1. Deciduous and Coniferous Trees
Types of Trees
Deciduous and Coniferous Trees

2. Deciduous and Coniferous Trees
Deciduous trees
Also known as hardwoods or broadleaves trees
Coniferous trees
As known as softwood or needle leaved trees

3. Deciduous trees - characteristics
Give us hardwood timber
Lose their leaves in autumn – except holly
Trunk divides to develop large branches
Large broad leaves
Generally grow more slowly
Usually harder and more durable wood
Branches are generally larger and more irregular than connifers

4. Coniferous trees - characteristics
Give us softwood timber
Evergreen - except larch
Have a straight trunk
Smaller branches
Needle like leaves
Seeds borne in pine cones
Symmetrical in shape
Grow quickly
Wood is usually softer and less durable than hardwood

5. Irish Hardwoods Irish Softwood
Oak
Ash
Beech
Sycamore
Elm
Birch
Horse chestnut
Scots pine
Douglas Fir
Norway spruce
Sitka Spruce
Larch

6. Oak Take 120 years to mature Grow to height of 40 metres
Fruit (seed) is called acorn
Durable, Light coloured wood ease to work with
Uses:
Furniture
Doors
Flooring
Barrels
Boat building

7. Ash Take 60 years to mature Grow to height of 40 metres
Pliable, tough Light white coloured wood difficult to work with
Uses:
Furniture
Hurleys
Oars
Tool handles

8. Beech Grow to height of 36 metres
Durable, reddish to brown coloured wood
Uses:
Furniture
Doors
Flooring
Tool handles

9. Sycamore Take 200 years to mature Grow to height of 35 metres
Strong creamy white coloured wood which is ease to work with
Uses:
Wood carving
Woodturning
Violin making
veneers

10. Sitka Spruce Take 40 years to mature Grow to height 45 metres
Shallow root system, thrives on wet soil (bogs)
Forms 75% of trees planted in Ireland annually
Known as white deal
Fairly durable with a pale brown colour
Uses:
Structural timber
Paper making
floorboard

11. Norway Spruce Grow to height 40 metres
Shallow root system, thrives on damp fertile soil
Forms 4% of trees planted in Ireland annually
Also known as white deal
not durable with a white to cream colour
Uses:
Christmas trees
Internal joinery
plywood

12. Douglas Fir Cone shaped Grow to height 55 metres
Likes light therefore branches are scarce
Tough, durable wood with a reddish- brown colour
Uses:
Railway sleepers
Telephone poles
Plywood manufacture

13. Scots Pine Shape is not typical – tall with a few large branches
Grow to height 40 metres
Slow growing not commerically planted any longer
Known as red deal
Strong and durable with a bright yellow colour
Uses:
Roof frames
Telegraph poles
Fence posts

14. Other timbers Some timbers cannot grow in Ireland due to our climate
They grow in tropical areas where they grow year around, as a result they do not have annual rings
Examples include:
Mahogany
Ebony
Teak
Walnut
Balsa