Minor European broadleaved tree species are more drought-tolerant than Fagus sylvatica but not more tolerant than Quercus petraea

Radial growth was positively related to spring and summer precipitation for all species, whereas high summer temperatures led to decreased growth rates for A. platanoides, S. domestica, and F. sylvatica. Whereas S. torminalis appeared to be resistant and resilient in relation to drought, S. domestica and A. platanoides were also resilient but less resistant to drought stress. A synoptic ranking of the drought tolerance of all tree species suggests that the minor broadleaved tree species are not more drought-tolerant than Q. petraea, except for A. campestre. We conclude that cultivation of these minor species as well as Q. petraea should be expanded on xerix sites, where F. sylvatica reaches its growth limits.