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Tree Species
Field Reference

Mature height, growth habit, and the defect or failure tendencies worth noting on a survey — for ~30 species common on UK, European, and North American sites. A quick field reference, not a substitute for species-specific literature or your own professional judgement.

Species	Mature height	Growth habit	Notable defect / failure tendencies
Quercus robur English oak	20–30m	Broad, spreading	Sudden branch drop in older specimens; generally sound, durable wood
Fraxinus excelsior Common ash	20–35m	Upright, open	Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) — crown thinning, dieback, root/butt rot risk
Fagus sylvatica European beech	25–40m	Dense, domed	Shallow rooting, wind-throw risk on wet or compacted ground; beech bark disease
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore	20–35m	Broad, spreading	Sooty bark disease under drought stress; included bark at co-dominant unions
Betula pendula Silver birch	15–25m	Light, open crown	Short-lived, decay develops quickly after wounding
Populus spp. Poplar	20–30m+	Fast-growing, upright	Brittle wood, frequent limb drop, high water demand — subsidence risk near structures
Salix spp. Willow	10–25m	Spreading or weeping	Brittle wood, frequent summer limb drop, high water demand
Tilia spp. Lime	20–35m	Dense, domed	Heavy basal/epicormic suckering; aphid honeydew; included bark on multi-stem forms
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut	20–25m	Broad, domed	Bleeding canker (Pseudomonas syringae); leaf miner is cosmetic, not structural
Platanus × hispanica London plane	25–35m	Tall, tolerant, broad crown	Generally robust; Massaria disease can affect lower deadwood limbs
Ulmus spp. Elm	20–30m	Upright, vase-shaped	Dutch elm disease — historically devastating, remaining mature elms are notable
Pinus sylvestris Scots pine	15–25m	Tall, straight bole	Generally wind-firm; shallower rooting on waterlogged soils
Picea abies Norway spruce	20–40m	Conical	Shallow rooting, susceptible to wind-throw, especially in shallow or wet soils
Larix decidua European larch	20–35m	Conical, deciduous conifer	Phytophthora ramorum (larch disease) — major UK felling-notice driver since 2010s
Carpinus betulus Hornbeam	15–25m	Dense, compact	Generally structurally sound; occasional included bark at low forks
Prunus avium Wild cherry	15–20m	Upright, oval	Bacterial canker, silver leaf disease
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn	5–10m	Dense, thorny	Generally low structural risk given its size; fireblight susceptibility
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan	8–15m	Upright, oval	Comparatively short-lived; susceptible to honey fungus (Armillaria)
Alnus glutinosa Common alder	15–25m	Conical	Tolerates wet ground well; Phytophthora alder disease on riverside specimens
Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut	20–30m	Broad, spreading	Spiral grain causes characteristic "barber pole" bark cracking and shake
Robinia pseudoacacia Black locust	12–25m	Irregular, open	Brittle branch attachments, frequent limb failure; thorny stems
Cedrus spp. Cedar (Atlas/Lebanon/Deodar)	25–40m	Tiered, spreading horizontal limbs	Heavy horizontal limbs prone to failure at the union under snow or wind load
Taxus baccata Yew	10–20m	Dense, compact	Very durable wood, low structural failure rate; all parts toxic if ingested
Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree	25–35m	Upright, columnar when young	Generally sound; occasional limb drop in mature/over-mature specimens
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo	20–30m	Upright, spreading with age	Very low pest and disease susceptibility; structurally reliable
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum	20–30m	Pyramidal	Surface roots cause pavement/hardstanding heave; wood generally sound
Acer saccharum Sugar maple	20–30m	Dense, rounded	Included bark at co-dominant stems; sensitive to soil compaction and root disturbance
Quercus rubra Northern red oak	20–25m	Rounded, spreading	Decay progresses faster after wounding than white oak group species
Pinus strobus Eastern white pine	20–30m	Tall, straight bole	White pine weevil damages the leader, causing forked/crooked regrowth; generally wind-firm
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore	25–35m	Massive, spreading	Anthracnose causes seasonal leaf/twig dieback; large limbs can be prone to failure with age

Honest framing: this is a quick field reference covering well-documented, generally uncontroversial tendencies — it is not a substitute for species-specific literature, regional pest/disease alerts, or your own inspection findings. Defect tendencies listed here are common patterns, not guarantees; any individual tree needs its own assessment.

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