Native trees

Trees and plants that are native to the UK are the backbone of our wildlife's food chain. Native insects, birds and other animals have evolved with them and find it hard to survive without the food and shelter they provide. In contrast, many introduced plants - those that have been brought in from elsewhere - offer less value to our native wildlife.

There are also some other very good reasons for planting native trees and shrubs:

• Local plants are adapted to local soils and climate and often have lower maintenance requirements.
• Once established, native plants can usually withstand long periods of dry weather, some non-natives from drier climates may do even better however.
• Many will grow in difficult areas of the garden with little or no fertilizer.

To find out more about Britain's native trees, why not visit our British Trees website.

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Native trees
Field Maple - Acer campestre
Alder - Alnus glutinosa
Silver Birch - Betula pendula
Downy Birch - Betula pubescens
Box - Buxus sempervirens
Hornbeam - Carpinus betula
Hazel - Corylus avellana
Common Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
Midland Hawthorn - Crataegus laevigata
Common Beech - Fagus sylvatica
Common Ash - Fraxinus excelsior
Holly - Ilex aquifolium
Juniper - Juniperus communis
Crab Apple - Malus sylvestris
Scots Pine - Pinus sylvestris
Black Poplar - Populus nigra
Aspen - Populus tremula
Bird Cherry - Prunus padus
Wild Cherry - Prunus avium
Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea
Pedunculate Oak - Quercus robur
White Willow - Salix alba
Goat Willow or Sallow - Salix caprea
Crack Willow - Salix fragilis
Bay Willow - Salix pentandra
Common Whitebeam - Sorbus aria
Rowan (mountain ash) - Sorbus aucuparia
Wild Service Tree - Sorbus torminalis
Yew - Taxus baccata
Small Leaved Lime - Tilia cordata
Large Leaved Lime - Tilia platyphyllos
Wych Elm - Ulmus glabra

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Native shrubs
Blackthorn - Prunus Spinosa
Dogwood - Cornus sanguinea
Buckthorn - Rhamnus catharticus
Alder buckthorn - Frangula alnus
Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus
Wayfaring tree - Viburnum lantana
Spindle - Euonymus europaea
Osier - Salix viminalis
Grey Willow - Salix cinerea
Elder - Sambucus nigra

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Common introduced trees
Sycamore - Acer pseudoplatanus
Sweet chestnut - Castanea sativa
Horse chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum
White poplar - Populus alba
Lots of firs, spruces, larches, pines, cypresses etc.
London Plane