British Columbia is home to a diverse range of tree species that thrive in its lush forests and woods. From towering conifers to delicate flowering species, the province’s rich forestry heritage is evident in the variety of trees that grow in both natural and cultivated environments. Whether you’re exploring the vast forests or tending to your own yard or garden, British Columbia offers a wealth of tree species to admire and appreciate.
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is a tree species native to the western United States. Despite its name, the western red cedar is not considered a cedar as it belongs to the Cypress family. This species is commercially used to make decks, siding, and guitar soundboards.
Common Douglas Fir
The Common Douglas Fir is named after David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who discovered it. Small mammals rely on the seeds for nutrition, and many Native American tribes used the bark, resin, and pine needles to prepare herbal remedies for various ailments. Common Douglas fir is often used in heavy timber buildings due to its sturdy wood.
Japanese Maple
A woody plant native to East Asia, the Japanese Maple features hand-shaped leaves with five-pointed lobes resembling the palm of a hand. It has been cultivated for millennia in Japan, and extracts from the branches and leaves of this plant are used in Chinese traditional medicine.
Corn plant
The corn plant is an evergreen, slow-growing perennial shrub native to tropical Africa. It’s a classic houseplant, grown in Europe since the 1800s, with glossy green foliage resembling corn leaves growing on top of a thick cane.
Bigleaf Maple
The bigleaf maple is known for its large leaves. The wood is commercially used to produce a variety of products like furniture, guitars, and gun stocks. Bigleaf maple syrup is not as well-known or well-liked as that made from sugar maple trees, but can be produced just as easily.
Common Holly
Common holly is an evergreen tree or shrub, recognized by the characteristic shape of its leaves and bright red berries. Its natural habitat is under-stories of oak and beech forests. Common holly is widely used in landscaping in temperate regions. Thick crown and prickly leaves make this plant excellent for hedges.
Red Alder
The red alder, one of the world’s largest alders, takes its common name from the vibrant reddish color that emerges in its bruised or scraped bark. The various parts of this tree have multiple uses. Native Americans use the bark of this tree to make dye and medicine. Its wood is used in construction and furniture.
Western Hemlock
Western hemlock is a hemlock tree species native to North America. Western hemlock is planted throughout California and other regions for ornamental purposes as well as forestry.
Indian Plum
Indian plum is a small shrub with purple bark. This species grows in sunny locations and sparsely in shady areas. In the springtime, clumps of white flowers appear on the Indian plum. Following the flowers, this plant produces a peach-colored fruit.
Sweet Cherry
The sweet cherry is a well-known species to fruit lovers worldwide. This stone fruit varies in flavor from sweet to tart, depending on the specific cultivar. Sweet cherry is also used for lumber and is a preferred wood type for furniture.
Pacific Madrone
Pacific Madrone is an evergreen tree whose distinguishing feature is its copper-colored bark that when mature naturally peels away from the trunk of the tree. After the mature bark peels off in sheets, it leaves a smooth, satiny surface that is silver-green colored. The pacific madrone produces flowers in spring, followed by berries in autumn.
Apple
Apple is the most widely cultivated tree fruit around the globe. The three top apple-producing countries are China, the United States, and Poland with an economic impact of $3.55 billion in 2017. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples throughout the world.
Western Serviceberry
A large shrub with edible berries, the western serviceberry is both beautiful and delicious. Pretty white flowers appear first, followed by green leaves which turn to yellowish red in the fall. Berries appear in late summer and turn a deep blue shade when ripe.
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus Syriacus is a deciduous shrub with trumpet-shaped pink, lavender, or white flowers. Although it was first collected by Western botanists from Syrian gardens, ‘Rose of Sharon’ is native to south-central and southeastern China. Because of its hardiness and prolific blooming, it is cultivated all around the world. It is the national flower of South Korea, mentioned in its national anthem.
Common Lilac
Common lilac is a shrub native to the Balkan Peninsula that blooms with a fragrant blossom. It grows on rocky terrain and has a suckering habit. The blossoms are used to flavor honey, sugars, food, and other delights and farmed for its fragrant flowers in the spring.
Vine Maple
Vine maple is a maple tree native to western Northern America, especially the California coast. Vine maple normally grows in the wild but is occasionally cultivated for ornamental purposes. The tree bends over easily and can grow into the ground.
European Mountain Ash
The European mountain ash, is a deciduous tree native to Europe. It grows a slim trunk with upward-curving branches as it matures. Its admirable upright and dense branching gives the plant an oval crown. The juicy and soft clustered fruits are an excellent source of food for birds, while its yellow to plum foliage adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.
Rubber Tree
The rubber tree is a large tree with wide, oval, glossy leaves. Its milky white latex was used for making rubber before Pará rubber tree came into use, hence the name. Rubber tree is an ornamental species, often grown as a houseplant in cooler climates.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
As its name implies, the fiddle-leaf fig has leaves that are shaped like a violin. Wildly popular as a houseplant, the Ficus lyrata makes an architectural statement with its unique and lush leaves. However, please be aware that this plant is finicky and can be hard to keep alive.
Kousa Dogwood
The Kousa dogwood is known for its ornamental appeal. The showy flowers and bark, as well as the lovely fall foliage, make this vase-shaped tree a great addition to your patio, yard, or lawn. The tree matures to about 9 m high and is often just as wide.
Need help identifying trees in your neighbourhood? Talk to us and we’d be happy to help.
This post was written with the help of Picture This.
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