Carya laciniosa
Big shellbark hickory Ht 20-30m
Eastern USA, south of the Great Lakes. Broadly columnar. Deciduous with 40cm+ leaves. The ribbed nuts are edible. Valuable timber. Smoke curing meat. Rare in NZ.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Timber
Araucaria angustifolia (POT grown)
Brazilian monkey puzzle Ht 20-30m
Brazil and N. Argentina. Tall conifer with straight trunk and spreading upper branches. Valuable timber now severely depleted. Grown from NZ seed provided by Graeme Platt. Suited to mild areas of NZ.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Edible fruits and seeds
- Timber
- Container Grown
Alnus rubra
Oregon or red alder Ht 25-30m
West North America. Broadly conical deciduous. Vigorous growth on hillsides as well as stream sides. Produces good hardwood timber for furniture and panelling. Planted for shelter. Red winter buds identify this alder.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Tolerates wet sites
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Timber
- Firewood
- Erosion control
- Shelter
Alnus jorullensis (OG grown)
Mexican evergreen alder Ht 20-25m
Mexico & the Andes at higher altitudes. Broadly conical, evergreen, but can shed some leaves in a cold winter. Dark green serrated leaves tapering to a point, new shoots dark brown. Fast growing popular shelter in milder parts of NZ.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates wet sites
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Timber
- Shelter
- Hedging
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse chestnut Ht 20-30m
Albania and Nth Greece. Broadly conical, deciduous. Large palmate compound leaves produce a dense shade. Large creamy white flowers, then prickly oval fruits, enclosing polished conkers prized by schoolboys in the UK. Best in fertile soils.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Intolerant to clay soils
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive flowers or catkins
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Tolerates limestone soils
Acer pseudoplatanus purpureum
Sycamore (purple under leaf) Ht 25-30m
Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Similar in all characteristics to the green leaf form. The purple colour under the leaf adds variety. White hardwood joinery timber.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Ht 25-30m
Europe and south west Asia. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Tolerates harsh conditions. Can seed prolifically and provide fodder for grazing animals. In Central Otago it gives good yellow autumn colour.
Group trees and shrubs:
Yes
Categories:
- Large tree
- Deciduous
- Resistant to salt spray
- Tolerates exposed sites
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive autumn colours - yellow
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Attracts bees
- Timber
- Firewood
- Tolerates limestone soils
Abies vejarii (OG grown)
Vejar silver fir Ht 30-40m
Tamaulipa Province, Mexico, only found on 500 hectares. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blueish green needles. Vigorous growth, two specimens are the tallest trees in our 35-year-old collection. Large volume timber production. Good near Fairlie.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
Abies spectabilis (PLUG grown)
West Himalayan fir Ht 30-50m
Afghanistan to Nepal. Evergreen, broadly conical. Dark green shiny needles, silvery underneath. Violet-blue erect cones. One of the stronger growing silver firs.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Tolerates dry sites
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Container Grown
Abies procera (PLUG grown)
Noble fir Ht 40-60m
Washington & Oregon. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Short blue-grey needles and pint mug sized cones. Grows into a large tree given time. Imported seed.
Group trees and shrubs:
No
Categories:
- Large tree
- Evergreen
- Intolerant to clay soils
- Tolerates shade
- Attractive berries fruits or cone
- Timber
- Christmas Trees
- Container Grown
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