Trees of Poland: The Complete List

Poland’s landscape is a mix of primeval forests, managed woodlands and urban trees that shape seasons and local life from the Baltic coast to the Carpathians. Whether you’re hiking a national park or walking a city street, the country’s tree diversity is a quiet but constant presence.

There are 40 Trees of Poland, ranging from Aspen to Wych elm. For each species you’ll find the Scientific name, Max height (m), and Status & range — details you’ll find below.

How can I tell native species from introduced ones on this list?

The Status & range column highlights whether a tree is native, naturalized, or introduced and describes its distribution across Poland; use that first. For field ID, cross-check leaf, bark and fruit traits with the Scientific name and consult local floras or regional tree guides if status is unclear.

Is the Max height (m) a precise measurement or a guideline?

Max height entries indicate typical maximums recorded under favorable conditions, not exact heights for every specimen; local soil, climate and management can reduce or increase size, so treat the numbers as practical reference values.

Trees of Poland

Images and Descriptions

Pedunculate oak

Massive native oak with broad crown and deeply fissured bark. Leaves with short stalks and distinct lobes; acorns on long stalks. Can reach great age; common across lowlands and mixed forests, important for wildlife and old-growth stands.

Sessile oak

High-crowned oak similar to Pedunculate oak but stalked acorns and sessile leaves; smoother bark when young. Prefers drier, upland soils and mixed mountain forests. Valued timber species and common in south-west and upland woodlands.

European beech

Elegant broadleaf with smooth grey bark and dense canopy. Leaves glossy, slightly toothed; coppery new leaves in spring. Forms pure beech forests in higher-fertility sites and the Carpathians; many ancient, protected stands and important for shade-loving understory plants.

European hornbeam

Stout medium-sized tree with fluted bark and distinctive muscular trunk. Leaves are doubly serrated and remain into autumn; catkins produced in spring. Common in lowland mixed forests and hedgerows; coppiced historically for tool handles and fuel.

Silver birch

Slim white-barked birch with triangular, toothed leaves and pendulous branches. Fast-growing pioneer on poor soils, common across Poland especially in sandy north and disturbed ground. Bark peels in papery strips; bright yellow autumn colour.

Downy birch

More rounded birch with hairier shoots and duller bark. Prefers wetter soils and peatlands; common in northern and mountainous wetlands. Leaves are ovate and less pendulous than B. pendula; important early successional species for wildlife.

Black alder

Robust alder of riverbanks with dark, fissured bark and sticky buds. Catkins and small woody cones persist year-round. Thrives in wet soils and floodplains; fixes nitrogen helping soil improvement. Widespread across Poland’s rivers and wetlands.

Grey alder

Paler grey alder with smoother bark and smaller leaves than A. glutinosa. Favors upland streams, mountain valleys and moist soils. Cones and catkins are similar; common in northern and mountainous regions, often forming pure stands.

Aspen

Aspen with fluttering, roundish leaves on flattened petioles that tremble in the wind. Rapid colonizer of clearings and open woodland; bark smooth and pale. Widespread across Poland including mountains and lowlands; important for biodiversity.

Black poplar

Large riparian poplar with rough bark and broad leaves. Forms old pollard stems in floodplain forests; important for riverbank stabilization. Scattered naturally along rivers and floodplains, now supplemented by planted varieties.

White willow

Tall, pale-barked willow with narrow lanceolate leaves that are whitish beneath. Common along rivers and wet meadows; forms large, long-branching crowns. Fast-growing and tolerant of flooding, often used for bank reinforcement.

Crack willow

Crack willow with brittle branches that break and root easily, aiding spread. Leaves are glossy above, silvery beneath. Common along lowland rivers and floodplains; identification aided by its tendency to produce rootable branch fragments.

Goat willow

Goat willow often seen as a small tree with stout branches and round leaves. Early catkins provide pollen and nectar for bees. Found in open woods, road verges and parkland across Poland, sometimes forming multi-stemmed specimens.

Small-leaved lime

Small-leaved lime with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant summer flowers. A classic component of ancient woodlands and village greens; often long-lived and forming large boles. Common throughout Poland, especially in lowland mixed forests and parks.

Large-leaved lime

Large-leaved lime with bigger leaves and paler underside than T. cordata. Makes massive avenue and park trees, with fragrant flowers attractive to insects. Native but more common in southern and mixed forests and cultivated landscapes.

Silver lime

Silver lime identifiable by pale, silvery lower leaf surface. Widely planted in urban avenues and parks for pollution tolerance. Non-native but abundant in towns across Poland; bees favor its nectar, though it can be less suitable for some insects.

Common ash

Tall straight timber tree with opposite pinnate leaves and diamond-patterned bark. Once common in many habitats but heavily affected by ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus); regeneration poor. Found across Poland in mixed forests, hedgerows and riparian zones.

