Castanea sativa
Sweet chestnut Ht 25-30m
Sth Europe, SW Asia & Nth Africa. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Intolerant of clay soils - good drainage essential. Edible nuts are roasted and eaten hot. Valuable hardwood timber. Coppices well for poles, split posts or firewood.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Intolerant to clay soils
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Timber
- Firewood
Carya ovata
Shagbark hickory Ht 20-30m
E. Nth America. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Straight trunk & lightly branched. Bark peels in vertical plates with age. Orange autumn colour, prized timber, nuts sweet & edible. Plant small, tap root must develop before height growth commences.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Timber
Carya cordiformis
Bitternut hickory Ht 20-30m
North America. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Straight trunk, lightly branched. Bright yellow autumn colour. Bitter inedible nuts. Prized timber. Quickest growing of the Hickory family.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
Carpinus betulus 1/0
European hornbeam (1 yr old) Ht 15-20m
Broadly spreading, deciduous. A tough hedgerow and woodland tree. Popular for trimmed formal hedges. The timber is very hard and used for turnery. Yellow autumn colour. We also recommend Fagus sylvatica as a good alternative for a clipped hedge. 1 year olds - HEDGE spacing 30-60cm
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Medium tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Firewood
- Shelter
- Hedging
Astelia chathamica (POT grown)
Wharawhara or Astelia - Chatham Island Ht 50-150cm
NZ native. Robust, erect, broad silvery leaves drooping at the tip. Orange fruits in the centre of the clump. Occurs on wet peaty soils, but will grow in drier conditions.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Grass - Strap like leaves
- NZ native
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Container Grown
Aronia melanocarpa (PLUG grown)
Chokeberry - black Ht 0.5-1m
Eastern USA. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Will sucker. Clusters of small white flowers with black berries in Jan/Feb. Attractive to birds. Suitable for low cover and stabilising. Fruit has high anti-oxidant properties.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Deciduous
- Tolerates dry sites
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Container Grown
Amelanchier canadensis
Shad bush Ht 2-5m
Eastern North America. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Attractive tall shrub. Bronzey new leaves, masses of small white flowers, small red fruits for the birds in November and December. Yellow to red autumn colours. Very hardy.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Shrub
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive to birds
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Erosion control
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
Aesculus carnea
Pink horse chestnut Ht 15-20m
A true breeding hybrid between A. hippocastanum and A. pavia. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Pink flowers followed by smooth skinned oval fruits which enclose highly polished intricately patterned conkers.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Small Tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
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