Trees

Gardens full of flowering trees are really magical places. However, most people tend to have gardens with trees that bloom only in spring. But garden doesn’t have to be dull the rest of the year. There can always be something in bloom, even in the middle of winter, just plant trees that flower in different seasons and your garden will be filled with colour all year round. Why Plant Trees That Flower in Different Seasons? The garden with a mix of trees that bloom at different times of the year will keep surprising you and you’ll always have something new to enjoy. To make it easier, we’ve prepared a simple guide to best flowering trees for every season. These trees are carefully chosen for UK gardens and UK growing conditions, and available at Arundel Arboretum for you to explore and enjoy. Best Spring Flowering Trees UK After a cold winter, nothing brightens a garden faster than spring flowering trees. Their bare branches transform into clouds of colour and spectacularly announce the beginning of the gardening year. There’s no doubt early blooming trees burst with energy and joy. If you’re still indecisive what to buy, here are some of the best spring blossom trees for UK gardens: Prunus Avium 'Cherry blossom' If there is a tree that perfectly captures the spirit of spring, it’s cherry blossom. It’s not only stunning, but also sends a strong message of new energy and renewal. Sadly, the flowers don’t last long, carrying another meaning – that life is short.•    When It Flowers - Usually from March to April, sometimes a bit earlier in milder parts of the UK.•    Blooming Time - Around 2 to 3 weeks, depending on variety and weather.•    What You'll See - Branches completely covered in white or pink blossoms, often double or semi-double, before a single leaf appears. Care & Maintenance - Many Cherry Blossom varieties are perfect for small UK gardens. They prefer sunny, sheltered places with well-drained soil. Light pruning after flowering will maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth. However, if you prefer a slightly later bloom, look for varieties like Prunus ‘Accolade’ or ‘Kanzan’. Magnolia Magnolias are stunning trees that bring a sense of luxury. Their large, fragrant flowers are of superb elegance and beauty. •    When It Flowers - Usually between March and May, depending on the variety.•    Blooming Time - Around 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer if the weather is nice. •    What You'll See - Big, elegant blooms in shades of white, pink, purple, or yellow, appearing before the leaves. Amelanchier 'Juneberry' Amelanchier is a tree that you can really count on to bloom early. Beside lovely flowers, it also brings berries in early summer, and brilliant orange-red foliage in autumn. If you have a small garden, Amelanchier is the perfect choice. •    When It Flowers - Usually from late March into April.•    Blooming Time - Around 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the weather.•    What You'll See - Masses of star-shaped white blossoms bursting into life before the coppery new leaves start to unfold. Care & Maintenance - It loves sun or partial shade, and moist but well-drained soil. It doesn’t require much pruning, just remove any weak or crossing branches in late winter. One of the most reliable early bloomers in the UK.  Malus 'Crab Apple' Besides having amazing flowers in spring, Crab Apple is also vibrant in autumn. It’s friendly to wild life because pollinators love its flowers and its fruits are great source of food for birds during the winter.•    When It Flowers - Usually from April through May.•    Blooming Time - Around 3 to 4 weeks of steady colour.•    What You'll See - Clusters of white, pink, or red blossoms that cover the branches, later giving way to small ornamental fruits. Care & Maintenance - Crab Apples are hardy, very easy to grow, and adaptable to most soil types. The only thing they really prefer is full sun. A light trim in late winter is enough to keep its shape. Note that UK varieties like ‘Evereste’ and ‘John Downie’ bloom mid-spring. Cercis 'Judas Tree' The Cercis tree brings a touch of the Mediterranean to UK gardens as it’s common in Mediterranean landscapes. Its flowers are spectacular and profuse.•    When It Flowers - Usually from April to May.•    Blooming Time - Around 3 weeks, sometimes a bit longer in mild weather.•    What You'll See - Dark pink, pea-shaped flowers that pop straight from the bare branches and trunk before the leaves appear. Care & Maintenance - It likes warm, sheltered spots and well-drained soil. Once established, it can tolerate drought but you need to water it regularly during the first year. After flowering, make sure to remove dead and crossing branches. Best Summer Flowering Trees UK With days becoming longer and the air warmer, summer flowering trees step into the spotlight. They fill gardens with greenery and beautiful flowers all summer. They’re perfect for lazy afternoons in the shade or evening walks among the blossoms.  