30 Most Common Trees in Arkansas

The state of Arkansas is home to a diverse variety of trees. Some trees found in Arkansas are not native trees, but were introduced by people. Let’s look at thirty of the most common varieties you will see in the state.

Arkansas is home to trees from many different regions, typically trees that are native to Arkansas will be trees found in the plant hardiness zone of 4a. This zone allows for trees that can handle freezing temperatures and lack of precipitation.

The climate of Arkansas can change drastically throughout the year, trees that are native to Arkansas must be able to adapt. For this reason many trees of Arkansas can also be found growing in different parts of the United States.

Arkansas is home to the most number of trees that are native to North America. These are the most common trees in Arkansas.

1. Loblolly Pine (pinus taeda)

Loblolly pines can be found along most parts of the southern United States, from Arkansas all the way up to New Jersey. These trees prefer swamps and low-lying areas, which is why they are commonly found growing in Arkansas. Loblolly trees are typically tall trees with thick, dark bark. They can grow up to fifty feet tall and live an average of two hundred years.

2. Honey Locust (gleditsia triacanthos)

The honey locust can be found growing throughout the United States, Arkansas being no exception. These trees are usually fast-growing trees that prefer full sun exposure, but they can also grow in partially shaded areas. Honey locust trees are typically medium-sized trees with small pinnate leaves and compound leaves.

3. Persimmon (diospyros virginiana)

Persimmon trees can be found growing in deciduous forests throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with dark green leaves. Their fruit is edible and typically orange-yellow to red-orange; it’s also sweet and delicious.

4. Eastern Red cedar (juniperus virginiana)

Eastern red cedars are trees that can be found growing across the eastern half of the United States, including Arkansas. They are trees with scale-like leaves and gray bark. Eastern red cedar trees are medium-sized trees, typically shorter than evergreen trees, but taller than most deciduous trees.

5. Osage Orange (maclura pomifera)

Osage orange trees are trees that can be found growing along the southern edge of the United States; they also grow in Arkansas. These trees are medium-sized trees with compound leaves and extremely hard wood. Their fruit is edible, but not usually eaten because it doesn’t taste good. They produce a smelly substance when cut.

6. Maple-leaf Oak (quercus acerifolia)

Maple-leaf Oak trees can be found growing in areas of Arkansas that have fertile soil and abundant water. These trees grow up to one hundred and fifty feet tall, becoming the largest trees in Arkansas. Their leaves are shaped like maple leaves with pointed tips and lobes extending out from the center vein.

7. White Oak (quercus garryana)

White oaks trees are trees that can be found growing across the United States. These trees are trees with lobed leaves on long stalks, green in color on top and pale on bottom. They are medium-sized trees, typically growing shorter than other large trees.

8. Mockernut Hickory (carya alba)

Mockernut Hickory trees are trees that can be found growing in the southeast region of North America. They also grow in Arkansas. These trees are medium-sized trees with dark green leaves and brown husks covering their fruit.

9. Honey Locust (gleditsia triacanthos)

Honey locust trees are trees that can be found growing in deciduous forests throughout the southern United States. These trees are medium-sized trees with compound leaves. They produce a smelly substance when cut.

10. Black Cherry (prunus serotina)

Black cherry trees are trees that can be found growing in the eastern half of the United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with very hard wood. Their fruit is edible, but not usually eaten because it doesn’t taste good.

11. Sassafras (sassafras albidum)

Sassafras trees can be found growing in deciduous forests throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with dark green leaves and extremely hard wood.

12. Winged Elm (ulmus alata)

Winged elm trees are trees that can be found growing along the southern edge of the United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with compound leaves and hard wood.

13. Box Elder (Acer Negundo)

Box Elder trees are trees that can be found growing across the United States. These trees are medium-sized trees and hard wood. Box elder trees are trees with three-lobed leaves and green fruit. The trees do produce seeds, but they’re typically too small to be used for anything.

14. Silver Maple (acer saccharinum)

Silver maple trees are trees that can be found growing along the southern edge of the United States, Arkansas included. The leaves shaped like maple leaves, but they’re silver underneath. The trees produce a smelly substance when cut, and the fruit is edible and typically orange-yellow to red-orange.

15. River Birch (betula nigra) 

Birch trees are trees that can be found growing in the northern half of the United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with bark that’s paper-thin when young and peels in vertical strips when older. They produce a strong scent when cut or bruised.

16. Sugarberry (celtis laevigata)

Sugarberry trees are trees that can be found growing in deciduous forests throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with compounded leaves. Their fruit is edible and typically orange to red-orange in color.

17. Common Hackberry (celtis occidentalis) 

Hackberry trees can be found growing in deciduous forests throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are medium-sized trees with compound leaves and hard wood. The bark is gray and the trees produce a smelly substance when cut.

18. Green Ash (fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Green ash trees are trees that can be found growing across the United States. These trees are trees with compound leaves and horizontal branching patterns. They produce a smelly substance when cut, and their fruit is typically brown in color.

19. Sycamore (platanus occidentalis)

Sycamore trees are trees that can be found growing along the southern edge of the United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with compound leaves and soft wood. The bark is white and flakes off as it ages.

20. Eastern Cottonwood (populus deltoides)

Cottonwood trees are trees that can be found growing in the state of Arkansas as well. These trees are trees with compound leaves and soft wood. They can be a majestic sight, large trees with cotton-like seeds.

21. Black Willow (salix nigra)

Willow trees are trees that can be found growing throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with soft wood and compound leaves. The bark is gray and peels off in strips when older.

22. American Elm (ulmus americana)

Elm trees can be found throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with soft wood and compound leaves. They produce a smelly substance when cut or broken, and their fruit is edible but not typically eaten because it doesn’t taste good.

23. Water Tupelo (nyssa aquatica)

Water Tupelo trees are trees that can be found growing in swamps, floodplains, and along rivers throughout the southern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with gray-white bark that’s smooth when young but develops deep furrows as it ages. The trees produce a smelly substance when cut or broken.

24. Bald Cypress (taxodium distichum)

Bald cypress trees are trees that can be found growing in the southeastern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with gray-white bark that’s smooth when young but develops deep furrows as it ages.

25. Red Buckeye (aesculus pavia)

Buckeye trees can be found growing in the southeastern United States, Arkansas included. These trees are trees with soft wood and compound leaves with five leaflets per leaf. Red Buckeye look like Horse-chestnut trees, but they are smaller in size.

26. Serviceberry (amelanchier arborea)

Serviceberry trees are trees that can be found growing in the northern half of Arkansas. These trees are trees with compound leaves and edible fruit. The bark is grayish-brown to dark brown in color.

27. Devil’s Walkingstick (aralia spinosa)

Walkingstick trees are trees that can be found growing in Arkansas. These trees are trees with compound leaves and spines. The bark is grayish-brown to dark brown in color, while the twigs produce an unpleasant odor when cut or broken.

28. Eastern Redbud (cercis canadensis)

Redbud trees are trees that can be found in Arkansas. These trees are trees with compound leaves and edible fruit. The bark is grayish-brown to dark brown in color, it’s smooth when young but develops deep furrows as it ages.

29. Flowering Dogwood (cornus florida)

Dogwood trees are trees that can be found somewhat abundantly in Arkansas. These trees are trees with compound leaves and dark brown bark. The twigs produce an unpleasant odor when cut or broken, while the fruit is typically bright red in color.

30. Mexican plum (prunus mexicana)

Mexican plum trees are trees that can be found growing in Arkansas. These trees are trees with compound leaves and edible fruit. These trees produce a smelly substance when cut or broken, while the bark is gray-brown to reddish in color.