Christmas Gift Ideas

Photinia Red Robin

Red Robin Tree

Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin' offers year round interest with its vivid red leaves. In spring it has further interest with clusters of white flowers. A fantastic screening tree, hedge or ornamental specimen. If you want unusual foliage, the 'Red Robin' is the perfect choice. The elliptic leaves are finely serrated at their margins and fresh foliage shoots through as a brilliant red colour. The leaves mature to a dark green, but as new foliage continues to emerge red you get a real contrast of colours over the spring period. Mid-spring also sees the arrival of clusters of pretty white flowers, which add further interest. Come autumn, the leaves mature to a bronzed green, which adds great interest over the winter months.   This is a deservedly popular variety and it is largely planted for its versatility. You can plant the 'Red Robin' at the back of a border or you can use it as a screening tree. It can cope with hard pruning, so, when several are planted in a row, you get an informal hedge. You can also clip the 'Red Robin' into a particular shape. In order to get the best leaf colour and the most flowers, ensure you plant this tree in a full sun position with some shelter. Common Name: Red Robin TreeLatin Name: Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'Soil: Fertile well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, Sheltered positionHardiness: Hardy, frost hardy down to -8°CFlowering Period: Mid springFlowering Colour: White flowersEventual Height/Spread: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Evergreen tree with glossy bright red young growth and white flowers in spring.

Prunus serrula Tibetica

Birch Bark Cherry Tree

Prunus serrula 'Tibetica', or Birch Bark Cherry as it is commonly known, is a tree that is prized for its ornamental red-brown bark. This tree also boasts willow-like leaves and small, cherry-like fruits. This really is a fantastic tree for year-round interest, as the deep mahogany-coloured bark glistens throughout all seasons. The bark, which peels away in bands with age, makes a really attractive feature in winter as the deep coppery-brown colour stands out in a sleeping winter garden. This is, of course, a flowering cherry tree, so it does have a blossom is spring: the flowers are small, white in colour and are present in April. The bark is by far the most notable feature of this tree, so this is not the choice if you’re after a profusely flowering tree. The deep green leaves are willow-like and cover the tree in spring, summer, before turning yellow in autumn. Autumn also sees the arrival of the small, cherry-like fruits, which are a great natural bird feeder.   This handsome tree was the worthy winner of the RHS' Award of Garden Merit (AGM) in 2002, but it was first introduced to the UK back in 1908 by Ernest Wilson. Wilson brought the Tibetan cherry tree over from China and it has been a popular choice since its arrival. This tree needs a sunny spot in the garden for it to really thrive. We would strongly recommend planting it alongside the stunning Betula ‘Snow Queen’, so that the glistening white bark of the ‘Snow Queen’ can contrast beautifully with the deep mahogany sheen of the ‘Tibetica’. This tree also works well when planted as a lawn specimen and, to really set it off in winter, you could add lights to the tree and enjoy the glossy bark being highlighted by the twinkle of the lights. Common Name: Birch Bark Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus serrula 'Tibetica'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 4mSpecial features: Beautiful polished mahogany-like bark.

Quercus ilex

Holm Evergreen Oak Tree

The Holm or Evergreen Oak, Quercus ilex, is a resilient and versatile tree for larger garden spaces. Flourishing in well-drained, loamy soil and adaptable to full sun or partial shade, it features glossy evergreen foliage that retains its beauty year-round.During spring, the Evergreen Oak produces inconspicuous yellow-green flowers, adding subtle charm to your outdoor space. It also bears masses of lush, dark green glossy leaves with striking white wooly shoots and yellow catkins in early summer. Plus, the acorns that it produces attract local wildlife. 

