indiana, with outstanding specimens found in the Deam Wilderness of the Hoosier National Forest. The tree can live 500 years or more and provides a critical mast crop for deer, wild turkey, and squirrels. Older white oaks in Indiana's protected forests have trunk diameters exceeding 4 feet, and the state maintains a registry of notable trees. White oak timber is historically significant in Indiana's furniture and barrel-making industries, contributing to the state's wood products economy.

Where to find it: Upland ridges, oak-hickory forests, well-drained slopes and terraces.

How to identify it:

• Rounded leaf lobes without bristle tips, 7–9 lobes per leaf
• Light ashy-gray bark, blocky and scaly on mature trees
• Acorns with shallow cap covering about one-quarter of the nut
• Leaves turn deep wine-red to russet brown in autumn

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Sycamore is the unmistakable giant of Indiana's river corridors, its upper trunk and branches a patchwork of cream, white, and olive-green where the outer bark flakes away. It lines the banks of the White River, Wabash River, East Fork White River, and their tributaries throughout central and southern Indiana, often forming the tallest trees in floodplain forests. Indiana sycamores frequently exceed 6 feet in trunk diameter, and the state's largest specimens rank among the biggest in the eastern United States. Its large, maple-like leaves and round, ball-shaped seed clusters are distinctive field marks.

Where to find it: Floodplains, stream and river banks, moist bottomland soils.

How to identify it:

• Upper bark exfoliates in patches, revealing cream, white, and green inner bark
• Large, maple-like leaves with 3–5 shallow lobes and toothed margins
• Round, ball-shaped seed clusters about 1 inch in diameter, hanging singly
• Massive trunk diameter, among the largest of any eastern hardwood

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

Shagbark hickory is a constant companion to oaks in Indiana's upland hardwood forests, its distinctive peeling bark making it one of the easiest trees to identify year-round. It is common throughout the Hoosier National Forest and the state's southern hill country, where it produces a heavy crop of sweet, edible nuts. Indiana's rural communities have a long tradition of hickory nut gathering in autumn, and the hard, shock-resistant wood was historically essential for tool handles and wagon wheels. The tree's autumn foliage turns a clean, bright golden yellow, making it a standout in fall color displays.

Where to find it: Upland ridges and slopes in mixed oak-hickory forests.

How to identify it:

• Bark peels in long, flat, shaggy strips curving outward from the trunk
• Compound leaves with 5 leaflets, end leaflet noticeably larger
• Thick-husked round nuts that split cleanly into 4 sections at maturity
• Golden yellow fall foliage

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Sassafras is one of Indiana's most characterful native trees, instantly recognizable by its three different leaf shapes — oval, mitten-shaped with one lobe, and three-lobed — all occurring on the same tree. It is common in the understory and forest edges of southern and central Indiana, particularly along the eroded slopes and open woods of the Knobstone Escarpment. The roots and bark have a distinctive spicy-root-beer fragrance that was historically used to make tea and flavor candies. Sassafras spreads aggressively via root sprouts, forming dense thickets in abandoned fields and forest clearings.

Where to find it: Forest edges, old fields, disturbed uplands, well-drained slopes.

How to identify it:

• Three different leaf shapes on the same tree: oval, mitten, and three-lobed
• All parts of the tree have a distinctive spicy, root-beer fragrance when crushed
• Reddish-brown, deeply furrowed, corky bark on mature specimens
• Dark blue berries on bright red stalks in late summer

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Black walnut thrives in Indiana's rich bottomland soils and is one of the state's most economically important native trees, with high-quality veneer logs fetching premium prices from wood buyers. The Wabash and White river floodplains support large concentrations of black walnut, and Indiana consistently ranks among the top states for black walnut timber production. The large compound leaves cast dense shade, and the juglone produced by roots inhibits many surrounding plants. Squirrels are the primary dispersers of black walnut seeds in Indiana, and their caching behavior helps the tree colonize new sites.

Where to find it: Rich bottomlands, moist upland slopes, stream banks, old farmsteads.

How to identify it:

• Large compound leaves with 15–23 leaflets, often with a missing terminal leaflet
• Round, green, tennis ball-sized fruits with thick, pungent husk
• Dark, deeply furrowed bark in a diamond-shaped interlocking pattern
• Husk stains hands and clothing dark brown-black

Callery Pear

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) has become one of the most aggressively spreading invasive trees in Indiana, escaping suburban plantings to invade old fields, forest edges, and roadsides across the state. Indiana banned its sale and propagation in 2023. It leafs out weeks before native trees, out-competing native seedlings in early spring, and spreads prolifically by bird-dispersed seeds.

Tree of Heaven

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is widespread in urban and suburban Indiana, particularly along Indianapolis's interstates and rail corridors, and is spreading into natural areas in the southern hill country. It grows up to 6 feet per year and resprouts aggressively from roots after cutting. It is also the preferred host for the invasive spotted lanternfly, making early detection and removal critical.

White Mulberry

White mulberry (Morus alba) has naturalized throughout Indiana and poses a serious threat to native red mulberry populations through hybridization. It is common in forest edges, fence rows, and river corridors statewide. The Indiana DNR lists it as a significant ecological threat in riparian areas.

What trees dominate Indiana's Hoosier National Forest?

Hoosier National Forest in south-central Indiana is dominated by tulip tree, white oak, red oak, American beech, and sugar maple in its mature forest stands. The Deam Wilderness Area within the forest protects some of the finest examples of unmanaged old-growth-like hardwood forest in the state.

Why is the tulip tree Indiana's state tree?

The tulip tree was designated Indiana's state tree in 1931 in recognition of its ecological prominence and historical importance to the state. It is the tallest native hardwood in Indiana's forests, produces abundant wildlife food and habitat, and its high-quality timber was essential to early Indiana settlers for building homes and furniture.

What trees turn color first in Indiana fall?

Sassafras and sumac typically show color first in Indiana, often turning orange and red by mid-September. Sugar maple follows in early to mid-October, with tulip tree, shagbark hickory, and black walnut providing gold and yellow tones through mid to late October across the southern hill country.