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How to identify autumn leaves
Autumn leaf ID guide
Autumn is a great time of year to identify trees from their fallen leaves.
Learn how to recognise the common species found in the UK from the shape, structure and colour of their leaves with this handy guide.
European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
A pinnate leaf is a compound leaf where individual leaflets are arranged in rows along both sides of a central stalk. Ash leaves can be identified by their nine tooth-edged leaflets along the midrib (the primary leaf vein).
In autumn, Ash leaves fade from a vibrant mid-green to yellow and drop in late October. Ash trees also have distinctive brown key-like seeds that hang in bunches from the branches, giving them their name.
Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Beech leaves have wavy edges rather than defined 'teeth'. They have 5 to 9 pairs of parallel side-veins that run straight from the central vein to the edge of the leaf. The leaves are rounded in shape, tapering to a gentle point
In autumn Beech leaves turn from light green to bright orange, before dropping gradually from October. To aide identification, look out for the distinctive nut husks with their velcro-like bristles, littering the floor.
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
Elder has pinnate leaves (individual leaflets arranged in rows along both sides of a central stalk), with 5 to 7 tooth-edged leaflets in opposite pairs on each stalk. The leaves are oval in shape and taper to a fine point.
In autumn, Elder leaves transition from bright green to yellow, the occasionally red, before dropping between October and November. Look out for the dark glossy blue/black berries to help you identify this tree.
Hawthorn (Cretaegus monogyna)
Hawthorn has small, lobed leaves, similar to an oak, but much smaller and more jagged in appearance. The serrated lobes cut deeply into the leaf, often almost all the way down to the central stalk.
In autumn, Hawthorn may show green, yellow, orange and red leaves all on the same tree. The leaves drop from November, leaving vibrant red berries on the tree.
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Hazel has small, downy, heart-shaped leaves, with finely serrated edges.
Hazel leaves turn from rich green to bright yellow in October, dropping by December.
Look out for fallen Hazelnuts (known as cobs) to help you identify this tree. The nuts sit in a leafy, acorn-like shell and ripen from a creamy green to rich brown in September and October.
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Horse Chestnut leaves are compound or 'pinnate', with 5 to 7 leaflets. The leaflets radiate out from a single point on of the stalk, (palmate), in the shape of a hand.
In autumn, Horse Chestnut leaves turn from rich green to warm yellows, bronze and amber.
The leaves naturally start to fall from September, but may turn brown and drop as early as August if the tree is infested by the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner Moth (Cameraria ohridella).
Also look out for distinctive spiky shells and glossy brown conkers littering the ground to help you identify Horse Chestnut trees in autumn.
English Oak (Quercus robur)
The leaf of the English Oak has has 3 to 6 pairs of uneven, rounded lobes with smooth, blunt edges. English Oak also has a very short stalk, hidden by two small leaves at the base, known as 'ears'. These characteristics help to distinguish the leaves form Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) - another common species.
English oak leaves turn from dark green to yellow-brown from October, and drop from November to December. Oak trees can also be identified by their iconic acorns in autumn.
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Silver Birch has a triangular or diamond shape leaf with a broad, flat base that tapers to a slender pointed tip. The edges of the leaf has alternating large and small teeth, with sharp points.
In autumn Silver Birch leaves turn from light green to golden yellow, falling from October.
Between September and October, the tubular catkins of the Silver Birch also begin to disintegrate, scattering their thin, papery seeds across the ground.
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
The oval or lance-shaped leaves of the Sweet Chestnut are very large and sharply toothed.
In autumn the glossy green leaves turn bright golden-yellow or yellow-orange. The incredibly spiky green husks and flat-sided chestnuts (unlike rounder conkers), can help you ID this tree in autumn.
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
The leaf of the Sycamore tree has 5 distinct tooth-edged lobes on a long stem. This distinguishes it from Field Maple (also an acer), which is has smooth edged leaves with no teeth.
In autumn, Sycamore leaves turn from dark green to pale yellow, brown, or sometimes orange and red. Their autumn colours are also less vibrant than Field Maple.
Sycamore trees can also be identified by their distinctive double winged seed pods, which have rounded tips and form a sharp 'V' shape. They can often be found scattered on the ground.
Autumn leaf spotter sheet
Download our autumn leaf spotter sheet to help you identify trees from their autumn leaves when you are out and about