Guelder rose is a deciduous, upright shrub. Guelder-rose usually grows by lakes and in hedgerows. They sometimes reach as high as 4 meters.

The Wild Cherry Tree (Crann silín fiáin) is one of Ireland's most attractive native trees. Its beauty, and its fruit, have made it one of Ireland’s most respected, protected trees throughout history & it continues to be a popular tree around the country today.

Its scented flowers are particularly appealing to insects & it’s easily recognizable, white cherry blossoms are a joy for any fortunate individual who may lay eyes on them.

Although Larches aren’t native to Ireland (or Britain), it is relatively commonly planted in Ireland. The European Larch is native to mountains of central Europe, upland areas in France, Germany and Austria. Larches have woody trunks & stems, needle leaves and a waxy coating that keeps the leaves from losing water which is all characteristic of conifers. But, unlike other evergreen Conifers, they are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves for part of the year. It is known to be the only deciduous conifer in Europe & the majority of deciduous conifers in other continents are related to them in one way or another.

Although it is well known in Ireland & has been widely planted in parks & garden across Ireland, the Horse Chestnut Tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) is not a native Irish Tree. In saying that, one could argue that after over 200 years of being found in Ireland, the Horse Chestnut Tree has long been naturalised to the Emerald Isle.

Overall, the Scots Pine is a very hardy species and can grow in rocky, sandy, or shallower soils, that have a limited reservoir of nutrients and water available to plants. It has been known to grow for up to 700 years in parts of Sweden & Norway. Mature trees can grow up to around 35 meters.

In Celtic times, the Birch tree was a symbol of love, with Birch branches frequently being placed above cradles in order to protect the baby within. Birch was also known to symbolise renewal and purification. Commonly known as a ‘Pioneering Tree’, Birch is seen as an opportunist which takes over areas that have been abandoned or have been newly cleared. This was how it spread across Ireland thousands of years ago. 

We know what you’re thinking...

“Sitka Spruce?! That’s a non-native tree, why is there Sitka Spruce in your forests?”

Well, today, we’re going to answer that question by laying out some facts, dispelling some myths, and telling you how powerful a tool the Sitka Spruce can be in making planet earth cool.

Rowan Trees are an often overlooked native Irish tree. Although they are smaller than many other native trees, this does not make them any less beautiful. Typically they grow to a height of about 15 meters. In Irish, Rowan tree can be translated as Caorthann, which is also the Irish Translation for Mountain Ash. This is due to the fact that their leaves are very similar to the common ash tree, however, the trees are not related in any way.

The Alder Tree (Alnus glutinosa) is a native Irish tree, which has quite a history in Irish Folklore and History. It even has played a role in the naming of a number of Irish towns and villages. For example, Ballyfarnon (Béal Átha Fearnáin) in Country Roscommon translates to Mouth of the Ford of the Alder, and County Wexford, the town of Ferns comes from the Irish Word; Fearna (Alder Trees).