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Sustainable tree species are now preferred in many areas to defy climate change. You can find out from us what characterizes a so-called climate tree and which species are particularly suitable.
In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that some long-established tree species are not up to the rising temperatures, reduced precipitation and extreme weather events. More robust species can now take their place, the “climate trees”.
What are climate trees?
Climate trees are particularly robust tree species that can withstand severe frost, drought and heat well, for example, or are insensitive to extreme weather such as storms or sharply fluctuating temperatures. In the city, it is also important that the trees planted there are “suitable for the urban climate”. This means: Depending on the location, they also have to cope with higher air pollution, often a small root space with low humus content, limited solar radiation and sometimes high s alt concentrations in the soil due to winter service.
Tip: When planting trees on humus-poor, barren soil, our Plantura organic compost soil ensures a long-lasting supply of nutrients, brings in organic matter for he althy soil life and improves in the long term View water storage and soil structure. The compost can simply be mixed into the excavation.
List of climate trees for the garden
In the following list we present 14 climate tree species with very different characteristics. Certain species are more suitable for smaller gardens, as a city tree on the roadside or, due to their strong growth, primarily for forests or parks. Many climate trees are also valuable habitats and provide food for insects, birds and mammals.
Tree hazel (Corylus colurna)
The tree hazel is a relative of the hazelnut (Corylus avellana) and grows into a stately tree up to a height of more than 20 m. It originally comes from Southeast Europe and Asia Minor. The tree hazel has similar leaves, flowers and fruits as the hazelnut. A golden yellow color appears in autumnFall color and the tasty, edible nuts fall down with their clusters. The tree hazel prefers deep soil and is otherwise very adaptable. The warmth-loving, extremely heat- and drought-tolerant climate tree species is also free of diseases and pests.
Tree Magnolia (Magnolia kobus)
The tree magnolia originally comes from Japan and grows into a large shrub or small tree up to a maximum height of 10 m. The magnolia, which blooms before the leaves sprout, grows about 30 cm in height every year. The approximately 10 cm large, white flowers appear between mid-April and early May. The tree magnolia prefers fresh to moist, deep soil in full sun to light shade. It is considered to be extremely frost hardy and adaptable to sunny, damp locations.
Bluebell Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
The bluebell tree or paulownia can reach 12 to 15 m in height and grows vigorously when young. The medium-sized tree develops very large, slightly lobed and hairy leaves. Even before the leaves sprout from April, long, upright flower spikes with light violet flowers appear. The nut-like seed pods remain on the bare tree until spring. As a climate tree, the Paulownia is well prepared for dry and hot summers and, as an adult tree, can withstand severe frost and air pollution. The blue bell tree is undemanding and grows in almost any well drained soil.
Ironwood Tree (Parrotia persica)
The ironwood tree comes from the Near East and is related to the witch hazel (Hamamelis). The small tree reaches a height and width of 6 to 10 m. The bright red flowers appear before the leaves sprout in March. Later, the ovate, pointed leaves appear with magnificent autumn colors. The ironwood tree has rather shallow roots and thrives on all permeable, nutrient-rich soils with a rather neutral pH value. It is not susceptible to disease - but frost-hardy, loves warmth and can withstand urban climates. The optimal location is sunny on fresh clay soil.
Serviceberry (Sorbus torminalis)
The service tree is one of the most attractive climate trees for the garden, but it can also do well in the forestto be planted. The native tree can reach a height of 5 to 20 m and when young grows up to 60 cm in height per year. Later, the service tree is considered to be slow-growing, which is why it takes about 100 years for it to reach its final height. The relative of the rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) develops light green, maple-like leaves. They are slightly lobed and grey-green in color on the underside. Between May and June, the flowers appear in the form of broad, white umbrella panicles, which are often visited by bees and other pollinating insects. Small, bronze-colored fruits develop from the flowers, which are harvested from October and processed into wild fruit speci alties. The service tree loves warm and sunny locations on nutrient-rich, calcareous and permeable soil. It is frost hardy, drought and heat tolerant, but does not grow on soil that is too sandy or too wet.
Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
The sweet chestnut is a large tree that grows between 15 and 30 m tall and loves warmth. The sweet chestnut is one of those trees that tolerate heat and drought, withstand even storms and can live up to 500 years. Its leaves are oblong and roughly serrated at the edge. In autumn, a yellow autumn color appears. The elongated, creamy-white flowers appear from May. The tasty nuts ripen in October and then fall out of their prickly pericarp. Chestnuts have no special soil requirements, but avoid wet locations and like to develop a deep root system.
