Dryopteris filix-mas - Male fern
D. filix-mas is a deciduous fern thats native to the UK and grows into a shuttlecock formation. Its ultimate height is 1.5 meters and like most ferns grows best in shade. It prefers moist but well drained soils and can tolerate cold winters. This is located in Longford Park, growing in wet soil, soon the new fronds will emerge from the centre.
The leaves are pinnate with separate oval shaped leaves that have serrated edges.
Newly emerging fronds. Located in Mersey Valley, South Manchester.
These ferns were found in woodland conditions, which offer less sunlight to the plant which is what it prefers.
What a single frond looks like.
Malus domestica - Cultivated Apple
Malus domestica grows up 15 meters tall, similar to malus sylvestris but instantly recognisable by the large fruits which become heavy enough to weigh down the branches. Its a hardy plant that can survive harsh winters. It favours to grow in full sunlight in well drained soils. This apple tree is growing well in an orchard in Austria.
The bark is silvery/grey and flakes when mature.
Leaves are 4 - 13 cm long, oval/elliptical, pointed and subtly toothed with tiny scarce hairs above the leaf and more dense below.
Buds that have burst open.
Flowers are either pink or occasionally white with 5 petal to each one.
The fruit (apples) grow in clusters, they are spherical and edible. Green in the summer turning red in Autumn.
Malus sylvestris - Crab apple
Malus sylvestris or even 'wild apple' is very similar to M. domestica but not as tall and doesn't produce the large fruits.
Sorbus aria - Common Whitebeam
I found sorbus aria in Wallington, London, its a small deciduous tree thats common to urban areas such as streets, parks and car parks. It likes to grow in sunny conditions in favouring limestone and chalky well drained soils. Its ultimate height is 12 meters with an 8 meter spread. Its a hardy plant and can tolerate very cold winters.
The bark is greyish/green
The conditions look bad for the tree, but it seems to be thriving. Overall it could have been planted deeper because the roots have cracked the surface above.
Showing the tree canopy and its almost vertically growing branches.
The buds, soon to burst out into white flowers later on in Spring. It has broad ovate leaves that will turn dark green in the summer...
...and white underneath
Whitebeam produces red berries in early Autumn that are eaten by birds.
Anenome nemorosa - Wood anenome
One of the prettiest early Spring flowers. A common site on woodland floors, sometimes casting a white carpet with its flowers. Grows best in shady conditions in moist but well drained humus rich soils. I found this one in Platt Fields Park.
The leaves are dark green and palmate.
Shown at the top is the flower of the plant it has 6 white petals that form a star like shape. The whole flower is about 4 cm across.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta - Bluebell
A native plant that puts on a spectacular display when in full bloom. Hyacinthoides non-scripta is a bulbous perennial. It grows best in humus rich, well drained soil that doesn't dry out and in part shade. Its a common plant in suburban areas but seen at its best when naturally spread out on woodland floors. I found these examples in Platt Fields Park, Manchester.
The leaves are long, narrow and rubbery to the touch. Here we can see the shoot that will eventually grow into a 10-20 cm stalk with flowers hanging of it.
These bluebells are located in Beddington Park, London. They are in full bloom showing their violet coloured bell like flowers. They grow clustered together in groups of 4-16 each growing up to 2cm long. They appear between April-June.
The conditions for these bluebells are ideal. The shade of the trees and other kinds of vegetation keep them out of over-exposure from the sun. The bark mulch is excellent in keeping the soil moist and the bulb insulated.
Prunus serrulata - Japanese Cherry
I found Prunus serrulata inside All Saints Park. It is a small deciduous tree that can reach heights up to 15 meters. It grows best in well drained soils and in full sunlight. This specimen is in particularly good condition, I captured these photos after its blossoming.
The bark is silvery/grey with rigid lenticels.
The flowers are pinkish/white and scented growing in clusters of 2-6 with 5 flat petals.
