Author: Robyn DrinkwaterPage 9 of 33

Plants and Climate

The study of recurring seasonal events, such as flowering and leaf-fall in plants, or hibernation in animals, is known as phenology.

Garden Features – Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Botanics captures the imagination of everyone who visits and is world renowned for its horticultural excellence. Over 70 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds provide a tranquil haven just one mile from the city centre.

Choose wisely this planting season

With leaves dropping, now is the time to consider planting deciduous material. When choosing a site it is recommended to research the growing conditions in the native habitat…

Native Trees Trail: Aspen

The aspen is native throughout the cool and temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and has the most northerly distribution of those trees native to Scotland, occurring in Shetland out of the way of grazing animals.

Native Trees Trail: Lime

The lime is native across much of Europe and into western Asia. In Britain it is thought to be native up into northern England, with populations further north introduced.

Native Trees Trail: Scots Pine

The Scots Pine is one of the most wide spread pine species, with a range extending from north China to western Scotland.

Native Trees Trail: Rowan

The rowan is also known as the mountain ash, as its leaves resemble those of ash (Fraxinus excelsior). It is found throughout most of Europe, parts of Asia and northern Africa.

Native Trees Trail: Juniper

Juniper is a shrubby conifer, with a wide range throughout the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere.

Native Trees Trail: Bird Cherry

Native to northern Europe and northern Asia it flourishes along streams and on woodland edges, tolerating quite poor and limey soils.

Native Trees Trail: Gean

Gean is native to Europe, north west Africa and west Asia. In Britain it grows in deciduous woodland and is easily recognisable in the early summer, when large clusters of white flowers cover its branches.

Native Trees Trail: Willow

Willow is native throughout Europe, and western Asia. There are numerous species, many of which are known as willow, with more than a dozen in Scotland.

Native Trees Trail: Yew

The evergreen conifer Yew is native to Europe and Asia Minor. It can be very long-lived, with reports of trees reaching thousands of years old.

Native Trees Trail: Birch

The birch is native throughout Europe, and can be found more widely as it is an attractive tree frequently used in gardens and parks.

Native Trees Trail: Holly

Holly is native to western and southern Europe, and is perhaps one of the most easily recognisable of those trees native to Scotland.

Native Trees Trail: Elm

Elm is native across large parts of Europe and western Asia. In Britain many large specimens of Elm have been lost as a result of Dutch Elm disease, with few populations, including those in northern and western Scotland and Brighton, escaping the destruction it caused.

Native Trees Trail: Ash

Ash is native to most of Europe, and is one of the commonest large trees in Scottish woodlands, growing 25-30m in height. The Common Ash can be distinguished from other species by the black leaf buds which are present during the winter.

Native Trees Trail: Alder

Alder is found in wet places and has a wide native range through Europe, west Asia and north Africa. It is a pioneer species of wet and marshy land, helping to open up water-logged soils and stabilising river banks, allowing other species to colonise these areas.

Native Trees Trail: Hazel

Hazel is a small shrubby, multi-stemmed tree, found throughout Europe and west Asia.

Native Trees Trail: Oak

The sessile oak is native to Europe and Asia minor. It is the dominant tree of the Atlantic (west coast) woodlands in Scotland, these are temperate rainforests supporting a wide variety of species, including large numbers of lichens.

Native Trees Trail: Beech

Beech isn’t native to Scotland as its range only reaches into Southern Britain. It was introduced to Scotland as it was planted widely for ornament and shelter, so can often been seen in woodlands, estates and field margins.