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
The field maple is an extremely adaptable climate tree with a growth height of between 5 and 15 m. The small trees or densely branched shrubs increase in height by 40 to 45 cm a year. The small, five-lobed leaves captivate with their sunny yellow to orange fall color. The typically winged maple fruits can be seen on the tree well into winter. The field maple can develop a shallow root system - so it does not necessarily need deep soil. Overall, the undemanding wood only avoids waterlogging and loves calcareous substrates. The field maple is frost hardy, heat and drought tolerant and extremely wind resistant and therefore an optimal climate tree.
Copper Rock Pear(Amelanchier lamarckii)
The copper pear is one of the shrubs that tolerate drought and is also well-armed against heat, frost and wind. Serviceberry grows into multi-stemmed shrubs or small trees of 4 to 6 m in height and is excellent for bees and birds. The blueberry-like fruits ripen in July and can also be eaten raw and are extremely tasty. In autumn the leaves turn purple. The undemanding and adaptable rock pear thrives on acidic to slightly calcareous, moderately dry to moist soil.
Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
The medlar is a wild fruit tree and is ideal for smaller gardens, as the small tree only reaches 3 to 5 m in height. In old age, the short-stemmed tree can become wider than it is tall. Cup-shaped, white flowers appear from May to June, which insects like to visit. From the end of October, the applesauce-tasting fruits ripen and can be harvested and processed after the first frost. Birds and small mammals also eat the sugar-rich fruits in winter. The medlar is frost hardy, tolerates heat and drought and prefers deep, calcareous loamy soil.
Pecan tree (Carya illinoiensis)
The pecan nut comes from North America and is one of the sustainable climate trees for the forest. The tall trees reach a height of up to 35 m and form up to 70 cm long, pinnate leaves with golden-yellow autumn colours. Forest animals and humans also benefit from the nutritious, walnut-like nut fruits that have a sweet taste. The pecan nut even thrives on extremely dry, stony scree and, thanks to its strong, deep taproot, is extremely resilient to storms and hurricanes. It should therefore be planted on deep, rather lime-poor soil.
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
The black walnut is closely related to the walnut (Juglans regia) and is native to eastern North America. It is particularly suitable for mixed forests, as it is a particularly fast-growing climate tree and increases in height by 70 to 90 cm per year. The black walnut grows to a height of 20 to 30 m and forms a spreading crown as it ageswith long, pinnate leaves. The nuts ripen in autumn and are edible. The frost-hardy black walnut can withstand urban climates and heat, but young plants are sensitive to late frosts. The optimal location is sunny to shade on fresh to moist, permeable and nutrient-rich soil.
Rock Vistula (Prunus mahaleb)
The sour cherry is a native tree species for extreme locations. The large shrub or small tree with several stems reaches a height of between 4 and 6 m. The rounded to heart-shaped leaves are shiny green. Between April and May, numerous fragrant flowers appear in elongated umbels. After pollination, dark red to black, round fruits form, which are edible but have a tart, bitter taste. The Steinweichsel is a good plant for insects and birds in gardens, in urban areas and on the edges of forests. It is frost hardy, extremely heat and drought resistant and even insensitive to heavy air pollution. The sour cherry grows in full sun on soils with a neutral to very calcareous pH.
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
The native pedunculate oak is a mighty, spreading tree that grows up to 40 m tall. The narrow, columnar pedunculate oak variety 'Fastigiata' is suitable for planting in the city and in the garden. The typically shaped oak leaves and the acorn fruits, which are essential for wild animals, thrive on olive-brown shoots. The pedunculate oak needs deep, rather heavy soil, but then tolerates frost, drought and floods as well as air pollution, gusts of wind and extreme temperature fluctuations. Pedunculate oaks can live up to 1000 years and sometimes even longer.
Zelkove (Zelkova serrata)
The zelkova is an elm family (Ulmaceae) and comes from Japan, China and Korea. The medium-sized tree reaches a height of 20 to 25 m and forms wide, spreading branches. The oblong, elliptical leaves are sharply toothed and softly hairy on the upper side. In autumn, a yellow-orange to bright red autumn coloration appears. It forms inconspicuous, brown fruits in the leaf axils. As is most of the Elm familyit lives in alluvial forests and prefers water-bearing soils, but tolerates summer drought well. The zelkova is extremely frost hardy, wind resistant, loves warmth and is suitable for the city.
Particularly in summer there are more and more long periods of heat and drought, so that many gardeners switch to more robust plants. We present particularly heat-resistant plants for the garden and balcony.