WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly frequent England and Wales and scattered else where, being more common in the South. Habitat includes: Hedgerows, farmland/field boarders, woodland, parks, allotments, cemeteries, river sides etc. After the Dutch Elm disease outbreak (starting in 1965) it is rarely seen as a tree, but more frequently seen as a shrub in hedgerows thanks to its ability to reproduce asexually via suckers. It often grows to a certain height before getting infected again, then dies; leaving new suckers to take over. Some say it was introduced during the Bronze Age (Archaeophyte) others say it may only be native in Southern England. If this is the case it is probably only Native up to about the latitude of Gloucester where it avoided glaciation during the last ice age. Height: Up to 30 m. Flowers: March to April.