Small trees to grow in pots

Malus domestica ‘Katy’ is a vigorous, early-season, heavy-cropping, deciduous apple tree with ovate, green leaves, orange and red in autumn, and lovely, white, scented flowers blooming in spring. Small to medium, bright red apples have white and juicy flash with sweet and refreshing flavour and are ready for harvesting in early September. Malus domestica ‘Katy’ prefers moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils in sunny, sheltered positions. It doesn’t like acidic and shallow chalk soils, as well as shady areas. Resistant to frost and suitable for Northern European climates. Not self-fertile, it needs a pollinator nearby for flower pollination. Requires regular pruning and fruit thinning for better fruit size and quality. Apple 'Katya' is a cross between James Grieve and Worcester Pearmain. It’s a beautiful ornamental tree, a great addition to any informal, cottage, or urban garden. Suitable for wall-side borders and for growing in containers. Apples are perfect for making juices, but also to be eaten fresh.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Red Devil Apple plant is a deciduous, hardy, vigorous tree with a bushy, upright habit, attractive pink-white flowers, and stunning, deep red fruit. Its creamy flesh is white, but stained with red and produces beautiful pink juice. Red Devil apples ripen in mid-September and are harvested till mid-October. The fruit has juicy and moderately sweet and sharp taste with a hint of strawberry flavour. They store well and can be kept till January.

Red Devil Apple was bred by Hugh Ermen, in Faversham, Kent in 1975, and introduced in 1990 as an excellent, modern dessert apple. It is very resilient, generally disease-free, and adaptable to most weather conditions. It grows in almost any type of soil as long as it is moist and well-drained. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. It is self-fertile and doesn’t need a pollination partner.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Malus domestica ‘Red Falstaff’ is a late-season, heavy-cropping dessert apple with lovely, pinkish white flowers blooming in April and May, and abundance of delicious, very balanced, crisp and juicy, orange-red apples, ready for harvesting in October. Apples can be stored throughout the winter. Malus domestica ‘Red Falstaff’ likes deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Very acidic and chalk soils should be avoided. It thrives in full sun. It is very resistant to frost and tolerant of wind, but needs to be sheltered form harsh winter winds. Suitable for colder climates. It is self-fertile and an excellent pollinator for other varieties. It has a good disease resistance. Some pruning and fruit thinning may be required. Apple 'Red Falstaff' is an excellent dessert apple, a reliable and heavy cropper, perfect for informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Suitable for growing in containers. Very tasty when eaten fresh, but also great when used for culinary purposes.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Malus domestica 'Scrumptious' is an early-fruiting, dessert apple tree with ovate, dark green leaves and pale pink flowers blooming in spring. Flowers are followed by heavy crops of large, sweet, crisp, and aromatic apples with thin, red skin and tasty, white flesh, ready for harvesting in early autumn, usually September. Malus domestica 'Scrumptious' grows best in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but can adapt to a wide range of soils as long as they are well-drained. It can tolerate partial shade but the best cropping occurs if grown in full sun. It can withstand frost and, therefore, suitable for colder areas. Fairly resistant to pests and diseases. It is self-fertile and a good pollinator to other varieties. May require pruning and fruit thinning for better crops. Apple 'Scrumptious' is a modern English dessert apple, a cross between the Golden Delicious and the Discovery. Great option for small informal and cottage gardens and for growing in containers.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

The Apple Spartan tree, when grafted onto M26 rootstock, presents an ideal option for orchardists and home gardeners seeking a blend of manageable size and quality fruit production.

Spartan, a descendant of the McIntosh apple, hails from Canada and is renowned for its striking deep-red, almost glossy skin. Beneath this inviting exterior, the apple provides a crisp, juicy bite, bursting with a sweet flavor subtly accompanied by hints of tartness. This apple variety is not only cherished for fresh eating but also excels in culinary creations due to its rich taste and texture.

M26, as a rootstock, strikes a balance between dwarf and semi-dwarf growth habits. When fully mature, trees on this rootstock typically attain heights of 8-12 feet, making them particularly suited for gardens where space might be at a premium. Additionally, M26 provides a faster onset of fruiting, usually within 2-3 years of planting, which is a boon for those eager to enjoy their homegrown apples sooner. Furthermore, it offers commendable disease resistance and fares well in a diverse range of soil conditions.

Together, the Spartan apple on M26 rootstock promises a compact, yet productive tree, yielding high-quality fruit while fitting seamlessly into smaller orchard spaces or backyard gardens.

The Apple Spartan tree grafted onto MM106 rootstock represents a harmonious marriage of a celebrated apple variety with a well-established root system.

The Spartan apple is an offspring of the McIntosh, distinguished by its alluring deep red skin that can almost appear purple under certain light. Originating from Canada in the early 20th century, Spartan apples are known for their crisp texture and a perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor. When bitten into, they offer a delightful, aromatic experience, reminiscent of old-fashioned apple types, making them a favorite for fresh consumption and culinary uses alike.

