Suggested Trees to Plant in your Garden

editor — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:06:50 +0000

Trees add height and structure to a garden design as well as giving other benefits such as providing shade, privacy and a sense of sound and motion. The following are small to medium sized garden trees that should be available fairly easily.

Ideally, trees should be used for feature planting, to provide focus and structure to a design. The height and spread figures are probable after twenty years of growth in average conditions. Many are likely to continue growing substantially.

Latin Name (common name)	Description Size	(Height x Spread)
Acer ginnala	Leaves, brilliant green, bright red in autumn.	3.9 x 3.9m
griseum (Paperback Maple)	Leaves, bright autumn tints, lovely peeling bark.	4.5 x 2.4m
negundo ‘Variegatum’	Leaves, silvery-white variegated.	6.0 x 6.0m
Amelanchier lamarckii	Leaves, orange/red autumn. Flowers, white in April.	7.0 x 5.0m
Betula pendula ‘Fastigiata’ (Feathered Silver Birch)	Perfect for compact and urban gardens.	7.6 x 3.0m
pendula ‘Youngii’ (Young’s Weeping Birch)	Branches weep to the ground.	4.5 x 4.5m
Carpinus betulus ‘Columnaris’ (Fastigiate Hornbeam)	Leaves, rich green. Tall, thin and column like.	5.5 x 2.1m
Cercis siliquastrum (Judas Tree)	Leaves, large and rounded. Flowers purple/pink, April/May.	4.5 x 3.0m
Crataegus X lavallei (May Tree)	Flowers, large and white, May/June. Orange berries toward end of year.	6.0 x 4.5m
oxycantha (Hawthorn)	Flowers, red, though branches thorny.	6.0 x 4.5m
Magnolia kobus	Flowers, cream white and fragrant.	7.6 x 6.0m
Malus coronaria ‘Charlottae’	Flowers, pink and fragrant. Fruit, yellow.	4.5 x 2.4m
‘Golden Hornet’	Flowers, white. Fruit bright yellow.	7.6 x 3.6m
‘Profusion’	Leaves, copper turning bronze. Flowers redish purple. Fruit, deep red.	6.0 x 4.5m
‘Royalty’	Leaves, dark purple. Flowers, pink. Fruit, red wine tint.	4.5 x 3.0m
sargentii	Flowers, white. Fruit, red and currant like.	3.0 x 2.4m
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ (Purple-Leafed Flowering Plum)	Leaves, redish then dark purple. Flowers, pink, March/April.	6.0 x 4.5m
‘Accolade’	Flowers, pink and plentiful in April.	7.6 x 4.5m
X hillieri ‘Spire’	Leaves, brilliant in autumn. Flowers, pink, April.	6.0 x 3.0m
‘Erecta’ (Ama no Gawa) – (Lombardy Poplar Cherry)	Flowers, soft pink, April/May.	4.5 x 1.0m
‘Longipes’ (Shimidsu Sakura)	Flowers, large and double white, May. Buds, pink.	4.5 x 4.5m
‘Cheal’s Weeping’	Flowers, double rose pink, April.	4.5 x 4.5m
Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ (Willow-Leafed Pear)	Leaves, greyish green. Flowers, white, April.	6.0 x 4.5m
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’	Leaves, bright yellow.	7.6 x 4.5m
pseudoacacia ‘Fastigiata’	Leaves, eye-catching green.	9.0 x 2.4m
Salix caprea ‘Pendula’ (Kilmarnock Willow)	Shaped like an umbrella – weeping with rigid branches.	3.0 x 1.8m
Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)	Berries, red in late summer.	7.6 x 4.5m
‘Embley’ Leaves, brilliant in autumn.	Berries, redish orange.	7.6 x 4.5m
Hupehensis	Leaves, bluish, red in autumn. Berries, light green turning pale pink.	7.6 x 4.5m
Vilmorinii	Leaves, red in autumn, attractive and delicate. Berries, pink.	4.5 x 3.0m
aria ‘Lutescens’ (Whitebeam)	Leaves, green on topside, yellow beneath in Spring.	6.0 x 4.5m

Perrenials for Planting in the Garden

editor — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:31:42 +0000

Perennials are permanent features of a garden despite being dormant in winter. They can be used in partnership with shrubs to provide year round colour and form and include some of the most familiar and loved garden flowers.

