Tree Identification

Trees Found In The Forests Of North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana

With its various elevations, favorable climate, and four distinct seasons, our area is the perfect home for "softwood" trees.

Softwoods have needles instead of the broad leaves found on hardwood trees such as cherry, walnut, and oak. Softwoods are also known as "conifers" or cone-bearing trees because they reproduce using seed containers called cones.

Softwood lumber is lightweight and flexible, yet strong and easy to saw, plane, and nail. These properties make it ideal for home construction, and its long, strong fibers make excellent paper products.

More than 20 tree species live in our local forests, and each has a preferred growing range. Many factors contribute to the relative suitability of a growing range for each species of tree. While soil composition, moisture, slope direction, inter-species competition, microclimate, and history of fire each play a role, elevation is the most important factor in defining a tree's growing range. As elevation increases, temperatures decrease and moisture levels rise. Trees that require more water and can withstand colder temperatures tend to be found higher on the slopes. Other species that can withstand higher temperatures and drier soils grow at lower elevations.

North Idaho Evergreens

Western White Pine "Idaho's State Tree"

Whitebark Pine

Lodgepole Pine

Ponderosa Pine

Western Hemlock

Mountain Hemlock

Western Larch

Douglas Fir

Subalpine Fir

Grand Fir

Engelmann Spruce

Western Redcedar

Pacific Yew

Western Paper Birch

Black Cottonwood

Quaking Aspen