Ornamental Trees A-C

Acacia bailyana Purpurea

Cootamundra Wattle Tree

Common Name: Cootamundra WattleLatin Name: Acacia bailyana 'Purpurea'Soil: Any free draining soil.Position: Full sunHardiness: Half hardy. May need protection in very cold winters.Flowering Period: Late winter into springFlowering Colour: Small, yellow, fluffy ballsEventual Height/Spread: 7m / 4mSpecial features: A striking evergreen with feathery purple foliage.The Acacia bailyana 'Purpurea' is an eye-catching Acacia which boasts purple-tinged foliage; the stems are also purple, sometimes with a red flush, and the feathery leaves later turn to a grey-green colour once they have further developed. The contrast of the old and new foliage makes this a highly attractive ornamental tree. The 'Cootamundra Wattle', as it is commonly called, also offers winter interest with buttery-yellow flowers that appear in late winter and last into spring; the fluffy flowers are spherical in shape and they sit nestled amongst the winter foliage. This is the perfect tree for a sunny spot in the garden and it looks beautiful next to its more verdant relative, the Acacia dealbata, particularly when planted alternately. This Australian native is half-hardy, so it will need some protection in exposed sites; an ideal situation would be to plant it in a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall for optimum protection.

Acacia dealbata

Mimosa Tree

Acacia dealbata provides a vibrant burst of sunshine during the winter months as its highly distinctive flowers appear in January. The flowers resemble small, fluffy spheres and they are golden yellow in colour; they are highly fragrant and their sweet scent can be a real treat for the senses over the winter months. In fact, the essence of the flowers, called ‘cassie’, is used in perfumes and fragrances around the world. Aside from human uses, bees and insects love the Mimosa flowers too, and it’s a valuable source of late winter fuel for the bees in particular. Aside from the floral interest, the foliage offers a healthy dose of year-round colour. The pinnate leaves are large with feathery leaflets: the foliage colour is a glaucous blue-green, but can sometimes be silvery green. The leaves make the perfect foil for the vibrant winter flowers. In terms of its habit, the Acacia dealbata will grow to have widely spaced branches and it will become a small-medium sized tree. This Australian native is half-hardy, so it will need some protection in exposed sites. An ideal situation would be to plant it in a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall for optimum protection. If you want a planting partner, we would recommend the Eucalyptus Gunnii as it also has glaucous blue foliage. Equally, the Cytisus Battandieri works really well due to its vivid floral summer display, as you get bright yellow flowers in winter from the Acacia and vibrant yellow flowers in summer from the Cytisus. Common Name: Mimosa or Silver WattleLatin Name: Acacia dealbataSoil: Any free draining soil.Position: Full sunHardiness: Half hardy. May need protection in very cold winters.Flowering Period: Late winter into springFlowering Colour: Small, yellow , fluffy ballsEventual Height/Spread: 8m (26ft) / 4m (14ft)Special features: An interesting small evergreen tree with small, yellow , fluffy balls

Acer Brilliantissimum

Shrimp

Acer 'Brilliantissimum' is a striking sycamore tree that is ideal for smaller gardens. Pink young foliage that matures to yellow, then green. Attractive rounded habit: a great specimen tree. The Acer 'Brilliantissimum' is a truly eye-catching tree that offers a beautiful array of foliage colour. The leaves open shrimp pink in spring and gradually mature to a bronzed yellow over spring. Spring also sees the arrival of small yellow-green flowers, which work well against the colourful foliage.  In summer, the leaves put on their penultimate colour show as they mature to a darker green, with yellow marbling. Late summer sees the arrival of pretty clusters of red, winged fruits. One of the biggest benefits of planting this tree is its ability to add a real splash of colour in early spring and then changing interest over summer. It grows to have a beautifully rounded crown that is densely packed with the vivid leaves. The symmetrical shape of this tree makes it a great specimen and its slow growth rate and compact eventual size make it perfect for smaller spaces. This tree will do well in a range of soil types, but you should avoid planting it in exposed sites in order to protect the foliage from strong winds. This versatile tree looks particularly eye-catching when planting alongside the equally colourful Acer 'Carnival': the variegated leaves of the carnival work well with the changing colours of the 'Brilliantissimum'. For a contrasting genus, try the Catalpa ‘Aurea’: the large and beautifully bright leaves of the Catalpa sit perfectly against the ‘Brilliantissimum’. Common Name: Shrimp-Leaved SycamoreLatin Name: Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum'Soil: Any good, moist, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Spring/ Yellow-greenHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 3m/3mSpecial features: Striking shrimp-pink new leaves.

