Winter tree identification guide for native trees

Buds opposite Go to 2

Buds alternate Go to 3

Trees with Buds Opposite

2a. Buds Black Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) Go

2b. Buds green Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Go

2c. Terminal Bud red-brown, large and sticky, shoot stout Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum) Go

2d. Buds red-brown with hairy tip, shoot slender Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum)

Trees with Buds Alternate

3. Cluster of buds at top of shoot. Go to 4. (Oaks)

3. Single bud at end of shoot. Go to 5.

4. Buds dark brown with few scales. Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur)

4. Buds pale brown with many scales. Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) Go

Note that there are many other species of Oak planted in Northern Ireland in parks and estates. These are the native species, but they also hybridise and so there can be intermediate forms that are a mix of the two species.

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)

5. Buds long slender and pointed, many scales. Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Go

5. Not so. Go to 6. 

 

Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Trees with Buds Alternate

6. Buds protected by a single leaf scale Willows (Salix spp.) Go

6. More than one leaf scale. Go to 7. 

Willows (Salix spp.) There are numerous species of Willow in Ireland and many hybridise with each other. It is often complicated identifying the species of willow. In winter, some have hairy stems, others have smooth stems, but it is the single bud scale that is the distinguishing feature. Look carefully!!
The hairy stem of Grey Willow, Salix cinerea	A smooth stemed willow

7.  Buds on stalks not joined to main stem (see below). Go to 8. Alders (Alnus spp.)

7. Buds not on stalks. Go to 9.

8. Shoot hairy, often grey in colour. Grey Alder (Alnus incana)

8. Shoot smooth, purple. Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Go

8. Shoot smooth, purple but speckled. Cones often large. Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)

 

Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

9. Buds Hairy Go to 10

9. Buds Not Hairy Go to 13

 

Hairy Bud	Smooth Bud

10. Shoots hairy (you may need a hand lens or some magnification to see this) Go to 11

10. Shoots smooth Go to 12

11. Shoot and Buds dark red-brown Elms (Ulmus spp.) Go

11. Bud hairy at base only Grey Poplar (Populus canescens)

11. Shoots with white wool when young, bud orange brown White Poplar (Populus alba)

 

Elms (Ulmus spp.)

12. Bud purple grey, shoot stout Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) Go

12. Bud dark brown, shoot slender Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)

 

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

13. Shoot Smooth Go to 15

14. Shoot densely hairy, pale brown,stout to medium stout (ie not slender) Hazel (Corylus avellana) Go

14. Shoot green and red, not straight, in a zig-zag, medium stout Broad leafed Lime (Tilia platyphyllos) Go

14. Shoot dark brown, slender Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) Go

Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Broad leafed Lime (Tilia platyphyllos)
	Note the main part of the bud is smooth
Downy Birch (Betula pubescens)

15. Shoot dull grey-brown and ribbed. Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)

15. Bud shiny red, rounded, shoot red-brown Small leafed Lime (Tilia cordata)

15. Bud green and red, shoot green and red. Common Lime (Tilia x vulgaris)

15. Bud dark brown, shoot dark glossy brown  Bird Cherry (Prunus padus)

15. Bud red brown, shoot yellow brown Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)

15. Bud dark brown, shoot dark brown, slender with white warts Silver Birch (Betula pendula) Go

 

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

Back to start