Trees of Provence
Mediterranean and Alpine trees

Our Trees of Provence section includes a handy English-name and French-name list of the most common trees of Provence. We also have a flora content page, with photos, for many of the trees, especially the local oaks, pines and olives.
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The trees are the most distinctive flora in this part of the world, and the umbrella pine is the most distinctive of all, with its outline so clearly resembling an open umbrella. The Aleppo pine, on limestone and the maritime pine, on acid soils, are both common along the coast and are typically Mediterranean.
A variety of oaks grow here, from the scrubby holm oak of the coast to the typical Pubescent oak of mid-altitudes and, so necessary for a wine-producing country, the cork oak. This last grows strictly on the cristaline formations such as the Esterel, Tanneron and the Massif des Maures.
The umbrella pine (photo above) might be the most distinctive tree, but the olive tree is the most typical for this Mediterranean country side. Olives have been growing here for around 2500 years, and when you wander the hills, you'll cross long-abandoned stone terraces built and repaired by hand over many hundreds of years ago.
Trees (English) | Arbres (French) |
Acacia | Acacia |
Alder | Aulne |
Ash | Frêne |
Beech | Hêtre |
Birch | Bouleau |
Box | Buis |
Cedar
- Atlas Cedar - Cedar of Lebanon |
Cèdre
- Cèdre de l'Atlas - Cèdre du Liban |
Chestnut | Châtaignier |
Cypres | Cyprès |
Elm | Orme |
Fir | Sapin |
Hazel | Noisetier |
Hemlock | Sapin |
Hornbeam | Charme |
Horse Chestnut | Marronnier |
Judas Tree | Arbre de Judée |
Larch | Mélèze |
Lime | Tilleul |
Maple | Erable |
Mimosa (Wattle) | Mimosa |
Olive | Olivier |
Oak
- Cork Oak - Holm Oak - Kermes Oak - Pubscent (Downy) Oak |
Chêne
- Chêne-liège - Chêne Vert - Chêne Kermès - Chêne Pubescent |
Nettle Tree | Micocoulier |
Pine
- Aleppo Pine - Maritime Pine - Scots Pine - Silver Pine - Umbrella Pine |
Pin
- Pin d' Alep - Pin Maritime - Pin Sylvestre - Pin de Montagne - Pin Parasol |
Plane | Platane |
Poplar | Peuplier |
Quince | Cognassier |
Sequoia, Giant | Wellingtonia |
Spruce | Sapin |
Sycamore | Sycamore |
Walnut | Noyer |
Willow | Saule blanc |
Weeping Willow | Saule Pleureur |
Yew | If |