RHS Award of Garden Merit

Prunus avium Plena

Wild Cherry Tree

Common Name: Wild Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus avium 'Plena'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 12m x 12mSpecial features: small reddish fruit.Masses of long-lasting, double white blossom appear in mid-spring with the new leaves, followed by small reddish fruit. Dark green leaves turn rich, vibrant red in autumn. Pyramid shape becoming rounded with age makes it an ideal plant for a woodland garden or as an avenue tree.

Prunus Kursar

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Kursar'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Late March/Rich deep pink flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 3mSpecial features: Rich deep pink flowers. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Kursar' is a beautiful small tree for spring and autumn. An array of rich, deep pink flowers appear in late March before the fresh copper leaves. The leaves develop to a mid-green colour and have a final autumnal display of reds and golds. This is a good tree for planting in smaller gardens and is ideal for an urban garden as it is pollution tollerant.

Prunus Nigra

Black Leaved Plum

The Prunus 'Nigra', which is commonly known as the black leaves plum tree, is an outstanding flowering tree. In March, before the leaves appear, the bare branches become wreathed with bowl-shaped pink flowers which cover the tree is a delightful pink cloud. The idyllic flowers are later followed by dark purple leaves which really stand out amongst green trees. The rich purple leaves are complimented by the deep purple stems which look even more appealing during winter when the leaves have fallen. The 'Nigra' will form a rounded tree and it makes the most beautiful lawn specimen. Common Name: Black Leaved PlumLatin Name: Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: March to April/PinkHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 10m/10mSpecial features: One of the best purple leaved trees available

Prunus Okame

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Okame'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: March to early April/Dainty carmine pink flowersHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 4m x 4mSpecial features: Dainty carmine pink flowers. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Okame' is a lovely, small, bushy tree bearing masses of dainty carmine pink flowers through March and early April. Green summer foliage turns rich yellow and red during autumn. This tree makes a superb lawn specimen for small gardens due to its small eventual height and neat growing habit.

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.

Pyrus Pendula

Weeping Pear Tree

Common Name: Weeping Willow Leaved Pear TreeLatin Name: Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula'Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April/White flowersHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread in 20 years: 4m/3mSpecial features: Small deciduous weeping tree with silver willow-like foliage. Also has inedible green fruit.Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula' is an elegant, small tree forming a dense mound of weeping branches. White flowers appear in April followed by attractive, silvery-grey foliage lasting throughout the summer. The pendulous branches form a rounded crown and can be pruned to an umbrella shape if desired. An ideal specimen tree for small urban gardens as it copes well with pollution and alkaline soils.

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak Tree

Common Name: Swamp White Oak Tree Latin Name: Quercus bicolor Soil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soil Position: Full sun or partial shade Flowering period/colour: May to June/Insignificant male and female flowers in separate trees Hardiness: Fully hardy Eventual height/spread: 12m/10m Special features: Dark green leaves with silvery-white undersides The ‘Quercus bicolor’ has wonderful foliage that is dark and glossy green on the top and silvey-white on the undersides. The leaves cover this majestic tree throughout spring and summer, before turning to shades of yellow and orange before falling. On mature trees, you will also get acorns in autumn. This tree will grow to be a real garden feature and it makes a great shade tree when mature, too.  

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)

Quercus palustris

Pin Oak Tree

Common Name: Pin Oak TreeLatin Name: Quercus palustrisSoil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May to June/Male catkins and insignificant female flowers in springHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 9m/5mSpecial features: Unusual deeply lobed, bright green, summer leaves which turn shades of orange and red in autumn. Quercus palustris is a medium sized, deciduous tree first introduced to the UK from North America in the early 1800's. It forms a dense crown with elegant slender branches with unusual deeply lobed, bright green, summer leaves which turn shades of orange and red in autumn. The acorns are held on the tree for 2 years while they mature and are more than half covered by their cups. Although this tree prefers free draining soils it will tolerate heavy clay and once established will also tolerate moderate drought conditions.

Quercus robur

English Oak Tree

Common Name: English Oak TreeLatin Name: Quercus roburSoil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Spring/ Yellow-greenHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 15m/ 10mSpecial features: Majestic spreading canopy. Distinctive lobed leaves. Acorns in autumn. Wildlife habitat.The English Oak Tree (Quercus robur) is a quintessential piece in any British garden. Timeless and distinct, it stands tall with its spreading canopy and lobed leaves. Thriving in well-drained soil and adaptable to a wide range of conditions, the English Oak Tree is equally comfortable in full sun or partial shade. In spring, it graces your garden with inconspicuous yellow-green flowers, adding a pop of colour to your landscape.As the seasons progress, the English Oak Tree undergoes a transformation. In summer, its lush green foliage provides shade and shelter, creating a vibrant space for wildlife. The shade also acts as the perfect place to relax on hot summer’s days.

