Types of Trees

Deciduous and Coniferous Trees

Deciduous and Coniferous Trees

Deciduous trees Also known as hardwoods or broadleaves trees

Coniferous trees As known as softwood or needle leaved trees

Deciduous trees - characteristics

Give us hardwood timber Lose their leaves in autumn – except holly Trunk divides to develop large branches Large broad leaves Generally grow more slowly Usually harder and more durable wood Branches are generally larger and more irregular

than conifers

Coniferous trees - characteristics

Give us softwood timber Evergreen - except larch Have a straight trunk Smaller branches Needle like leaves Seeds borne in pine cones Symmetrical in shape Grow quickly Wood is usually softer and less durable than

hardwood

Irish Hardwoods Irish Softwood

Oak Ash Beech Sycamore Elm Birch Horse chestnut

Scots pine

Douglas Fir

Norway spruce

Sitka Spruce

Larch

Oak

Take 120 years to mature

Grow to height of 40 metres

Fruit (seed) is called acorn

Durable, Light coloured wood, easy to work with

Uses: Furniture Doors Flooring Barrels Boat building

Ash

Take 60 years to mature

Grow to height of 40 metres

Pliable, tough Light white coloured wood difficult to work with

Uses: Furniture Hurleys Oars Tool handles

Beech

Grow to height of 36 metres

Durable, reddish to brown coloured wood

Uses: Furniture Doors Flooring Tool handles

Sycamore

Take 200 years to mature

Grow to height of 35 metres

Strong creamy white coloured wood which is ease to work with

Uses: Wood carving Woodturning Violin making veneers

Sitka Spruce

Take 40 years to mature Grow to height 45 metres Shallow root system,

thrives on wet soil (bogs) Forms 75% of trees

planted in Ireland annually Known as white deal Fairly durable with a pale

brown colour Uses:

Structural timber Paper making floorboard

Norway Spruce

Grow to height 40 metres Shallow root system,

thrives on damp fertile soil Forms 4% of trees planted

in Ireland annually Also known as white deal not durable with a white to

cream colour Uses:

Christmas trees Internal joinery plywood

Douglas Fir

Cone shaped Grow to height 55

metres Likes light therefore

branches are scarce Tough, durable wood

with a reddish- brown colour

Uses: Railway sleepers Telephone poles Plywood

manufacture

Scots Pine

Shape is not typical – tall with a few large branches

Grow to height 40 metres Slow growing not

commerically planted any longer

Known as red deal Strong and durable with a

bright yellow colour Uses:

Roof frames Telegraph poles Fence posts

Other timbers

Some timbers cannot grow in Ireland due to our climate

They grow in tropical areas, where they are able to continuously grow all year around and as a result they do not have annual rings

Examples include: Mahogany Ebony Teak Walnut Balsa