Trees and shrubs for small and medium sized gardens
Tree Height x Foliage & bark Flowers Fruit Other Points of Wildlife friendly as Spread note recommended by after 20 the Wildlife Trust & years or at RSPB maturity
Acer campestre 6m x 6m Tri-foliate. Good Insignificant, Twin-winged keys Round-headed Field Maple autumn colour greenish Native species
Acer platanoides 12m x 5m Cream/green Greenish yellow Cultivar of the Drummondii variegated foliage Norway Maple
Acer platanoides 12m x 5m Crimson foliage. Small bright red- Dark purple-red Cultivar of the Royal Red or Crimson King Red and orange purple in spring keys Norway Maple autumn colour
Acer griseum 6m x 3m Mid green. Good Small sulphur Needs sheltered Paperbark Maple autumn colour yellow pendulous position. Slow- Peeling orange bark flowers in spring growing
Alnus glutinous Imperialis 8m x 2.5m Finely-cut foliage Catkins 5-10cm Small cone-like fruit Quick growing tree Early nectar bees Alder Light green long in spring lasts all winter for wet areas Seeds eaten by Native species Siskin and Redpoll
Amelanchier lamarckii 7.5m x 6m Light green. Brilliant Racemes of white Small light red fruits Snowy Mespilus red autumn colours flowers in spring in autumn
Arbutus unedo 5m x 5m Evergreen leathery Panicles of white Scarlet strawberry Very slow growth Strawberry Tree ovate leaves urn-shaped flowers fruits - edible, often Sheltered west spring & early on tree with flowers facing position summer Native to SW Ireland
Betulus jacquemontii 12m x 5m Light green turning Catkins in spring Small hanging scaly May lose leaves in Silver Birch yellow in autumn fruits in autumn hot, dry summers Stunning white bark
Betulus ermanii 12m x 5m Large foliage, good Catkins in spring Small hanging scaly May lose leaves in Birch autumn colour fruits in autumn hot, dry summers Orange brown bark changing to creamy white with age
Betula pendula 12 x 5m Light green, broad, Round to oval Small hanging Attractive graceful Small birds, long- Silver Birch ovate. Good yellow female catkins scales fruits in tree tailed tits, siskin, autumn colour autumn gold and green White-stemmed finches bark as tree ages
Caragana arborescens 9m x 6m Finely-cut, strap- Pea-shaped yellow Small pods in Small weeping tree Pendula like foliage flowers in May autumn Siberian Pea Tree
Cercis siliquastrum 6m x 6m Bluish-green Bright pink flowers Light grey-green Full sun to light Judas Tree kidney-shaped on bare branches in pods 8-10cm long shade. Tolerates leaves spring some alkalinity Southern European Native
Cornus controversa 7m x 6m Green and cream Umbels of white Small white fruits Full sun or light Variegata variegated leaves. flowers spring - may be produced in dappled shade. Wedding Cake Tree Green leaved early summer hot summers Tiered structure varieties have good autumn colour
Cornus florida 5m x 5m Purple green 4-bract white or Insignificant Neutral to acid soil. leaves. Good red- pink flowers Prefers full sun orange autumn depending on colour variety
Cornus kousa 3.5m x 4m Olive-green. very 4 large, creamy- Dull red strawberry- Slow to establish - Japanese or Chinese Dogwood good autumn white bracts ageing like fruits in autumn 4 years before colour to pink in spring flowering
Cornus mas 8m x 6m Mid-green leaves. Small yellow tufted Red cherry-shaped Cornelian Cherry Yellow autumn flowers produced in edible fruits suitable colour profusion in spring for jam making
Cornus nuttallii 10m x 5m Long elliptic green 4-bract white Insignificant Any soil Leaves, moth Dogwood leaves. Vivid flowers ageing to caterpillars, berries orange-yellow pink birds autumn colour
