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The Acer palmatum 'Brown Sugar' is a captivating Japanese maple variety known for its dense, bushy form and striking foliage. This compact, deciduous tree features vibrant leaves that transition from a rich burgundy in spring to a deep brownish-red in summer, and finally to fiery orange and red hues in autumn. With an elegant, multi-branched structure, it typically reaches heights of 8-10 feet, making it ideal for small gardens, containers, or as a stunning focal point in any landscape. ‘Brown Sugar’ thrives best in partial shade to full sun, preferring well-drained soil with regular moisture. Resistant to many pests and diseases, this tree offers year-round beauty and low maintenance, enhancing any outdoor space with its unique color palette and form.

Acer palmatum 'Fireglow', commonly known as the Fireglow Japanese Maple, is a deciduous shrub or small tree celebrated for its vibrant foliage and graceful form. Reaching an ultimate height and spread of approximately 4 metres over 10 to 20 years, it presents a bushy, upright habit suitable for various garden settings. 

The leaves of 'Fireglow' are deeply lobed, typically with 5 to 7 slender, pointed lobes. In spring, the foliage emerges with a pinkish-red hue, grlly maturing to dark green heavily flushed with dark red during the summer months. As autumn approaches, the leaves transition to a string purple-red, offena dynamic display of colour throughout the growing season. 

This cultivar is noted for its relatively thin leaves, which allow sunlight to filter through, creating a luminous effect that enhances its fiery appearance—hence the name Fireglow'. This chartistic is particularly pronounced when the tree is positioned to catch the morning or evening sun, making the foliage ar as though it's glowing. 

'Fireglow' is appreciated for its moderate growth rate and wbranched structure, forming a broad crown at maturity. Its size and form make it an excellent choice for providing shade in small courtyards and patios. 

In terms of cultivation, 'Fireglow' thrives in moist but well-drained soils and can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Whe it is more sun-tort than some other Japanese Maple cultivars, providing some protection from harsh afternoon sunlight can help prevent leaf scorch. Mulching around base helps retain soil moisture and keep the roots cool. This cultivar is hardy in most parts of the UK. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring little pruning—typically limited to removing dead or crossing branches to maintain its shape. If pruning is necessary, it should be done during the dormant season, avoidg early spring whenhsap is rising. Regular watering during dry periods and fertilising in spring before the leaves emerge will support healthy growth. 

This cultivar is versatile in garden design, serving well as a specimen plant in cottage, city, or Japanese-themed gardens. Its vibrant foliage provides a striking contrast when paired with plants that have green or variegated leaves, enhancing the overall visual interest of the landscape.

In summary, Acer palmatum 'Fireglow' offers a combination of aesthetic appeal and adaptability, making it a valuable addition to various garden settings.

Olea Europea is one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants with Mediterranean origin. It’s a wonderful, slow-growing, long-lived, evergreen tree of very attractive habit and spreading crown, with gnarled, twisted trunk and silvery foliage. The elliptic leaves are grey-green, silvery underneath. Tiny, fragrant, white flowers are followed by small, olive-rich, plum-like fruits, harvested when they are green or purple. Fruits are not edible directly from the tree, but after a special treatment. Common Olive grows best in fertile, loamy, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Once established, it is drought-tolerant. It thrives in warm climates. If grown in colder areas, it should be planted in containers and brought inside during the winter. Generally, disease-free. Olea Europea is mostly grown for its tasteful fruits, but it is also an attractive-looking addition to urban, coastal, Mediterranean, or rock and gravel gardens. It is suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Acer griseum is a small, oval to rounded, spreading, deciduous tree with upright branching. It is known for its stunning exfoliating copper-orange and reddish-brown bark and beautiful foliage colours. The bark is constantly peeling into thin papery curls revealing new, cinnamon-brown bark which makes it extremely ornamental and attractive. Leaves are dark green above and silvery green with fine hairs beneath. They turn into beautiful shades of orange and red in autumn. Small yellowish flowers are replaced by winged samaras. Acer griseum prefers slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but can grow in almost any type of soil, even clay soil. It prefers full sun or part shade and doesn’t tolerate drought. Propagation is difficult because most of its seed is sterile, but at the same time, it will not produce unwanted seedlings. Very attractive tree for small yards, urban gardens, and woodland gardens. Perfect for a front yard accent. An outstanding ornamental tree for all four seasons.

Malus communis 'Fuji' trained as an espalier is an elegant and highly productive apple tree, ideal for gardens where space is limited but fruit and ornamental value are desired. Carefully trained onto a frame it creates a striking architectural feature against walls, fences, or support wires while allowing excellent sunlight exposure and airflow. In spring, the branches are covered with attractive white to pale pink blossom, bringing seasonal beauty and attracting pollinators to the garden.

