Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) Our tree this month is one of the UKs scruffier species – Salix fragilis, known as the ‘crack’ willow. It gets this name from the distinctive sound of its branches breaking, and from the fact that it is such a fast growing...
Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) Our featured tree this month is the graceful styphnolobium japonicum, or Japanese pagoda tree. Despite its misleading name, this deciduous tree is actually native to China where it has deep cultural and spiritual significance. Typically growing to 15–25m in height, it...
London Plane Tree (Platanus x hispanica) The London plane, a hybrid of the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and the Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis), is one of the most recognisable and enduring trees of the urban landscape. Growing up to 35 meters tall, with a broad, domed...
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) Our tree this month is the Persian ironwood, a medium-sized deciduous tree native to the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran. The species was named by Carl Anton von Meyer in honour of his predecessor at the University of Dorpat, German naturalist Georg Friedrich Parrot, who carried...
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) Our tree this month is prunus avium, otherwise known as wild cherry. Thanks to its beautiful blossom and shiny red fruits it is celebrated as one of the prettiest of our native trees and is regularly planted in parks and residential gardens....
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) This month we continue our celebration of the conifers, this time with one of our three native species to the UK – Pinus sylvestris, the Scots Pine. Truly an icon, it stands tall across the landscapes of northern Europe and provides essential...
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) Our focus this month is on the western red cedar, a majestic evergreen conifer native to the Pacific northwest of North America. This impressive species can reach heights of over 60m and can live for hundreds of years – there are...
Ivy (Hedera Spp) This month, as Christmas approaches, we thought we would focus on one of the more festive species. Inspired by the Christmas carol ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and already reviewed Common Holly, we decided this was a good opportunity to dispel a myth...
Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) The sessile oak (Quercus petraea), one of the UK’s native oak species, is a majestic and long-lived tree known for its durability and its significant role in the landscape of ancient woodlands. Its name derives from its stalkless (sessile) acorns which are...
Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) Following our focus last month on the Turkish hazel, this month we are turning our attention to corylus avellana, commonly known as the European, common hazel or simply hazel. This native deciduous species is often coppiced and so is relatively rarely seen...