Many lists of trees of Great Britain and Ireland have been written. There are a number of issues surrounding the inclusion of a species in such a list. As can be seen from the outline of debate below, there is no 'correct' list of trees of Britain and Ireland. Rowan tree 20081002b

Issues of debate

Definition of species

There are a number of different opinions regarding the validity of some species, notably apomictic microspecies and whether some 'species' may actually be

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

s. In particular, the number and definition of species in the genera ''Sorbus'' (

rowan The rowans ( or ) or mountain-ashes are shrubs or trees in the genus ''Sorbus ''Sorbus'' is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of ''Sorbus'' (''s.l.'') are commonly known as whitebeam, r ...

s, whitebeams etc.), ''Ulmus'' ( elms) and ''Salix'' ( willows) are open to debate.

Definition of native

Native species are considered to be species which are today present in the region in question, and have been continuously present in that region since a certain period of time. When applied to Britain and Ireland, three possible definitions of this time constraint are: * a species that colonised these islands during the retreat of ice at the end of the last ice age * a species that was present in these islands when the English Channel was created and the land bridge between Britain and continental Europe was flooded * a species that has colonised without human assistance; in some cases this is uncertain. The only endemic tree species in Britain and Ireland (that is, that are native ''only'' to this region) are some apomictic whitebeams. Species that were native in the region in prehistory before the last ice age, but not subsequently, are generally regarded as extinct and no longer native. Many additional species have been imported by humans; the total list of all introduced trees numbers several thousand. A far smaller number of these have become widely

naturalised Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the i ...

, spreading by their own accord without recourse to further human assistance.

Definition of tree

A tree can be defined as a large, perennial, woody plant with secondary branches supported by a primary stem (compare with shrub). There is no set definition regarding minimum size, though most authors cite a tree species as being one which regularly reaches 6 m (20 ft) tall (see also tree).

List of species

Native trees

* Alders ** Alder (''Alnus glutinosa'') * Apples ** Crab Apple (''Malus sylvestris'') *

Ashes Ashes may refer to: *Ash, the solid remnants of fires. Media and entertainment Art * ''Ashes'' (Munch), an 1894 painting by Edvard Munch Film * ''The Ashes'' (film), a 1965 Polish film by director Andrzej Wajda * ''Ashes'' (1922 film), a ...

Common Ash ''Fraxinus excelsior'', known as the ash, or European ash or common ash to distinguish it from other types of ash, is a flowering plant species in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus and Alborz ...

(''Fraxinus excelsior'') *

Beech Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...

es ** European Beech (''Fagus sylvatica'') * Birches ** Silver Birch (''Betula pendula'') ** Downy Birch (''Betula pubescens'') *

Box A box (plural: boxes) is a container used for the storage or transportation of its contents. Most boxes have flat, parallel, rectangular sides. Boxes can be very small (like a matchbox) or very large (like a shipping box for furniture), and can ...

(''Buxus sempervirens'') *

Cherries A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet ''Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. The nam ...

and

Plum A plum is a fruit of some species in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus'.'' Dried plums are called prunes. History Plums may have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Three of the most abundantly cultivated species are not found i ...

s ** Wild Cherry (''Prunus avium'') **

Bird Cherry Bird cherry is a common name for the European plant '' Prunus padus''. Bird cherry may also refer to: * ''Prunus'' subg. ''Padus'', a group of species closely related to ''Prunus padus'' * ''Prunus avium'', the cultivated cherry, with the Latin e ...

(''Prunus padus'') ** Blackthorn (''Prunus spinosa'') * Elms ** Wych Elm (''Ulmus glabra'') ** Smooth-leaved Elm (''Ulmus minor'', syn. ''U. carpinifolia''; southern Great Britain only) * Hawthorns ** Common Hawthorn (''Crataegus monogyna'') ** Midland Hawthorn (''Crataegus laevigata''; southern Great Britain only) **

Crataegus × media ''Crataegus'' × ''media'', is a hybrid between two species in the genus '' Crataegus'' (Hawthorn), '' C. monogyna'' and '' C. laevigata'', both in series '' Crataegus''. Under the rules of botanical nomenclature the name ''C.'' × ''media'' cov ...

- occurs as a natural hybrid wherever ''monogyna'' and ''laevigata'' overlap. *

Hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999). ...

s ** Common Hazel (''Corylus avellana'') * Hollies **

European Holly ''Ilex aquifolium'', the holly, common holly, English holly, European holly, or occasionally Christmas holly, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aquifoliaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asi ...