They can be used as either ‘focus’ or ‘filler’ plants and are most effective when planted in groups. All the perennials listed below are normally hardy in the UK. Sizes are indicated as a general guide: Small = up to 90cm. Medium = 90 – 180cm. Large = 180cm +.

Latin Name (common name)	Description	Size
Acanthus spinosus	Evergreen.	Small
Achillea in variety (Yarrow)	Flowers, yellow or white. June/August.	Small
Agapanthus in variety (African Lily)	Needs feeding and mulching.	Small
Ajuga in variety	Ground cover. Flowers, blue. Evergreen. May/June.	Small
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)	Leaves, downy.	Small
Alstroemeria aurantica (Herb Lily)	Flowers, orange.	Small
Anaphalis triplinervis	Flowers, everlasting, like woolly domes.	Small
Artemisia ‘Silver Queen’ (Wormwood)	Leaves, delicate and silvery.	Small
Asphodeline luteus	Leaves, rounded and green. Flowers, yellow.	Small
Caltha palustris ‘Plena’	Leaves, round. Flowers, king-cups. Spring.	Small
Catananche coerulea ‘Major’ (Daisies)	Flowers, blue daisies.	Small
Centaurea dealbata ‘John Coutts’	Flowers, pink. June/October.	Small
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’	Flowers, fiery red.	Small
Dianthus in variety	Flowers, pink, scented.	Small
Echinops ritro (Globe Thistle)	Leaves, grey. Blue heads.	Medium
Euphorbia myrsinites	Leaves, rounded and grey. Evergreen.	Small
Geranium in variety	Leaves, dense. Flowers, plentiful.	Small
Gunnera manicata	Leaves, similar to giant rhubarb.	Large
Gypsophila	Grow vigorously.	Medium
Helianthemum in variety (Sun Rose)	Colourful.	Small
Helleborus in variety	Ground cover. Flowers in winter/early spring. Evergreen.	Small
Holcus mollis ‘Variegatus’	Leaves, striped grass-like.	Small
Hosta in variety (Plantain Lily)	Leaves, broad. Flowers, mauvish, lily-like. July/August.	Small
Incarvillea delavayi (Trumpet Flower)	Flowers May/June.	Small
Iris germanica in variety (Bearded Iris)	Flowers June. Evergreen.	Medium
Kniphofia in variety (Red Hot Pokers)	Flowers August/October.	Medium
Liatris ‘Kobold’	Leaves, Mauve spikes.	Small
Libertia formosa	Leaves, grass-like. Flowers, white. May/July.	Small
Nepeta mussinii (Catmint)	Leaves, grey. Flowers, blue. Evergreen.	Small
Nerine bowdenii	Flowers, trumpet-like, pink. October/November.	Small
Oenothera in variety (Eve. Primrose)	Flowers July/August.	Small
Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)	Flowers, bright colour.	Small/Medium
Penstemon barbatus (BeardedTongue)	Flowers, spikey, pink. June/September.	Small
Phlox subulata varieties	Flower, alpine-like. Spring.	Small
Pulmonaria in variety.	Ground cover. Flowers early.	Small
Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)	Flowers, bell-like, violet purple. April/May.	Small
Rheum palmatum ‘Rubrum’	Leaves, lobe-like, purple. Flowers, pinkish red. June/July.	Medium
Sedum in variety (Stonecrop)	Leaves, fleshy.	Small
Sisyrinchium striatum	Leaves, grey-green. Evergreen.	Small
Stipa	Ornamental grasses.	Medium
Thymus in variety (Thyme)	Forms dense ground cover.	Small
Trollius in variety (Globe Flower)	Flowers, buttercup-like, yellow or orange. May/June.	Small
Verbascum in variety (Mullein)	Flowers, spikes, yellow.	Medium/Large
Viola hederacea	Ground cover. Flowers all summer.	Small

The Garden Planner » plants

Suggested Trees to Plant in your Garden

Latin Name (common name)

Description Size

(Height x Spread)

Acer ginnala

Leaves, brilliant green, bright red in autumn.

