Tilia cordata
Small-leaved lime Ht 20-30m
Europe and W Asia. Densely branched pyramidical crown , deciduous. Red bud scales. Heart shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn, mostly hairless except for small tufrs of brown hairs on the underside leaf axils. Scented yellow-green erect flowers held above the bract, attract bees, valuable honey. Fruits round, thin-shelled smooth unribbed 1 -2 seeded. Tolerates limestone soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Tolerates limestone soils
Fraxinus excelsior
European ash Ht 30-40m
Britain, Europe, Caucasus & Alborz Mts. (Iran). Broadly columnar, deciduous tree with stout greenish-grey shoots with jet black buds. Leaves with 7-13 coarsely serrate leaflets, late into leaf & early to fall. Flowers before the leaves, developing into bunches of 'keys'. Vigorous grower, best on deep moist to wet soils but tolerates much drier soils, enjoys limestone. Valuable light coloured hardwood timber for tool handles, sports goods, and joinery. Steams and bends well. Coppices readily, producing straight poles and rods. Great firewood, burns cut green.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Firewood
- Erosion control
- Tolerates limestone soils
Cryptomeria japonica 1/1
Japanese cedar (2 yrs old) Ht 30-40m
Broadly conical, evergreen. Withstands wind well, including salt laden winds in Westland. Good Kiwifruit shelter where it is trimmed annually to 0.5m width. Suggested spacing 1.5 to 2.5m . Major timber tree in Japan. Less vigorous in colder drier South Island areas. 2 years old.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Christmas Trees
- Shelter
- Forestry species
- Hedging
Larix kaempferi
Japanese larch Ht 30-35m
Narrowly conical, deciduous. Valuable timber tree. Soft bluey-green needles in spring, orange in autumn, quite spectacular. Copes with warmer sites better than L. decidua. Less flammable than pines. Good interplant for Sequoia.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Christmas Trees
- Tolerates limestone soils
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
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 pseudoplatanus purpureum
Sycamore (purple under leaf) Ht 25-30m
Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Similar in all characteristics to the green leaf form. The purple colour under the leaf adds variety. White hardwood joinery timber.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Ht 25-30m
Europe and south west Asia. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Tolerates harsh conditions. Can seed prolifically and provide fodder for grazing animals. In Central Otago it gives good yellow autumn colour.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
- Tolerates limestone soils
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dawn redwood Ht 30-40m
China. Conical, deciduous. Long fossil history. Found growing in NW Hupeh in 1941. New seed import brings wider genetic base to NZ. Cypress-like timber is light, strong and durable. Prefers damp sites, deep rooted shade tree for streamsides.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - brown
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Erosion control
- Forestry species
Liquidambar styraciflua 1/0
American sweet gum (1 yr old) Ht 25-35m
E USA. Broadly conical, deciduous. Renowned for its autumn colours of yellow, orange, red and purple. Prefers moist soils and can tolerate periodic inundation. Wood is valuable. 1 year old.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive autumn colours - orange
- Attractive autumn colours - red
- Attractive autumn colours - purple
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
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