Northern Red Oak / Quercus rubra
Beech family (Fagaceae)
A long-lived deciduous tree of the beech family with an ovate or rounded crown. Northern red oak is native to North America. In Latvia, it is cultivated as an ornamental tree and is winter-hardy throughout the country. In Latvia, it can grow up to 25 metres tall, while in the forests of North America it may reach heights of up to 40 metres. In autumn, its leaves turn striking shades of red.
Persian Walnut (English Walnut) / Juglans regia
Walnut family (Juglandaceae)
A tree of the walnut family growing up to 20 metres tall, with a well-developed crown. The bark of the trunk is light grey and fissured, while the branches have smooth bark. The leaves are large, 15–45 cm long, and pinnately compound with an odd number of leaflets.
The flowers are unisexual. Male flowers are arranged in drooping catkins, while female flowers occur in groups of two to five on young shoots. The tree flowers in April and May.
The fruit is a drupe-like nut commonly referred to simply as a walnut. Its outer husk is initially green and fleshy; as the fruit ripens, it turns black and leathery, cracks and separates from the nut shell.
Staghorn Sumac / Rhus typhina
Cashew family (Anacardiaceae)
A small deciduous tree, usually 2–5 metres tall, or a shrub. Young shoots, leaf stalks and flower clusters are covered with velvety hairs. When cut, the branches release a thick yellowish-white sap that hardens and turns black on exposure to air.
The leaves are pinnately compound, with elongated, pointed leaflets that have coarsely serrated margins. They are dark green and matt on the upper surface and bluish-white and hairy underneath.
The species is native to eastern North America but is widely cultivated around the world, including in Latvia. It can be planted as a solitary specimen or in groups and spreads readily through root suckers. Its decorative red, candle-shaped fruit clusters remain on the plant well into winter and can also be used in floral arrangements.
In autumn, the foliage turns orange-yellow. Staghorn sumac is fast-growing, tolerant of different soil conditions, drought-resistant and prefers sunny locations.
Wych Elm / Ulmus glabra
Elm family (Ulmaceae)
A deciduous tree of the elm family. It is one of the most widespread elm species in Europe and is also native to Latvia. Wych elms typically grow between 15 and 30 metres tall.
The leaves are elliptical and alternately arranged, with double-serrated margins. The species can be most reliably distinguished from other elm species by its flowers and fruits, although differences can also be observed in the leaves.
The fruit is a flat, winged samara. The tree usually flowers in April and May.
Catalpa / Catalpa
Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae)
Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is notable for its large, decorative leaves. Its white flowers are arranged in upright clusters and appear in June. The fruits are long, pod-like capsules reaching up to 35 cm in length and ripening in September.
The foliage is yellow when emerging, later becoming yellowish-green, with the large leaves turning yellow again in autumn. The tree develops a broad, rounded crown and typically reaches a height of 8–10 metres and a width of 5–6 metres.
It is suitable for urban environments and grows best in sufficiently moist, neutral to calcareous soils. Catalpas prefer sunny locations and have moderate winter hardiness.
Crack Willow ‘Bullata’ / Salix fragilis ‘Bullata’
Willow family (Salicaceae)
A highly decorative willow variety valued in landscape planting for its distinctive hemispherical crown and dense, uniform foliage. Its broad, spreading crown can reach approximately seven metres in height.
Norway Maple ‘Royal Red’ / Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
Soapberry family (Sapindaceae)
A deciduous tree. In its natural habitat, Norway maple grows along riverbanks, in ravines and in sufficiently moist, calcareous soils. It is an attractive ornamental tree and an important nectar-producing species, with particularly vivid autumn foliage.
The ‘Royal Red’ cultivar reaches approximately 15 metres in height and 5 metres in width. It is suitable for Latvia’s western, central and eastern climatic zones. The crown is rounded and spreading. The flowers are borne in clusters, while the fruits are winged samaras.
The leaves emerge red, become dark red to purplish-black in summer, and turn orange-red in autumn.
Norway Maple ‘Drummondii’ / Acer platanoides ‘Drummondii’
Soapberry family (Sapindaceae)
A deciduous tree. In the wild, Norway maple grows along riverbanks, in ravines and in sufficiently moist, calcareous soils. It is widely valued in ornamental plantings and is also a nectar-producing species.
The ‘Drummondii’ cultivar reaches 10–15 metres in height and approximately 7 metres in width. It is suitable for Latvia’s western, central and eastern climatic zones. Its crown is densely branched. The flowers are borne in clusters, while the fruits are winged samaras.
The foliage is green with distinctive creamy-white to yellowish margins.
