18 Tree Names Starting With R

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This is the complete list of tree species starting with the letter R.

1. Raisintree, Japanese

Scientific Name: Hovenia dulcis

Family: Rhamnaceae

Native: China

Type: Deciduous

This tree grows to 10 m tall with a single, erect trunk.

The leaf is alternate, simple, and papery. The flower is bisexual and yellow-green, produced in dense terminal clusters.

The fruit is a juicy and round drupe that is purple-black in color.

2. Randia

Scientific Name: Randia aculeata

Family: Rubiaceae

Native: Central and Southern Florida

Type: Evergreen

This spiny, densely branched shrub grows to 3.5 m tall. The leaves are opposite and narrowly wedge shaped.

The upper surface is medium green or light green, and the lower surface is paler.

The flower has white-spreading petals, and the fruit is an oval berry.

3. Redbay

Scientific Name: Persea borbonia

Family: Lauraceae

Native: North Carolina

Type: Evergreen

This plant is a shrub or a medium-sized tree to 25m tall.

The leaves are alternate, simple, thick, and leathery. The flower is small with six tepals and green to greenish white in color.

The fruit is a round or oblong dark blue drupe.

4. Redbud, Chinese

Scientific Name: Cercis canadensis

Family: Fabaceae

Native: East Ontario

Type: Deciduous


This tree grows from 8 to 14 m tall with a single short trunk. The leaves are alternate, appearing simple and broadly ovate.

The flower is bisexual and magenta in color, with five petals.

The fruit is a flattened, oblong legume about 1 cm broad.

5. Redcardinal

Scientific Name: Erythrina herbacea

Family: Fabaceae

Native: Southeast North Carolina

Type: Deciduous

This tree grows to about 18 m tall, larger in its native range.

The leaves are alternate and pinnate with 3 to 7 leaflets. The flower is bisexual and yellowish-white.

It is also fragrant. The fruit is a flattened brown legume.

6. Redcedar, Australian

Scientific Name: Toona ciliata

Family: MelIaceae

Native: Asia and Australia

Type: Deciduous

This tree grows to 30 m tall with a rounded crown.

The leaf is alternate and compound with 9 to 15 pairs of leaflets. The flower is fragrant and unisexual, borne in pendent inflorescences.

The fruit is a capsule 1.5 to 2.5 cm long.

7. Redgum, River

Scientific Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Family: Myrtaceae

Native: Australia

Type: Evergreen

This tree grows from 20 to 30m tall with a leathery light green leaf.

The flowers are small and white, borne in axillary clusters of 7 to 11 flowers.

The fruit is a capsule with a smooth texture. It is bowl-shaped and has 4 broad teeth.

8. Rhododendron, Rosebay

Scientific Name: Rhododendron maximum

Family: Ericaceae

Native: Maine South

Type: Evergreen

This large shrub or small tree grows to 10 m tall and has an alternate, simple leaf with a flat, lustrous green surface.

The flower has a white corolla and greenish-yellow spots on the petals. The fruit is an elongated capsule.

9. Rose, Confederate

Scientific Name: Hibiscus mutabilis

Family: Malvaceae

Native: China

Type: Deciduous

This large shrub or small tree grows to 5m tall with multiple stems.

The leaves are alternate, simple, and broadly ovate. The upper surface is medium to dark green. The flower has a white or reddish corolla.

The fruit is a rounded yellowish capsule.

10. Rose-of-China

Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Family: Malvaceae

Native: China

Type: Deciduous

This plant is a popular ornamental with distinct unlobed leaves. The flowers are pendent with hairless stalks.

The petals are slightly incised, and the stamen is longer than the corolla.

This plant is also known as Chinese Hibiscus.

11. Rose-of-Sharon

Scientific Name: Hibiscus syriacus

Family: Malvaceae

Native: Asia

Type: Deciduous

This shrub or small tree grows to 3 m tall and is a popular ornamental that sometimes escapes cultivated areas.

The leaves are wedge-shaped and have 3 to 5 veins. This plant is also known as the shrubby althea.

12. Rosebay, Catawba

Scientific Name: Rhododendron catawbiense

Family: Ericaceae

Native: Eastern U.S.

Type: Evergreen

This shrub or small tree grows from 3.5 to 7 m tall with a single shrubby trunk.

It has an alternate, simple leaf with a rounded base and dark upper surface.

The flower has a pink corolla and is bell shaped. The fruit is a linear or oblong capsule.

13. Rosewood, Indian

Scientific Name: Dalbergia sissoo

Family: Fabaceae

Native: India

Type: Evergreen

This partly deciduous tree grows to 18m tall with a single crooked trunk.

The leaf is alternate, pinnate, and has 3 to 7 leaflets.

The flower is bisexual, yellowish-white, and fragrant. The fruit is a flattened brown legume.

14. Rabbitbrush, Parish’s

Scientific Name: Ericameria parishii

Family: Asteraceae

Native: Coastal mountain ranges of southern California

Type: Evergreen

This tree grows to 5m tall with many twigs in clusters resembling brooms. The leaf is simple, oblong, and stalkless.

The flower has narrow heads and is golden yellow. They are borne in dense round clusters with brown midribs.

The fruit is seedlike, narrow, and silvery, topped with many brown bristles.

15. Redberry, Hollyleaf

Scientific Name: Prunus ilicifolia

Family: Rosaceae

Native: Central California to Baja California

Type: Evergreen

This evergreen and hairless shrub or tree grows to 9 m tall with alternate, stiff, and simple leaves that have a glossy dark green upper surface.

The flower is bisexual, borne in dense spike-like clusters. The fruit is an ovoid drupe.

16. Redheart

Scientific Name: Ceanothus spinosus

Family: Rosaceae

Native: South California to Baja California

Type: Evergreen

This shrub or small tree grows from 2 to 6 m tall with ascending branches. The leaves are alternate, leathery and elliptic, dark green on the upper surface.

The flower is pale blue or white, borne numerously. The fruit is a round 3-chambered capsule.

17. Redshank

Scientific Name: Adenostoma sparsifolium

Family: Fabaceae

Native: South California to Baja California

Type: Evergreen

This erect evergreen shrub or small tree grows from 2 to 6 m tall.

The leaves are clustered near branch ends and are alternate, simple, and flexible.

The flowers are small and borne in loose clusters. The fruit is an elliptical achene.

18. Retama

Scientific Name: Parkinsonia aculeata

Family: Fabaceae

Native: Mexico

Type: Deciduous

This tree is nearly evergreen and grows up to 12m in height. The trunk is low-branched with several branches stooping low, giving it a round crown.

The bark is smooth and green.

The leaves are alternate bipinnately compounds, and the flowers are yellow and grow in terminal clusters.

Bottom Line

I am sure, this quick guide will help you identify trees starting with the letter R.

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