Cornus Venus 5m x 3.5m Mid green - good Huge 4-bract white Large pink Hybrid between C. nuttallii autumn colour flowers to 15cm strawberry like and C. kousa across in spring fruits
1 Tree Height x Foliage & bark Flowers Fruit Other Points of Wildlife friendly as Spread note recommended by after 20 the Wildlife Trust & years or at RSPB maturity
Corylus avellana & hybrids 6 x 6m Large round mid Long yellow male Edible hazelnuts Can be pruned or Hazel dormouse Hazel, cobnut green foliage. catkins coppiced eats caterpillars Golden and purple and nuts. Supports leaved varieties woodpeckers available
Cotoneaster x watereri 6m x 6m Semi-glossy, deep Huge clusters of Bright round glossy Evergreen Several other varieties green leaves which pretty small white red berries in Several species take on a bronze flowers in June autumn are native tint in autumn
Craetagus oxyacantha 6m x 6m Deeply lobed green Clusters of pink, Small dull red fruits Sharp thorns Can support over Hawthorn, May leaves with some white, red single or in autumn Musty scent 300 species of yellow tints in double flowers attractive to bees insect. Dormice autumn depending on Also several feed on the flowers. variety varieties which Haws rich in anti- have good autumn oxidants. Migrating foliage colour birds feed on the European Native haws
Davidia involucrata 12m x 5m Large deeply- Small central black Small rounded to For larger gardens Handkerchief Tree veined toothed flowers flanked by 2 pear-shaped fruits Can take up to 20 leaves broad pure white in autumn years to come into leaves acting like full flower petals which attract insects
Fagus sylvatica Dawyck 10m x 4m Green leaves but Small yellow-green Fastigiate - forms Beech gold in autumn flowers in spring imposing column Dawyck’s Purple grows to 3m; has upright pyramidal shape & purple red leaves ageing to copper in winter Cultivar of Native/ European Beech
Gingko biloba Fan-shaped leaves Deciduous conifer
Gleditsia triancanthos 6-8m Butter yellow in Pea-shaped grey Pretty pinnate Sunburst spring and autumn green pods leaves
Gleditsia triancanthos 5-6m Ruby red fern like Ruby Lace foliage
Hamamelis mollis 5m x 6m Ovate green leaves- Yellow fragrant Brown seed Large shrub - small Witch Hazel good orange-yellow spidery flowers in capsules tree in time. autumn colour January Position near house to enjoy winter fragrance
Ilex aquifolium - many 6.5 x 3.5m Ovate, mostly spiny Clusters of small Red, orange or NB Male plants Shelter for mistle- cultivars available with gold, leaves. Evergreen white flowers with yellow berries on produce no berries. thrushes. Food of silver or variegated foliage prominent stamens female plants. Can be pruned or the holly blue Holly in summer trained to size or butterfly caterpillar, shape leaf litter supports hibernating toads, hedgehogs etc.
Laburnum x watereri Vossii 7m x 5m Long hanging Yellow flowers in Pods with black racemes of yellow profusion in spring pea-shaped fruits pea flowers Poisonous
Liquidambar styraciflua 16m x 8m Palmate leaves with Inconspicuous For the larger Sweet Gum 3 - 5 lobes. green flowers garden. Full sun to Excellent orange light shade red autumn colour
Liriodendron tulipifera 10m x Grey green leaves, Fragrant green and Dome-shaped For the larger aureomarginata 2.5m 3 lobed, central yellow tulip shaped calyces garden but Tulip Tree lobe truncated flowers. May take Aureomarginata 20 years to flower much smaller.