Catalpa If you’re looking for something bold, architectural, and full of personality, choose Catalpa. Its large leaves create generous shade, while the flowers add a touch of tropical flair.•    When It Flowers - Usually from July to August.•    Blooming Time - Around 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes a bit longer in a warm summer.•    What You'll See - Big, showy clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow and purple markings, standing proudly above large, heart-shaped leaves. Care & Maintenance - Catalpa handles UK summers well and looks especially striking as a specimen tree. It doesn’t need much care, just some light pruning in late winter. Albizia julibrissin 'Silk Tree' The Silk Tree brings an exotic touch to the garden. It’s best suited for mild UK areas, like southern England and coastal regions. It’s popularly called Persian Silk Tree or Tree of Happiness.•    When It Flowers - From June to August, even September.•    Blooming Time - Usually around 4 to 6 weeks, and in warm years it can keep blooming well into early autumn.•    What You'll See - Soft, fluffy pink tufts that look a bit like tiny silk brushes, gently scented and floating above fine, fern-like leaves. Care & Maintenance - It loves a warm, sheltered spots, well-drained soil, and needs very little attention. Some tiding up after flowering is usually enough. Robinia pseudoacacia 'Black Locust' Black Locust is tough, fast-growing, and buzzing with life when in bloom. Bees absolutely love it. It’s ideal for larger gardens, as it needs room to spread and can grow quite tall.•    When It Flowers - From late May through to July.•    Blooming Time - Around 2 to 3 weeks of gorgeous, fragrant blooms.•    What You'll See - Cascading clusters of white, wisteria-like flowers that hang gracefully against fresh green foliage. Care & Maintenance - It doesn’t require much care, but needs regular pruning to prevent it from overgrowing. It’s interesting that its flowers are edible. Koelreuteria paniculata 'Golden Rain Tree' The Golden Rain Tree is one of the most reliable summer flowering ornamental trees for UK gardens. It has a very interesting and elegant structure as its yellow falling panicles resemble the golden rain.•    When It Flowers - Usually from July into August.•    Blooming Time - Around 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes more.•    What You'll See - Loose clusters of golden-yellow, star-shaped flowers that light up the canopy, followed by rose-tinted, lantern-like seed pods that stay on branches well into autumn. Care & Maintenance - It’s best to plant it in a sunny spot with well-drained soil because it thrives in warm, sheltered locations. It needs very little pruning and is excellent for urban landscapes. Best Autumn Flowering Trees UK As summer fades, autumn flowering trees bring unexpected beauty. These late bloomers keep the garden full of life in cooler months. Beside their lovely flowers, they often bring even more colour with ornamental fruits. Here are some of the best autumn flowering trees for UK gardens: Lagerstroemia 'Crape Myrtle' Crape Myrtle brings a splash of late-season colour that feels almost tropical. However, it’snot suitable for all parts of the UK. In colder areas, it may fail to flower well.•    When It Flowers - From August to October.•    Blooming Time - Around 6 to 8 weeks in warm, sheltered spots.•    What You'll See - Big clusters of pink, purple, red, or white flowers that often last well into autumn, followed by beautiful orange-red foliage. Care & Maintenance - It loves full sun and warmth so it will grow best in southern England and coastal regions. Arbutus unedo 'Strawberry Tree'  The Strawberry Tree is one of the most charming trees for autumn interest because it’s flowering and fruiting at the same time.•    When It Flowers - From October to December.•    Blooming Time - Usually around 6 to 10 weeks.•    What You'll See - Clusters of small, white to pale pink bell-shaped blooms that appear alongside the red fruit from the previous year. Care & Maintenance - It prefers milder coastal or southern areas of the UK. In harsher inland or northern sites, it may struggle so it needs some winter protection. Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ It’s typically considered to be a shrub, but it can be trained into a small tree form. Also, its flower period often extends into winter. It’s one of those plants that surprise you with beauty and fragrance when you least expect it.•    When It Flowers - From November to March•    Blooming Time - It can flower for several months, especially when the weather stays gentle.