Trees Suitable for Climate Change

Native Trees

“Some of the United Kingdom’s most valued trees are struggling to keep pace with climate change and increasing extreme weather.”

Weather patterns are changing, and Britain experiences frequent hotter, drier summers. Some of Britain’s native trees find the changing weather conditions challenging, and they are not growing to their full potential.

It is becoming clearer to many experts that planting just native trees is no longer sustainable. Worldwide weather patterns seem to be changing, and it is time to look beyond planting purely native species, and focus on including trees that accept warmer and drier conditions and are less prone to tree pest and disease issues.

The Best Trees for Climate Change

There is, perhaps surprisingly, a good choice when considering which are the best trees for climate change. Our Managing Director, Alastair Beddall, makes his recommendations and suggests that planting design should include:

Both native and non-native species
Species that tolerate high UV levels, sustained heat, urban stress and drought
Shade trees to give cover and protection from sun for animals, humans and shade loving understorey
A broad mix of species to avoid losing all planting should some species fail

Alastair’s recommended resilient trees to plant

The following trees are all in stock at our Buckinghamshire nursery. We can quote plant your chosen trees. Contact our Horticultural team trees@pracbrown.co.uk for details.

Deciduous Trees

Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Our native beautiful Common Beech. It can grow very large when planted as a single specimen tree. Fresh green leaves on foliation which become a stunning orange-copper in autumn. Its leaves do not fall in autumn, often staying attached until spring. Mature height 40m

Downy Birch (Betula pubescens)

Also known as Betula pubescens, this tall deciduous has shoots that are greyish red purple, covered in short, soft, pale hairs. Its light green leaves become orange-yellow in the autumn. This hardy tree prefers damper environments, and tolerates shady conditions. Mature height 20m

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Carpinus betulus (Common Hornbeam) is a native tree. It has bright green leaves which turn a shining yellow through to brown in the autumn. Hornbeam tolerates a wide range of conditions; sun and shade, cool to hot, as well as windy sites. It is happy in both dry and wet soils as well as either chalk or clay. Mature height 20m

English oak – Quercus robur

Our native English Oak (also known as pedunculate oak) is a large majestic tree that can be found across the length and breadth of the UK. The golden-brown autumn foliage is accompanied by acorns. This tree is excellent for supporting a wide variety of wildlife. A very hardy specimen, frost and wind resistant and tolerant of different soils. Mature height 30 metres

Red Oak – Quercus rubra

Quercus rubra or red oak has large leaves that are dark green and turn a glorious red-orange in autumn. Another hardy oak, Quercus rubra can tolerate dry soil, drought and air pollution, it thrives best on fertile well drained soils. Mature height 20+ metres

Please note: all Quercus are subject to special movement conditions due to oak processionary moth

Rowan – Sorbus aucuparia ‘Sheerwater Seedling’

Sorbus aucuparia is a Mountain Ash that is equally at home in urban environments. The creamy white flowers hang in clusters in the spring and are followed by bright red, bird friendly, red-orange berries in autumn, just as the leaves turn yellow and gold. This wildlife friendly tree will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and does not mind being planted in semi-shade and is useful where space is limited, providing year-round interest. Mature height 12 metres

Common European Lime Tilia europaea

An impressive parkland tree, and seemingly resistant to most of the tree diseases, these fast-growing trees have an elegant, tidy shape. Its fragrant yellow flowers that hang in cymes, whilst it’s lush green leaves turn a vivid yellow just before they fall in autumn. This is a tough tree, thriving on most soils, and is frost hardy. It is good for urban areas and is wind resistant. Mature height 20+ metres

Other recommended limes include the following. We do not currently hold stock of these, but ask us for a quote:

• For avenues look at Small leafed Lime (Tilia cordata)

• For wider avenues or parkland European Lime (Tilia europea Pallida), or Broad leafed Lime (Tilia platyphyllos).

A favourite Lime is the Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa) with its silvery underleaf which twinkles in the wind. Its large pyramidal broad crown provides livestock with shelter and has good yellow autumn colour. Not usually affected by aphids so little honey dew drop.

Silver birch – Betula pendula

Betula pendula or Silver Birch, is beloved for its elegant appearance. Its main branches are long and often grow horizontally, creating a semi weeping habit. The Pendula produces light green foliage that shoots early, becoming orange-yellow in the autumn. This is a hardy tree which is frost resistant and regularly the first to grow back on bare or damaged land. Mature height 20 metres

Sweetgum – Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua or American Sweet Gum is a large, undemanding tree, which is known for its beautiful greeny-red leaves and fabulous autumn colour. It is pollution resistant, grows well on acid soil, tolerates poor drainage but less so drought. Slow growing, it will eventually reach up to 20m tall, but taking around 50 years to achieve this.

Evergreen Trees

Portuguese Laurel – Prunus lusitanica

Prunus lusitanica, or Portuguese laurel is a small, hardy evergreen tree of spreading habit. The foliage is dark green and glossy and striking against new red shoots. Very hardy, tolerates heat and drought, and can handle sun or shade in most soils including shallow chalk. Prunus lusitanica can be planted in either sun or shade, but it dislikes wet ground. Mature height 4-6 metres

Strawberry Tree – Arbutus unedo

Arbutus unedo is an attractive tree with young shoots that are tinged red before hardening to dark green. The small white, bell shaped flowers appear in small clusters and are produced together with the strawberry-like red fruit in the autumn, providing a contrasting display. A resilient mediterranean native that resist heat, drought and even pollution and fires. The tough evergreen leaves help to make this tree a good choice for exposed, coastal sites. Prefers a moist, well-drained soil. Mature height up to 8 metres

Magnolia- Magnolia grandiflora gallioniensis

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’ produces beautiful, large, sweet smelling white flowers in the summer, which can be up to 25 cm in diameter. At maturity this tree becomes broad and round headed with a bushy habit. Resilient to diseases, heat and drought, it thrives in full sun although prefers sheltered spot away from cold drying winter winds and frost. Mature Height 15 metres

Loquat Tree – Eriobotrya japonica

Large exotic looking tree with attractive leaves and eye-catching yellow and orange fruit. Although it has proved to be reliably hardy in the UK, frost pockets are best avoided. It requires well drained soil and tolerates heat and drought well. It needs sun to look its best. Mature Height 8 metres

Western Red Cedar – Thuja plicata

Thuja plicata is a fast-growing large evergreen tree with horizontal branches forming a loose, columnar habit, reaching an ultimate height of up to 35m. A popular alternative to Leylandii, as it is slower growing but is still a dense evergreen conifer. Thuja can be hard pruned, unlike Leylandii. A hardy tree with dense foliage, this tree is ideal for screening. Grows well in most conditions, prefers cultivated soil.

More Weather Tolerant Trees

The above list is not exhaustive, and we do have further recommendations of trees that may be resilient to climate change. The following trees are not held in stock at our Buckinghamshire nursery, but we can source and quote to supply and plant them (should you require the latter) Please contact our Horticultural team trees@pracbrown.co.uk

Deciduous Trees:

Foxglove Tree – Paulownia tomentosa

Honey Locust – Gleditisia triacanthos

Judas Tree – Cercis siliquastrum

Black Birch – Betula nigra

Black Walnut – Juglans nigra

Broad leafed Lime – Tilia platyphyllos

Dawn Redwood – Metasequoia glyptostroboides

European Lime – Tilia europea Pallida

Indian Horse Chestnut – Aesculus indica

Pin Oak – Quercus palustris

Scarlet oak – Quercus coccinea