RHS Award of Garden Merit

Prunus padus Watereri

Bird Cherry Tree

Common Name: Bird Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus Padus 'Watereri'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to May/Creamy white flowersHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 12m x 6mSpecial features: Yellow autumnal tints.A very striking tree when in full bloom, with its long, slender racemes of fragrant creamy white flowers in late April and May. The racemes are horizontal or pendulous, and can be as much as 20cm in length. It is a strong and tall tree, and makes an imposing specimen in the garden. This is a superb tree for an avenue, or for planting in groups in large scale landscape planting

Prunus sargentii

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Sargent's Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus sargentiiSoil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Spring/Single bowl-shaped, pale pink flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 4mSpecial features: Brilliant orange and red foliage in early autumn (Deciduous)Prunus sargentii is a beautiful flowering cherry tree which features chestnut brown bark and single, pale pink flowers in mid spring. The young foliage is bronze-red which really complients the pretty pink blossom. By summer, the leaves are mid-green and come autumn they fade to a crisp yellow and burnt orange. The tree has a spreading habit and a fairly rounded crown.

Prunus Shirofugen

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Shirofugen'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 7m x 7mSpecial features: Flowers change colour as the season goes on.Prunus 'Shirofugen' is a late-flowering cherry, often the last to bloom, occasionally lasting into early June. Double white flowers open from pink buds and become purplish-pink as they fade. The young leaves are copper coloured, becoming green with age and turning orange-red in autumn. A great choice for medium sized gardens, this attractive flowering cherry has a spreading habit and an 'umbrella-like' crown.

Prunus Shirotae

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Shirotae' (aka Prunus 'Mount Fuji')Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to May/Semi-double snowy white flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 3.5m x 5mSpecial features: Fragrant flowers in mid-springLight green new foliage darkens as it matures before turning fiery shades of orange and red in autumn. This tree has slightly curved branches that are shrouded with cup-shaped, scented white flowers in mid-spring. This tree has a uniquely beautiful shape as its spreading branches reach out to form an almost 'flat topped' crown. The 'Shirotae' is a good tree for a small to medium sized garden and will become a real focal feature of your garden.

Prunus Shogetsu

Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Shogetsu' (Prunus 'Longpipes')Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to May/Pink in bud, pure white flowerHardiness: Fully hardyEventual Height/spread: 4m x 6mSpecial features: Semi-double flowers, pink tinged in bud, later opening pure white.Prunus Shogetsu, the Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry Tree, is a spectacle in any garden space. This captivating specimen is best known for its late spring display - abundant soft pink blossoms that vibrantly light up landscapes.The Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry boasts a graceful weeping habit, adding charm to your garden. Its small, dark green leaves provide a subtle backdrop to the profusion of blossoms, creating a balanced contrast.Thriving in well-drained soil under full sun, Prunus Shogetsu is a hardy tree that shows beauty throughout the seasons. With a projected height of 4 metres and a spread of 6 metres in 20 years, it’s a perfect choice for gardens of many different sizes.Whether planted as a standalone spectacle to steal the spotlight or integrated into a mixed planting project, the Blushing Bride Flowering Cherry Tree adds texture and charm to any garden. Prunus Shogetsu promises not just a seasonal display, but a year-round source of colour. 

Add one to your garden today and enjoy its soft pink hues for years to come.

Prunus Tai Haku

Hill Cherry Tree

Common Name: Great White Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus serrulata 'Tai Haku'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April/Large WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 7m x 8mSpecial features: Copper coloured young foliage.Prunus serrulata 'Tai Haku' is a large, robust cherry with clusters of long-stalked, single white flowers in mid-spring. The leaves open deep purple-bronze, becoming green in summer. The tree has a vigourus, spreading habit and is best suited to a medium sized garden. It makes a great garden specimen and is equally suited as a parkland tree.

Prunus Ukon

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Ukon'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/Yellowish WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 6mSpecial features: Red and purple leaves in the autumn before they fallThis is a robust cherry that has creamy, rather yellowish flowers, borne in late April and early May. The flowers may briefly co-exist with the bronzed young spring foliage. There is good red and purple colour in autumn before leaf fall. This tree does well as a specimen, it may also be planted with low growing shrubs. It should reach a height of around 8m with an equivalent spread so ensure you plant it in a position that allows for this growth.

