The long lifespan of many trees, which could be centuries or even millennia in the case of a few species, is a source of awe and inspiration for many. The bark of trees can often tell some stories ...

Bark is a compilation of dead cells that are gradually sloughed off as the trunk grows in diameter. It is formed by an amazing, thin layer of cells known as the vascular cambium. Outer bark — the part ...

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk, branches, and twigs) is woody, composed of xylem cells that conduct water from the roots to the upper parts of the tree. That woody section is ...

If asked to describe what tree bark looks like, most people probably would say something like: “It’s rough and brown and covers the trunk of a tree.” That is a good description of many trees, but not ...

At first glance, the branch appears completely empty.

Training one’s eye to identify trees is a fun way to connect with the world around us and can be useful for making home landscape selections. Trees are often identified using leaf shape and color, ...

Gardeners who limit their love to leaves and flowers are barking up the wrong tree. Sure, those ephemeral features are undeniably seductive, but their allure is limited to warmer months. In the ...

Across much of the United States, birch trees stand out in home landscapes for their striking presence in every season. Their ...

Winter time is somewhat of a downtime for deciduous trees. After a growing season's worth of beautiful foliage, culminating in the wonderful fall display of color, woody plants enter the long, cold ...

At this season, one of the most important features of trees and shrubs really shines: bark. “In winter, with the leaves gone, it’s more exposed, and we can really see it,” says Kris Bachtell, vice ...

The two years Princeton senior Joe Kawalec spent studying the natural camouflage of the ubiquitous downy woodpecker oddly enough began and ended the same way — tracing the outlines of birds. In ...

A picture supposedly showing an unusual wood pattern beneath the bark of a burned tree is met with a wide range of reactions (and humorous comments) whenever it circulates on social media: This is a ...