Trees, all of them, are often thought of as tall plants. And it is so, but the average height of this type of plants is about ten to fifteen meters. But this time I want to talk to you about those that are really immense, that is, those that exceed 20 meters in height. In addition, I will show you those that, despite their gigantic size, can be grown in gardens without major problem.
So don’t worry about their height: the roots are experts in keeping plants attached to the ground. They have been doing it since their origins, more than 300 million years ago. While it is true that a strong gale can pose a threat to their lives, tall trees, along with their root system, manage to stay upright for as long as possible.
Alder (glutinous alnus)
Image – Flickr / Andreas Rockstein
El alder is a deciduous tree native to Europe and Southwest Asia, where it can grow to between 20 and 30 meters in height. Its trunk is straight, although it can branch from almost the base, and it has a wide, rounded crown.
It is a very beautiful tree, ideal for growing in places where it rains frequently since it requires moist soils. But otherwise, it resists well up to -18ºC.
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanus)
El horse chestnut It is a deciduous tree that grows naturally in Europe, specifically in the Balkans. It is a plant that stands up to 30 meters talland that develops a wide crown of up to 4-5 meters in diameter at least and a thick trunk. Its flowers are white and are grouped in erect inflorescences.
It is cultivated in the temperate regions of the globe, being able to live even in alkaline-clay soils like the one that I have in my garden. Of course, it needs a lot of water, but otherwise it supports up to -18ºC.
Swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Image – Flickr / FD Richards
El marsh cypress is a fast growing deciduous conifer native to the southeastern United States. Reaches a height of 40 meterswith a more or less straight trunk from which branches sprout a short distance from the ground. The cup is somewhat irregular, with a rounded shape.
As its common name indicates, it is a plant that grows near water courses. For this reason, it is important that it be grown in areas where it rains frequently. It resists frosts down to -18ºC.
fake banana (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Image – Wikimedia / Willow
El fake banana is another tall, deciduous tree that reaches 30 meters in height. It develops a wide crown, approximately 5 meters in diameter, and a trunk that, although robust, does not usually exceed 50cm in thickness. It blooms during spring, although its flowers can go unnoticed as they are light green. Its main attraction is the reddish-orange color of its leaves in autumn.
Like the horse chestnut, it is a tree widely cultivated in the gardens of temperate regions. But this variety of maple needs acidic or slightly acidic soils to live, as well as abundant rainfall. Resists up to -18ºC.
Common ash (higher ash)
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Willow
El common ash it is a deciduous tree native to Europe, including northern Spain. Reaches a height of up to 45 metersand develops a wide crown of about 5 meters in diameter. The trunk is more or less straight, and its leaves are green but turn orange / red in autumn.
It lives well in those soils that are humid, but it also adapts to dry ones as long as it rains regularly throughout the year. Supports up to -18ºC.
Is (Fagus sylvatica)
Image – Flickr / Peter O’Connor aka anemoneprojectors
The tree known as beech, or common beech, is a deciduous plant native to Europe. In Spain we find it, for example, in the extreme north of the peninsula, but not in the rest of the country. Reaches a height of up to 40 meterswith a straight trunk which over time grows as if it were a pillar or column from which branches sprout a few meters from the ground. Its flowers bloom in spring, but they are very small. In autumn its foliage changes from green to reddish.
In order to survive, it needs temperate climates, but rather cold. That is to say, the summers have to be mild, and the autumns and winters have to register frosts (and better if they are snowy). The soil must be acidic or slightly acidic, cool and deep. And it resists up to -18ºC.
Giant sequoya (Giant sequoiadendron)
Image – Wikimedia / Pimlico27
The giant sequoia is an evergreen conifer native to Sierra Nevada, California. It has a very slow growth, but a long life expectancy, of more than 3000 years. The height is impressive: between 50 and 85 meters on averagealthough specimens have been found that have reached 90 meters. The trunk is straight and very thick, between 5 and 7 meters in diameter.
It is a plant whose dimensions cause admiration by fans of growing trees, but it is important to buy seeds or seedlings from authorized crops, since it is in danger of extinction. In addition, it needs a temperate climate, rather cool, to grow in conditions, as well as a slightly acidic soil. Resists up to -18ºC.
Do you know other tall trees for garden?
