Trees

Magnolias are among the most spectacular flowering trees, producing large, sculptural blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple, often before the leaves appear in spring. The effect of a magnolia in full bloom is breathtaking — it's one of the great sights in the British garden. However, the early flowers are vulnerable to late frost, so choose a sheltered, north or west-facing position where the buds won't be damaged by early morning sun on frosty mornings (rapid thawing causes more damage than the frost itself). M. stellata is the best choice for smaller gardens — compact, slow-growing, and reliably flowering. M. × soulangeana is the classic large garden magnolia with goblet-shaped pink-and-white flowers. They prefer neutral to acid soil and dislike chalk. Magnolias resent pruning and have fleshy roots that dislike disturbance, so plant in their permanent position as young as possible. They're slow to establish but worth every year of patience.

Willows are fast-growing, moisture-loving trees that bring movement, sound, and grace to the garden as their branches sway in the breeze. The classic weeping willow (S. × sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma') is magnificent but far too large for most gardens — it reaches 15–20 metres and its roots aggressively seek out drains and foundations. For smaller spaces, consider S. caprea 'Kilmarnock' (a compact weeping form on a 2m stem) or shrubby willows grown for their colourful winter stems (S. alba 'Britzensis' for orange-red, or S. alba vitellina for golden yellow). These ornamental-stemmed types are coppiced hard in spring, cut to ground level every 1–2 years, which produces the brightest coloured young growth. Willows root extraordinarily easily from cuttings — push a 30cm-long stem into moist ground and it will grow. This makes them excellent for living structures: weaving willow screens, tunnels, and fedges. All willows need moist soil; they're ideal for damp areas of the garden where other trees might struggle.

Eucalyptus gunnii (cider gum) is the hardiest eucalyptus species commonly grown in the UK, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C once established. Its round, silver-blue juvenile leaves are hugely popular in flower arranging, and the aromatic foliage releases a clean, medicinal scent when crushed. Left unpruned, it grows rapidly into a tall tree (10–15 metres or more), but it responds brilliantly to coppicing — cut to near ground level each spring, it regrows with a constant supply of the prized juvenile foliage on manageable stems. This also prevents the less attractive elongated adult leaves from forming. Young trees need staking, as the combination of a shallow root system and top-heavy canopy makes them vulnerable to wind rock. They prefer well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil and a sheltered position, especially in their first few winters. The peeling bark on mature trunks is attractive in its own right. Be aware that eucalyptus leaves contain oils that can suppress the growth of nearby plants — avoid planting too close to vegetable beds.

Ornamental cherry trees produce the most spectacular spring displays in the British landscape — their branches smothered in clouds of pink or white blossom that last for 2–3 magical weeks. 'Kanzan' is the classic avenue cherry with double pink flowers; 'Yoshino' (Prunus × yedoensis) is the ethereal pale pink variety of Japanese hanami festivals; 'Tai-Haku' (Great White Cherry) has the largest flowers of any cherry. For smaller gardens, 'Amanogawa' is a narrow, columnar variety that fits into the tightest spaces. Most ornamental cherries are relatively small trees (6–10 metres) and grow well in any reasonable soil. Plant bare-root trees between November and March. They need minimal pruning — in fact, avoid pruning if possible, as cherries are susceptible to silver leaf disease and bacterial canker entering through wounds. If pruning is essential, do it in midsummer when the risk of infection is lowest. Some varieties also offer good autumn colour and attractive bark.

Japanese maples are among the most elegant small trees for UK gardens, prized for their delicate, deeply-lobed foliage that provides a constantly changing display from spring to autumn. The spring leaves unfurl in shades of fresh green, red, or bronze; summer brings a canopy of gracefully layered branches; and in autumn the foliage ignites in spectacular crimsons, scarlets, oranges, and golds. There are hundreds of varieties — 'Atropurpureum' has deep purple foliage throughout summer; 'Osakazuki' is widely considered to have the best autumn colour of any tree; 'Dissectum' varieties have finely cut, lace-like leaves and a graceful, cascading habit. They're surprisingly easy to grow: provide shelter from cold winds and late frosts (which can scorch young leaves), partial shade in the hottest part of the day, and moist but well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil. They're superb in containers, where their form can be appreciated up close. Minimal pruning needed — remove dead wood and crossing branches in winter.

Silver birch is one of the most graceful and quintessentially British trees, with its distinctive white bark, delicate, drooping branches, and small, triangular, serrated leaves that turn butter-yellow in autumn. It's a fast-growing, light-canopied tree that casts only dappled shade, making it one of the best trees for smaller gardens — you can grow a wide range of plants beneath it. It supports over 300 species of insects, making it one of the most ecologically valuable native trees. Catkins appear in spring (male catkins are long and pendulous; female are smaller and upright), and the tiny winged seeds that follow are an important food source for siskins and redpolls. Silver birch is incredibly tough — tolerating poor, sandy, acidic soils and exposed positions where few other trees would thrive. It's among the first trees to colonise bare ground. In gardens, it works as a specimen tree, in groups, or as a multi-stemmed tree (plant 3 saplings in one hole for this effect). 'Dalecarlica' (Swedish birch) has elegant, deeply cut leaves; 'Youngii' forms a weeping dome suitable for smaller gardens; B. utilis var. jacquemontii has striking, brilliant white bark. Birch rarely needs pruning — if required, prune only between late summer and December to avoid bleeding sap.

Crab apples are among the most ornamental and useful small trees for UK gardens, providing four seasons of interest: beautiful blossom in April and May, attractive foliage in summer, colourful fruits from September, and elegant bare branching structure in winter. They're also outstanding pollinators for eating apple varieties — a single crab apple can pollinate most dessert and cooking apples within a 50-metre radius. The fruits, though too tart for eating raw, make exceptional jelly (high in pectin, so sets easily), are wonderful added to apple pies and chutneys, and can be used for crab apple wine. 'John Downie' is widely considered the best for jelly-making, with large, attractive, red-and-yellow fruits and profuse white blossom. 'Evereste' has orange-red fruits that persist well into winter, providing food for birds. 'Royal Beauty' is a weeping variety with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits. Malus × robusta 'Red Sentinel' holds its glossy red fruits right through to March — the last tree to be stripped by birds. Crab apples grow in any reasonable soil, tolerate some shade (though flower better in sun), and need minimal pruning — just remove dead or crossing branches in winter. They're fully hardy across the UK and can be grown as standard trees, half-standards, or even trained as espaliers.