(''Ilex aquifolium'') * Hornbeams **

European Hornbeam ''Carpinus betulus'', the European or common hornbeam, is a species of tree in the birch family (botany), family Betulaceae, native species, native to Western Asia and central, eastern, and southern Europe, including southern England. It require ...

(''Carpinus betulus''; southern Great Britain only) *

Juniper Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Juniperus'' () of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arcti ...

s **

Common Juniper ''Juniperus communis'', the common juniper, is a species of small tree or shrub in the cypress family Cupressaceae. An evergreen conifer, it has the largest geographical range of any woody plant, with a circumpolar distribution throughout the c ...

(''Juniperus communis'') * Lindens (Limes) ** Small-leaved Linden/Lime (''Tilia cordata'') ** Large-leaved Linden/Lime (''Tilia platyphyllos''; southern Great Britain only) * Maples ** Field Maple (''Acer campestre'') * Oaks ** Pedunculate Oak (''Quercus robur'') **

Sessile Oak ''Quercus petraea'', commonly known as the sessile oak, Cornish oak, Irish Oak or durmast oak, is a species of oak tree native to most of Europe and into Anatolia and Iran. The sessile oak is the national tree of Ireland, and an unofficial embl ...

(''Quercus petraea'') * Pines ** Scots Pine (''Pinus sylvestris'') * Poplars ** Aspen (''Populus tremula'') **

Black Poplar ''Populus nigra'', the black poplar, is a species of cottonwood poplar, the type species of section ''Aigeiros'' of the genus ''Populus'', native to Europe, southwest and central Asia, and northwest Africa.Flora Europaea''Populus nigra''/ref> ...

(''Populus nigra''; southern Great Britain only) *

Rowan The rowans ( or ) or mountain-ashes are shrubs or trees in the genus ''Sorbus ''Sorbus'' is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of ''Sorbus'' (''s.l.'') are commonly known as whitebeam, r ...

s and Whitebeams ** European Rowan (''Sorbus aucuparia'') ** Common Whitebeam (''Sorbus aria'') and several related apomictic microspecies ** Service Tree (''Sorbus domestica''; recently discovered growing wild on a cliff in south Wales) ** Wild Service Tree (''Sorbus torminalis'') * Strawberry Tree ** Strawberry Tree (''Arbutus unedo''; Ireland only) * Willows (''Salix'' spp.; several species) **

Bay Willow A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a narr ...

(''Salix pentandra'') ** Crack Willow (''Salix fragilis'') **

White Willow ''Salix alba'', the white willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia.Meikle, R. D. (1984). ''Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland''. BSBI Handbook No. 4. .Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain an ...

(''Salix alba'') ** Almond-leaved Willow (''Salix triandra'') *

Yew Yew is a common name given to various species of trees. It is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Taxus'': * European yew or common yew (''Taxus baccata'') * Pacific yew or western yew (''Taxus br ...

s ** European Yew (''Taxus baccata'')

Native large shrubs

These larger

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s occasionally reach tree size: :* Alder Buckthorn (''Frangula alnus'') :*

Purging Buckthorn ''Rhamnus cathartica'', the European buckthorn, common buckthorn, purging buckthorn, or just buckthorn, is a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Rhamnaceae. It is native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia, from the cent ...

(''Rhamnus cathartica'') :*

Elder An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

(''Sambucus nigra'') :* Common Dogwood (''Cornus sanguinea'') :*

Rock Whitebeam ''Aria rupicola'', commonly known as rock whitebeam, is a rare species of shrub or small tree best known from the British Isles but also reported from Norway, Sweden and Russia. Reaching heights of 10 m,''New Flora of the British Isles''; Clive ...

(''Sorbus rupicola'') :* (Common) Sea-buckthorn (''Hippophae rhamnoides'') :*

Spindle Spindle may refer to: Textiles and manufacturing * Spindle (textiles), a straight spike to spin fibers into yarn * Spindle (tool), a rotating axis of a machine tool Biology * Common spindle and other species of shrubs and trees in genus ''Euony ...

(''Euonymus europaeus'') :* Sallow, Goat Willow (''Salix caprea'') :* Grey Willow (''Salix cinerea'') :*

Purple Willow ''Salix purpurea'', the purple willow purpleosier willow or purple osier, is a species of willow native to most of Europe and western Asia north to the British Isles, Poland, and the Baltic States.Flora Europaea''Salix purpurea''/ref>Meikle, R. ...

