Our Favourite Trees & How To Plant Them

Here’s a selection of our favourite trees for your garden, which have interest in different seasons:

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’: Norway maple. This variety has a narrow columnar shape and reddish-purple leaves. Height and spread in 20 years: 7m x 3m (23ft x 10ft).

Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’: A small, upright tree, spreading as it matures. Pretty white flowers in spring, followed by black fruits in autumn. Young leaves are a beautiful coppery colour, turning green in summer, then orange and red in autumn. Height and spread in 20 years: 8m x 5m (26ft x 16ft)

Betula pendula – silver birch: A medium to large sized tree grown for its beautiful white bark, drooping habit and yellow autumn colour. Numerous different varieties are available. Approximate height and spread in 20 years: 8m x 3m (26ft x 10ft)

Cornus kousa var chinensis: Chinese dogwood. A large shrub or small tree with beautiful creamy-white flower bracts in late spring or early summer, followed by strawberry-like red fruit in autumn. Fabulous red autumn colour. Approximate height and spread in 20 years: 7m x 5m (23ft x 16ft)

Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’: Fast-growing semi-evergreen (keeps some of its leaves over winter) large shrub or small tree with white flowers in early summer followed by large clusters of bright red berries in autumn. Approximate height and spread in 20 years: 6m x 5m (19ft x 16ft)

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’: Sweet gum, which is grown for its stunning orange and yellow autumn colour, and deeply cut maple-like leaves. Height and spread in 20 years: 5m x 4m (16ft x 13ft)

Malus – flowering crab apple: We sell many varieties of crab apple, which are renowned for their beautiful spring flowers (and therefore pollinating insects are attracted) and edible (when cooked) autumn fruit. Ideal for small gardens, flowering crab apples have an average height and spread in 20 years: 4m x 5m (13ft x 16ft)

Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’: Purple-leaved plum (fruit edible when cooked). Pretty pale pink flowers in spring, before its foliage emerges. Purple leaves make this an excellent small tree which is a striking colour. Height and spread in 20 years: 5m x 4m (16ft x 13 ft)

Prunus ‘Kanzan’: Flowering cherry. One of the best pink flowering cherries – double, deep pink flowers in spring. Height and spread in 20 years: 6m x 4m (19ft x 13ft)

Sorbus aucuparia: Mountain ash. Many varieties available. White flowers in June, followed by autumn berries and wonderful autumn foliage colours. Height and spread in 20 years: 6m x 3m (19ft x 10ft)

Tree planting and aftercare: