Top 10 Trees
Wollemi Pine
Wollemia nobilis, a native of Australia, is often described as a 'living fossil' having been discovered only in 1994. Prior to that, the tree was only known in the fossil record - up to 200 million years ago. The specimen planted at UCC is part of an international effort to conserve this critically-endangered species by propagating from the 100 or so plants known to exist in the wild using plant tissue culture. The discovery of Wollemia nobilis is considered one of the most remarkable botanical findings in recent decades.
Giant Sequoia
These 2 Sequoiadendron giganteum are located just outside UCC's library and measure 27 metres and 29 metres in height. But there are still considered young as these giants can reach heights of up to 100m. Also referred to as Giant Redwoords, these vigorous and long-living evergreen conifer trees are the most massive trees on earth! They are Native to the Sierra Nevada area of California and their average lifespan is 2,200 years.
Weeping Willow
Salix babylonica - This Willow has a long history of use in medicine. The active ingredient derived from the willow bark Salicin has been used as a pain reliever for thousands of years and is the historical origin of Aspirin which is now crucial as a blood thinner and painkiller.
The Maidenhair Tree
Ginkgo biloba also known as a 'living fossil' as date back 270 million years, long before the time of the dinosaurs. Maidenhair trees can be extremely long-lived with the oldest recorded tree being nearly one thousand years old. They were traditionally planted in temple gardens in Japan and China, but today are popular in towns and cities worldwide and are even farmed in plantations for their medicinal properties.
Yew
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata', the Irish Yew tree is very upright in its habit and forms wide columns which are commonly seen in graveyards. Yew trees are a small to medium size tree but can live to a great age. Despite all parts of the tree being poisonous, the foliage is used for its medicinal properties and it produces excellent wood for many uses.
The Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo is a small evergreen tree with small, bell-shaped creamy-white or pink flowers, and red, strawberry-like fruits in autumn. It is native to Iberia, Brittany and the south west of Ireland, being particularly abundant around the Killarney area but also found in parts of Sligo.
Horse Chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It was first introduced to the Ireland from Turkey in the late 16th century and widely planted. Although rarely found in woodland, it is a common sight in parks, gardens, streets and on village greens. It is a large deciduous tree. The tree is covered spikey white flowers in May which are a valuable nectar source for bees. These are followed in early autumn by big, spiky fruit which hold the shiny-brown ‘conker’.
Lucombe Oak
Quercus x hispanica 'Lucombeana' is a hybrid of a Turkey Oak and a Cork Oak resulting in a semi - deciduous Oak Tree. It was created by William Lucombe in 1762 at a nursery in the UK.
London Plane
Plantanus x acerifolia is a hybrid between an American Sycamore and an Oriental Plane tree. It is widely planted in cities as it helps to absorb pollution and it also has a small root system. It can be widely seen in London as well as other european cities.
Monterey Pine
Pinus radiata, which is situated at the Western Road entrance to the Campus is native to California. Monterey pine has become one of the most planted trees in the world thanks to its growth rate, good quality timber, and its minimal soil requirements.