The MM106 rootstock, on the other hand, is a semi-dwarfing variety, offering a medium-sized tree when fully grown. This rootstock ensures the tree remains manageable in size, typically reaching heights of about 10-15 feet. MM106 is particularly noted for its adaptability to various soil types, robust disease resistance, especially against woolly apple aphid, and its ability to establish quickly in a new environment.

When the Spartan is paired with the MM106, the resultant tree benefits from a combination of hardiness, moderate size, and the production of delectably juicy apples. This duo is especially suitable for backyard orchardists, hobby growers, and even commercial orchard settings where space optimization is essential.

Sunset apple is a heavy-cropping garden apple with upright, compact habit and attractive pale pink flowers that bloom in March. They are followed by small, round to ovate, golden-yellow and green fruit with red and orange striping. A white to ivory flesh is crisp, firm and fine-grained, sometimes tinged with green. It has sweet, sharp, aromatic flavour. Sunset Apple was bred in approximately 1918 by G. C. Addy at Ightham, Kent. One of the parent varieties is Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple. Sunset Apple was meant to be similar to it, but easier to grow. It is very resilient, generally disease-free, cold and frost resistant, therefore, suitable for growing even in northern parts of Europe. Doesn’t need a pollinating partner because it is self-fertile. It is not commercially grown because of its small size. Sunset apples are crispy and juicy, great for eating or cooking. When cooked, they retain their shape.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Araucaria araucana, commonly known as the monkey puzzle tree, is a slow-growing evergreen tree native to the southern regions of South America, specifically Chile and Argentina. The tree can grow up to 30-40 meters tall with a trunk diameter of up to 2 meters, and its branches grow in a distinctive whorled pattern.

The monkey puzzle tree is known for its unique, sharp-edged triangular leaves that grow in dense clusters along its branches. The leaves are a dark green color on the upper surface and lighter on the lower surface. The tree is dioecious, meaning that male and female reproductive structures grow on separate trees.

Araucaria araucana is a long-lived species, with some specimens estimated to be over 1,000 years old. The tree is also ecologically important as it provides habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals.

The monkey puzzle tree is highly valued for its ornamental qualities and is often planted in parks and gardens around the world. The tree is also economically important for its durable, straight-grained wood, which is used in construction, furniture making, and other applications. However, the species is considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and overexploitation, and conservation efforts are underway to protect and preserve this unique and important tree species.

Araucaria araucana, commonly known as the monkey puzzle tree, is a slow-growing evergreen tree native to the southern regions of South America, specifically Chile and Argentina. The tree can grow up to 30-40 meters tall with a trunk diameter of up to 2 meters, and its branches grow in a distinctive whorled pattern.

The monkey puzzle tree is known for its unique, sharp-edged triangular leaves that grow in dense clusters along its branches. The leaves are a dark green color on the upper surface and lighter on the lower surface. The tree is dioecious, meaning that male and female reproductive structures grow on separate trees.

Araucaria araucana is a long-lived species, with some specimens estimated to be over 1,000 years old. The tree is also ecologically important as it provides habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals.

The monkey puzzle tree is highly valued for its ornamental qualities and is often planted in parks and gardens around the world. The tree is also economically important for its durable, straight-grained wood, which is used in construction, furniture making, and other applications. However, the species is considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and overexploitation, and conservation efforts are underway to protect and preserve this unique and important tree species.

Arbutus unedo is an evergreen, ornamental, multi-stem, capriciously growing shrub or small tree with glossy, leathery, mid-green foliage. It is very unusual and stunning all year round. Clusters of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers bloom from autumn to mid-winter. Round, yellow fruits appear in winter and slowly become ripe in the next 12 months, gradually turning red. They are still on the tree when new flowers show up in autumn. A grey-brown bark peels, revealing cinnamon-coloured inner bark. It can grow in all kinds of soils and climate conditions, but prefers acidic, moist and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. It is tolerant to drought, disease-free and pest-free. Very resilient. This unusual, colourful and very attractive plant is perfect as a specimen plant, great for shrub borders, hedges, coastal gardens, and for growing in containers.

Arbutus unedo multi-stem is an evergreen, ornamental, multi-stem, capriciously growing shrub or small tree with glossy, leathery, mid-green foliage. It is very unusual and stunning all year round. Clusters of fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers bloom from autumn to mid-winter. Round, yellow fruits appear in winter and slowly become ripe in the next 12 months, gradually turning red. They are still on the tree when new flowers show up in autumn. A grey-brown bark peels, revealing cinnamon-colored inner bark.

Arbutus unedo multi-stem grows slowly in a multi-stem form. It can grow in all kinds of soils and climate conditions, but prefers acidic, moist and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. It is tolerant to drought, disease-free and pest-free. Very resilient. This unusual, colorful and very attractive plant is perfect as a specimen plant, great for shrub borders, hedges, coastal gardens, and for growing in containers.