Prunus x blireana

Flowering Plum Tree

Common Name: Flowering Plum TreeLatin Name: Prunus x blireanaSoil: Any well drained soil.Position: Full sunFlowering period/colour: March to April / Semi-double pinkHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m/3mSpecial features: Coppery-purple foliage and semi-double, rosy pink flowers.Prunus x blireana is a beautiful small tree with coppery-purple foliage that perfectly complements the semi-double, rosy pink flowers that appear during March. Prunus × blireana makes an excellent lawn specimen for smaller gardens or where space is limited.

Pyrus Chanticleer

Ornamental Pear Tree

Common Name: Ornamental PearLatin Name: Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April/Pure white flowersHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread in 20 years: 7m/3mSpecial features: Dark green leaves turn marvelous shades of purple and scarlet in autumn.Handsome, narrow, conical tree bearing clusters of white flowers during April followed by glossy green summer foliage that that turns red and maroon through autumn. An excellent choice of tree for medium to large urban gardens and parks as it tolerates pollution well.

Robinia Frisia

False Acacia Tree

Common Name: False Acacia TreeLatin Name: Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia'Soil: Fertile moist, well drained soilsPosition: Full sun, sheltered from strong winds.Flowering period/colour: May and June/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 7m/5mSpecial features: Rich golden yellow foliage.Robinia 'Frisia' is an extremely beautiful tree with yellow foliage which is retained throughout the summer. Before leaf fall the colour develops into a deep orange-yellow which makes a fantastic autumnal focal point. This is a fast-growing tree which has a broadly columnar structure and a bushy habit. The 'Frisia' is often planted next to something purple but also looks good next to dark green. 

Sorbus aria Lutescens

Whitebeam Tree

Common Name: Whitebeam TreeLatin Name: Sorbus aria 'Lutescens'Soil: Most soilsPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 7m/5mSpecial features: Orange and red fruits in the autumn. This Whitebeam is a truly striking tree which will have a real presence in your garden. In spring, the fresh foliage is covered in creamy white down and as the weeks progress the colour changed to a grey-green colour. Pretty white flowers appear in May and these later become scarlet autumn fruits. The leaves turn yellow before falling, at this time the ornamental bark can be admired with its orange and beige tones. This is an outstanding tree which makes the perfect lawn specimen.

Sorbus cashmiriana

Kashmir Rowan Tree

Common Name: Kashmir RowanLatin Name: Sorbus cashmirianaSoil: Tolerates all soilsPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/Soft pink -whiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 6m x 4mSpecial features: large persistent white fruits in autumn.Sorbus cashmiriana is a striking small tree with fine leaflets that give orange or yellow autumn colour. Pink-tinged white flowers in spring are followed by bunches of very large white berries in autumn which are retained well after the leaves have fallen. The tree has an open, spreading habit and a relatively small eventual size, it is the perfect choice for the smaller garden.

Sorbus vilmorinii

Vilmorins Rowan Tree

The Sorbus vilmorinii, known as the Vilmorins Rowan Tree, is a great addition to any gardener’s dream space.

 The Vilmorins Rowan Tree flourishes in well-drained, fertile soil under full sun or partial shade. In spring, flat-headed corymbs of small creamy-white flowers emerge and are later replaced by attractive berries. 

 The berries are one of the best attributes of this tree; they initially have a crimson-pink colour and the colour slowly drains to a near-white colour. Plus, they’re an inviting treat for local wildlife. Before you know it, your garden will be full of the sounds of chirping and buzzing. As autumn rolls around, the foliage transitions from feathery greens to rich reddish hues and purple tones, which add warmth to any landscape.The delicate, fern-like leaves hang gracefully on the arching branches and contrast beautifully with the summer flowers and the autumn berries. 

With an eventual height of 5 metres and a similar spread of 5 metres, the Sorbus vilmorinii invites you to make it a centrepiece of your outdoor haven. With its compact growth habit, it’s a great choice for smaller gardens.

 Enrich the landscape of your outdoor space with the Vilmorins Rowan Tree today! Common Name: Vilmorins Rowan TreeLatin Name: Sorbus vilmoriniiSoil: Most soils except shallow chalkPosition: Full sun or light shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/ WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 5mSpecial features: Small, undemanding tree with great autumnal colours.

Syringa Charles Joly

Lilac Tree

Common Name: Charles Joly Lilac TreeLatin Name: Syringa vulgaris 'Charles Joly'Soil: Well-drained, neutral to alkaline soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May/June, deep red-purpleHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 7m/7mSpecial features: Highly fragrant red-purple flowers in late spring.Syringa 'Charles Joly' is a round-shaped, deciduous shrub or small tree that bears clusters of highly scented red-purple flowers in May-June time and heart shaped, dark green leaves. This traditional Lilac, once established, needs little care and will thrive in most soil types including chalky soils.