Drought Tolerant Trees - Full List
If your interest is in smaller and garden trees - follow this link.
These lists represent a trawl by Nigel Heriz-Smith of many expert references with "drought" conditions in mind. Kent sits in the driest quarter of the British Isles and climate change threatens to deepen drought periods. This is not to ignore the sharp and terrifying rainfall and flooding events that are also becoming more frequent. "Drought conditions" also describes built-up areas where 'hard-surfaces' (paving, roads, decking) prevent rain penetrating the soil sufficiently. I have also removed some 'problem trees' - eg root problems, particularly invasive species, etc.
"Size" achieved in the real world can vary for each species/variety depending on soil type, wind and sun exposure, nutrients, competition, water availablility and damage (e.g. animals and strimmers!). I have tried where possible to use "Size ranges" for conditions in the UK rather than sizes in their native conditions:-
Sizes (in UK conditions) |
Trees suited to... |
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Larger plots of land and civic spaces
The opportunities for planting trees are as varied as the shape and size of spaces available. Of course, in your garden, you can make very personal choices (colour, shape, scent, leaf, bark, fruit etc) but, if you have access to more open spaces and land margins, your choices expand to create a mixed treescape. This is not a definitive list and I welcome alternative suggestions!
The space between trees can be as important as the species chosen. This can lead to a structured/planned approach to create highly successful and purposeful planting. Mixed planting also gives Nature more choices and is much richer for us!
An alternative approach, if you want to 'create' or expand a forest or larger wood, is to let Nature lead, especially if you want to recover marginal land by including early-successional or 'pioneer species' - trees best suited quickly to establish cover for other species to become established; pioneer trees are tagged in my table. The Miyawaki Method may well be the better way go. In short, a variety of trees are planted much closer than conventionally done. The greater density will cost more but the benefit of this approach is that the trees compete - trees stand or fall according to the nature of each microclimate, competition for light and particular soil variations and so on. Because the trees compete, they tend to grow more quickly as they compete for light. You are trusting to Nature. To learn more look at this link http://urban-forests.com/miyawaki-method/
If your objective is to renew existing wooded areas, the choice of good "late-successional" species that can thrive in lower levels of light in the shade of other trees (e.g. where trees/understory are in decline) and where the soil has been conditioned by existing woodland, understory plants and fungi. Drought-tolerant trees in this category have also been tagged in blue in the Table below - there are many more trees in this category if water is more freely available.
Shade tolerant and partially-tolerant trees may be the logical choice for proximity to existing trees and for urban planting near tall or massive buildings. I have tagged degrees of shade tolerance in orange.
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GENUS AND SPECIES |
COMMON NAMES |
VARIETIES |
PAVED/ TARMACCED |
SUSTAIN-ABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SuDS) |
SMALL/ GARDENS. |
PARK/OPEN SPACES |
COASTAL. |
TRANSPORT CORRIDOR (ALSO FASTIGIATE or UPRIGHT VARIETIES) |
1 |
Acacia dealbata |
Silver Wattle, Mimosa |
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2 |
Acer campestre |
Field Maple |
Elegant, William Caldwell. |
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3 |
Acer monspess-ulanum |
Montpelier Maple |
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4 |
Acer negundo |
Box elder, Ash-leafed Maple |
Auratum |
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5 |
Acer platanoides |
Norway Maple |
Farlakes Green, Summer Shade, Emerald Queen. |
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Norway Maple Varieties:- Cleveland, Columnar, Fairview, Olmsted. Globosum - Compact/ Medium (up to 8m) Crimson King, Crimson Sentry [3-8m tall], Faasen's Black, Schwedleri, Royal Red, Debora, Fairview Princeton Gold |
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6 |
Acer rubrum |
Red Maple |
Red Sunset (12-17m); Autumn Blaze (12m) |
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7 |
Acer saccharinum |
Silver Maple |
Large - Columnar varieties available |
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8 |
Albizia julibrissin |
Pink Siris, Silk Tree |
rosea (f) |
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9 |
Alnus cordata |
Italian Alder |
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10 |
Arbutus unedo |
Strawberry Tree. |
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11 |
Carpinus betulus |
Hornbeam |
Large - Ovoid Fastigiata, columnaris, Frans Fontaine |
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12 |
Castanea sativa |
Sweet Chestnut |
Marron de Lyon, Gros Merle, Paragon Pyramidalis Glabra Albomarinata |
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13 |
Catalpa speciosa (cordifolia) |
Catalpa |
Bois Chavanon, Catawba |
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14 |
Celtis australis |
European Nettle Tree |
Large - Globular |
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15 |
Celtis occidentalis |
Common Hackberry |
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16 |
Cercis canadensis |
Redbud |
Forest Pansy (purple leaf); Ruby Falls (RHS AGM) (<2.5m) |
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17 |