The leaves are bright green and oval shaped with heavily serrated edges.
Viburnum opulus - Guelder rose
Viburnum opulus is a deciduous shrub that grows to around 5 meters tall. This specimen is located outside All Saints Park.
The leaves have three lobes and serrated edges, they look similar to Platanus x hispanica leaves (London plane).
Fine red margins on the insides of the stems that hold the leaf.
The flowers are hermaphrodite, white and grow in panicles. Each panicle produce an outer ring of sterile flowers that can be seen in the photograph above.
Woody frame.
Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'
In the same Genus is V. plicatum the flowers are similar but the leaves are oval shaped with toothed edges.
Primula vulgaris - Primrose
I found this primrose in Sheffield. It is one of the best known flowers of Spring. Primula vulgaris can be herbaceous or evergreen perennials, its habit is to grow in clump forms. Grows best in moist but well drained soils in full/part sunlight.
The scented flowers appear in Spring with pale yellow petals and darker orange centres each about 3 cm across.
Foliage is evergreen. Leaves are oval shaped with deep sunk in veins.
The stems have tiny hairs.
Urtica dioica - Stinging nettle
An edible medicinal perenial commonly known as the 'stinging nettle' because of the hollow hairs found on it's leaves and stems called 'trichomes' that inject chemicals into the skin when contacted. When handled correctly stinging can be avoided.
Max. height 1-2 meters tall in summer and dies down in winter.
Grows best in nitrogen rich acidic soils in full sunlight.
Leaves grow from 3-15cm long.
Trichomes visible on the leaves and stems.
Flowers (catkins) are yellow.
Ligustrum can be a deciduous or evergreen shrub the leaves are simple, oval shaped and light/dark green.
This is a pruned example that has a tidier form located in Levenshulme, St. Peters Church.
Galanthus nivalis - Snowdrop
Snowdrops or little sister of the snows is one of the earliest flowering plants of the year. Its a very familiar winter-flowering bulbous plant that grows up to 20 cm tall. Its aesthetics are appreciated as a light ground covering plant. Grows best in humus rich, well drained soils and prefers partly shaded areas.
The bud that the flower emerges from, looks very similar to a fresh green acorn.
White nodding flower (one flower per flowering stalk) each about 2.5 cm long.
Green streaks on the inside of the petals.
Cotoneaster horizontalis - Wall cotoneaster / Rock spray
A dwarf spreading deciduous shrub, prefers to grow in full sunlight and well drained soils, it can tolerate very harsh conditions. Very common in urban areas. This one was found in Levenshulme, St. Peters Church. Pruning must be handled professionally, if not the overall appearance of the plant can look hideous in a design aspect.
Simple entire leaves that are dark green and shiny.
Cotoneaster horizontalis becomes riddled with small red in-edible berries in the Autumn.
Grows very densely, branches are long and narrow.
The stem is purple/grey and shiny.
Ligustrum ovalifolium - Privet
Probably the most common planted urban hedge, ligustrum ovalifolium grows rapidly and densely. It is used mainly for screening and shaping because of its thick habit.
I found this specimen on Longford Road, but its not hard to find in any urban area.
Ligustrum can be a deciduous or evergreen shrub the leaves are simple, oval shaped and light/dark green.
This is a pruned example that has a tidier form located in Levenshulme, St. Peters Church.
The structure of the pruned hedgerow plant is tangled and messy because of the multiple times it has been cut.
The flowers grow in panicles and smell unpleasant.
Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
A fastigiate (upright) example of carpinus betulus located outside Hulme's army cadet centre. Hornbeams can grow up to 30 meters tall and are often coppiced or pollarded. The trunk and branches are frequently twisted. Its a deciduous tree with attractive foliage, it needs a warm climate to grow healthily in but can tolerate cold winters. Requires moist/well drained soils and full/part sunshine.
The leaves are 4-10 cm long oval shaped with toothed edges and deep ridges.
