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Treeworld Wholesale Inventory Management & Classification Of Trees

TreeWorld has an inventory of more than 250+ different types of trees and shrubs; according to the classification of trees. Keeping track of the inventory is a challenge, especially since we typically have several different sizes in stock of the same tree or shrub. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records so that we can respond quickly and accurately to customer orders.

Nearly all trees and shrubs have common names, usually thanks to some distinctive characteristic of the plant’s leaves; such as flowers, fruits, wood and so on. These common names provide useful clues in tree identification, but are sometimes inaccurate because the same common name may be the same to more than one tree. Part of the difficulty in the classification of trees. This is why the only trustworthy method to be sure of a tree’s identify is by its scientific name.

Here at TreeWorld Wholesale we keep our inventory records by scientific name but also include the common name since it is the most popular among gardeners. As tree names can be confusing, mainly because of the use of a common name is sometimes for more than one related species.

Scientific Name: Classification

For example we have in stock 9 different species of Tabebuia. Among them, Guayacan can refer to either Tabebuia chrysantha or Tabebuia guayacan. As a result a tree may also have multiple scientific names or  synonyms; mostly thanks to the research. In this example, Guayacan’s scientific names have changed officially to Handroanthus chrysanthus and Handroanthus guayacan, respectively. Although at TreeWorld we continue to list the Tabebuias under their familiar former scientific name, providing the new scientific name as a synonym.

This change is a result of the DNA discovery in the 1950s, by scientists performing research on the molecular structure of trees. Leading to a number of changes in classification and the assigning of new scientific names. Despite name changes, trees remain the same in terms of their ornamental applications.

Modern Tree Classification

Modern tree classification comes from the scientific system developed by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century. This system organizes plants based on their evolutionary relationships and reproductive structures, especially their flowers.

Flowers can be small and subtle or large and showy, like those of the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Flower structure often helps determine a species name. Trees that share similar floral traits are grouped into plant families, such as the Beech family (Fagaceae), which includes oaks. Even within the same family, trees can vary greatly in size, leaf shape, and overall form.

Some trees are further classified as varieties, a category below the species level. These distinctions often reflect visible traits such as leaf shape or color. Because these traits are not always genetically stable, they may not reproduce true from seed. However, they can often be preserved through vegetative propagation.

Crotons are a perfect example. All cultivated crotons fall under a single scientific name, Codiaeum variegatum, yet they display an extraordinary range of colors and leaf patterns. At TreeWorld, we carry over 25 croton varieties, each offering its own unique visual character.