Acer capillipes

Snake

Common Name: Snake-bark MapleLatin Name: Acer capillipesSoil: Moist but well drained.Position: Fertile/Partial shade    Hardiness: Fully hardyFlowering period: SummerFlowering colour: YellowEventual height/spread after 20 years: 5m/4mThe Acer capillipes is a handsome tree which is known for its distinctive striated bark, which gave it the common name of ‘Snake bark’. Three-lobed, vivid green leaves appear in spring which later change into a fiery red-orange colour in autumn. Small yellow flowers also appear in spring, which then ripen into yellow and pink fruits in summer. The structure of this majestic tree is also noteworthy; the branches gently arch over as it matures and the tree itself has a lovely spreading habit.

Acer Crimson King

Norway Maple Tree

The Acer Crimson King boasts deep red-purple, star-shaped leaves that have a great autumn colour. This is a fast-growing tree that is suitable for most soils, including clay. A fantastic ornamental tree. If you want a tree that will add a real splash of colour to your garden, the deservedly popular Acer Crimson King is for you. The leaves are large in size and crimson-purple in colour: they have five lobes and they curl in slightly at their edges. They are complimented by lemon yellow spring flowers, which look lovely against the bold colour of the leaves. The leaves hold their striking colour through spring and summer, before putting on a final show in autumn when they turn to crisp shades of red, orange and brown. This is the perfect ornamental tree for a medium-large sized garden and, as it’s a fairly fast grower, it will soon become established in your garden. When mature, this will be a broad-headed and rounded garden tree, which looks great as an ornamental specimen. It’s a hardy and tolerant tree and it will do well in a range of sites, including costal and urban. The bold leaf colour and large leaf size makes the ‘Crimson King’ a fantastic screen, too. In terms of a planting partner, we would recommend the Acer 'Princeton Gold': the glowing golden leaves of the ‘Princeton Gold’ contrast beautifully with the rich leaves of the ‘Crimson King’. Common Name: Norway Maple TreeLatin Name: Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drainedPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/YellowHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 7m x 5mSpecial features: Beetroot-red leaves turning red, brown and orange in autumn

Acer Dissectum

Japanese Maple Tree

Common Name: Japanese MapleLatin Name: Acer palmatum var. dissectumSoil: Moist, well drained, fertile soilPosition: Full sun or partial Shade, Needs a position sheltered from cold winds and late frostsHardiness: Frost hardy down to -15°CEventual Height/Spread: 1.5m x 1.5mSpecial features: A slow grower, with a rather elegant, finely textured appearance.Acer palamatum 'Disectum' is a slow-growing shrub which, with age, forms a rounded mushroom shape. It has very finely divided green leaves that turn golden yellow before dropping in the autumn. This Japanese maple makes a beautiful specimen plant in small gardens and can be successfully grown in large containers. This low-maintenance variety does not benefit from regular pruning as it prefers to be left alone.

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.

Acer October Glory

Red Maple Tree

Common Name: Red Canadian Maple TreeLatin Name: Acer rubrum 'October Glory'Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drainedPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/RedHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 10 years: 6m x 4m (Eventual height 15m)Special features: A reliable American specimen with spectacular autumn colours. Acer rubrum 'October Glory' is a dense round-headed tree with glossy green summer leaves which turn brilliant red in early autumn and are held for several weeks. This tree is best planted in neutral to acid soil and sheltered from strong winds to ensure the most vibrant autumn colours are produced. The 'October Glory' is a deciduous tree.

Acer platanoides

Norway Maple Tree

Common Name: Norway Maple TreeLatin Name: Acer platanoidesSoil: Any good soil, including chalk soil.Hardiness: Very hardyEventual height/spread: 12m x 8mSpecial Features: Large, fast growing native tree with great autumn colour. The Acer platanoides is a fast growing tree with a spreading habit. It features large green glossy oval leaves whose lobes are tipped with fine points. Bright, small green-yellow flowers appear before the leaves in spring. The 'Norway Maple' is native to Europe and this deciduous tree has a height and spread in 20 years of 12m/8m.