The buds are similar to those of fagus sylvatica (beech) narrow and cigar shaped.
The bark is smooth and pale grey and sometimes fissured.
Planted in a suitable area for drained soil.
Flowers appear in April-May, catkins are yellow for males and green for females. The seeds or nuts is attached to a three lobed leaf like wing thats up to 4 cm long.
Picea abies - Norway spruce
This Norway spruce is located on the Fallowfield Loop in Levenshulme. Known as the 'Christmas Tree' Its a fast growing conifer that can reach heights of 35-55 meters at a rate of 1 meter per year but grows slower when 20 meters is reached. It has sweeping curved branches, the upper ascending and the lower drooping.
Cones are redish/brown and cigar shaped about 10-18 cm long.
The trunk is straight and vertical with reddish/brown bark.
Needles 1-3 cm long and four sided. They are stiff and dark green. The shoots are shown extruding at the end of the branches.
Rhododendron ponticum
I found this non-native shrub on the Fallowfield Loop in Levenshulme. Its an evergreen that can grow up to 5 meters tall. The roots have suckers on them and the flowers produce a lot of seeds which is why it has become a problem, spreading rapidly and growing quickly. The plant was first planted in Britain in 1760. Rhododendrons need moist, acidic soils that are well drained with plenty of organic matter, which makes this bank a great place for it to grow in.
Long narrow lanceolate leaves, dark green and shiny but smooth.
It has narrow Reddish/pink branches.
The bud look like the exotic 'dragon fruit'.
Extruding seed pods, long and narrow stems with a tubular pod at the end.
Pink flowers emerging from inside the bud.
A fantastic display of pink flowers that grow in a bouquet formation.
Prunus laurocerasus - Cherry laurel
I found prunus laurocerasus on the Fallowfield Loop in Levenshulme. It can either be an evergreen, a deciduous tree or even a shrub growing from 5 to 15 meters tall. It is a cultivated plant and used for ornamental purposes in gardens and parks.
Brilliant green foliage.
The leaves are shiny and dark green and feel like leather. They grow from 10-25 cm long.
Small lateral bud tucked between the branch and the stem of the leaf.
The bark is smooth and greyish/brown with small fine lenticels.
Cherry laurel produces white flowers in Spring and black and red fruit in Autumn.
Ulex europeaus - Gorse
I found this gorse on the Fallowfield Loop in Levenshulme. Its a hardy spiny evergreen shrub that can grow in cold winters and harsh winds, found in urban and rural areas even on the edges of cliffs. It prefers full sunlight and well drained acidic soils. Its a native plant that can grow up to 2.5 meters tall. In a design context it can used to define boundaries, create hedges and as a ground covering plant. It has a life span of 30 years.
The spines grow up to 3 cm long. They have pointy robust yellow tips.
The flowers are 2 cm in length and have a coconut scent, they are yellow in Spring and Winter.
The fruit is furry, pod shaped, brown and 2 cm in length with the remains of the flower partly enclosing them. Each pod contains around 2-3 seeds inside them.
The main stem of the shrub.
Populus tremula - Aspen
Native to the UK, Populus tremula is a fast growing deciduous tree that has a broad crown. I found these specimens in Croydon on Poplar walk. The tree prefers to grow in full sunlight in well drained soils, it can tolerate many PH levels whether it be acidic, neutral or alkaline. Hybrids are common between this species and Populus alba (white poplar).
It has a distinctive silvery grey bark that forms diamond shaped holes.
This aspen is growing well between two hardscape materials and receives plenty of water through the simple planter its in.
The foliage is slightly lobbed and widespread, the leaves are brown in Spring, green in Summer and Yellow in autumn.
The male trees grow silver/grey catkins in Spring.
Larix decidua is a coniferous tree that has the characteristics of a deciduous one. It has needle like leaves and produces cones but looses its leaves in the winter. It has a conical structure and grows best in well drained soils in plenty of sunlight. Ultimate height - 15-20 meters. Ultimate spread - 4-8 meters. This larch is located in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme.