(''Salix purpurea'') :*

Common Osier ''Salix viminalis'', the basket willow, common osier or osier, is a species of willow native to Europe, Western Asia, and the Himalayas.Meikle, R. D. (1984). ''Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland''. BSBI Handbook No. 4. .Rushforth, K ...

(''Salix viminalis'') :* Eared Willow (''Salix aurita'') :*

Guelder Rose ''Viburnum opulus'', the guelder-rose or guelder rose () is a species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae (formerly Caprifoliaceae) native to Europe, northern Africa and central Asia. Description ''Viburnum opulus'' is a deciduous shru ...

(''Viburnum opulus'') :*

Wayfaring tree ''Viburnum lantana'', the wayfarer or wayfaring tree, is a species of ''Viburnum'', native to central, southern and western Europe (north to Yorkshire in England), northwest Africa, and southwestern Asia.Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flo ...

(''Viburnum lantana'') :*

Common Privet ''Ligustrum vulgare'' (wild privet, also sometimes known as common privet or European privet) is a species of ''Ligustrum'' native to central and southern Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia, from Ireland and southwestern Sweden south to ...

(''Ligustrum vulgare'')

Naturalised trees

* ''From Europe'' **

Maritime Pine ''Pinus pinaster'', the maritime pine or cluster pine, is a pine native to the south Atlantic Europe region and parts of the western Mediterranean. It is a hard, fast growing pine bearing small seeds with large wings. Description ''Pinus pinast ...

(''Pinus pinaster''; rarely) ** European Black Pine (''Pinus nigra''; rarely) **

Norway Spruce ''Picea abies'', the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It has branchlets that typically hang downwards, and the largest cones of any spruce, 9–17 cm long. It is very close ...

(''Picea abies''; rarely) ** European Larch (''Larix decidua'') ** European Pear (''Pyrus communis''; sometimes regarded as native) **

Plymouth Pear ''Pyrus cordata'', the Plymouth pear, is a rare wild species of pear belonging to the family Rosaceae. It gets its name from the city of Plymouth in Devon, where it was originally found in 1870 The Plymouth pear was one of the British trees to ...

(''Pyrus cordata''; sometimes regarded as native) ** Cherry Plum (''Prunus cerasifera'') ** Sycamore (''Acer pseudoplatanus'') ** Norway Maple (''Acer platanoides'') ** Sweet Chestnut (''Castanea sativa''; a Roman introduction) **

Swedish Whitebeam ''Scandosorbus intermedia'', the Swedish whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam found in southern Sweden, with scattered occurrences in easternmost Denmark (Bornholm), the far southwest of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and northern Poland.Rushforth, K. ...

(''Sorbus intermedia'') **

Holm Oak Holm oak may refer to: * '' Quercus ilex'', tree native to South and Southeast Europe and parts of France * '' Quercus rotundifolia'', tree native to the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa * ''Quercus agrifolia ''Quercus agrifolia'', the Cal ...

(''Quercus ilex'') **

Turkey Oak Turkey oak is a common name for several species of oaks and may refer to: *''Quercus cerris'', native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor *''Quercus laevis ''Quercus laevis'', the turkey oak, is a member of the red oak group of oaks. It is nat ...

(''Quercus cerris'') **

Common Horse-chestnut ''Aesculus hippocastanum'', the horse chestnut, is a species of flowering plant in the maple, soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is a large, deciduous, synoecious (hermaphroditic-flowered) tree. It is also called horse-chestnut, Europ ...

(''Aesculus hippocastanum'') ** English Elm (''Ulmus procera''; a Roman introduction) * ''From Asia'' ** Japanese Larch (''Larix kaempferi'') * ''From North America'' ** Lodgepole Pine (''Pinus contorta'') **

Sitka Spruce ''Picea sitchensis'', the Sitka spruce, is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree growing to almost tall, with a trunk diameter at breast height that can exceed 5 m (16 ft). It is by far the largest species of spruce and the fifth-larg ...

(''Picea sitchensis'') **

Black Spruce ''Picea mariana'', the black spruce, is a North American species of spruce tree in the pine family. It is widespread across Canada, found in all 10 provinces and all 3 territories. It is the official tree of the province of Newfoundland and Labra ...