In autumn, the tree bears acorns, which not only add visual interest but also serve as a vital food source for local wildlife.With a projected height of 15 metres and a spread of 10 metres in 20 years, the English Oak Tree is a striking presence in any landscape. 

Whether planted as a standalone specimen to provide shade and shelter, or incorporated into a mixed planting project to enhance biodiversity, it will be a cherished and enduring feature of your garden for generations to come.

Get an English Oak Tree today and watch it transform the character of your garden.

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 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.

Syringa Katherine Havemeyer

Lilac Tree

Common Name: Lilac Katherine HavemeyerLatin Name: Syringa vulgaris 'Katherine Havemeyer'Soil: Fertile but well drained. Prefers neutral- alkaline soilPosition: Full sunHardiness: Fully hardyFlowering period: May/JuneFlowering colour: LavenderEventual height/spread after 20 years: 4m/4m The ‘Katherine Havemeyer’ is one of the most popular purple lilac trees. It features clusters of highly-scented lavender coloured flowers which fade to pale lilac in mid-summer. The leaves are a pretty heart shape and are bold green in colour. A very attractive tree which is suitable for smaller gardens as a specimen tree. For larger gardens this tree can be placed at the back of a sunny border where it will compliment other small trees and large shrubs. 

Syringa Krasavitsa Moskvy

Common Lilac Beauty of Moscow

Common Name: Common Lilac Beauty of MoscowLatin Name: Syringa vulgaris 'Krasavitsa Moskvy'Soil: Medium moisture, well-drained. Acid, alkaline or neutral.Position: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to MayHardiness: Fully hardy in the severest European climates (to below -20°C).Height and spread in 20-50 years: 2.5m-3.5m/2mSpecial features: Deciduous upright multi-stemmed shrub with fragrant showy flowers in white with pink blush. RHS Award of Garden Merit.Syringa vulgaris is a useful feature shrub suitable for a range of garden uses. It makes a fine specimen shrub in a lawn or border, and can also be used as a hedge plant. Mature height is 2.5m to 3.5m and the plants also reach 2m in width. This variety produces a fine show of flowers in April or May, and the flowers show good form as a cut flower for use indoors. The flowering heads each carry a large cluster of small double white flowers with a pink blush. The attractive fragrance is also highly prized and a great asset in the garden. The leaves are heart-shaped and are also an attractive feature in their own right. Syringa vulgaris will grow well in acid, alkali or neutral soils and can thrive in full sun or partial shade. It will also tolerate deer or heavy clay soil, and so is a really adaptable specimen. This is a low maintenance shrub, requiring little pruning or attention of any kind. This is a suckering shrub, so it can be invasive in a garden situation. One way to deal with this problem is to grow it in a lawn, where suckers will be controlled by mowing in the immediate area. This variety was developed in Russia in 1943 and the variety name “Krasavitsa Moskvy” translates into the English-language name “Beauty of Moscow”. This variety carries an RHS Award of Garden Merit, indicating that it is a reliable performer in the garden.  

Syringa Madame Lemoine

Lilac Tree

Common Name: Madame Lemoine LilacLatin Name: Syringa vulgaris ‘Madame Lemoine’Soil: Fertile, well drained. Position: Full sunHardiness: Fully hardyFlowering period: May/JuneFlowering colour: WhiteEventual height/spread after 20 years: 5m/4m This pretty white lilac boasts dense clusters of fragrant, double-white flowers which emerge in May-June. Crisp, heart-shaped leaves contrast with the snow-like floral display. Possible uses for this tree include a flowering hedge tree or a featured garden tree. This tree is also a good choice for a sensory garden due to its attractive fragrance, which also appeals to wildlife.

Tilia platyphyllos

Broad Leaved Lime Tree

Common Name: Broad Leaved LimeLatin Name: Tilia platyphyllosSoil: Moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: July to August/White flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 30m+/15mSpecial features: Possibly the UK's tallest native tree.Handsome native tree with large pale to mid-green heart-shaped leaves. This tree has a spreading, bushy canopy which will become home to a whole host of wildlife. The yellow-white flowers, which are very attractive to bees, appear in June and July. As the tree ages, the dark grey bark becomes deeply fissured and marked which gives the tree a wonderful character. This lime tree is often used in parkland planting and it also makes a fantastic windbreak. Not suitable for dry sites, but can thrive on poorly drained soil. Possibly the tallest deciduous tree in Britain.