The foliage is pale green in Spring, dark green in Summer and golden-yellow in Autumn. The stub in the centre of the needles is where the cone sits.
Cones are round and brown growing up to 4 cm in height.
The bark flakes when mature. The timber is used for yacht building.
A tall native flowering plant growing up right reaching 1.2 meters. I found this herbaceous perennial in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme, naturally it has successfully spread across this woodland clearing. It prefers to grow in moist, well drained soils and in full/part sunlight.
Dry elongated pods ready to disperse their seeds.
As in all willowherbs the fruit is a long pod which opens to release fluffy-cotton like white seeds.
It gets the name 'willowherb' because the leaves look like typical willow leaves.
The flowers appear in July-September, each flower is pinkish-purple, 2-3 cm across.
Salix fragilis is a large native deciduous tree that prefers to grow around waterways like rivers and lakes, it will tolerate low oxygenated soils. The name 'fragilis' stands for fragile because its branches crack when pressure is applied physically or by a strong wind. Its root system helps keep soil intact and prevents erosion. I found this specimen in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme.
When the tree reaches maturity the bark becomes flakey.
This example is practically growing out of the water.
Leaves are lanceolate with fine toothed edges and normally grow in groups of 2-4 leaves
Buds start growing parallel to the twig.
Salix fragilis is a dioecious which means the male and female flowers are grown on separate genders. The male catkin is yellow and the female green, both appear in early Spring.
'Bramble' meaning impenetrable shrub is known best for 2 of its characteristics; its fruit, the blackberry and the thorns that grow on the stems of the plant. Its a hardy biennial plant and copes with the cold of winter, it grows in most soils and is problematic because it colonises itself in low/full sunshine and chokes other plants. Its commonly found in urban areas and is not used as a preferred landscaping plant.
The leaves are simple, toothed and dark green. They grow in clusters of 3-5 leaves.
The horribly thorny stems, purple-pink in colour. Most people will remember them clinging to their clothes if they brushed past them.
Newly sprouting leaves.
The yummy blackberries. First start out green then red and finally black when ripe, often used in jams and desserts.
Because its a native species, its vital for local wildlife. Birds and other animals eat the fruits and use its defensive properties as useful habitats.
I found this specimen in Mersey Valley, South of Central Manchester, this balsam is around 3 meters tall the tallest it's ever going be. It was introduced in to the UK in 1839 and is now a problem to native plants. It is most commonly seen on the banks of rivers; growing rapidly and spreading quickly. Naturally seen by rivers the problem weed is competitive thriving in moist damp soils and in low light levels casting shade over other plants. Because the plant is an annual it can only be seen in its full pink bloom once a year, this balsam has died down for the rest of the year and only the skeletal structure remains.
The pods are whats fascinating about this plant, they 'explode' when they come into contact. When ripe they can shoot out seeds up to 7 meters away.
An exploded pod, the chemicals in this plant are poisonous so handle carefully.
I found this specimen in Levenshulme, Stockport Road growing on the boarder of a car park. The plant reached about 3 meters high but reach 4 meters if the conditions are right. Buddleia davidii is a hardy shrub and can withstand cold winters. Thrives in full sun. It's an important plant for local wildlife, it serves as a habitat and a food source for aphids, caterpillars and miridaes. This specimen was growing healthily, the conditions were ideal for its preferences.
Lanceolate leaves with toothed edges. Buddleia can either be evergreen or deciduous.
The shrub thrives in poor conditions and in all types of soils acidic, alkaline or neutral which is why it is seen everywhere in urban areas.
The frame turns woody when it reaches maturity between 5-10 years.
Larix decidua - Larch
Larix decidua is a coniferous tree that has the characteristics of a deciduous one. It has needle like leaves and produces cones but looses its leaves in the winter. It has a conical structure and grows best in well drained soils in plenty of sunlight. Ultimate height - 15-20 meters. Ultimate spread - 4-8 meters. This larch is located in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme.