•    What You'll See - Clusters of fragrant, pale to deep pink blooms that appear on bare branches, releasing a strong, sweet scent on sunny days. Care & Maintenance – Prefers sunny and warm spots, and well-drained, slightly acidic soil but it’s not very fussy about the soil type. It also doesn’t require much care, just prune it lightly after flowering. Winter Flowering Trees UK When most of the garden is quiet, a few remarkable flowering trees continue to bring us joy. They light up cold months with unexpected blooms and colour. Here are some of the best winter flowering trees for UK gardens to keep your outdoor space glowing when everything else lies asleep. Hamamelis 'Witch Hazel' Witch Hazel is one of the most striking winter flowering trees for UK gardens. Many varieties also have vibrant autumn foliage before flowering.•    When It Flowers - From December to February.•    Blooming Time - Around 6 to 8 weeks.•    What You'll See - Clusters of spidery, ribbon-like petals in shades of yellow, orange, or red that appear on bare branches, often releasing a delicate, spicy scent. Care & Maintenance - It thrives in sun or partial shade and likes moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. After flowering, prune it lightly to maintain shape. Chimonanthus 'Praecox Wintersweet' True to its name, Chimonathus fills the garden with powerful scent and delicate winter display. It’s more of a shrub that can grow up to 4m. The flowers appear on bare branches, catching the light beautifully on sunny days.•    When It Flowers - From December to February.•    Blooming Time - Around 6 to 8 weeks.•    What You'll See - Pale yellow, waxy flowers, with a sweet fragrance, appearing on bare branches. Care & Maintenance - Plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil, ideally against a south-facing wall for some extra warmth. Prune it after flowering to encourage better blooms the following year. Camellia sasanqua 'Winter's Snowman' A beautiful evergreen winter-flowering tree. It’s the earliest camellia to flower, often brightening the garden before Christmas.•    When It Flowers - From October to January.•    Blooming Time - Usually 6 to 10 weeks, depending on the weather.•    What You'll See - Elegant, semi-double white blooms with golden centres, set against glossy evergreen leaves. Care & Maintenance - It prefers acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade. Ideally, keep it away from morning sun, which can scorch frost-covered buds. Make sure to water it well in dry spells. Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ Winter-Flowering Cherry This beautiful cherry tree bridges the gap between autumn and spring. Its gentle blossoms glow against grey skies making it a stunning sight in winter. Still, the bloom level depends on mild outdoor conditions.•    When It Flowers - From late October right through to March, often peaking during mild autumn spells.•    Blooming Time - It flowers on and off for several months.•    What You'll See - Soft pink to white blossoms that open on bare branches. Care & Maintenance - It’s happiest in a sunny, sheltered spot and needs protection from cold winds and heavy frost, which can shorten its flowering time. Discover Flowering Trees for Every Season at Arundel Arboretum Are you ready to make your garden spectacular with seasonal flowering trees? At Arundel Arboretum, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of flowering trees for every season. We choose them for their beauty, resilience, and suitability to UK gardens. If you want to create a truly amazing year-round display of colour, our expert team can help you choose the right trees for your soil, space, and style. Visit us at our nursery in the historic town of Arundel, in the heart of West Sussex, or explore our online store if you prefer buying online. 

Quercus robur / English Oak Quercus robur is a slow growing broad-headed tree with rugged branches. Quercus robur is a tree to admire as a specimen. Quercus robur is renowed as a British stately tree. The oak wood is good for furniture making and building. Quercus suber / Cork Oak Quercus suber is a medium sized evergreen tree. However, during the late spring\early summer it will shed its foliage. It is a beautiful, architectural tree. It is usually clear stemmed with a spreading habit. The bark is thick and corky and provides the corks for your wine bottles! It is a slow growing tree with oval\oblong leaves. Quercus ilex / Evergreen Oak-Holm Oak-Holly Oak Quercus ilex is a large majestic tree. Its leathery leaves are dark glossy green above, and greyish downy beneath. A tree that takes pruning, and will also grow in a shady area. A salt tolerant tree. Quercus ilex is used a lot for screening. Quercus rubra / American red Oak Quercus rubra is a fast growing, broad-headed large deciduous tree. It has an open, spreading crown with leaves that can grow in excess of 20cm. Its large green leaves turn a ruby-red then brown in the autumn. Quercus rubra produces insignificant green flowers in the spring. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade. Plant in a sheltered or exposed position. Quercus rubra has an eventual height of 12m and a spread of 8m.

