This separates those plants that grow to no more than 3 metres from genuine trees, but it includes the woody species that form ground cover in woodlands and on moorland. Birch, Elder, Hazel and Holly, may share some features with ground cover species, but are true trees. Heathers and Gorse very definitely are not. A troublesome pest in conservation terms, but still planted by some gamekeepers as cover for breeding gamebirds. Only exceeded by Bracken in its tendency to overgrow native groundcover and hinders regeneration.
Flowers are the only redeeeming feature.
May grow to impressive heights but is an annual. The worst introduced species in Britain, rapidly infesting watercourses from further up in the watershed.