Norway maple

Norway maple with broad palmate leaves and milky sap from petiole break. Common street and forest tree throughout Poland; tolerates shade and urban conditions. Samaras in long clusters help identification in summer and autumn.

Sycamore maple

Sycamore maple with large five-lobed leaves, flaking bark and robust habit. Native in mountain areas and widely planted elsewhere; tolerant of poor soils and urban pollution. Produces winged samaras in opposite pairs.

Field maple

Field maple a smaller tree with dense crown and toothed, lobed leaves. Prefers hedgerows, calcareous soils and parkland; often used for coppicing. Distinguished by tight clusters of samaras and rougher bark on older trees.

Norway spruce

Norway spruce a tall conifer with drooping branchlets and pendulous cones. Dominant in mountain and planted lowland forests for timber; needle arrangement and conical form are diagnostic. Prefers cool, humid sites and forms extensive plantations.

Scots pine

Scots pine with orange-brown flaking bark on upper stem and long paired needles. Key species on sandy soils and forests of northern Poland; used in forestry. Forms open crowns and distinctive silhouette on horizons.

Swiss stone pine

Swiss stone pine a slow-growing, high-mountain conifer with dense, short needles and picturesque crown. Native in Tatras and subalpine zones; valued for resilience and as an indicator of high-elevation stands.

Silver fir

European silver fir towering with flattened needles and smooth grey bark. Forms pure stands in Carpathian mountains; prized timber and important ecological component. Needles give a soft texture and cones stand upright on branches.

European larch

European larch a deciduous conifer with soft clusters of needles that turn golden before dropping. Grows at higher elevations and planted in forestry; pale bark and conical shape make it unmistakable in mountain landscapes.

European yew

European yew with dark, dense foliage and red arils. Very slow-growing and long-lived; often found in churchyards, ancient woods and shady ravines. Highly poisonous but wildlife eats the berries’ flesh; wood valued historically.

Wych elm

Wych elm with asymmetrical base leaves and rough upper leaf surface. Prefers moist upland woods and mountain valleys; large crown and heavy timber when healthy. Populations impacted by Dutch elm disease but isolated mature trees remain.

European white elm

European white elm with deeply serrated leaves and prominent winged samaras. Found mainly in floodplain forests and river corridors; tolerant of wet soils. Less common than other elms but still present in riparian woodlands.

Wild cherry

Wild cherry a tall tree with glossy leaves and striking spring blossom followed by red cherries. Native and valuable for birds; grows in mixed forests and old orchards. Wood used for fine furniture and smoking meats.

Bird cherry

Bird cherry a small tree with racemes of fragrant white flowers in spring and small black drupes. Prefers moist woods and hedgerows; common in lowland and upland forests. Bark smooth with lenticels.

Black cherry

Black cherry an introduced fast-growing tree with shiny leaves and dark cherries. Highly invasive in many Polish forests, forming dense stands and suppressing natives. Notable for rough, dark bark and aromatic wood.

Rowan

Rowan small tree with pinnate leaves and dense clusters of orange-red berries in autumn. Widespread in mountains and woods; berries feed birds and were traditionally used for preserves. Distinctive smooth grey bark and lacy crown.

Whitebeam

Whitebeam a small tree of dry slopes and limestone outcrops with round, greyish leaves that are hairy beneath. Produces orange pomes eaten by birds. Often local and characteristic of calcareous uplands.

Wild service tree

Wild service tree a rare, slow-growing species of ancient woodlands with lobed leaves and brown pomes. A relic of old-growth forests, scattered in central and southern Poland and often an indicator of long-established woodland.

Sweet chestnut

Sweet chestnut a large deciduous tree with serrated, lanceolate leaves and spiny fruit burs. Planted historically and naturalized in parts of western and southern Poland; valued for nuts and durable timber.

Red oak

Red oak a North American species widely planted for timber and ornament. Fast-growing with deeply lobed leaves and reddish autumn colour; naturalized in some forests, especially in west and lowlands.

Turkey oak

Turkey oak an introduced oak with rough, shaggy acorn cups and lobed leaves. Planted and naturalized around parks and warmer regions; tolerates dry soils and is more frequent in southern Poland.

Black locust

Black locust with pinnate leaves and fragrant white pea-flowers. Introduced from North America and now invasive in many habitats, forming thorny stands and fixing nitrogen. Common along roadsides, clearings and disturbed soils.

Box elder

Box elder a small to medium tree with pinnate compound leaves and rapid growth. North American introduction that spreads along rivers and disturbed places; considered invasive in parts of Poland and common in lowland riparian zones.

Douglas fir

Douglas fir a tall conifer with distinctive three-pronged bracts on cones and soft needles. Introduced for timber plantations and park specimens; grows well in varied conditions and reaches large sizes in favorable sites.

Trees in Other Countries