Wonderful Whitebeam

One of the great delights in Chilterns woods at the moment is the leaf-break of the Whitebeam trees. Forget showy flowers, the opening leaves of the Whitebeam are just as spectacular as Magnolias. As they open further the leaves display a very attractive contrast between a fresh green upperside and a white felty underside. Then the ghostly grey-white flower clusters are revealed and open to provide a valuable nectar source for insects. By the end of the summer juicy red fruits will be forming, just waiting to supply hungry winter thrushes. What a tree!