Top trees - RHS Garden Curators pick their favourites

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree

(Trees by Joyce Kilmer)

Robert Brett at ​RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex 

Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’ (ash)

Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’ at RHS Hyde Hall

Located by the lake, it comes into its own in autumn, when it turns a beautiful wine red; spectacular against a sunlit blue sky. Sadly, due to ash dieback in the area, this may not be a tree for the future – all the more reason to enjoy it now.

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Frosty’ (Chinese elm)

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Frosty’
 

Variegated means having leaves or other plant parts with streaks, blotches or patches of different colours. Typically, these would be a combination of two colours, such as green and gold or green and white.

variegated

Bark is the outermost layer of woody plants (trees, shrubs and woody climbers). It is several cells thick and provides protection against physical damage, disease and environmental stresses. Bark comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and these can help gardeners when identifying plants. The fissures and crevices of bark on older plants also creates valuable habitat for many garden creatures as well as lichens and small plants.

bark

Robert’s choice for climate resilience in the South East:

Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree)

Described as a ‘living fossil’, this tree has shown resilience for millions of years. It is pollution-tolerant, and captures and stores carbon. There are many cultivars now, but Ginkgo biloba ‘Fasitgiata Blagon’ is worth noting as it has intense yellow leaves in autumn.

Ginkgo biloba ‘Fasitgiata Blagon’ 

Olea europaea

Olea europaea (olive)

A wonderful tree for its evergreen foliage, tolerance of drought and magnificent trunks as it ages. Sadly, xylella disease has caused many trees in Europe to die, so only purchase UK-grown plants. Olives help clean the air and due to their longevity, also help with carbon sequestration. Olive groves are known to serve as significant carbon sinks.

Quercus texana ‘New Madrid’ (Texas red oak)

© Shutterstock

Quercus texana ‘New Madrid’

Matt Pottage, former Curator at RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle)

Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) at RHS partner garden, Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, Isle of Skye
 

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Intertexta Pendula’ (Lawson’s cypress)

A complete oddity from the Victorian period, this weeping Lawson’s cypress looks like an enormous upturned cabbage! A real curiosity, which of course makes a brilliant den for adventurous children. Very rare in gardens and cultivation, the best examples can be found in the grounds of Bishop Burton College, York.

Liriodendron ‘Chapel Hill’ (tulip tree)

© Shutterstock

Liriodendron ‘Chapel Hill’ 

Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’

When I first met this cultivar, it looked like someone had plucked giant, deep purple, waterlily flowers and stuck them to a naked,

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months.

© Shutterstock

Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’

© Shutterstock

Arbutus x andrachnoides

Arbutus x andrachnoides (hybrid strawberry tree)

This

A hybrid plant is the offspring produced by cross-pollinating one specific cultivar with another different cultivar. This process of cross-pollination, rather than pollination between plants of the same cultivar, generally creates stronger, healthier, improved offspring, said to have ‘hybrid vigour’.

Five climate resilient trees from Paul Cook, Curator at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Yorkshire

Malus ‘Evereste’ (crab apple)

© Jerry Harpur / RHS

Malus ‘Evereste’ AGM
 

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

cultivar

Acer griseum (paperbark maple)

Has the best winter bark and is ideal for smaller gardens as it doesn’t get out of hand. At Harlow Carr, it is underplanted with Veronica ochracea ‘James Stirling’ for a striking combination.

Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’
 

Acer griseum AGM
 

Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ (winter-flowering cherry)

Milder winters mean this cherry flowers when the weather is good through late autumn and winter. Its light foliage provides autumn colour in a loose and airy canopy.

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ (ribbonwood)

A selection named by Roy Lancaster, its side growth can be trimmed to form a small tree. It stays evergreen in mild winters and its flowers are attractive to bees.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Golden Oji’ AGM
 

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ AGM
 

Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Golden Oji’ (dawn redwood)

A conifer with autumn colour, this golden form of dawn redwood does get big but can be kept in check (dwarfing cultivars are available).

Hundreds of trees are being planted at Harlow Carr this autumn in a bid to boost the garden’s wow-factor and showcase species resilient to climate change. Harlow Carr stands on the grounds of the ancient Forest of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire and new Quercus cultivars are being planted this year as part of RHS efforts to preserve this historic oak woodland.

Marcus Chilton-Jones, Curator at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Greater Manchester

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ (sweet gum)

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ AGM, at RHS Hyde Hall

Phillyrea latifolia (green olive)

A medium to small tree, growing to around 8m. It can be clipped if desired and maintained to a smaller scale. Evergreen and a good choice for both urban and coastal locations. Prefers a free-draining soil.

Phillyrea latifolia

Mespilus germanica

Mespilus germanica

A small tree, variable in height but averaging around 6m, with a similar spread. It has lovely, 5cm diameter, pure white blossom in spring, followed by interesting edible fruits in mid-autumn. Good for pollinators.

Quercus ilex (holm oak)

A large evergreen, sometimes reaching more than 20m in height.  A good potential long-term choice for climate change, especially for ‘drier’ conditions and free-draining soils. i.e. will tolerate summer drought.

Quercus ilex

Tetradium daniellii

Tetradium daniellii (bee-bee tree)

A fast-growing medium-sized tree up to 12m with a potentially equal spread. Corymbs of pretty, scented white flowers in summer, which attract bees (as the common name suggests). Also attracts butterflies – a good tree to benefit biodiversity in your garden.

Jonathan Webster, Curator at RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon

Prunus ‘Jō-nioi’ (cherry)

Prunus ‘Jō-nioi’ at RHS Rosemoor

Liquidambar acalycina ‘Spinners’ (Chang’s sweet gum)

Originating from China, this is less widely grown than its American cousin. It is visibly different, with just three lobes to the beautiful leaves, compared with five of Liquidambar styraciflua. This tree was selected due to its dark and rich autumn colour with the leaves holding on the tree into December. It was named by the late great plantsman, Peter Chappell, after his garden Spinners, in Hampshire.

Malus baccata (Siberian crab)

Commonly known as the Siberian crab, this amazing tree is covered in red fruits in autumn, creating a wonderful spectacle but also a hive of activity for wildlife. The small fruits are loved by birds but are in abundance, so you might be able to harvest a few, as they are delicious. This tree is very cold tolerant and more decorative than just the fruit. White blossom covers the tree in spring and as the yellow autumn colour falls, the red fruit are revealed.

Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Snow Bird’ 

Malus baccata

Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Snow Bird’ (tulip tree)

This tulip tree is upright in growth, with a beautiful white edge to the leaf. This bright white stays sharp all year and makes the tree stand out in the landscape. I am not a great fan of variegated plants but this has real class and is well worth growing. It may be a good tree in the South West for climate change; we have planted the species in some of our outer woodlands as an experiment.

Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm)

Trachycarpus fortunei

Trees now and in the future

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