Trees and shrubs

There are more than 100 species of maple in the world; some scientists count more than 200. Here, the field maple is the most common species. It grows in Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. In the past, people ate its leaves and used them as animal fodder. Other species include the sycamore maple and the snowball maple, also known as the Italian maple or spring maple. The Norway maple is one of the most common trees in German towns and villages.

Maples are rarely found in forests, but are common in parks and gardens. They grow either as trees or shrubs. In the latter case, they do not have a single trunk with branches and twigs; instead, several shoots grow together. A maple that grows as a tree can reach about 15 to 20 metres in height and live for 150 to 200 years. Sycamore maples can also reach heights of about 30 metres.

The leaves of these species grow on long stalks. They consist of three to five lobes, with rounded indentations between them. They flower in May or June. The flowers develop into fruits with two wings. Because of their distinctive shape, they are dispersed far and wide by the wind in autumn.

There are at least 40 different species of birch trees in the world. Four species are common in Germany: the dwarf birch, the shrub birch, the silver birch (also known as the sand birch or white birch), and the downy birch. The dwarf birch grows to only about 70 centimetres tall, while the shrub birch reaches a height of around 2 metres.

The other two species can grow into large trees, reaching up to 30 meters tall and living for over 100 years. Birch trees grow very quickly. They can also grow in nutrient-poor soils and prefer sunny spots. They are often found in heathland or bogs.

Birch bark is patterned in black, brown and white. When the trees are young, it is smooth; later, it becomes cracked and rugged. In the past, people made containers and vessels from the bark and used them to store food.

Birch trees flower between March and May. Male and female flowers grow on the same tree. The male flowers are yellow-green at first, then turn light brown and grow up to 10 cm long. They hang from the tips of the long shoots. The female flowers grow to about 2 to 4 cm long and are found on the side shoots. Pollen forms in the male flowers and is spread by the wind. It triggers allergies in some people, causing hay fever, conjunctivitis and occasionally even asthma attacks.

Insects love birch trees. Up to 160 different insect species live on and feed on birches, including caterpillars, beetles, and wasps. Birds feed on their seeds and buds.

Birch wood is not used much here. It is made into veneers and plywood. Since it burns very well, it is also often burned in stoves and fireplaces.

Images: Hamsterkiste 

The European beech is native to much of Europe. One in every six deciduous trees in Germany’s forests belongs to this species, which is usually simply called beech. The name “red beech” refers to the slightly reddish color of its wood.

The European beech can grow up to 30 m tall, or even 45 m in dense forests. Its trunk can reach a diameter of 2 m. European beeches can live for up to 300 years, and even older specimens have been found. Beeches reproduce through beechnuts, small brown fruits that provide food for mice, wild boar and birds. European beech wood is used for construction and furniture.

The hornbeam is also found across Europe. However, it is not a beech but belongs to the birch family. Hornbeams grow up to 25 metres tall here, their trunks can reach a diameter of one metre, and they live for no more than 150 years. They are very well suited to growing as hedges.

Beech trees with red leaves are called copper beeches. They are actually European beeches whose foliage has turned red due to a mutation. This color becomes brownish over the course of the summer. Almost all copper beeches found in our region are thought to descend from a mother tree that grew in a forest near the town of Sondershausen in Thuringia in 1690.

There are about 400 different species of oak in the world. They grow throughout the northern hemisphere. The most common species here are the English oak and the sessile oak.

Oaks can live to a very old age, sometimes even more than 1,000 years. They thrive in poor, sandy soil and grow to about 30 to 40 meters tall. They develop broad crowns that provide a pleasant habitat for birds and other animals. Their wood is very hard and well suited for construction. In the past, many houses were built using timber framing, with oak posts and beams.

In summer, oak leaves are a deep green and have two to five indentations. Oaks flower in May. They then produce lots of fruit, which we call acorns. They contain a lot of starch and provide food for mice, squirrels, deer and wild boar. In the past, farmers drove their pigs into the forests to fatten them on acorns. Because of the bitter substances they contain, acorns are inedible for humans and mildly toxic.

There are around 40 species of alder in the world. The species most common here are green alder, grey alder and black alder. Green alder grows as a shrub, while the other two grow as medium-sized trees.

Gray and black alders are mainly found near bodies of water or in damp places. They often help protect riverbanks from erosion. Gray alder grows mainly in southern Germany and Austria, while black alder is found throughout Europe. Alders can grow up to 30 meters tall.

Freshly cut black alder wood turns red. The bark has deep cracks, especially on older trees. Alder leaves grow to between four and nine centimeters long and three to seven centimeters wide. Their edges are doubly serrated.

