Image by ollirg. By Jackie Carroll. Oaks (Quercus) come in many sizes and shapes, and you’ll even find a few evergreens in the mix. Whether you are looking for the perfect tree for your landscape or want to learn to identify the different types of oak trees, this article can help. It has an unusual branch structure and deeply furrowed bark that combine to keep the tree interesting in winter. 2  It grows further north and west than other white oak types. 3  Willow Oak (Q. phellos) – The willow oak has thin, straight leaves similar to those of a willow tree.