This is a slow-growing, very attractive frost hardy tree that, with age, develops large rounded pendulous branches. As the tree matures it also develops beautiful fissured dark grey bark. It can be an ideal specimen tree or a great windbreak as a clipped hedge in coastal areas. Like other Oak Trees, it has a very long lifespan, with some living over 1000 years!Add a touch of greenery and resilience to your garden with this magnificent tree.Common Name: Holm or Evergreen OakLatin Name: Quercus ilexSoil: Most fertile, well drained soilsPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Early summer/Yellow catkinsHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 10m+/6m+Special features: A rounded, tree with lance-shaped, dark green leaves and attractive smooth dark grey bark. (Evergreen)

Acer griseum

Paperbark Maple Tree

Common Name: Paperbark Maple TreeLatin Name: Acer griseumSoil: Moist but well drained soil.Position: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May / YellowHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 5m/5mSpecial features: Orange-brown old bark which peels off to reveal cinnamon coloured new bark. (Deciduous)Acer griseum is a small, broadly columnar tree, with orange-brown old bark which peels off to reveal cinnamon coloured new bark. The smallish lobed leaves turn brilliant shades of orange and red in autumn. Yellow flowers appear in spring followed by relatively large- winged seeds in the autumn. This tree makes a good border or lawn specimen.

Cornus Sibirica

Red

Common Name: Cornus alba 'Sibirica'Latin Name: Red-barked DogwoodSoil: Any moderately fertile soil (Will tolerate wet soils)Position: Full sun to part shadeFlowering period/colour: May and June / small creamy whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2m x 2mSpecial features: Bright, coral-red stems that are revealed when the leaves fall. The 'Sibirica' is the ultimate choice for outstanding winter colour. The luscious leaves are ovate in shape and dark green in colour; they turn to a rich burgundy red in autumn which provides a lovely display. After the leaves fall the 'Sibirica' really comes into its own; its stems glow with a breathtaking coral colour that brings a burst of life to a stark winter garden. In spring, new foliage emerges and the fresh leaves are accompanied by cream flowers, which appear in corymbs. A great choice for adding year-round interest to your garden.

Magnolia grandiflora Exmouth

Magnolia Tree

Common Name: Evergreen Magnolia ExmouthLatin Name: Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth' Soil: Prefers moist, clay soil and either neutral or acidicPosition: Full sunHardiness: Fully hardy and frost hardy down to -18°CFlowering period: Late summer onwardsFlowering colour: CreamEventual height/spread: 10m/10mSpecial features: Evergreen leaves and large creamy white flowers. The 'Exmouth' is a delightful evergreen variety of magnolia which offers interest all year round. The large, glossy leaves are a rich, dark green colour and are oblong shaped; the leaves make the perfect foil for the outstanding floral display which comes from late summer onwards. The flowers are extremely large and can be around 30cm across and these are bowl-shaped and a creamy white colour. The eye-catching flowers carry a sweet scent and are very popular with pollinating insects like bees.

Cornus Baton Rouge

Red

Common Name: Red-barked DogwoodLatin Name: Cornus alba 'Baton rouge'Soil: Any moderately fertile soil (Will tolerate wet soils)Position: Full sun to part shadeFlowering period/colour: May and June / Small creamy whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2m x 2mSpecial features: Bright, coral-red stems that are revealed when the leaves fall.

Cornus Sibirica Variegata

Red

Common Name: Red-barked DogwoodLatin Name: Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata'Soil: Any moderately fertile soil (Will tolerate wet soils)Position: Full sun to part shadeFlowering period/colour: May and June / small creamy whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2m x 2mSpecial features: Bright, coral-red stems that are revealed when the leaves fall. The 'Sibirica variegata' is the ultimate choice for outstanding winter colour. The luscious leaves are ovate in shape and dark green in colour with a lovely variegation, a slight twist on the very popular 'Cornus Sibirca' They turn to a rich burgundy red in autumn which provides a lovely display. After the leaves fall the 'Sibirica variegata' really comes into its own; its stems glow with a breathtaking coral colour that brings a burst of life to a stark winter garden. In spring, new foliage emerges and the fresh leaves are accompanied by cream flowers, which appear in corymbs. A great choice for adding year-round interest to your garden.