Acer Prinz Handjery

Sycamore Tree

Common Name: Sycamore 'Prinz Handjery' Latin Name: Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' Soil: Any good, moist, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 4.5m/4.5mSpecial features: Foliage that changes colour as it maturesThe 'Prinz Handjery' is very much like the popular Acer Brilliantissimum, but it is a little more open in habit and the leaf colour lasts slightly longer. New foliage starts as a shrimp pink colour and then it develops to a pink-bronze before turning green in summer. The undersides of the leaves are also of interest as these are purple, adding more colour to this wonderful tree. Adding to this, in summer long yellow flowers appear and these later become winged red fruits by autumn. The tree itself will grow to have a rounded habit and it makes a great ornamental specimen.

Acer rubrum Sun Valley

Red Maple Tree

Common Name: Red mapleLatin Name: Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley'Soil: Medium to wet, well-drained soil. Slight preference for acid soil.Position: Full sun/partial shade. Flowering period/colour: March/redHardiness: Fully hardy in the severest European climates (to below -20°C).Height and spread in 20-50 years: 6m-10m/4.5m-7.5mSpecial features: Bright red autumn colour. Tolerates wet soil. Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley' is a fine, medium-sized maple tree that produces a blaze of red colour in autumn. No fruit is produced, which can be an advantage in areas where the usual winged maple fruit would spread around, and have to be cleared up. The species name ‘rubrum’ means red, and this tree does indeed produce a very striking show of red colour to brighten up any garden. The genus name ‘Acer’ indicates that this tree is a maple, and maple trees are well known as fine specimen trees. They have a leaf with a characteristic shape, as seen on the Canadian flag, and a statuestque figure. Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley' is a medium-sized variety, which is useful for locations of more restricted size. Acer rubrum 'Sun Valley' is a male tree resulting from a cross between Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset' and Acer rubrum 'Autum Flame'. It has a particulary symmetrical ovate crown. Average growth in good conditions takes it to 6.4m height in the first ten years, finally maturing to 10m.

Acer Rufinerve

Snake

Common Name: Grey snake bark maple Latin Name: Acer Rufinerve Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drainedPosition: Partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April/ yellowHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/ spread in 20 years: 7m x 5mSpecial features: Distinctive snake bark and bold autumn colour In spring the three-lobed leaves of this handsome tree have a glaucous tint to them and they mature to a healthy, bright green by summer. Summer also sees the arrival of erect racemes of small yellow flowers and these turn to winged seed pods by autumn. In autumn this tree really puts on a show: the leaves turn to glowing shades of deep red and crisp yellow before falling. Even in winter this tree still has interest as the white-striped branches can be admired fully in a sleeping winter garden. This Acer will become a real feature of a medium-large sized garden and we love it as an ornamental specimen.

Acer Sango

Kaku

Common Name: Coral Bark MapleLatin Name: Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'Soil: Moist, well drained, fertile soilPosition: A sheltered spot with partial Shade,Hardiness: Frost hardy down to -15°CEventual height/spread: 6m x 3mSpecial features: Soft green leaves in summer turning yellow in autumn and red shoots sprouting in late winter.The Acer palmatum 'Sango- kaku' is a beautiful Japanese Maple tree that has an all year round interest. In the autumn its foliage turns from a soft green colour then to a golden-yellow colour.  As the common name suggests, in the winter this tree has stunning vibrant coral red bark which really stands out in a winter garden.

Acer Trompenburg

Japanese Maple

Common Name: Japanese mapleLatin Name: Acer plamatum 'Trompenburg'Soil: Moist, well drained, fertile soilPosition: Full sun or partial Shade,Hardiness: Frost hardy down to -15°CEventual height/spread: 4m x 4mSpecial features: 7-9 lobed hand like leaves with brilliant autumn colours.The Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' is a a deciduous tree with rounded, deep-cut leaves which are said to resemble a hand. The foliage emerges with a beautiful wine- red colour, which then develops to a mid-green come summer, before a final autumnal burst of orange and red. This Japanese maple is an ideal ornamental tree for a garden that has plenty of space so the tree can be left to thrive and spread.

