Thread: Tree identification please.

Hi Cal,
It looks to be in the Elm group. The leaves tell me it could be Elm.

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Cal,
It looks to be in the Elm group. The leaves tell me it could be Elm.

Sounds good, I was thinking it was an alder of some sort?


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I'd lean more heavily towards the Fraxinus family - looks a lot like the street trees near my old home, which I'm pretty sure were Ash trees (Franxinus Angustifolia). Tends to go an orange - deep russet colour in autumn, but not in a particularly spectacular way from what I saw. There is also the claret ash, which goes a burgundy colour in autumn (and is rather better looking).

Of note is that the cultivars I've seen around all had a habit of putting 30 - 40mm running roots out for miles around, total pain in the neck and had a tendency to break up paving/pathways etc. and ruin the grass. Also tend to spread from seed like weeds if it isn't one of the newer sterile versions.

This is a pretty big one compared to the ones I used to have near me, but they were planted in nearly solid (like modelling) clay and used to grow about as fast as a bonsai.

If i'm right, then it's good timber, provided you can get some reasonable rate of recovery out of the thing.

I am pretty sure that you will find that it is claret ash "Fraxinus raywoodii" as a general rool tree roots can spread 2-3 times the height of a tree or 4-7 times the drip zone of the tree.

A close up of a leaf would help.

Most definitely Claret Ash.

Wow! Thanks for your replies people! I won't be the one cutting it down when the time comes as I am a wood worker not a tree feller. The owners will be getting it down within the next 12 months to make way for their house extension. I dare say it is due to the root system mentioned. I am going back to the property this weekend to collect another Silky Oak so will take a shot of the leaves. The Silky Oak was left whole aside from limbs, I will ask if they can do the same with this one too.


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Well the tree come down a week ago, collected it and milled it. Also got a small piece of blackwood. Still have Silky Oak to mill. Thanks for the information on chain set up in the sticky BobL, worked a treat!