Magnolia grandiflora 8m x 4m Large elliptic glossy Creamy - white Green pods 10cm Can be grown as green leaves with flowers up to 25cm long after flowering free-standing tree felted brown across in summer or trained against a undersides and early autumn house wall
Magnolia kobus Leonard 9m x 8m Small dark green Fragrant multi Ideally plant where Messel Star Magnolia elliptic leaves, -petalled flowers, early morning sun some yellow deep pink in bud cannot damage the autumn colour opening to lilac flowers on frosty mornings
2 Tree Height x Foliage & bark Flowers Fruit Other Points of Wildlife friendly as Spread note recommended by after 20 the Wildlife Trust & years or at RSPB maturity
Magnolia soulangeana 10m x 8m Large light grey White/pale pink Small green seed Ideally plant where Tulip Magnolia green elliptic leaves open goblet shaped capsules early morning sun flowers cannot damage the flowers on frosty mornings
Magnolia brooklynensis 12m x 9m Elliptic green leaves Lemon-yellow Upright conical to Yellow Bird turn yellow in goblet shaped pyramidal tree. autumn flowers in April May Slightly alkaline to acid soils. Full sun or part shade
Malus 8m x 6m Purple red to Wine red to purple Small wine-red Many named Purple foliage varieties but many purple-bronze red flowers in fruits in autumn varieties. Prefers Crab Apple varieties foliage profusion in mid full sun smaller spring Of garden origin
Malus 8m x 6m Green, ovate, White, pink-white or Green to yellow Many named Early nectar and Green leaved varieties but many toothed. Some bi-coloured flowers green fruits of varieties. Prefers pollen for bees. Crab Apple varieties yellow autumn in a massed display limited appeal full sun Fieldfares, Song- smaller colour. in spring Some varieties of thrushes, Blackbird native species & redwing feed on crab apples
Paulownia tomentosa 14m x 7m Large 3-5 lobed Large pyramid- Oval capsules with For larger gardens. Foxglove Tree leaves 20-25cm shaped panicles winged seeds Growth curbed by long with purple thin soils - ie over foxglove-like bedrock in Mendips flowers in spring
Prunus avium 15 x 12m Light greyish green Single white flowers Small red-black Only suitable for Early pollen and Wild cherry oval leaves to 12cm to 4cm across in round fruits late larger gardens. nectar for bees, long. Good yellow late spring summer - early fruits eaten by autumn colour autumn blackbirds & song- thrushes
Prunus serrulata Amanogawa 6m x 2m Green oval leaves Large clusters of Insignificant Fastigate /columnar Upright Cherry 8cm long, toothed semidouble pale tree pink flowers in spring
Weeping Cherries 5m x 8m Light to mid green, Single, double, Insignificant NB These cherries Eg: Prunus Cheal’s Weeping ovate, may be white rose-pink in can get quite wide slightly toothed profusion mid to late spring
Prunus serrula Tibetica 7m x 4m Light green, ovate Insignificant Small round black Position where can Tibetan Cherry leaves 5cm long cherries enjoy bark in winter Beautiful shining mahogany bark
Early flowering cherries 9m x 7m Green, ovate, White, pink or Insignificant Small bushy tree Eg: Prunus serrulata Okame Okame 6m toothed leaves to purple pink on bare x 2.5m 10cm long branches in profusion late winter to early spring
Large flowering cherries 8m x 8m Ovate, toothed Dark pink, white, Insignificant Vase-like habit Eg: Prunus Kanzan leaves. Some cream, double or Prefers full sun to varieties have single in profusion light shade coppery-red young in late spring foliage and good autumn colour
Prunus cerasifera Nigra 8m x 5m Long dark purple to Masses of single or Small round dark Needs full sun to Plum Tree purple black leaves double pink or purple to purple maintain purple with some flame white flowers on black fruits in foliage colour. red autumn colour bare branches in autumn spring
Prunus padus 12 x 6m Oval dark green Fragrant white Small, round, bitter Suitable for larger Early pollen and Bird cherry leaves with dull, racemes of flowers black cherries gardens. Good nectar for bees, hairy undersides in late spring/early spring display bitter cherries eaten summer by blackbirds & song-thrushes
Prunus subhirtella 7m x 7m Small, ovate, green Pale pink flowers in Insignificant Autumnalis Rosea but good autumn winter when mild colour weather allows
3 Tree Height x Foliage & bark Flowers Fruit Other Points of Wildlife friendly as Spread note recommended by after 20 the Wildlife Trust & years or at RSPB maturity
Prunus spinosa Up to 6m Broad oval leaves Creamy white Edible bluish black Thorny hedging Early nectar and Blackthorn or Sloe with a serrated flowers appear fruits in autumn plant. Wood used pollen plant for edge. Blackish before the leaves in which can be used for walking sticks. bees. Foliage plant bark& dense stiff spring to make sloe gin for moth caterpillars spiny branches and birds nesting.
