Trees For Wildlife

Prunus ukon, commonly known as Ukon cherry or Japanese flowering cherry, is a captivating ornamental tree renowned for its stunning springtime blossoms. Belonging to the Rosaceae family, this deciduous tree originates from Japan and is prized for its aesthetic appeal in gardens, parks, and landscapes worldwide.

The Ukon cherry typically reaches heights of 15 to 25 feet and spreads about 15 to 20 feet wide at maturity, forming a graceful, rounded canopy. Its bark is smooth and dark brown, providing an elegant contrast to the vibrant blooms it bears. The foliage consists of serrated, elliptical leaves that emerge bronze-red in spring, gradually maturing to glossy green in summer, and turning golden-yellow in autumn, adding seasonal interest.

What truly sets the Prunus ukon apart is its breathtaking display of flowers in early spring. Before the leaves unfurl, the tree becomes enveloped in an abundance of semi-double to double blossoms, each measuring about 1 to 1.5 inches across. These flowers feature pale pink to white petals tinged with hints of yellow, creating a soft, ethereal effect against the emerging foliage. The fragrance of the blooms adds to the sensory delight, attracting bees and pollinators.

Cercis siliquastrum, commonly known as the Judas tree or love tree, is a deciduous tree native to the Mediterranean region, including parts of Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is a member of the bean family (Fabaceae) and is known for its vibrant, pink-purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves. The Judas tree can grow up to 10 meters tall and has a spreading, umbrella-shaped crown. Its bark is smooth and grey-brown, and its branches are often twisted and gnarled, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The tree typically blooms in early spring, before its leaves appear, producing an abundance of small, pink-purple flowers that grow in clusters on the branches and trunk. These flowers are a valuable source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. After flowering, the tree produces flattened, brown seed pods that hang from the branches throughout the summer. These pods can be several centimetres long and contain numerous small seeds. The Judas tree is a popular ornamental tree in gardens and parks, where it is valued for its attractive appearance and early spring flowering. It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil, and is generally hardy and easy to grow.

Prunus Kanzan is a beautiful, medium-sized, ornamental, deciduous cherry tree of vase-shaped when young, spreading and rounded habit when mature. Its ovate, toothed dark green leaves are coppery-red when young and in shades of orange and bronze in autumn. The profusion of bright pink, double flowers bloom in clusters before the leaves emerge. Flowers are sterile and are not followed by fruit. Prunus Kanzan thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soils, sandy or clay loams. It prefers full sun, but tolerates light shade. It is necessary to prune it after flowering, but is generally low maintenance plant. Susceptible to many diseases and pests and may be short-lived. Cherry Kanzan is one of the most ornamental of flowering cherries. It’s a stunning, elegant tree, whether as a specimen plant or planted in groups, great for small informal, cottage and urban gardens. Excellent for streets and parks. Suitable for growing in containers or as a bonsai.

Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ is a superb small ornamental plant, highly valued for its dramatic spring display and elegant form, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of gardens. It produces long, cascading racemes of rich golden-yellow flowers in late spring to early summer, creating a striking focal point and bringing a sense of light and movement to the landscape.

As a relatively compact plant, it is well suited to small and medium-sized gardens, courtyards, and lawn settings, where its graceful, open crown can be fully appreciated. ‘Vossii’ prefers a sunny, sheltered position in well-drained soil and is tolerant of chalk and limestone, performing particularly well in traditional garden settings. Its light, airy foliage allows dappled shade beneath, making it ideal for planting over seating areas or mixed borders. The tree requires minimal maintenance, with only light pruning after flowering to maintain shape. Long-lived and reliable, Laburnum ‘Vossii’ provides outstanding seasonal interest, architectural beauty, and a classic, romantic character to both formal and informal garden designs.

Lavender 'Exceptional' is a striking and refined variety ideal for adding elegance and fragrance to garden landscapes. Unlike the typical purple varieties, 'Exceptional' features pure white flower spikes that contrast beautifully with its silvery-green aromatic foliage. This cultivar maintains the classic appeal of lavender while offering a fresh, clean look that blends effortlessly with a wide range of garden styles, from modern minimalist to traditional cottage designs.