Prunus Shimidsu Sakura ‘Blushing Bride’ Prunus Shimidsu Sakura ‘Blushing Bride’ is a Japanese flowering cherry with an elegant spreading habit. Large double, delicate flowers hang down in large bunches in April-May. They open pink and fade to a bright white as the season progresses. Prunus Shimidsu Sakura ‘Blushing Bride’ is pollutant tolerant and is therefore good for urban areas. The green foliage turns orange and red in the autumn. Prunus Shimidsu Sakura ‘Blushing Bride’ cannot tolerate wet or shallow chalky soils. Prunus ‘Pandora’ Prunus ‘Pandora’ is a small deciduous tree with a broadly vase-shaped canopy and upright habit. Single, very pale pink flowers appear in spring, which are followed by green leaves, which turn pale yellow in the autumn. The young bark is a radiant brown. Prunus ‘Pandora’ has an eventual height of 8-12m and a spread of 4-8m. It prefers a moist, well-drained soil and can be planted in full sun in either a sheltered or exposed position. Prunus ‘Kanzan’ Prunus ‘Kanzan’ is a medium sized deciduous tree, with a broadly vase-shaped habit when young, but taking on a more spreading habit as the tree matures. In spring, large, purplish-pink double flowers appear which open from crimson buds. The bronze young foliage turns green in the summer. Prunus ‘Kanzan’ can be planted in full sun in either a sheltered or exposed position. It prefers a moist, well-drained soil and has an eventual height of 8-12m and a spread of 8m+. Prunus ‘Ukon’ Prunus ‘Ukon’ is a robust, ornamental cherry with a spreading habit.  It has creamy double flowers which open from pink buds in the spring.  The spring foliage is bronze which turns red and purple in the autumn.  Prunus ‘Ukon’ can tolerate most soils and will grow in full sun or partial shade, and is hardy.  It has an eventual height (in 20 years) of approximately 6m and a spread of approximately 4m. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ / Winter flowering Cherry Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ is a small tree with semi-double pale pink flowers from November to March on bare branches. The flowers are followed by small fruits, which are good for birds. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ has green foliage which turns shades of orange/yellow in the autumn. It is ideal for small gardens and is pollution tolerant, so is a tree suitable for urban areas. It will thrive in most conditions, but does not like wet soil or shallow chalk. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ can be planted in a sunny location, with little or no protection. Prunus serrula / Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrula is a small, deciduous spreading tree. The outstanding mahogany\red bark is the main feature of this tree in the winter when all the leaves are off. Prunus serrula  has mid-green leaves which turn orange\yellow in the autumn. Prunus serrula produces small clusters of white flowers in the spring but they are virtually concealed by the narrow, willow-like leaves. Prunus serrula will grow in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 8-12m and a spread of 8m+. Prunus ‘Okame’ Prunus ‘Okame’ is a splendid small tree with ascending branches. These are covered with an abundance of shell pink single flowers in March and April. The dark green leaves turn orange and red in the autumn. It has an eventual  height of approximately 4m and a spread of 4m. It can therefore be considered for a small garden. Prunus ‘Okame’ can be planted in full sun, in a moist, fertile soil. It will not, however be happy in waterlogged or permanently wet conditions. It is tolerant of pollution and popular with bees. Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ / Flagpole Cherry Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ is a small, narrow column tree with upright branches.  It is ideal for a small garden, with an eventual height of approximately 19′.  In April, Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ produces clusters of large fragrant single or semi-double shell pink flowers. The foliage is bronze-green in the spring, turning to mid-green during the summer months, turning orange\red in the autumn.  Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ is very tolerant of pollution, so it is an ideal tree for urban areas. Prunus avium ‘Plena’ / Cherry Prunus avium ‘Plena’ is a medium sized deciduous, spreading tree. It produces pendulous clusters of pure white double flowers in the spring. The mid green leaves turn red and orange in the autumn. Prunus avium ‘Plena’ can be positioned in full sun, in a sheltered or exposed spot. It prefers moist, well-drained soil. It is a noticeable specimen with an eventual height of 8-12m and a spread of 8m+. Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii Nigra’ / Purple-leaved Plum Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii Nigra’ is a  small purple leaved tree. It flowers in early spring. The pale pink flowers emerge from a mass of pink buds. Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii Nigra’ is a massed branched, deciduous tree which is sometimes used for screening. It is a very easy tree to grow and can withstand hard pruning. Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii Nigra’ can produce plums, but when it feels like it! It is not therefore, a regular fruiting tree. It has an eventual height of 8m and a spread of 6m. Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare Sakura’ / ‘Cheal’s Weeping’ Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare Sakura’ is an ornamental, deciduous weeping tree more commonly known as ‘Cheal’s Weeping’. It produces double pink flowers in spring. These are followed by coppery-green leaves that turn deeper into spring and summer. The leaves turn bronze and orange in the autumn. Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare Sakura’ is an ideal tree for a small garden, with an eventual height of 3-5m. However, it does require room to spread its pendulous branches. Its graceful crown shape gives an architectural shape to the garden, whether planted as a specimen tree or part of a border. It can tolerate most soils, but does not like very wet, shallow or chalky conditions. This tree is a tough little tree and tolerant of pollution. Prunus ‘Royal Burgundy’ Prunus ‘Royal Burgundy’ is a small, spreading deciduous tree. It has deep wine\purple leaves which turn bright scarlet in the autumn. Double pink flowers appear in the spring. Prunus ‘Royal Burgundy’ has an eventual height of 5m and a spread of 3m. It will not thrive in very wet or chalky soils. Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ is a small deciduous flowering cherry. It is adorned in late spring with double pink\white flowers which emerge from pink buds. It is a vigorous and wide spreading tree. The leaves are coppery when young, turning green. These turn orange\red in the autumn. Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ can be planted in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. It has an eventual height and spread of 5-10m. Prunus ‘Shirotae’ / Mount Fuji Cherry Prunus ‘Shirotae’ is a small, deciduous  tree with wide-spreading horizontal or slightly drooping branches. This creates a spreading flat crown. The flowers are single to semi-double, fragrant snow white. They appear in large clusters and amass this beautiful tree. The young green foliage turn orange\red in the autumn. Prunus ‘Shirotae’ can be planted in full sun in an exposed or sheltered position. It has an eventual height and spread of 4-8m, and should be planted in a moist, well-drained soil. We are often asked what variety this tree is when its in its full state of flowering as it is so noticeable. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ / Pink flowering Cherry Prunus x subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ is a small deciduous tree. It has arching, pendulous branches which creates a weeping, graceful tree.  Single deep rose-pink flowers emerge in spring from red buds. The ovate green leaves turn orange and red in the autumn. This tree is ideal for a small garden and can be pruned to restrict its width. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Pendula Rubra’ can be planted in full sun in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 2.5m and a spread of 4m, and should be planted in a moist, well-drained soil. Prunus ‘Tai Haku’ / Great White Cherry Prunus ‘Tai Haku’ is a medium-large deciduous ornamental cherry tree. It has a broad, spreading crown. The young rich coppery-red leaves appear in spring, turning green in the summer. They turn yellow\orange in the autumn. Beautiful, large white flowers emerge in spring from pink buds. Prunus ‘Tai Haku’ can be planted in full sun in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of 8m+. This tree is often known as the Great White Cherry. Prunus x yedoensis/Yoshino (Japanese) Cherry Prunus x yedoensis is a wide spreading deciduous tree. The ovate green leaves turn yellow\golden in the autumn. The flowers appear in spring and are almost white with pink stamens and a slight scent of almonds. Prunus x yedoensis can be planted in full sun in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 12m+ and a spread of 8m+ and should be planted in a moist, well-drained soil.