Aesculus hippocastanum

Horse Chestnut Tree

Common Name: Horse ChestnutLatin Name: Aesculus hippocastanumSoil: Most soil typesPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May to June/Large whiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 9m/4mSpecial features: Conkers form in prickly outer casings.Aesculus hippocastanum is a very large specimen tree with an abundance of attractive qualities. It will grow in any soil and is ideal for large gardens and public spaces, such as parks. This deciduous tree is commonly known as the 'Horse Chestnut' tree and it has wonderful white scented flowers at the end of spring, running into early summer, when it is definitely at its best.  In autumn the flowers are followed by masses of conkers inside their spiny shells.

Aesculus x carnea Briotii

Red Horse Chestnut Tree

Common Name: Red Horse Chestnut TreeLatin Name: Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii'Soil: Most soil typesPosition: Full sun or partial shade.Flowering period/colour: May/ Large RedHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 15m/10mSpecial features: conkers form in prickly outer casings.The Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii' is a very large deciduous tree with handsome leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Upright heads of red flowers appear during May that later form smooth-coated 'conker' fruits encased in a prickly outer casing; these fall in the autumn. This slow-growing tree is very useful for large gardens and parks.

Alnus cordata

Italian Alder Tree

Common Name: Italian Alder TreeLatin Name: Alnus cordataSoil: Suitable for all soil typesPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Early Spring/ Greenish yellow catkinsHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 14m/6mSpecial features: Dense, fast-growing deciduous plant with glossy bright green heart shaped leaves.The Italian Alder is a deciduous conical shaped tree. This tree has often been compared in looks to a Pear tree, rather than to its sister species, because it has a far denser crown than other Alders and it also has bright green shiny leaves. The bark is brownish grey and smooth in spite of being 'blistered'. There are greenish yellow catkins in early spring. This handsome tree also attracts wildlife and can tolerate wet conditions.

Alnus Imperialis

Alder Tree

Common Name: Alder TreeLatin Name: Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis'Soil: Suitable for all soil types except very chalky soils and particularly useful in damp, boggy sites.Position: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/ colour: March/ yellow catkinsHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 7m/3mSpecial features: Deeply and finely cut mid green leaves.Alnus 'Imperialis' is a medium sized graceful, erect tree with interesting deeply cut, green leaves. This deciduous tree is can be planted as a single specimen or planted with others to for an effective windbreak. This alder tree is a useful tree for urban areas due to its high resistance to pollution. Trustpilot

Betula Snow Queen

Snow Queen Birch Tree

Common Name: Snow Queen Birch Tree, Himalayan BirchLatin Name: Betula utilis 'Snow Queen' (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Doorenbos')Soil: Moist but well drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: March/Yellowy-brown male catkinsHardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 20 years: 8m/3mSpecial features: Brilliant white bark which develops earlier than other white stem varieties. Very reliable, hardy and attractive specimen Betula utilis 'Snow Queen' is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree with dazzling, white, peeling bark which appears pale orange when freshly exposed. As with all Birch trees, this tree will be a year round asset to your garden. In spring, vibrant yellow catkins appear amongst the fresh green foliage: the leaves are serrated at the edges and they make the perfect foil for the golden catkins. Come autumn, the leaves turn to deep shades of yellow and buttery bronze before falling. In winter, the true beauty of the bark can be appreciated, and the graceful skeleton of the tree can be fully admired.This tree will become a real feature of your garden and it works well as a garden specimen. Equally, the 'Snow Queen' looks effective when planted in a close group of three. If you want to have contrasting colours in your garden, we would recommend planting the ‘Snow Queen’ alongside ‘Betula Purpurea’, as the rich purple foliage would contrast beautifully with the greens and golds of the 'Snow Queen'.As this tree grows, it will form a narrowly pyramidal shape. The branches maintain their upright habit, meaning that this tree is suitable for the smaller garden. Another key benefit of this birch is the fact that the stunning bark develops on trees that are only three years old, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy the highly ornamental bark. Whilst this tree is somewhat delicate in its appearance, it is a highly robust and hardy tree that is well-suited to a range of locations and conditions.