All Species
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse chestnut Ht 20-30m
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 / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
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.
Castanea sativa
Sweet chestnut Ht 25-30m
Large tree / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Intolerant to clay soils / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - brown / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Timber / Firewood / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Sth Europe, SW Asia & Nth Africa. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Intolerant of clay soils - good drainage essential. Edible nuts are roasted and eaten hot. Valuable hardwood timber. Coppices well for poles, split posts or firewood.
Cupressus sempervirens stricta (POT grown)
Upright cypress Ht 6 -10m
Medium tree / Evergreen / Tolerates exposed sites / Tolerates dry sites / Intolerant to clay soils / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Shelter / Container Grown / Hedging / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Mediterranean area. Evergreen narrow columnar form famous in Italian landscapes. Needs free draining soil, tolerates very dry conditions. Aromatic timber.
Juglans hindsii
Californian walnut Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Intolerant to clay soils / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Timber / Firewood / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Smooth green husk and nearly smooth shelled nut. Large compound leaves. Wood heavy, hard dark brown and rather coarse grained. Fairly rare in NZ.
Juglans nigra
Black walnut Ht 25-35m
Large tree / Deciduous / Intolerant to clay soils / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Timber / Forestry species / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
E USA. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Best in sheltered fertile site. Rough green fruit husk and rough thick shelled nut. Grown primarily for timber; very durable, rich dark brown, used for cabinets, gunstocks and boat building.
Juglans regia (OG grown)
Common walnut Ht 15-20m
Large tree / Deciduous / Intolerant to clay soils / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Edible fruits and seeds / Timber / Firewood / Forestry species / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
S E Europe to China. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Edible nuts and high quality decorative timber. Must have free draining soils, will not tolerate clays.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Japanese stewartia Ht 10 -15m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Intolerant to clay soils / Tolerates shade / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attracts bees / Container Grown / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
The Japanese Stewartia is a tree found in most Arboretums around the world due to it's ornamental peeling bark and camelia-like flowers. Added to this is the stunning red-orange autumn colours. As a forest dweller it's not a tree for an exposed position.
Taxus baccata (PLUG grown)
English yew Ht 10-20m
Small Tree / Evergreen / Tolerates dry sites / Intolerant to clay soils / Tolerates shade / Attractive to birds / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Container Grown / Hedging / Tolerates limestone soils / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Wide spreading, evergreen. Very shade tolerant and casts very heavy shade. Foliage poisonous to horses. Clips well as a formal hedge. Enjoys alkaline soils but not heavy clays.