Ornamental Trees

This tree has been around for millions of years, today this hardy deciduous tree is enjoyed as a landscape plant in many parts of the world. Ginkgo grows slowly to a height of 100 ft (30.5 m), with a width in the range of 20-50 ft (6.1-15.2 m). Male trees tend to grow taller and more upright than the female trees which assume a lower, spreading form. Both exhibit an irregular pattern of branching that is visually appealing. The ginkgo has unique fan-shaped leaves that are 2-3 in (5.1-7.6 cm) long. Leaf veins radiate out from the petiole (leaf stem), and the center of the fan is notched, dividing the leaf into two lobes inspiring the species name biloba. Click the image to read more!

Attractive bright white bark, dark green leaves, which turn yellow in autumn, and yellowy brown catkins in spring. An elegant tree that is perfect for all gardens, large or small. It can be grown as a specimen in the lawn, grown in a group in a woodland or just planted as a feature in the garden border. It grows to a size of about 35 feet. Fast growing, likes full sun or semi shade and fully hardy. The Jacquemontii birch is a remarkable tree in winter when the peeling, paper-thin, dazzling white bark is outstandingly beautiful. Magnificent if three are planted closely together, to give the appearance of a multi-stemmed tree. Click the image to read more!

Persian ironwood is a small deciduous tree that grows 15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m) in height. It is grown for its distinctive spreading habit, its brilliant autumn foliage display, its showy exfoliating bark and its curious late winter ruby red flowers. Cultivated specimens usually have a single, relatively short trunk which forks near the ground, and a rounded crown composed of wide spreading, horizontal, arching, or even drooping branches. Older specimens develop a crossing and overlapping pattern of branches and may have crown spreads greater than their heights. (Wild Persian ironwoods in their native forest habitat have upright, ascending branches.) The leaves of Persian ironwood look much like those of the related American tree, witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - they are alternate, coarsely wavy edge toothed above the middle and 3-5 in (7.6-12.7 cm) long. The lustrous dark green leaves turn bright yellow, orange and purplish red in the fall. Persian ironwood is attractive when not in leaf, too: the smooth bark on the trunk and larger branches peels and flakes, creating a mottled patchwork of green, beige, white and gray blotches. The flowers are a showy curiosity. They have no petals; what you see are spiderlike clusters of ruby red stamens borne along the naked branches in late winter, before the leaves emerge. Several cultivars are available. 'Pendula' gets only 5 ft (1.5 m) tall and 10 ft (3.1 m) wide with spreading branches that droop at the ends. Click the image to read more!

Semi-evergreen small tree which develops a weeping habit.  Shiny green leaves, covered in masses of red berries from autumn through winter.  To 2m in 10 yrs Position Sun or part shade, but flowers/berries best in full sun Soil Any fertile soil Hardiness Fully hardy Best features Semi-evergreen small tree (keeps it's leaves in mild winters) which develops a weeping habit.  Shiny green leaves, covered in masses of red berries from autumn through winter. Ideal for small gardens. Pretty, small white flowers in June followed by showy, bright red, autumn berries. This upright evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub forms a lovely tree with weeping branches when grown as a standard. Like most Cotoneasters, it can tolerant a wide range of conditions including dry soil. Click the image to read more!

A popular thorny tree with mid-green, three- to five-lobed leaves and a profusion of double, dark pink flowers in late spring. It is an ideal plant for all conditions, as it is tough enough to stand exposed sites, city pollution and even costal gardens, while also have ornamental value in the garden. A decidious shrub growing to 6m by 6m at a medium rate. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Midges. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Click the image to read more!

The European beech, also known as The Common Beech, it is a large deciduous tree that can reach 100 ft (30.5 m) in height. Most specimens in cultivation are 40-60 ft (12.2-18.3 m) tall with a spread of 30-40 ft (9.1-12.2 m). European beech has a rounded spreading crown and often branches close to the ground. European beech has smooth gray bark and toothed, elliptic leaves, 2-4 in (5.1-10.2 cm) long. The foliage of European beech is shiny dark green, turning rich golden copper in fall. The fruits are 1 in (2.5 cm) woody capsules covered with soft spines. At maturity, they split open in four sections to reveal two oily triangular beechnuts. European beech can be distinguished from American beech (Fagus grandifolia) by its leaves, which have just 5-9 pairs of veins compared to American beech's 9-15 pairs. Click the image to read more!

Also known as the European White Birch, this beautiful tree is a slender with a pyramid shaped or spreading crown of long, drooping branches. The weeping birch develops a dense mass of growth which clusters at the top of the trunk to form a dome or mushroom-shaped tree with long, pendent, slender branches that often reach the ground. In its early stages it may need some formative pruning to transform an untidy tangle into a graceful cascade of foliage. Growth can be rapid, up to 90cm (3ft) per year while young. It makes a fine specimen tree on a lawn, casting only light shade and sufficiently airy for bulbs to grow at its foot. The graceful, and relatively short-lived, European white birch is grown as a specimen for its attractive papery white bark, drooping (in some cultivars) branches, handsome male catkins and Autumn colour. Click the image to read more!

Black walnut is a large deciduous tree reaching heights of 70-100 ft (21-30 m) or more. This is a vigorous, spreading tree which can develop a trunk 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) in diameter, and a crown spread of 70 ft (21 m). In forest stands, black walnut usually has a long, clear bole and a small, open crown. When grown out in the open, however, it has a short trunk and a massive spreading crown. Black walnut has large, aromatic, compound leaves, 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) long. It bears rather large oval corrugated nuts that are encased in a thick, fleshy yellow-green hull. It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen in October. Click the image to read more!

A spreading tree with dark green foliage, but it is for the long racemes of golden-yellow flowers for which this tree deserves a place in the garden. In late spring and early summer, pea-like chains of flowers, often up to 60cm (24in) long, are produced, followed by a light crop of poisonous seeds. Easy to train over a pergola or planted as specimen tree in a small garden. Click the image to read more!

An evergreen shrub growing to 3m by 3m. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in October. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Flies and midges. It is noted for attracting wildlife. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution. Click the image to read more!