Pyrus salicifolia pendula 8m x 6m Narrow lanceolate, Clusters of white, Small inedible Weeping willow-leaved pear silvery leaves single, cup-shaped pears florets
Salix caprea 10m tall Leaves ovate, Catkins short, All species of Salix Early catkins There are other species and downy at first almost stalkless in need wet/marshy support bees, moth cultivars available becoming hairless March april environments and caterpillars eg Goat Willow or Pussy Willow should not be sallow kitten, planted close to clearwings, Purple buildings Emperor butterfly
Sambucus nigra 6 x 5m Green pinnate Clusters of white Shiny black fruits in Berries Ornamental cultivars with cut leaves with 5-7 flowers with a autumn used for leaves or purple foliage leaflets musky scent - used wine making Elder for making cordial Purple leaved forms have pink flowers
Sorbus aucuparia 10m x 5m Pinnate with 11-15 Clusters of fluffy Clusters of red fruit Fast growing, may Rowan or Mountain Ash leaflets. Dark green, white flowers in late enjoyed by birds need annual good orange-red spring, early pruning to keep autumn colours summer under control in small gardens Native species
Sorbus cashmiriana 5-6m Pinnate with 9-11 Hanging clusters of White/pink berries Graceful narrow leaflets. Grey-green white flowers up to late autumn specimens with good yellow 12cm across in late autumn colour spring
Sorbus hupehensis 10m x 5m Pinnate, grey-green White flower Hanging clusters of with 11-17 oblong clusters in early white, globe - leaflets summer shaped fruits in autumn
Sorbus Joseph Rock 10m x 5m Pinnate, 9-11 White flower Hanging clusters of Pyramidal shape leaflets, Some clusters in mid yellow orange fruits Needs rich deep yellow-orange tints spring to early in autumn loam to thrive. in autumn summer Becomes stunted on poor soils
Sorbus sargentiana 10m x 5m Pinnate with 11-15 Clusters of fluffy Red to orange fruits dark green white flowers in late lanceolate leaflets. spring, early Spectacular orange summer to orange red autumn colours
Stuartia pseudocamellia 10m x 5m Ovate, grey-green, Cup-shaped pure Insignificant Must have an acid slightly toothed white flowers 5cm soil. Vulnerable to turning orange red across mid-late sun scorch in autumn summer. Incurved petals with jagged margins & silky texture.
Styrax japonica 6m x 4m Hanging white, five- Light green, oval Small oval dark Light shade. Japanese Snowbell petalled snowdrop- leaves with a grey green fruits hanging like flowers in early sheen. Yellow from undersides of summer autumn colours branches in early autumn
Taxus bacchata Fastigiata 8m x 2.5m Dark green, needle Insignificant Small red berries - Slim conical conifer. Yew like leaves. highly poisonous if Slow growing. Full Evergreen eaten sun, part shade Cultivar of the Irish Yew
4 Tree Height x Foliage & bark Flowers Fruit Other Points of Wildlife friendly as Spread note recommended by after 20 the Wildlife Trust & years or at RSPB maturity
Fruit Trees
Apples and Pears - many Can be Not significant Pinkish-white No apple or pear Important to select varieties available grown as blossom in spring is completely self a variety grown on standards, compatible so a dwarfing half more than one rootstock so that standards, cultivar should be the tree does not bush, grown Edible grow too big. cordon, apples or pears late step-overs, summer onwards fan trained
Cherry - Sweet Usually Not significant Flowers may be Most sweet Derived from grown fan- susceptible to frost cherries are self- Prunus avium - trained on damage compatible. see above. Very a high wall Cherries in late vigorous - not but can be summer suitable for small a standard gardens or half- standard if room
Ficus carica - Brown Turkey Usually Large, palmate Pale green, Large, green Needs a warm Figs grown fan- leaves to 25cm insignificant. skinned fruits sunny position for trained on long. Light green stems becoming purple fruits to ripen. a wall but spread and arch black and wrinkled can be with age needing when ripe. Two grown as a support crops pa. but only small tree one ripens in UK Figs will develop without fertilisation so single trees can be grown
Morus nigra 8 x 10m Ovate, lobed or Small insignificant Blackberry shaped, Wide spreading tree Mulberries unloved grey-green catkins in spring dark-red juicy Morus alba, white coarse leaves. edible fruits or silkworm Good yellow mulberry has more autumn colour delicate leaves and pale pink fruit which is edible but not tasty
Peaches, and Nectarines Can be Not significant Blossom develops Self compatible so Need stop be grown in early and needs to single trees can be planted in a warm, the open be protected planted sunny frost free with against frost. position. Peach leaf protection curl is a problem from frost when grown but better outside grown under glass
Plums, Damsons and Gages 5-10m in Not significant Blossom in spring Some cultivars are Various pests and height. self-compatible. diseases. Grown as Edible, many standards varieties available or half standards, bush or fan trained on a wall
Main Source: Brian Davis The Gardener’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs pub.1987
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