Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Green ash Ht 20-25m
East USA westward to the Rockies. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Brilliant golden yellow autumn leaves. Prefers damp soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Firewood
- Erosion control
Fraxinus ornus
Flowering ash Ht 5-8m
Manna ash - from south Europe and southwest Asia. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Bark is dark grey remaining smooth. Leaves with 5-9 broad ovoid leaflets, autumn colours yellow or purple. Conspicuous clusters of small fragrant white flowers, insect pollinated, developing into bunches of slender samaras. Sap produces a sugary extract 'manna'. Very drought tolerant and used as a street tree.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
Fraxinus angustifolia (syn. F.oxycarpa)
Mediterranean ash Ht 20-30m
Central & Southern Europe, N.W. Africa & S.W. Asia. Medium sized deciduous pioneer species. Tolerates dry and hot soils but best growth on deep moist soils, casting a heavy shade. Can be pollarded for stock feed. Buds pale brown, Leaves with 7-13 narrow leaflets, purplish autumn colour on some trees. Flowers in early spring, developing into bunches of brown samaras. Timber inferior in strength & elasticity to F. excelsior.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - purple
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Firewood
Crataegus ellwangeriana
Large fruited haw Ht 3-6m
Eastern USA. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Healthy large green leaves - yellow in autumn. Branches on older trees have a few large thorns. 2cm wide white flowers in large clusters and large scarlet fruits. Good screening.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Shelter
Cornus kousa chinensis
Chinese dogwood Ht 4-10m
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Larger leaves than C. kousa. White flower bracts very showy and last twice as long as C. florida. Compound fruits pinky-red food for birds. Autumn colours are variable - purplish to bright red.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive autumn colours - purple
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Shelter
Cornus controversa
Table dogwood Ht 10-15m
East Asia. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Distinctly layered branches. Creamy flowers in flattened heads in early summer followed by blue-black berries loved by birds. Purple-red autumn colours.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive autumn colours - purple
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
Aesculus indica
Indian horse chestnut Ht 20-30m
Northwest Himalayas. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Creates heavy shade. Creamy white flowers much later than A. hippocastanum. Conkers are almost black and produced in smooth skinned fruits. Drought and heat tolerant.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Tolerates limestone soils
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse chestnut Ht 20-30m
Albania and Nth Greece. Broadly conical, deciduous. Large palmate compound leaves produce a dense shade. Large creamy white flowers, then prickly oval fruits, enclosing polished conkers prized by schoolboys in the UK. Best in fertile soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Intolerant to clay soils
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Tolerates limestone soils
Acer saccharum
Sugar maple Ht 20-30m
Broadly columnar, deciduous. Appears to need fertile soils for good growth. Also known as rock maple. Spring sap is processed into maple syrup in USA and now in NZ. Orange is the predominant autumn colour, quite spectacular. Cold hardy.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
Acer rubrum
American red maple Ht 15-25m
East and Central North America. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Clusters of small red flowers before the leaves. Bluey-white under the leaves, which turn bright red in autumn. Prefers moist soils and will tolerate swampy soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
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