Field Guides to Pacific Northwest Trees

Books that Identify Native Conifers and Broadleaf Trees

Oct 4, 2009

With the guides below, nature enthusiasts will know a Douglas fir from a hemlock and an Oregon ash from an elderberry.

Field guides are the friend of many a hiker who wants to know the trees by name. Once a few are identified, their individual characteristics become more apparent and outdoor enjoyment increases.

These guides, written specifically for the Pacific Northwest, can make identification of both conifers and broadleaf trees easy and add to the enjoyment of a day in the woods.

George Petrides with illustrations by Olivia Petrides, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 1998. 103 pages, $9.95

George Petrides and Olivia Petrides are also the author and illustrator of the Peterson Field Guide to Western Trees, a part of the popular nature guide series developed by Roger Tory Peterson. This volume narrows in on the trees of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. The exacting drawings and easy-to-follow descriptions can pinpoint just about any tree encountered in the wild of this region. Trees are organized according to a descriptive key. It’s a compact book, easy to carry in a day pack.

Stephen F. Arno with art by Ramona P. Hammerly, The Mountaineers Press, Seattle, 2007. 220 pages, $18.95

This is the anniversary edition of Arno’s classic book first published in 1977. It covers conifer and broadleaf trees found in Washington, northern Oregon, southern British Columbia, northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. Within this “Greater Northwest” region of diverse climates and elevations, the author outlines the array of trees found in both dense, damp forests and drier open woodlands. Entries for each tree run to two or three pages, giving a comprehensive view of the species’ natural history, in easy-to-understand, friendly narration. The beautiful illustrations by Ramona Hammerly show not only leaves, flowers, fruits and cones for identification, but portray the various trees within their habitats. A botanical key, rendered in non-technical language, is included for exact species identification.

Trees and Shrubs of Washington, C.P. Lyons, Lone Pine Publishing, Auburn WA, 1999. 159 pages, $17.95.

Almost all these Washington species are also found in neighboring Oregon and southern British Columbia, making it useful throughout the region. Large color photos accompany descriptions, with the most prominent characteristics highlighted. An introductory photo key with accompanying page numbers provides for quick initial visual identification. Descriptions are inclusive enough to provide interesting facts, such as Native American uses of various trees. An ecosystem map is included, along with a discussion of the distinct habitats within Washington, such as the coast forest ecosystem, subalpine, sagebrush and the San Juan Islands. The author is a graduate of the University of British Columbia in forest engineering and in 1940 became the first technical employee of the new Parks Branch of the B.C. Forest Service. Since that time he has authored many books, produced wildlife and travel films, lectured and guided numerous tours.

Mac's Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Trees, Craig MacGowan, Mountaineers Books, Seattle, WA 1994, $4.95

These laminated, two-sided sheets are about 8 inches by 11 inches and packed with names, brief descriptions and color drawings of the region’s trees. They’re a quick reference and easy to carry into the field for readily identifying the most common trees of the region. This is one of a series of Mac’s Field Guides that cover birds, mammals, wildflowers, tidepool creatures and numerous other nature topics.

Pacific Coast Tree Finder: A Pocket Manual for Identifying Pacific Coast Trees, Tom Watts, Nature Study Guild, 2004, Berkeley, CA. 59 pages, $3.95

At about four by six inches, this is truly a pocket sized guide that can be carried easily on any adventure into the forest. Organized as a simple botanical key with illustrations, it makes identification almost certain. For such a small book, it includes a surprisingly large number of trees – most of the ones likely to be found on popular forest or woodland trails. This is a great book to use in introducing kids to tree identification.

There are many other field guides that treat trees of the entire western region of North America, but those listed here narrow the search down for hikers and nature enthusiasts in the Northwest region.

The copyright of the article Field Guides to Pacific Northwest Trees in Plant Species is owned by Linda McDonnell. Permission to republish Field Guides to Pacific Northwest Trees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.