Rare tree specimens

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by davidbr

The Dracaena is certainly a spectacular sight - it obviously isn't hardy under UK conditions, though. Monkey puzzle trees were very popular as curiosities in Victorian times, they are fully hardy and resilient to our climate. You quite often come across odd specimens in the wild (presumably deliberately introduced many years ago) - there's one in amongst scrub on Clifton Downs, Bristol (behind the Zoo), and another at Newborough Warren on Anglesey.

Black Mulberry does apparently self-seed sometimes into the wild, and if you live in Chiswick there's supposed to be a well-known specimen growing on the river wall by Chiswick Bridge. I intend to make a trip to take a look at it later in the year.

There's also a small Black Mulberry growing on Hammersmith Bridge!

[MeanMachine]

I work in West Norwood Cemetary and have a very knowlegdable worker who tells me we have many rare and uncommon trees, here is a list of what I can remember what he told me, some are common but I thought I just would list all:

Black Ash
Weeping Ash
Ash
Oak
Holm Oak
Indian Bean Tree
Swamp Cypress
Monkey Tree
2 different plum Trees
Horse Chesnut
Sycamore
Cedar
Corsican Pine
Yew
Hawthorn
Chum Tree?
Ginko Bilboa
Hornbeam
Russian Beech
Holy
Euculyptus
Weeping Willow
Plane
Lime
Various Cherry Trees
Many various types of evergreens including a Japanese one for which I can not remember the name but was told its quite unusual
Japanese Maple
There are others but can not remember.

I am sory I dont know the latin names, he did try to tell me but I just dont remember. It is a very unique place to work and is listed in the English Heritage as a important gardens (I think) It would be awesome if someone with the knowledge to visit and list all the rare specimens we have as there are many plants and shrubs that are unusual as well.

[Dorts]

For information on trees in Britain, there is none better than- Alan Mitchell's Trees of Britain. By Alan Mitchell. Published in 1996 by HarperCollins of London.

In it Alan mentions the largest specimens of every species of tree found growing in Britain.

I see davidbr mentions the Black Mulberry. here's what Alan has to say in his own inimitable style:

Black Mulberry (Morus nigra): "This species has no place in a book devoted to inspiring and noble specimen trees, as it has never managed to make anything of the kind. A sprawling low tree on a short, bent and burred stem is as much as one can expect of it. I drag it in willingly, however, because who wants a book, or person, to be boringly predictable?"

Alan new more about trees in Britain than anyone who has lived. The one thing I remember most about him was that winter or summer, he only ever wore short-sleaved shirts and shorts. Perhaps not surprising he died before his time!
Dorts.