I have featured many of the wonderful identification charts and posters from the French publisher Larousse. The latest collection is of the wonderful tree posters from one of their illustrative dictionaries.

From earlier editions of the dictionary, I have featured antique botanical posters, sealife posters, and animal posters. Many of these wonderful Natural history identification posters were illustrated by the French Naturalist Adolphe Millot.

I don’t know the name of the artist for these wonderful tree posters. They were published 11 years after the death of Adolphe Millot in 1932. I can safely assume on this occasion, he wasn’t the illustrator.

The Vintage Tree Posters

The amazing tree illustration charts are all from the Larousse of the Twentieth Century (1932). A universal encyclopedic dictionary in six volumes and printed in gravure.

It succeeded the previous Larousse Universal Dictionary of the nineteenth century, being more concise, abundantly illustrated, more scientifically based, and setting itself the objective of renewing the knowledge of its time.

The tree identification posters cover four different categories of trees, two ornamental tree posters and another two simply titled trees in color. All these posters are in the Public Domain.

To download and print the tree poster you want, click on the title above that poster. A higher resolution image will open in a new window on your browser. If you right-click on that image you will have the option to save it to your hard drive.

1. Arbres d’ornement-1 – Ornamental Trees in Color 1

This poster is of ornamental trees, including illustrations of their flowers. There is a key at the bottom of the poster identifying all 17 species of trees. I have provided a translation from French to English of the named trees.

1. Thuya d’occident – Northern white cedar
2. Cedre du Liban – Lebanese cedar
3. Eucalyptus globuleux – Southern Blue Gum
4. Saule de Babylone ou Saule pleureur – Weeping willow
5. Araucria –  Evergreen coniferous tree
6. Frêne fleuri – Flowering Ash
7. Gingkon bilobe – Ginkgo biloba
8. Arbre de Judee – Judas tree
9. Lilas de Marly – Lilac
10.  Lilas de Perse – Persian Lilac
11. Magnolia – There are some wonderful magnolia illustrations here.
12. Forsythie -Forsythia
13. Altheaa od Rose de Chine – Chinese hibiscus
14. Rosier hybride de Wichura – Pink Memorial Rose (you can find some botanical rose prints here)
15. Rose thé hybride – Hybrid Tea Rose
16. Buisson ardent – Pyracantha, commonly referred to as “burning bush”
17. Diervilla du Japon ou Wegelie – Japanese Honeysuckle

2. Arbres d’ornement-2 – Ornamental Trees in Color 2

This poster is of ornamental trees, including illustrations of their flowers. There is a key at the bottom of the poster identifying all 16 species of trees. I have provided a translation from French to English of the named trees.

1. Robinier ou Faux-Acacia – false acacia of black locust
2. Marronnier Rose – Pink chestnut tree
3. Platane  – London Plane
4. Paulownia ou Couronee Imperiale
5. Sapin concolore – White Fir
6. Cypres fastigie – Cypress
7. Catalpa
8. Ailante en Fruits – Garlic Fruit
9. Glycine ou Wistaria – Wisteria
10. Tecoma de Virginie – Trumpetbush
11. Gleditschia – Honey Locust
12. Rhododendron ou Rosage
13. Aubepine Rose – Pink Hawthorn
14. Chamaerops – European fan palm (there are more palm tree illustrations here)
15. Pecher de Chine – Peach from China
16. Laurier-rose – Nerium oleander

3. Arbres-couleurs-1 – Trees in color 1

This is the first of two tree posters simply called tree in color, including illustrations of their fruits. There is a key at the bottom of the poster identifying all 15 species of trees. I have provided a translation from French to English of the named trees.

For more illustrations of tree fruits check out the watercolor fruits from the Pomological collection.

1. Peuplier blanc – White Poplar
2. Peuplier grisard – Grey Poplar
3. Peuplier nois – Black Poplar
4. Peuplier d’Italia ou pyramidal
5. Peuplier tremble – Aspen
6. Merisier – Cherry
7. Micocoulier – Hackberry
8. Cormier – Domestic Mountain Ash
9. Noisetier ou coudrier –  Hazel
10. Sorbier – Rowan Tree
11. Aune – Alder
12. Eglantier – Rosehip
13. Laurier-tin – Laurel
14. Troène – Privet
15. Prunellier – Blackthorn

4. Arbres-couleurs-2 – Trees in color 2

This is the second of two tree posters simply called tree in color, including illustrations of their fruits. There is a key at the bottom of the poster identifying all 15 species of trees. I have provided a translation from French to English of the named trees.

1. Tilleul – Linden
2. Frêne – Ash
3. Saule blanc – White Willow
4. Saule Rouge – Red Willow
5. Érable champêtre – Field Maple
6. Châtaignier – Chestnut tree
7. Sycaomore
8. Sureau – Elderberry
9. Alisier – Sorbier wild service
10. Jujubier – Jujube tree (red date)
11. Arbousier – Strawberry Tree
12. Argousier – Sea buckthorn
13. Sumac
14. Viorne – Viburnum

If you enjoyed these stunning vintage tree posters, don’t forget to check out some of the other wonderful vintage botanical images on the site. Especially the woodland prints and the vintage cactus paintings.