Notable Trees at The University of Reading

Location and Species

Description/Notes

Outside Library

Sophora japonica

Pagoda Tree

Pagoda tree can be a little tricky to establish then it is quick growing into large tree.

Needs a hot dry summer to flower well

Opposite Library

Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Katsura Tree

A small tree of up to 15m.

Good autumn colour with an elusive aroma of burnt sugar.

Needs careful positioning as can be damaged by a late spring frost

Opposite Philip Lyle

Pyrus elaeagnifolia

Pear

From S. Europe.

Very attractive in flower.

This Champion tree was thought to planted around 1790

The Wilderness

Calocedrus decurrens

Incense Cedar

An upright tree from Oregon, California.

Partially wind blown in 1990 but still standing.

Wilderness
(Next to bridge)

Standing oak trunk

The value of dead wood is well documented.

Standing dead wood is particularly valuable for habitat for Bats, Birds and invertebrates

Wilderness

Quercus x turneri

Turners Oak

This Hybrid tree is a cross between Holm Oak

(Q. ilex) and Common Oak (Q. robur)

It forms a semi evergreen tree of rounded habit.

Wilderness

Quercus x hispanica ‘Lucombeana’

Lucombe Oak

Lucombe Oak is a hybrid between

Turkey Oak (Q. cerris) and Cork Oak (Q. suber)

This forms a large semi-evergreen tree

Wilderness

Carya ovata

Shag Bark Hickory

The Shag Bark Hickory is an important nut producing tree in North America.

The squirrels tend to remove any fruits that this tree produces!

Good autumn colour most years (Champion Tree)

Lawn Between The Lake and Wessex Hall

Quercus canariensis

Mirbeck Oak

Mirbeck Oak has great potential for landscape use.

It has an upright shapely form with large semi-evergreen foliage which remains on the tree up to Christmas.

This area of campus has an interesting collection of Oaks within this area including:

Q. nigra (Water Oak)
Q. suber (Cork Oak)
Q. castaneifolia
 (Chestnut-leaved Oak)
Q. cerris ‘Variegata’
  (Variegated Turkey Oak)
Q. dentata (Daimio Oak)
Q. phellos (Willow Oak)