Cercis siliquastrum |
Judas Tree |
Bodnant (RHS) |
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18 |
x Chitalpa tashkent-ensis |
Chitalpa, Summer Bells Tree |
Small - Globular |
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19 |
Cornus mas |
Cornelian Cherry |
Golden Glory (RHS) |
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20 |
Corylus colurna |
Turkish Hazel/ Filbert |
Large - Conical |
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21 |
Crataegus crus galli |
Cockspur Hawthorn/ Thorn |
Prunifolia (RHS AGM) |
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22 |
Crataegus laevigata |
Woodland/ Midland Hawthorn/ May |
Paul's Scarlet (4-8m), Punciea/Crimson Cloud (4-8m), Rosa/Rosea Flore Pleno, Gireoudii (2.5-4m) (RHS AGM) |
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23 |
Crataegus x lavalleei |
Lavallee Hawthorn/ Hybrid Cockspur |
Carrierei (RHS AGM) |
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24 |
Crataegus monogyna |
Common Hawthorn, Quickthorn, May |
Ferox, Biflora (Glastonbury Thorn). |
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25 |
Crataegus x persimilis |
Broad-leaved Cockspur Thorn |
Prunifolia (RHS AGM) |
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26 |
Crataegus pinnatifida |
Chinese Hawthorn Tree |
Big Golden Star (RHS rec.) |
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27 |
Cydonia oblonga |
Common Quince |
Meech's Prolific, Vranja Nenodovic |
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28 |
Ficus carica (f) |
Common Fig |
Brown Turkey, Ice Crystal (RHS AGM) |
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29 |
Fraxinus |
Ash (Pioneer) - Habitat Restoration in woods & forests. Pick and Mix = Oak, beech, sycamore, silver birch, aspen, alder, field maple, rowan. |
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30 |
Gleditsia triancanthos (f) |
Honey Locust |
f. inermis 'Sunburst' |
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31 |
Gymnocladus dioica |
Kentucky Coffee Tree |
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32 |
Ilex aquifolium |
European Holly |
Argentea Marginata (f/v); Handsworth New Silver; Pyramidalis; Silver Queen; Amber; J.C. van Tol; Ferox Argentea (m/v) (RHS AGM) |
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33 |
Ilex x altaclerensis |
Moderately shade tolerant |
Belgica Aurea; Lawsoniana; Camelliifolia; Golden King (RHS AGM) |
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34 |
Koelreuteria paniculata |
Pride of India, Golden Rain Tree |
Coral Sun; Rose Lantern (RHS AGM) Fastigiata |
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35 |
Liquidambar styraciflua |
Sweetgum |
Worplesdon, Penwood, Lane Roberts (RHS AGM); Variagata Overeynder, Corky, Wisley King (RHS Listed) |
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36 |
Malus domestica |
Cultivated Apples |
multiple var. mixed drought tolerance |
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Alkmene; Belle de Boskoop; Laxton's Fortune; Sunset; Charles Ross; Elstar; Golden Noble; Fiesta; King Russet; Howgate Wonder; Dummellor's Seedling; Egremont Russet; Mother; Emneth Early; Winston; Ellison's Orange; Kidd's Orange Red; Red Flastaff (PBR); Laxton's Epicure; Arthur Turner; Ribston Pippin; Blenheim Orange; King of the Pippins; Rosemary Russet; Jupiter; Grenadier; Jonagold; James Grieve; Lane's Prince Albert; Lord Lambourne; Worcester Pearmain; Bramley Seedling; Scrumptious; Peasgood's Nonsuch; Warner's King; Pixie; Ashmead's Kernel; Saint Edmund's Pippin; Discovery; Greensleeves. (RHS AGM) |
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37 |
Malus sylvestris |
Common Crab Apple |
Medium - Bushy |
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38 |
Malus trilobata |
Lebanese Wild/ Crab Apple |
Medium - Irregular |
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39 |
Malus yunnanensis |
Yunnan Crab Apple |
Small - Ovoid |
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40 |
Mespilus germanica |
Medlar |
Large Russian, Dutch (f), Nottingham (f) (RHS) |
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41 |
Morus alba |
White Mulberry |
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42 |
Morus nigra |
Black Mulberry |
Fruitless (fruitless); Lacinata (cut leaf); Pyramidalis (upright); macrophylla/ pantifolia (large leaved); pendula (weeping) |
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43 |
Olea europaea |
Olive |
Small - Irregular |
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44 |
Ostrya carpinofolia |
Hop Hornbeam |
Large - Globular |
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45 |
Parrotia persica |
Persian Ironwood |
Vanessa (RHS) |
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46 |
Paulownia tomentosa |
Foxglove Tree |
Fast Blue = 'Minfast' |
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47 |
Platanus x hispanica |
London Plane |
Alpen Globe (Compact Crown) |
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48 |
Platanus orientalis |
Oriental Plane |
Massive - Globular |
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49 |
Prunus cerasifera |
Cherry plum, mirabelle/ myrobalan |
Nigra (Black Cherry Plum), Gypsy, Pissardii, Trailblazer (RHS) |
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50 |
Prunus domestica |
Common Plum |
Plums: Victoria, Coe's Golden Drop,Blue Tit, Pershore, Blue Rock, Jefferson, Czar, Marjorie's Seedling, Mallard, Laxton's Delight, Avalon, Opal; |
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51 |
Prunus sargentii |
Sargent's Cherry |
Small - Globular Rancho (Narrow Crown) |
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52 |
Prunus spinosa |
Blackthorn, Sloe |
Small - Bushy |
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53 |