(''Picea mariana''; rarely) ** Douglas-fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') ** Grand Fir (''Abies grandis'') ** Western Hemlock (''Tsuga heterophylla'') ** Western Redcedar (''Thuja plicata'') **

Lawson's Cypress ''Chamaecyparis lawsoniana'', known as Port Orford cedar or Lawson cypress, is a species of conifer in the genus ''Chamaecyparis'', family Cupressaceae. It is native to Oregon and northwestern California, and grows from sea level up to in the v ...

(''Chamaecyparis lawsoniana'') ** Monterey Cypress (''Cupressus macrocarpa''; rarely) * ''From Oceania'' **

Cabbage palm Cabbage palm is a common name for several species of palms or palm-like plants: *'' Cordyline fruticosa'', a tropical tree native to Asia and Polynesia *''Corypha utan'', an East Asian fan palm (including Northern Australia) *''Euterpe oleracea'', ...

(''Cordyline australis'')

Endemic species

An endemic species is a plant only native to a certain area. Outside this area, unless spread naturally it is considered non-native, usually as a result of cultivation. Britain and Ireland have few endemic trees, most being micro-species of Whitebeam. But there are some interesting endemic trees nevertheless. * Plot's Elm – English Midlands only. *

Apomictic In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction without fertilization. Its etymology is Greek for "away from" + "mixing". This definition notably does not mention meiosis. Thus "normal asexual reproduction" of plants, such as propagation from cuttin ...

Whitebeams endemic to the British Isles: **''

Sorbus arranensis ''Sorbus arranensis'', sometimes referred to as the Scottish or Arran whitebeam is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to the island of Arran in Scotland. Range and habitat The species is threatened by habitat loss and on ...

'' –

Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran (; sco, Isle o Arran; gd, Eilean Arainn) or simply Arran is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh-largest Scottish island, at . Historically part of Butesh ...

only. ** Arran Service Tree –

only. **''

Sorbus pseudomeinichii ''Sorbus pseudomeinichii'', known as false rowan and Catacol whitebeam, is a rare tree endemic to the Isle of Arran in south west Scotland. It is believed to have arisen as a hybrid of the native rowan (''Sorbus aucuparia'') and the cut-leave ...

'' -

only. ** Lancashire Whitebeam - North Lancashire & South Cumbria, around Morecambe Bay only. ** English Whitebeam - Great Britain and Ireland only. ** Bristol Whitebeam - Avon Gorge only. ** Devon Whitebeam – Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Ireland only. ** Ley’s Whitebeam –

Brecon Beacons The Brecon Beacons ( cy, Bannau Brycheiniog, ) are a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks which lie to the south of Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" t ...

only. ** Lesser Whitebeam –

only. **''

Sorbus leptophylla ''Sorbus'' is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of ''Sorbus'' (''s.l.'') are commonly known as whitebeam, rowan ( mountain-ash) and service tree. The exact number of species is disputed depe ...

'' – endemic to UK ** ''Sorbus arvonensis'' - endemic to the Menai Strait region of North Wales. **''

Sorbus wilmottiana ''Sorbus wilmottiana'', the Willmott's whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to England, and is found in the Avon Gorge, in Somerset and Gloucestershire. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destr ...

'' – endemic to UK ** Bloody Whitebeam – Exmoor only. ** Somerset Whitebeam – coastal

North Devon North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. North Devon Council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth ...

and Western Somerset only. ** Cheddar Whitebeam –

Cheddar Gorge Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar, Somerset, England. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years ...

only. ** “No Parking” Whitebeam –

only. ** Llangollen Whitebeam – Llangollen only. ** Irish Whitebeam – Ireland only. ** Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Leigh Woods only.

References

External links

The Woodland Trust
( UK conservation charity promoting woodland restoration and expansion.)
Forestry Commission
(UK government department responsible for protection and expansion of Britain's forests and woodlands.) *Elwes, Henry John, and Henry, Augustine, 1906 ''The trees of Great Britain & Ireland'
BHL
Monograph.Includes rare introduced trees.Seven volumes and seven volumes of excellent black and white plates.

Heritage trees {{Refend Flora of Ireland Flora of Great Britain

Trees of Britain and Ireland Many lists of trees of Great Britain and Ireland have been written. There are a number of issues surrounding the inclusion of a species in such a list. As can be seen from the outline of debate below, there is no 'correct' list of trees of Britain ...

Britain and Ireland