'Exceptional' is a compact, bushy plant with a tidy, mounded habit, making it suitable for borders, rock gardens, herb beds, and container planting. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, particularly those that are sandy or gravelly, and it exhibits excellent drought tolerance once established. Its strong stems and long-lasting blooms make it ideal for both fresh and dried flower arrangements. The plant also attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supporting garden biodiversity.

Low maintenance and highly ornamental, Lavender 'Exceptional' is a versatile, hardy choice for gardeners seeking a refined, white-flowering alternative that offers the calming scent and charm lavender is known for.

Lavandula × intermedia 'Phenomenal' is a highly esteemed variety of lavender renowned for its robustness and striking visual appeal. This hybrid, also known as Lavandin, is a cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. 'Phenomenal' is particularly celebrated for its exceptional tolerance to varying weather conditions, including humidity, heat, and cold, making it a versatile choice for gardens in diverse climates.

The plant is characterised by its vigorous growth and uniform, mounded shape, typically reaching a height and spread of approximately 60-90 cm (2-3 feet). It boasts silvery-green foliage that retains its colour throughout the year, providing year-round interest. The long, slender stems are topped with an abundance of fragrant, deep violet-blue flower spikes that bloom from mid-summer to early autumn. These flowers are not only visually stunning but also attract a plethora of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden.

One of the notable features of 'Phenomenal' is its strong resistance to common lavender ailments such as root and foliar diseases, which can plague other varieties. This resilience, coupled with its low maintenance requirements, makes it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. The plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, demonstrating drought tolerance once established.

In addition to its ornamental value, 'Phenomenal' lavender is highly prized for its aromatic properties. The flowers can be harvested and dried for use in a variety of applications, from potpourris and sachets to culinary dishes and essential oil production. The strong, pleasing fragrance of the plant adds a sensory delight to gardens and landscapes.

Overall, Lavandula × intermedia 'Phenomenal' is a versatile, hardy, and beautiful addition to any garden, offering both aesthetic and practical benefits with minimal effort.

Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’, commonly known as Texanum Japanese privet, is a robust, evergreen shrub widely valued in UK gardens for its dense foliage, versatility, and tolerance of varied conditions. Originating as a cultivar of Japanese privet, it forms a compact, rounded habit, typically reaching heights of 2 to 3 metres if left unpruned, though it responds exceptionally well to clipping and shaping.

The leaves are one of its most attractive features: thick, leathery, and glossy dark green, with a slightly oval shape and smooth margins. This lustrous foliage provides year-round interest and makes the shrub particularly suitable for hedging, screening, or formal topiary. In summer, small, creamy-white flowers may appear in terminal clusters. While individually modest, they can be pleasantly fragrant and attract pollinators such as bees. These are sometimes followed by small, dark berries, although flowering and fruiting are often reduced when the plant is regularly trimmed.

‘Texanum’ is especially appreciated for its resilience. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, including chalky and clay soils, provided they are reasonably well-drained. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is notably tolerant of coastal conditions, pollution, and urban environments, making it ideal for city gardens across the UK.

Regular pruning helps maintain a neat shape and encourages dense growth, particularly when used as a hedge. It is also relatively drought-tolerant once established, though young plants benefit from consistent watering.

Overall, Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’ is a dependable, low-maintenance shrub that combines structure, evergreen presence, and adaptability, making it a staple choice for both formal and informal planting schemes.

Ligustrum excelsum Superbum - is a small, evergreen tree with a great, rounded crown that retains its rounded shape if grown in full sun. Long, ovate, pointed, glossy, light-green leaves have attractive, greenish-yellow to creamy-yellow margins. Numerous clusters of scented, creamy-yellow flowers almost cover the leaves in summer and autumn, and are followed by small, black berries that remain on branches for a long time. Chinese privet 'Excelsum Superbum' - can thrive in wide range of soil types, except waterlogged. It prefers deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun, but it can tolerate some shade. Once established, it is resistant to drought. Tolerant of urban pollution and salty air. Low maintenance plant. In harsh winters, it may lose its leaves. Ligustrum excelsum Superbum – is a tough tree, perfect for restricted spaces as it can be planted very close to buildings, therefore, suitable for a street tree. Great for informal hedges and screens, or as an accent plant.