Pyrus calleryana |
Callery Pear |
Chanticleer, Redspire |
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54 |
Quercus acutissima |
Sawtooth Oak |
Medium - Ovoid |
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55 |
Quercus coccinea |
Scarlet Oak |
Splendens |
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56 |
Quercus falcata |
Southern Red Oak/ Spanish Oak |
Large - Globular |
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57 |
Quercus ilex |
Holm Oak |
Large - Globular |
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58 |
Quercus palustris |
Pin Oak |
Large - Bushy |
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59 |
Quercus petraea |
Sessile Oak/ Durmast Oak |
Large - Globular |
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60 |
Quercus x turneri |
Turner's Oak |
pseudoturneri (RHS AGM) |
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61 |
Rhus typhina |
Staghorn Sumac |
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62 |
Robinia pseudoacacia |
False Acacia, Black Locust |
monophylla (fastigiate); Frisia |
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63 |
Sorbus aria |
Whitebeam |
Lutescens, Majestica (RHS AGM) |
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64 |
Sorbus domestica |
Service Tree |
Large - Globular |
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65 |
Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' |
Hybrid Mountain Ash |
'Joseph Rock' |
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66 |
Sorbus torminalis |
Wild Service Tree |
Large - Ovoid |
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67 |
Syringa vulgaris |
Common Lilac |
Andenken an Ludwig Spath, Vestale, Firmament, Primrose |
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68 |
Tamarix ramosissima |
Salt Cedar |
Rubra |
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69 |
Tamarix tetrandra |
Four Stamen Tamarix |
Small - Bushy |
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70 |
Tilia tomentosa |
Silver Lime |
Large - Conical |
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71 |
Ulmus |
Hybrid Elm |
'New Horizon' - 100% disease resistant (according to Hillier) |
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CONIFERS |
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72 |
Abies concolor |
White Fir, Colorado Fir |
Massive - Conical Wintergold |
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73 |
Calocedrus decurrens |
Californian Incense Cedar |
Berrima Gold (RHS AGM) |
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74 |
Cedrus atlantica |
Blue Atlas Cedar |
Massive - Conical |
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75 |
Cedrus deodara |
Himalayan Cedar |
Massive - Conical |
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76 |
Cedrus libani |
Cedar of Lebanon |
Massive - Conical |
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77 |
Chamae-cyparis lawsonia |
Lawson Cypress, Ginger pine |
Massive - Conical
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Lawson Cypress Varieties |
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78 |
Cryptomeria japonica |
Japanese Cedar |
Massive - Columnar Sekkan-sugi (<10m), Elegans Viridis (3-8m) |
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79 |
Cupressus arizonica |
Arizona Cypress |
Large - Columnar Pyramidalis (Narrow Habit) (RHS AGM) |
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80 |
Cupressus macrocarpa |
Monterey Cypress |
Gold Crest (RHS AGM) |
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81 |
Cupressus semper-virens |
Mediterranean Cypress |
Massive - Columnar Pyramidalis, stricta, Green Pencil |
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82 |
Ginko biloba |
Maidenhair Tree/ Fossil tree |
Large - Conical Fastigata (m) |
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83 |
Juniperus chinensis |
Chinese Juniper |
Large - Conical Aurea (yellow foliage) Obelisk |
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84 |
Juniperus communis |
Common Juniper |
Small - Conical |
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85 |
Juniperus scopulorum |
Rocky Mountain Juniper |
Small - Conical Blue Arrow (upright habit) (RHS) |
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86 |
Juniperus virginiana |
Eastern Red Cedar |
Small - Conical |
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87 |
Picea pungens |
Colorado or Blue Spruce |
Massive - Conical |
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88 |
Pinus halepensis |
Aleppo Pine, Jerusalem Pine |
Medium - Conical |
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89 |
Pinus nigra |
Black Pine/ Austrian Pine Corsican Pine |
Large - Conical subsp. Laricio |
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90 |
Pinus pinaster |
Maritime Pine/ Bournemouth Pine |
Massive - Conical |
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91 |
Pinus pinea |
Stone Pine |
Large - Conical |
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92 |
Pinus radiata |
Monterey Pine |
Massive - Conical Aurea (RHS AGM) |
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93 |
Pinus sylvestris |
Scots Pine |
Large - Columnar Aurea, Gold Coin (RHS AGM) |
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94 |
Sequoia-dendron gigantum |
Giant Sequoia, Giant Redwood, Wellingtonia |
Glaucum (blue-green); Barabits Requiem (Weeping) |
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95 |
Taxodium distichum |
Swamp Cypress |
Massive - Conical |
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96 |
Taxus baccata |
Common Yew |
Large - Irregular |
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96a |
Irish Yew |
Fastigiata (f); fastigiata aurea |
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