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.

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)