Typical lifespan for common trees in the British Isles

Genus

Common name


Typical lifespan

Alnus

Alder

Hardwood

Up to 100 years

Betula

Birch

Hardwood

Up to 100 years

Carpinus

Hornbeam

Hardwood

Over 100 years

Corylus

Hazel

Hardwood

50-60 years

Crataegus

Hawthorn

Hardwood

Probably >100

Fraximus

Ash

Hardwood

200 years +

Fagus

Beech

Hardwood

Usually <200 years

Ilex

Holly

Hardwood

over 100

Pomoideae

Apples/pears

Hardwood

Over 100

Populus

Poplar

Hardwood

Over 100

Prunus

Cherry, plum, blackthorn

Hardwood

Up to 100

Pinus

Pine

Softwood

Up to 500 years

Quercus

oak

Hardwood

Average 250, up to 500

Salix

Willow

Hardwood

Up to 100 years

Sorbus

Rowan

Hardwood

100 years +

Taxus

Yew

Softwood

Can be very long lived

Tilia

Linden (Lime)

Hardwood

Over 100

Ulmus

Elm

Hardwood

<200 years


Note: many trees will attain greater ages than indicated here if they are coppiced.
Pines commonly live 250-300 years but up to 400 for P. sylvestris and over 5000 for P. aristata and P. longaeva!


The maximum recorded age, based on ring counts not estimates, is given for some species of trees. Data from the Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research database and links therein: http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm
Quercus robur: 930 (Switzerland)
Quercus petraea: 866
Fagus: 503 (Italy)
Betula sp: 387 (E. USA)
Fraxinus nigra: 319 (E. USA)
Betula papifera: 240 (E. USA)
Ulmus alata: 186 (E. USA)
Ulmus sp: 267 (Canada)
Betula sp: 240 (Canada)
Betula sp: >387 (Canada)