The foliage is pale green in Spring, dark green in Summer and golden-yellow in Autumn. The stub in the centre of the needles is where the cone sits.
Cones are round and brown growing up to 4 cm in height.
The trunk grows straight and up right, the branches are long and narrow, the ones closer to the ground grow horizontally.
The bark flakes when mature. The timber is used for yacht building.
Chamerion angustifolium - Rosebay willowherb
A tall native flowering plant growing up right reaching 1.2 meters. I found this herbaceous perennial in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme, naturally it has successfully spread across this woodland clearing. It prefers to grow in moist, well drained soils and in full/part sunlight.
Dry elongated pods ready to disperse their seeds.
As in all willowherbs the fruit is a long pod which opens to release fluffy-cotton like white seeds.
It gets the name 'willowherb' because the leaves look like typical willow leaves.
The flowers appear in July-September, each flower is pinkish-purple, 2-3 cm across.
Salix fragilis - Crack willow
Salix fragilis is a large native deciduous tree that prefers to grow around waterways like rivers and lakes, it will tolerate low oxygenated soils. The name 'fragilis' stands for fragile because its branches crack when pressure is applied physically or by a strong wind. Its root system helps keep soil intact and prevents erosion. I found this specimen in Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme.
When the tree reaches maturity the bark becomes flakey.
This example is practically growing out of the water.
Leaves are lanceolate with fine toothed edges and normally grow in groups of 2-4 leaves
Buds start growing parallel to the twig.
Salix fragilis is a dioecious which means the male and female flowers are grown on separate genders. The male catkin is yellow and the female green, both appear in early Spring.
Rubus fruticosus - Bramble
'Bramble' meaning impenetrable shrub is known best for 2 of its characteristics; its fruit, the blackberry and the thorns that grow on the stems of the plant. Its a hardy biennial plant and copes with the cold of winter, it grows in most soils and is problematic because it colonises itself in low/full sunshine and chokes other plants. Its commonly found in urban areas and is not used as a preferred landscaping plant.
The leaves are simple, toothed and dark green. They grow in clusters of 3-5 leaves.
The horribly thorny stems, purple-pink in colour. Most people will remember them clinging to their clothes if they brushed past them.
Newly sprouting leaves.
The yummy blackberries. First start out green then red and finally black when ripe, often used in jams and desserts.
Because its a native species, its vital for local wildlife. Birds and other animals eat the fruits and use its defensive properties as useful habitats.
Impatiens glandulifera - Himalayan balsam
I found this specimen in Mersey Valley, South of Central Manchester, this balsam is around 3 meters tall the tallest it's ever going be. It was introduced in to the UK in 1839 and is now a problem to native plants. It is most commonly seen on the banks of rivers; growing rapidly and spreading quickly. Naturally seen by rivers the problem weed is competitive thriving in moist damp soils and in low light levels casting shade over other plants. Because the plant is an annual it can only be seen in its full pink bloom once a year, this balsam has died down for the rest of the year and only the skeletal structure remains.
Reddish-green stem.
Inside one of the hollow stems.
The pods are whats fascinating about this plant, they 'explode' when they come into contact. When ripe they can shoot out seeds up to 7 meters away.
An exploded pod, the chemicals in this plant are poisonous so handle carefully.
The seeds that come from the pods.
Showing the flowers (top) and the leaves.
Buddleia davidii - Butterfly Bush
The buds are elongated and bright green, waiting to bloom into small tubular flowers between Spring and Summer.
Lanceolate leaves with toothed edges. Buddleia can either be evergreen or deciduous.
The shrub thrives in poor conditions and in all types of soils acidic, alkaline or neutral which is why it is seen everywhere in urban areas.
The frame turns woody when it reaches maturity between 5-10 years.
Tubular flowers shown in the top left, they can turn out white, blue, purple, pink or even brown.