Common Lime / Tilia × europaea
Mallow family (Malvaceae)
A large tree reaching approximately 20 metres in height and 6 metres in width. It has yellowish flowers that bloom towards the end of July. The crown is regular and broadly ovate, with dark brown branches and large, dark green leaves.
The common lime is also an important nectar source for bees.
Mountain Pine / Pinus mugo Turra
Pine family (Pinaceae)
A shrub, or occasionally a small tree, with a dense, spreading crown. In the wild, mountain pine occurs in the Alps, Pyrenees, Balkans, Apennines and Carpathian Mountains.
The species is sufficiently winter-hardy to be cultivated in Latvia. Several varieties and geographical forms of mountain pine are known.
Siberian Peashrub (Yellow Acacia) / Caragana arborescens
Pea family (Fabaceae)
A shrub with small compound leaves, yellow flowers and small green pods that develop during the second half of summer. It is also commonly known as yellow acacia.
The plant is widely used in landscaping because of its undemanding nature and its ability to improve soil conditions. It can be susceptible to powdery mildew. The yellow flowers appear in clusters in May and June.
Siberian peashrub is well suited to urban conditions and can be planted in home gardens, parks, rows, hedges and group plantings. It typically reaches 4–5 metres in height and around 1.5 metres in width.
Mock Orange / Philadelphus coronarius
Hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae)
Common mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) can grow up to three metres tall and is one of the earliest-flowering species of Philadelphus. It begins flowering around the middle of June and remains in bloom for approximately two to two and a half weeks.
It flowers more abundantly when planted in sunny locations and is also suitable for very dry, light soils. The species is one of the most widely cultivated mock oranges and includes several ornamental forms, such as the dwarf form P. coronarius ‘Nanus’, which develops dense, spherical or cushion-shaped shrubs approximately 40–50 cm tall with dark green leaves.
Different varieties of mock orange can provide flowering from early June until early August. It is a medium-sized deciduous shrub of the hydrangea family and may reach up to four metres in height.
Because of its similar fragrance, it is often referred to as jasmine, although it is botanically unrelated to true jasmine. Some cultivated varieties and hybrids have little or no fragrance, while Philadelphus × lemoinei, Philadelphus coronarius and the cultivar ‘Avalanche’ are known for their strong scent. Small-leaved mock orange may have a fragrance with notes reminiscent of strawberry or anise.
European Larch ‘Pendula’ / Larix decidua ‘Pendula’
Pine family (Pinaceae)
A tree of the pine family that can reach up to 40 metres in height. The bark is greyish-brown and deeply fissured, and the crown is broadly pyramidal. The branches are horizontal and spreading.
The needles are soft, narrow and linear, measuring approximately 2–3 cm in length. Unlike most conifers, European larch is deciduous and sheds its needles in autumn. On long shoots, the needles grow individually, while on short shoots they are arranged in dense clusters.
The cones, measuring 3–5 cm in length, develop on short shoots. They are initially red, later turn green and finally become greyish-brown when mature.
European larch occurs naturally in Central and Southern Europe and has been introduced into cultivation in many other regions. In Latvia, it is frequently found in parks and ornamental plantings, as well as in some planted forests and reforested areas. It is an introduced species rather than a native Latvian tree.
Common Ash / Fraxinus excelsior
Olive family (Oleaceae)
A deciduous tree of the olive family that can reach up to 40 metres in height and develops a broad crown. The bark is grey and the branches are generally horizontal.
The leaves are large, measuring 15–35 cm in length and 10–20 cm in width. They are pinnately compound, usually with 7–13 elongated, lance-shaped leaflets with serrated margins and wedge-shaped bases.
The flowers are arranged in dense clusters. The fruit is a winged samara consisting of a small nut with a membranous wing approximately 3–4 cm long.
Compared with many other deciduous tree species, the leaves emerge relatively late in spring and are among the first to fall in autumn. The common ash flowers in May.
The species is widespread throughout Europe and occurs relatively frequently across Latvia, which lies close to the northern limit of its natural range.
Colorado Blue Spruce / Picea pungens
Pine family (Pinaceae)
An evergreen conifer capable of adapting to a variety of growing conditions. It has a shallow, widespread root system and prefers moderately fertile, sufficiently moist soils. It grows well in both full sun and partial shade, ideally in soils with a pH of approximately 5.0–6.5.
The tree can reach around 15 metres in height and 4 metres in width and is suitable for Latvia’s western, central and eastern climatic zones. Its crown is broadly conical.
The needles range in colour from green and greyish-green to distinctly silvery-blue. The flowers are inconspicuous, while the mature cones are brown and measure approximately 5–10 cm in length.