The black alder begins to flower at around ten years old. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. The male flowers grow in catkins 5 to 10 centimeters long, on stalks 10 to 15 millimeters long. The female flowers are about 5 millimeters long. The flowers are pollinated by the wind.

Alder wood is very durable underwater. The piles on which the city of Venice was built are made largely of alder wood. Today, the wood is used, for example, to make pencils and furniture, or to produce particleboard.

Spruce trees grow in the northern regions of the world—in North America, Europe and Asia. There are about 35 different species, including the Norway spruce, which is native to Central Europe. It is also known as the common spruce, red spruce or red fir.

The Norway spruce can live for up to 600 years. It grows very straight and stays green all year round. It usually reaches about 40 meters in height, but trees over 60 meters tall have also been found. Along with the silver fir, it is the tallest tree species found in Europe. The trunk can reach a diameter of up to 1.5 meters. 

Spruce trees have needles. These needles have four sides, so they are not flat. They grow individually on the twigs and branches. Their square shape makes them easy to roll between your fingers.

Spruce trees are sometimes used as Christmas trees, but above all, they are important sources of timber. The wood is sawn into beams, planks, boards or squared timber, for example. It is also used to make crates, boxes and pallets, or turned into furniture and musical instruments. It is often made into particleboard and paper, too.

Spruce trees often develop only shallow roots. As a result, they can easily be blown over in strong winds. In recent years, our forests have also suffered from increasing drought. Because the trees are no longer as strong and resilient, spruce trees are being damaged by bark beetles, European spruce bark beetles and other pests. Infested trees must be felled, and the bark must be removed quickly from felled trees to prevent the beetles from spreading further. These days, mixed forests are increasingly being planted, with different kinds of conifers and broadleaf trees. This makes it harder for tree pests to multiply.

Pine trees grow in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There are numerous species. In Central Europe, the Scots pine is the most widespread. Other species found there include the black pine, mountain pine and Swiss pine.

The Scots pine keeps its green needles all year round. It grows very quickly. It can reach a height of 48 meters and a trunk diameter of 1 meter. It can live for up to 600 years.

Pine needles grow in bundles. Each bundle contains several needles attached to the branches at one point. Pine needles are longer than those of other conifers. Some species of pine have needles that can grow up to 50 cm long. The trunks of older trees in particular have deeply fissured bark.

Pines are among the most important trees in forestry and are sometimes grown in plantations. They are undemanding and grow quickly. Scots pine timber is used, for example, as construction lumber, for landscaping, furniture, floorboards and trim.

There are about 10 different species of larch in the world. The European larch is the most common one here. It grows in the Alps, the Carpathians and the central uplands. Larches are also cultivated in lowland areas because they are an important source of timber.

Larches have green needles in summer. European larches can grow up to 40 metres tall. They can live for up to 600 years, though a few older specimens have been found. The trees have slender crowns. Young larches have green bark, which later turns grey-brown and develops into a thick bark with deep furrows and large scales.

Larch needles are about half a millimeter wide and soft. They grow up to three centimeters long and sit close together in dense clusters. In autumn, the needles fall off and form a soft carpet beneath the trees.

Larch trees begin to flower at around fifteen years of age. The flowers form between March and May. The male flowers are yellow, while the female ones are pink or red. The female flowers are about twice as large as the male ones. Light brown cones form in autumn and grow to about six centimetres long.

The seeds fall out of the cones when they are ripe. This usually happens the following spring. Sometimes the cones remain on the tree for several more years before falling off. In autumn, larch trees shed their needles.

There are about 40 different species of linden tree in the world. Here, the most common are the small-leaved lime and the large-leaved lime. There are 15 species in China that are found only in that country.

In ancient times, some lime trees were worshipped as sacred trees by Germanic and Slavic peoples. In the Middle Ages, courts were held beneath lime trees. Even today, the word "Linde" appears in the names of towns, villages and streets. The name Leipzig derives from the word "Lipsk", which the Sorbs used for a place where lime trees grew.

Linden wood is soft and is still often used for carving and turning. Linden blossom tea soothes sore throats and stomach complaints; it is also drunk to induce sweating and reduce fever. The word “soothe” refers to the healing effects of linden blossoms.

Linden leaves are heart-shaped with pointed tips and serrated edges. The bark is gray and has long grooves. Lindens bloom from May to June, and their flowers are white.

Linden trees grow to heights of 15 to 40 metres. They can live to a great age. The tree thought to be the oldest in Germany is a linden in Schenklengsfeld, Hesse, estimated to be about 1,200 years old.

Linden trees reproduce from seeds spread by the wind. They can also regrow from sawn-off trunks. This is called coppicing.