Winter’s Naked Truth: How to ID Your Trees

Winter gardening can feel a bit like looking at a black-and-white photo—lots of texture, but the obvious clues are gone. If you’ve ever walked past a bare tree in the winter and wondered if it’s an Elm or an Ash, you’re in the right place. Today, we are stripping it all back and diving into the language of bark, tree silhouettes, and leaf scars so you can feel a little more confident on those winter walks.

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When in Doubt, Call the Pros: Why Arborists are Winter Heroes

Let’s talk about the real MVPs: Certified Arborists. While we’re cozying up with cocoa, these pros are out in the cold doing their best work. Why? Because winter is actually the prime time for pruning.

• The “Naked” Advantage: Without leaves in the way, arborists can see the “bones” of the tree perfectly. They spot structural flaws, crossed branches, and disease much easier than in the summer.

• Dormancy is Key: Pruning in winter minimizes stress on the tree and prevents the spread of certain pests and fungi that are also dormant.

• Precision ID: An arborist doesn’t need a leaf to tell a Maple from a Mountain Ash. It’s their literal job to know every groove of bark and every bud placement. If you’ve got a massive tree that needs more than a “haircut,” hire a pro. They’ll keep your leafy friends healthy for decades.

The cool thing about arborists is they can usually identify not only the general type of tree, but sometimes even the variety!

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1. Bark: The Tree’s Fingerprint

Bark is the most consistent way to identify a tree year-round. In winter, it’s the star of the show.

• The Paper Chaser (Birch): This is the “easy mode” of tree ID. If it’s white and peeling off in horizontal papery strips, you’re looking at a Birch.

• The Deep Grooves (Cottonwood/Oak): Older Cottonwoods and many Oaks have deeply furrowed, “corky” bark. It looks like a topographical map of a mountain range.

• The Smooth Operator (Beech/Young Poplar): Some trees maintain a smooth, almost skin-like bark for years. Beech trees are famous for this—they look like elephant legs!

• The Diamond Pattern (Ash): If you look closely at a mature Ash tree, the ridges in the bark often form distinct diamond shapes.

2. The Silhouette: Shape Matters

Sometimes, you can ID a tree from across the park just by its “outfit.” The overall habit or shape of the tree is a massive clue.

• Columnar: These trees are the “tall drinks of water.” They grow straight up and stay narrow, like a pillar. Think Columnar Aspens or certain types of Maples.

• Weeping: Branches that dive toward the ground. The Weeping Willow is the classic example, but Weeping Birches are also common in Calgary landscapes.

• Pyramidal: Wide at the bottom, tapering to a point. Many young Lindens and Oaks follow this “Christmas tree” logic even without the needles.

• Vase-Shaped: The classic American Elm shape. The trunk goes up and then “fountains” out into a wide, elegant canopy.

![An image illustrating common deciduous tree silhouettes in winter: columnar, weeping, pyramidal, and vase-shaped.]

3. Leftovers: Fruit and Seed Pods

Trees are a bit messy, and thank goodness for that! Often, the “trash” left behind is the best clue.

• The Bean Pods (Manitoba Maple/Catalpa): If you see long, cigar-like pods hanging on, or “helicopter” samaras (the little wings) still clinging to the tips, you’ve got a Maple or a Catalpa.

• The Cones (Alder): Wait, a deciduous tree with cones? Yep! Alders have tiny, woody “cones” that stick around all winter.

• Persistent Berries (Mountain Ash/Crabapple): These are the bird feeders of the winter world. If the tree is covered in clusters of orange or red pomes, it’s likely one of these hardy favorites.

4. Leaf Scars: The Secret “Monkey Face”

This is where you get to be a real plant nerd. A leaf scar is the mark left on a twig after a leaf falls off. You’ll need to get up close for this.

• Black Walnut: This is the fan favorite. If you look at the leaf scar of a Black Walnut, it looks exactly like a little monkey face (the vascular bundles look like eyes and a mouth).

• Ash Trees: Their scars are typically shield-shaped or circular.

• Horse Chestnut: Look for a large, horseshoe-shaped scar, often with “nail holes” (bundle scars) around the edge.

![An image of a Black Walnut leaf scar on a winter twig, clearly showing the “monkey face” appearance.]

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Still Stumped? The City of Calgary Has Your Back

If you’re out for a walk in YYC and find a public tree that’s driving you crazy, don’t stress. The City of Calgary Tree Map is an incredible digital database. You can zoom in on almost any tree on public land (parks, boulevards, etc.), click the dot, and it will tell you exactly what species was planted there. It’s the ultimate “cheat code” for learning your local flora!