Asplenium scolopendrium is a distinctive evergreen fern that brings year-round texture and architectural elegance to shaded parts of the garden. Its long, glossy, strap-shaped fronds form neat rosettes, creating a bold yet graceful presence that contrasts beautifully with finer-leaved woodland plants and spring bulbs.

It is ideally suited to shaded or partially shaded garden areas, including woodland gardens, north-facing borders, and damp, sheltered courtyards. This fern prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter, and it performs particularly well in lime-rich or neutral conditions. Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring only the removal of any damaged or tired fronds to keep it looking fresh.

As a naturally hardy species, it copes well with typical UK winters and will remain evergreen in most conditions, although it appreciates protection from prolonged winter wet and strong drying winds. It is also an excellent choice for naturalistic planting schemes, shaded rock gardens, or alongside streams and ponds where moisture levels are consistent.

Its architectural foliage provides structure throughout the year, making it a valuable foliage plant in gardens where flowers may be limited by shade.

Athyrium niponicum 'Metallicum' is a highly ornamental deciduous fern prized for its exceptional foliage colour and texture. Its softly arching fronds display a striking blend of silvery-grey tones with subtle metallic highlights and contrasting purple midribs, making it one of the most decorative ferns for shaded garden areas.

It is ideally suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, and sheltered courtyards where it can be appreciated up close. This fern thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter such as leaf mould or compost. Consistent moisture is important, particularly during dry periods, as it does not tolerate drought well.

Hardy in most UK gardens, it dies back in winter and re-emerges each spring with fresh, colourful growth. It pairs beautifully with hostas, heucheras, and other shade-loving perennials, adding contrast and a refined, elegant texture to planting schemes.

As a cultivar of Athyrium niponicum, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring only the removal of old fronds in late winter. Its unique colouring and compact habit make it an excellent choice for bringing light and interest to shaded spaces.

The Azalea Japonica 'Amoena', an exquisite variety of evergreen Japanese azalea that promises to add a burst of colour and charm to any British garden. Boasting vibrant magenta-pink flowers and glossy, deep-green foliage, this azalea variety is known for its compact growth habit, making it an ideal choice for smaller spaces or as a striking feature in mixed borders. Hardy and versatile, the Azalea Japonica 'Amoena' is perfect for British garden enthusiasts who are keen to create an eye-catching display throughout the spring.

The Azalea Japonica 'Amoena' thrives in acidic, well-draining soil, making it well-suited for planting in peat beds or borders enriched with ericaceous compost. Choose a site with partial shade to full sun, ensuring that the plant receives adequate light while avoiding scorching its delicate blooms. When planting, space the azaleas approximately 60-80cm (24-32 inches) apart to accommodate their mature size.

To maintain optimal health, water your azalea regularly, especially during dry spells. Apply a layer of mulch annually in the spring to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Prune your azalea lightly after flowering to maintain its compact shape and encourage new growth.

The Azalea Japonica 'Amoena' is a beautiful and versatile addition to any garden, with its vibrant magenta-pink flowers and evergreen foliage providing a stunning display in the spring months. Easy to care for and adaptable to various planting situations.

Azalea japonica ‘Blue Danube’ is an excellent choice for many gardens, particularly where acidic soil conditions can be provided. This compact, evergreen shrub offers year-round structure with its neat, dark green foliage, making it valuable even outside its flowering season. In late spring, it produces a striking display of rich violet-blue blooms that add vibrant colour to borders, woodland-style plantings, or container arrangements.

It thrives best in partial shade, where it is protected from harsh midday sun and cold, drying winds. A position beneath light tree cover or on a north- or east-facing aspect is ideal. The plant prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and benefits from regular mulching with organic matter such as leaf mould or bark to retain moisture and maintain acidity.

‘Blue Danube’ is particularly suited to smaller gardens due to its compact habit, typically reaching around 60–90 cm in height and spread. It works well in mixed shrub borders, rock gardens, or as part of an ericaceous planting scheme alongside rhododendrons and camellias, providing reliable seasonal interest with relatively low maintenance requirements.

Azalea Japonica 'Orange Beauty' is a compact evergreen shrub prized for its vibrant orange-red spring flowers and tidy growth habit, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of garden styles. Flowering profusely in late spring, it creates a striking display of colour that works beautifully in borders, woodland gardens, Japanese-inspired planting schemes, and patio containers.

Its dense, low-growing form makes it especially suitable for smaller gardens or areas where neat structure is desired. The glossy dark green foliage provides year-round interest and contrasts attractively with lighter flowering plants and ornamental grasses. This azalea thrives best in acidic, moist but well-drained soil and prefers a sheltered position in partial shade, although it can tolerate some sun if the soil remains consistently moist.

Azalea Japonica ‘Orange Beauty’ is also ideal for container planting using ericaceous compost, allowing gardeners with alkaline soils to enjoy its vivid blooms. Low maintenance and slow growing, it requires minimal pruning and fits well into formal or informal planting designs while providing reliable seasonal colour and evergreen structure throughout the year.