Coniferous trees

Austrian Pine tree

The pure form of P. nigra, sometimes called var. austrica, is easily confused with the much more widely planted Corsican pine. Old trees tend to be heavily branched and less monopodial. This is a good coastal plant being fairly stable in a gale and resistant to salt laden winds. It will tolerate most soils including those containing lime, shell rich sand dunes for instance. In the arboretum it mak...[more]

Caucasian Fir tree

This European fir is instantly recognizable from some way off. It holds its needles on the branches for up to 25 years, so it has a verdant somewhat luxuriant look about it. It came to Britain between 1848 and 1854 from the Caucasus Mountains and North East Turkey. Early introductions were largely ignored by foresters because of the well known disease problems of the closely related European silve...[more]

Corsican Pine tree

Botanist's prefer this tree to be called subspecies laricio, but foresters are more familiar with var. maritima. Corsican pine has been the main component of British forestry in the south and east of England for many years. It thrives on hot dry heathland sites and sand dunes. It will grow in Wales and Scotland but as you go northwards, and into wetter areas, the fungus Gremmeniella (Brunchorstia)...[more]

Douglas Fir tree

Apart from the coast redwood, douglas fir is the tallest tree growing on the North American west coast.  Named after the plant collector David Douglas who was a plant collector who introduced the douglas fir seeds here in 1827.  Given good soil to grow in the douglas fir produces some of the finest timber in Britain known as Oregon pine.  Douglas fir likes plenty of light and as ...[more]

European Larch tree

A favourite British forestry tree since its introduction around 1620, European larch timber is prized for estate work in particular. Spring frost is a limiting factor, so is canker and dieback. All of these problems can be alleviated by good choice of provenance. Seed from Sudetenland is superior to most other provenances. Larch is light demanding so plantations must be thinned out regularly to...[more]

Fraser Fir tree

Frazer firs-do not loose their needles. Slow growing tree, dense when young opening with age. Prefers a well drained,moist soil, but can tolerate full sun. The young cones are purplish. Very liked by deer!!...[more]

Grand Fir tree

Given the right conditions, cool wet rocky hillsides, this is the fastest growing plantation conifer in Britain, reaching its full height within 20 years.  It is shade tolerant so close spacing is acceptable, and trees of every size class stand comfortably together. Originally from western North America grand fir was first introduced to Britain in 1830 and then again more successfully in 1852...[more]

Hybrid Larch tree

This hybrid between the European and Japanese larches is quite outstanding. It has greater vigour than either parent and will produce sawn timber more durable than Japanese larch. It was first produced around 1904 at Dunkeld House on Tayside. In this instance the 'mother' tree was Japanese, but some later deliberate crosses European larch has been used as the seed tree. The scarcity of F1 seed has...[more]

Japanese Larch tree

Japanese larch, introduced to Britain by John Veitch in 1861, is a well tried and tested forest tree especially in exposed places. It is also indispensable in an arboretum where it provides shelter and dappled shade. The annual autumn 'rain' of dead deciduous needles is a beneficial weed suppressor and source of organic nutrition for the specimens planted nearby. In addition to this the larch i...[more]

Lawson Cypress tree

Britain's most popular garden conifer planted for ornamental purposes and for hedging.  Only fencing is manufactured from the timber.  Good specimen tree as it grows slender but can reach upto heights of 120ft.

Lodgepole Pine tree

During the past 100 years British forestry has relied upon this species to extend tree cover beyond the tolerance of Sitka Spruce. Given wet acid conditions, and cultivation, it will grow almost to the edge of the sub-Arctic. There are many forms occurring naturally within its native range from Alaska along the Pacific coast of North America to California. In Britain the forester's choice has u...[more]

Monterey Pine tree

This species is confined in the wild to the coastal strip around Santa Cruz and Monterey in Calidornia and Guadalupe Island. It is better suited to a cooler more moist environment than that. When it was introduced to Britain in 1833 its productivity vastly improved. When subsequently taken to New Zealand, South Africa and Chile results in terms of timber production were staggering. In Britain i...[more]

Noble Fir tree

Whereas grand fir is the best forest fir for lower slopes, noble fir is the tree for more exposed mountain sides in western Britain. It has remarkable ability to stand up straight even in the severest winds. In its native Oregon and Washington it is found at 1500 metres elevation. Even impoverished peaty soils will support it if there is sufficient ground water. Dry or frosty lowland areas shou...[more]

Norway Spruce

A familiar forest tree across the whole of Europe and Russia, but not a post-glacial native in Britain. Norway spruce has a long history of providing humanity with softwood timber for every imaginable purpose. Spring frost damage is a problem in Britain but Romanian provenances are fairly resistant. Pole-stage Norway spruce is sometimes unstable. Thinning should never be delayed on thin wet soi...[more]

Scots Pine tree

Vast forests of this pine extend from Siberia to the British Isles and north to the Arctic Circle. Only Scottish trees are believed to be truly native to Britain. The last natives in England were cut down around 1670. Some Welsh specimens may be direct descendants of wild trees though. The timber of Scots pine is of particularly high quality when the trees are large or slow grown. It is called Bal...[more]