All trees on the page are members of the high-level Asterids group of flowering plants.
Birch and Alder trees are part of the Fagales sub-order, in the Betulaceae family. Other members of the Fagales order, in a different family, are the Beeches and Oaks.
Birch / Alder Family
Silver Birch
Betula pendula.
Silver birch trees have slender trunks with white bark that peels off in thin layers, revealing the smooth, silvery-grey bark underneath. Mature trees have a diamond pattern visible in the bark.
It has deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves and pairs of winged seeds called samaras.
Produces strong white wood, used for bobbins!
See Tree 3 in the Mini Arboretum.
Erman’s Birch
Betula ermanii.
The bark of Erman’s birch is a distinctive chalk-white colour and peels off in papery layers as the tree matures. The leaves are triangular, with pointed tips and serrated edges, and turn a bright yellow colour in the autumn before dropping.
Downy Birch
Betula pubescens.
Downy birch or European white birch is a deciduous tree native to northern Europe and northern Asia. It is a slender tree with a light canopy and drooping branches. You can tell this species apart from Silver Birch by its leaf shape, which is also hairy underneath. The bark is less flaky, with clear horizontal lines.
See Tree 4 in the Mini Arboretum.
Common Alder
Alnus glutinosa.
Deciduous tree with a conical crown, greyish-brown bark, and rounded leaves with toothed margins. Produces small cones that disintegrate to release small winged seeds.
Italian Alder
Alnus cordata.
The Italian Alder is a medium-sized tree native to southern Italy and Corsica. It is a fast-growing tree that can reach heights of up to 25 meters. It has a distinctive conical shape and glossy, heart-shaped leaves.
Grey Alder
Alnus incana.
A significant distinction from the other Alders is the smooth bark, as well as a toothed leaf.
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus.
Deciduous tree with a dense, spreading crown and a fluted grey trunk. The leaves are oval-shaped and turn yellow in autumn, and the tree produces small, brown nuts in autumn that are surrounded by a leafy bract.
Fastigiate Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’.
Deciduous tree with a narrow, upright form and deeply grooved bark. The leaves are dark green and turn yellow in the autumn. The tree produces small, brown nuts in the autumn that are surrounded by a leafy bract.
Turkish Hazel
Corylus colurna.
The leaves of the Turkish Hazel are oval, with serrated edges, and turn a beautiful yellow or orange in the autumn. The tree produces small, yellowish-brown catkins in the late winter or early spring, followed by edible nuts enclosed in a husk.
The tree shown is near the entrance to the Walled Garden, from the park, once recorded as the largest in the country.
See also Tree 29 in the Mini Arboretum.
Common Hazel
Corylus avellana.
A hazel tree is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 15 meters tall. It has a slender trunk and spreading branches. The leaves are oval-shaped and have serrated edges. The flowers are small and yellow, and they bloom in the spring. The fruit is a hazelnut, which is a brown, oval-shaped nut.
There are several on the edge of Thompson’s Wood and the Parkside field.
Corkscrew Hazel
Corylus avellana ‘Contortia’
Like Hazel, but its leaves and shoots and leaves are twisted and curled.
Ash Family
Common Ash
Fraxinus excelsior.
Deciduous tree with a tall, straight trunk and a spreading crown. The leaves are compound, with 5-11 leaflets, and turn yellow in the autumn. The tree produces winged seeds called keys.
See Tree 24 in the Mini Arboretum.
Manna Ash
Fraxinus ornus.
A small, round-headed deciduous tree, with deep green, pinnate leaves and showy panicles of fragrant, creamy-white flowers
Claret Ash
Fraxinus augustifolia ‘Raywood’.
Also known as Raywood Ash, it is a subspecies (ssp) of the Narrow-leaved Ash (Fraxinus augustifolia).
Similar to the Common Ash, but with leaves that turn a deep claret colour in autumn.
Single Leaf Ash
Fraxinus excelsior f. diversifolia.
As the name suggests, single-leaf ash has only one leaflet per leaf, which is oval or elliptical with a serrated margin. The leaves are dark green and can grow up to 6 inches long.
Other
Holly
Ilex aquifolium.
The leaves of holly trees are evergreen, typically sharp and spiny, with a dark green colour that persists throughout the year. They have red berries.
The varieties shown are in the Formal Garden, towards the lake. On the left is the spineless Pyramid Holly (‘Pyramidalis’). The other two are Golden Hollies (Ilex aquifolium f. aureomarginata), probably the varieties “Watereriana” and “Golden Queen”.
Dove Tree
Davidia involucrata.
Also known as the Handkerchief Tree.
It has toothed, alternate, ovate-cordate leaves.
Fossil records of Dove trees extend back to the age of the dinosaurs.
Specimen at the back of the hall planted circa 1970.
Indian Bean Tree
Catalpa bignonioides.
Also known as the Golden Bean Tree.
The leaves of the Indian Bean Tree are yellow. The tree also produces large clusters of showy white flowers with purple and yellow markings that bloom in late spring or early summer. The fruit of the tree is a long, narrow bean pod that can reach up to 2 feet in length.
Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria.
The Smoke tree is a deciduous shrub or small tree that has oval leaves and clusters of small, white flowers that bloom in late summer. The flowers are so numerous that they give the tree a smoky appearance, hence the name.
Photographs used in the Tree Galleries were taken in Wollaton Park and are reproduced with the original artist’s permission.
Copyright © for each picture remains with the original artist, who is duly acknowledged for their contribution.
Contributors include Colin Robbins, Wendy Martin, and Chris Golightly.
Tree descriptions were generated with the assistance of Google Bard.