[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]

Native Irish Trees --- List of Trees Native to Ireland
by GPI

Click on the links to our native trees below...


The native oaks, Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) and Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur).

Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)

The native birches, Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Downey Birch (Betula pubescens)

Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

The native cherries, Common/Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) and
Bird Cherry (Prunus padus)

Aspen or Trembling poplar (Populus tremula / tremuloides)

The native willows, Goat Willow (Salix caprea), Grey Willow (Salix atrocinerea), Bay Willow (Salix pentandra) and Eared Willow (Salix aurita)

Mountain Ash or Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

Whitebeam (Sorbus hibernica)

Crab apple (Malus sylvestris)

Yew (Taxus baccata)

Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Blackthorn/Sloe (Prunus spinosa)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Killarney Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)


Plant trees native to Ireland.
Do you have a wish for the upcoming gardening year?
Perhaps you would like a warm summer for your roses or maybe you would prefer a sharp cold snap in autumn to ignite the fire within your trees leaves. Personally, if I could have one wish for the upcoming gardening year I would wish for every garden owner to plant a native tree. Planting a tree native to this country of ours would be great addition to any garden, however, planting a tree native to your own particular region would be the horticultural equivalent of preserving an endangered species.

So, what is a native tree?
It is a tree which occurred naturally in an area without being introduced by man. Our native trees grew wild here and evolved naturally prior to outside contact. They have developed in conjunction with the surrounding plant life, animals, fungi and microbes. This creates an ecosystem, sort of like a happy town filled with the townspeople of the animal, plant, and insect kingdom, all slotting into their individual places in natures hierarchy. In fact, a native tree is the ideal candidate to provide food and shelter for our native wild animals, all the while manufacturing oxygen for animal and human alike.

The native advantage
During its evolutionary period, a native tree will have adapted to the climate, exposure and soil type particular to your area. Imagine that, a tree that actually prefers your locations possibly sticky soil and windy rain-swept location, when all the while you may have been struggling in vain to force some foreign trees to grow in a position they despise.

Native trees from our past
Our native trees provided the early Irish with fuel, food, shelter, building materials and on occasion certain trees became elevated to level of deity due to their supposed magical attributes. The native tree became a gift from Mother Nature to these early gardeners.

Which trees are native, which are blow-ins.
Now I know there are many people out there including gardeners who may not be able to pick out which trees are native and which trees are blow-ins, so I have a plan. My plan is to introduce you to these native trees, they have survived invaders, famine, battles and storms to become the original Irish trees, which our ancestors knew.

[Joshua]

Hi folks !

How about the Alder Buckthorn ( Frangula Alnus)? It is an often overlooked tree which should be planted more often because it is becoming rare.

Black Poplar ? Another rarely planted native tree.

Also you are missing Hazel and Holly or are these considered shrubs?

Is there anywhere on the web with a definitive list of Irish native trees ?

Thanks for the great post though, lots of great info here.

[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]

[Joshua]

Is there a list available of all the native trees ?
Or is there a book you could recommend that has this info ?
I have been looking online but can only find incomplete lists or conflicting information.
This is the best source of infomation I have found and GPI realy knows his stuff !

[Geranimus]

I don't know about a comprehensive list, but the Tree Council of Ireland have an excellent booklet (beautifully illustrated too) which they will post to you if you send them just 2 euros and a stamped envelope. I asked for extra info in my covering letter and they returned a package with a veritable feast, as well as the book.

They're in Dublin:

Tree Council of Ireland

The Park, Cabinteeley,
Dublin 18.
Ph. 00353 1 2849211
Fx. 00353 1 2849197
Email trees@treecouncil.ie

I think this is a must-do step for those starting out growing trees. But I'm in my third year now and need more help myself so more suggestions are welcome.

Tom.

[nemo]

future forest in cork have a good selection of native trees
nemo

[Protein]

I for one can't believe how indigenous fauna and flora are not encouraged in this country.

In South Africa - garden centers would highlight native species with special tags - i.e. Plant me, I am South African

Larger garden centers even have "indigenous sections".

I think something should be done here - I for one didn't realise half of those trees where native.

ps I bought a stash of Rhododendrons the other day, I don't know I could have missed it, but I bought the dreaded R ponticum - granted its variegated variety.
Surely plants on the "invasive" list should not be sold in garden centers?

[Sive]

I couldn't agree more, Protein. I think all plants should be clearly labelled with far more information...for instance, I would like to be told which plants are good for wildlife...bees/butterflies etc.
The issue of native plants is a thorny one on a site like this, as there will always be gardeners who enjoy the challenge of growing plants from other types of climates. I personally think things like eucalyptus trees, for instance, look totally alien here, and furthermore are of zero value to any form of wildlife whatsoever. I think gardeners should work within our native eco-system as much as possible. For instance, verbena bonariensis is not a native perennial, but is hugely valuable for butterflies.....so we can enjoy the "exotic" and support wildlife...everyone wins.

[Stello]

Wow! I have just accidentally found this list again - it'll be very useful for me now that we've taken up nature walks on regular basis We've been following the seasonal changes in our favourite spots (Lackandarragh, Djouce Woods, etc..) since February / early March, and I keep thinking that I should read up more about the trees we see.. Now I know where I'll be doing that! Thanks for the great list

[medieval knievel]

is djouce a natural forest? or at least a plantation of native trees?

[Stello]

Did somebody say it was?

[medieval knievel]

i wasn't sure, based on your comment, hence the question.

[CoillteÉire]

[seancollard]

Dear James Kilkelly,
I find this article on native Irish trees very interesting and I want to put it on my website. Is your work copyrighted or would you share it if I put a link to your site?
Sean Collard

[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]