Ligustrum lucidum 'Variegatum' Standard, at approximately 300cm tall, is an ideal choice for gardens needing elegant structure and effective screening. This evergreen tree features a dense, rounded crown elevated on a clear stem, creating a formal, lollipop-shaped standard that brings height and architectural interest to the landscape. The variegated foliage—glossy green leaves edged in creamy white—adds year-round brightness and contrast, making it visually appealing in all seasons.

Well-suited to urban and suburban gardens, this Ligustrum tolerates pollution, pruning, and a variety of soil types, provided they are well-drained. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is relatively low-maintenance once established. In summer, it produces small, fragrant white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by dark berries which add further seasonal interest.

Its dense canopy makes it excellent for privacy screening, windbreaks, or as a focal point in formal garden designs. Whether used in rows along boundaries or as standalone specimens in courtyards and patios, Ligustrum lucidum 'Variegatum' Standard trees provide reliable structure, year-round color, and an elegant solution for screening and ornamental planting.

Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose' is a distinctive and much-admired variety of lilac known for its unusual creamy yellow flowers. A cultivar of the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, it stands out in spring gardens where most lilacs appear in shades of purple, pink or white. Its soft primrose colouring gives it a refined and slightly unusual character.

In late spring, typically around May in the UK, the shrub produces large, upright clusters of flowers known as panicles. The buds open a pale buttery yellow and gradually soften to a creamy off-white as they mature. Although the yellow tone is subtle rather than bright, it is distinctive enough to make the plant highly sought after by collectors and garden designers.

The flowers are richly fragrant, carrying the classic sweet scent associated with traditional lilacs. This perfume can fill the surrounding garden on warm days and attracts a range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The blooms are also popular for cutting and can be used in indoor arrangements where their fragrance is especially noticeable.

The shrub itself forms a vigorous, upright deciduous plant with a rounded habit. Over time it typically reaches around three to four metres in height with a similar spread, making it suitable for use as a specimen plant, in mixed shrub borders or as part of an informal flowering hedge. The leaves are mid-green, heart-shaped and provide a dense backdrop for the pale blossoms during the flowering season.

Like most lilacs, this variety prefers a sunny position and fertile, well-drained soil. It performs particularly well in chalky or alkaline conditions and benefits from good air circulation. Pruning is usually minimal and is best carried out immediately after flowering to maintain shape and encourage the development of new flowering shoots for the following year.

Elegant, fragrant and slightly unusual in colour, Syringa vulgaris ‘Primrose’ is a classic spring shrub that brings gentle colour and a timeless cottage-garden atmosphere to larger gardens.

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' is a stunning deciduous shrub that belongs to the olive family, Oleaceae. It is also commonly known as the French lilac or common lilac. 'Sensation' is a popular cultivar of the species and is known for its striking variegated foliage and fragrant flowers.

The leaves of 'Sensation' are a dark green with a creamy white edge, which adds interest to the shrub even when it's not in bloom. In the spring, it produces large, showy panicles of deep purple flowers with a white edge. These flowers are incredibly fragrant and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. The blooms last for several weeks, filling the air with a sweet, heady scent that is truly unforgettable.

This lilac shrub can grow up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide, but it can be pruned to maintain a smaller size. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. 'Sensation' is relatively easy to grow and is low maintenance, making it an excellent choice for a beginner gardener or anyone who wants to add some beauty and fragrance to their landscape.

Overall, Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation' is a lovely and eye-catching shrub that will add interest, color, and fragrance to any garden or landscape. Its unique variegated foliage and fragrant blooms make it a standout plant that is sure to impress.