What Trees Are Grown in Dry UK Conditions?
The climate here in the United Kingdom has to be one of our favourite topics of conversation and despite the way in which many of us joke about it always being cold and wet, the climate is in fact a temperate one.
This means we usually have cool, wet winters and warm, wet summers. Recent years have seen this change somewhat, with greater extremes of weather as a direct result of climate change. Typically, the UK’s temperature rarely features extremes of heat or cold, however different parts of the country do experience different climates due to their geographic position. For example, the southeast of the UK is characterised by a warm and dry climate in the summer which provides a handful of tree species an optimal climate in which to grow.
In this article, we have covered trees that are tolerant of hot, dry conditions and can usually be successfully grown in the UK.
Betula pendula - Silver Birch
The silver birch tree can be characterised by its slim and long silver trunks, with white peeling bark. The tree is native to Europe and parts of Asia and is suited to dry and warm climates. It thrives in the UK and although can be susceptible to birch dieback, is a popular and frequently seen tree.
Paulownia tomentosa - Foxglove Tree
The foxglove tree is a colourful tree during blossom, with purple and white flowers, and green foliage. If left unpruned, the foxglove will quickly grow into an attractive tree, with strong and large leaves. Paulownia tomentosa originates from warm regions and therefore adapts well to hot climates. This tree is also called a ‘climate tree’ because of the amount of CO2 it absorbs.
Crataegus crus-galli - Cockspur Hawthorn
Reaching around 8 metres tall, the cockspur hawthorn is recognisable for its long thorns and abundance of tiny white flowers in spring. It is very popular among birds as they build nests among the thorns and the berries provide food in the winter months. The foliage is compact and dense, making it great for screening in the summer months.
Ginkgo biloba - Maidenhair Tree
Known as the living fossil, Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest species of tree on the planet. The maidenhair tree is deciduous, conical in shape, and can grow up to 25m tall. Its beauty lies in its irregularity, where leaves are fan shapes with distinct lobes and turn a golden yellow colour in autumn.
Quercus ilex - Holm Oak
Quercus ilex is a large evergreen tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall. It has dark green, leathery leaves with a spiny edge, similar to holly leaves. Small, yellow catkins hang from the tree in spring and are followed by acorns. Different from other oaks, these fruits are more pointed and turn a dark red before falling from the tree. They are loved by birds and small animals and form an essential part of many ecosystems.
Gleditsia triacanthos - Honey Locust
Honey Locust is a large deciduous tree growing up to 20 metres in height. Leaves are made of tiny oval shaped leaflets which turn golden yellow in autumn. White flowers are produced in summer with long, twisted seed pods to follow if it has been warm enough. Although this variety has thorns, many varieties, such as ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Inermis’ are thornless.