3.9 x 3.9m

griseum (Paperback Maple)

Leaves, bright autumn tints, lovely peeling bark.

4.5 x 2.4m

negundo ‘Variegatum’

Leaves, silvery-white variegated.

6.0 x 6.0m

Amelanchier lamarckii

Leaves, orange/red autumn. Flowers, white in April.

7.0 x 5.0m

Betula pendula ‘Fastigiata’ (Feathered Silver Birch)

Perfect for compact and urban gardens.

7.6 x 3.0m

pendula ‘Youngii’ (Young’s Weeping Birch)

Branches weep to the ground.

4.5 x 4.5m

Carpinus betulus ‘Columnaris’ (Fastigiate Hornbeam)

Leaves, rich green. Tall, thin and column like.

5.5 x 2.1m

Cercis siliquastrum (Judas Tree)

Leaves, large and rounded. Flowers purple/pink, April/May.

4.5 x 3.0m

Crataegus X lavallei (May Tree)

Flowers, large and white, May/June. Orange berries toward end of year.

6.0 x 4.5m

oxycantha (Hawthorn)

Flowers, red, though branches thorny.

6.0 x 4.5m

Magnolia kobus

Flowers, cream white and fragrant.

7.6 x 6.0m

Malus coronaria ‘Charlottae’

Flowers, pink and fragrant. Fruit, yellow.

4.5 x 2.4m

‘Golden Hornet’

Flowers, white. Fruit bright yellow.

7.6 x 3.6m

‘Profusion’

Leaves, copper turning bronze. Flowers redish purple. Fruit, deep red.

6.0 x 4.5m

‘Royalty’

Leaves, dark purple. Flowers, pink. Fruit, red wine tint.

4.5 x 3.0m

sargentii

Flowers, white. Fruit, red and currant like.

3.0 x 2.4m

Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ (Purple-Leafed Flowering Plum)

Leaves, redish then dark purple. Flowers, pink, March/April.

6.0 x 4.5m

‘Accolade’

Flowers, pink and plentiful in April.

7.6 x 4.5m

X hillieri ‘Spire’

Leaves, brilliant in autumn. Flowers, pink, April.

6.0 x 3.0m

‘Erecta’ (Ama no Gawa) – (Lombardy Poplar Cherry)

Flowers, soft pink, April/May.

4.5 x 1.0m

‘Longipes’ (Shimidsu Sakura)

Flowers, large and double white, May. Buds, pink.

4.5 x 4.5m

‘Cheal’s Weeping’

Flowers, double rose pink, April.

4.5 x 4.5m

Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ (Willow-Leafed Pear)

Leaves, greyish green. Flowers, white, April.

6.0 x 4.5m

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’

Leaves, bright yellow.

7.6 x 4.5m

pseudoacacia ‘Fastigiata’

Leaves, eye-catching green.

9.0 x 2.4m

Leaves, silvery-white
variegated.

Flowers, large and white, May/June. Orange
berries toward end of year.

Flowers, cream white and
fragrant.

Leaves, brilliant in autumn.
Flowers, pink, April.

Flowers, soft pink,
April/May.

Flowers, double rose pink,
April.

Sorbus aucuparia
(Rowan)

‘Embley’ Leaves, brilliant in
autumn.

Leaves, bluish, red in autumn. Berries,
light green turning pale pink.

aria ‘Lutescens’
(Whitebeam)

Ground cover. Flowers, blue. Evergreen.
May/June.