Can you identify this tree?

Question

I have a reddish-purple tree in my backyard I can not identify. It is reddish-purple year around. The leaves are the same color, as is the berries. I live in Northern Illinois and it seems they are everywhere. Any ideas what type of tree it might be?

Answer 1

Take a cutting to your local nursery. They will identify it for you.

Answer 2

There are many species with the reddish-purple leaves.

It is possible it is a red maple tree, fancy chineese red maple, or possibly a flowering cherry tree that has branches that fall towards the ground.

Might just take a picture of it to your local garden center that knows about trees and plants, they can direct you.

Answer 3

You probably don't want the grand and glorious books like Elias's Trees of North America for this, just because there are so many species, most of which don't grow commonly in your area. Search for the name of your state (or province) and "tree identification" or "tree key" and you'll probably find something. Restricting the search to sites with .edu or .gov will probably improve the search. Otherwise, there are several good beginner's guides to trees around, including May Watts' Tree Finder that can slip into just about any pocket, Brockman's Trees of North America (Golden Guides) and the tree volumes in the Peterson Field Guide series. One bit of advice: my students were always astounded that the field guides that used drawings were much easier than the ones with photos... it's easier to point out the critical details in a good drawing. I usually had a few students who told me I was crazy, that photos were better, at the beginning of class... most changed their minds by the end.

Answer 4

It's a reddish-purple berry tree. They are common in northern Illinois.

Answer 5

Your best bet is to take a sample to the nearest extension agent office. Or call them, and you may be able to e- mail a picture. From what you are saying here, it has leaves year round. That throws me off because most plants coming to mind are diciduous and lose their leaves in winter.

Do you know how to contact the extension agent? Look in the phone book under the nearest county government. if there is no county extension office listed, just call the information office for county government and they should be able to give you the number. It has different names in different states but they all have an agricultural extension office, and your tax dollars have paid them to answer you. Don't be shy.

Answer 6

Does your tree in your backyard look like: http://www.djroger.com/schubert_chokecherry.jpg

They grow all over but if you pull up a search from google..it looks like most of the responses are coming from your area. :)
Hope that helps any.

Answer 7

Could be an ornimental plumb tree. The berries are not in clusters right?

Answer 8

What are the shapes of the leaves?
Are the leaves serrated, or smooth on the edges?
Are the leaves opposite of eachother?
What is the height of the tree?

But it sounds like dogwood.

Answer 9

sand cherry

Answer 10

crabapple