By autumn, the tree produces large, crisp apples with a sweet, juicy flavour and excellent texture. ‘Fuji’ is widely prized for its refreshing taste, making the fruit ideal for eating fresh, juicing, or storing for later use. The espalier form keeps the plant compact and manageable, making pruning, harvesting, and general maintenance far easier than with a full-sized tree.

Best grown in a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil, this variety performs reliably in many UK gardens. Its trained habit makes it especially useful for patios, kitchen gardens, courtyards, and narrow borders. Malus communis ‘Fuji’ espalier combines decorative blossom, practical structure, and delicious homegrown fruit in one beautiful and space-efficient tree.

Malus 'Gorgeous' is a well-loved decorative crabapple tree cherished for its abundant and vibrant pink blossoms that appear in spring. This deciduous tree's stunning springtime display is a spectacle, as the blooms densely populate the branches, offering a breathtaking view and attracting various pollinators, enhancing local biodiversity. The lavish blossoms eventually give way to glossy, small, red fruit, which persist well into winter, providing a continuous supply of food for birds and wildlife, thus contributing to the ecological balance of the garden landscape.

This variety of crabapple stands out for its overall robustness and resilience, often proving to be disease-resistant, making it a favorable choice among garden enthusiasts and landscape designers. The lush green foliage that accompanies the flowers and fruit adds a contrasting backdrop, enriching the visual appeal of the tree throughout the various seasons.

Malus 'Gorgeous' generally achieves a moderate height and spread, making it suitable for gardens of various sizes, including smaller urban gardens. Its ability to adapt to different soil types and conditions contributes to its popularity. The striking aesthetic value and ecological benefits of Malus 'Gorgeous' make it a quintessential element for creating a lively and colorful landscape, particularly in regions that experience a prominent change in seasons.

Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ is a small, dense, slow-growing, evergreen shrub of dense, rounded habit, with grey to black stems, and small, leathery, wavy-margined, glossy, variegated, dark purple leaves, light green when young. Sometimes, small, inconspicuous, fragrant, white flowers bloom in late spring and early summer.

Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ is easily grown in fertile, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. It can adapt to various types of soil, as long as they are well-drained. It thrives in mild climates, in sunny, sheltered positions, and is perfect for coastal areas. In colder climates, it should be grown in containers and brought inside during the winter. Low maintenance plant. Generally, pest-free.

Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ is an interesting plant, ideal to be planted against a warm, south-facing wall or in shrub or mixed borders. Excellent as an accent plant in rock and gravel gardens. Great for growing in containers.

Pyrus communis 'Concorde' is a compact deciduous tree with ovate green leaves, white flowers blooming in spring, and edible, well-flavoured pears with yellow-green to golden yellow skin, blushed red, ready for harvesting in October. The flesh is soft, sweet, and juicy. Reliable and heavy cropper. Pyrus communis 'Concorde' is a cross between a ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenné du Comice’ pear and takes the best attributes of each – heavy cropping of ‘Conference’ and juicy flavour of ‘Comice’. It thrives in neutral, loamy or sandy, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. Flower buds may be damaged by late spring frosts. Very well suited for British climate. It is self-fertile but it crops better with another pollinator nearby. No serious disease problems. Requires regular pruning. ‘Concorde’ pears are wonderful all-purpose fruits, great when eaten fresh or cooked. When cooked they keep their shape and flavour even in high heat.

Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ is a medium-sized, compact, mounded deciduous shrub with exfoliating bark on mature branches, and ovate, three-lobed, bright golden-yellow leaves when young, lime-green when mature, yellow-bronze in autumn. Small, pink-tinted, creamy-white flowers in dense, flat, rounded clusters bloom in late spring and early summer and are followed by reddish fruit. Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ prefers average, dry to medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade, but can tolerate a wide range of soils. Doesn’t like hot and humid climates. If planted in chalky soil, susceptible to chlorosis. Very resilient, can grow in harsh conditions. It is very tolerant of urban pollution, therefore, suitable for growing in cities. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ is best used for mass planting in shrub borders and wall-side borders, or for hedges and screens. Great for erosion control on banks and slopes.

Malus communis trained as a mature four-branch espalier is an excellent choice for gardens where beauty, productivity, and space efficiency are equally important. Carefully shaped with four horizontal tiers of branches, it creates a formal architectural feature that looks striking against walls, fences, or boundary lines while producing delicious apples. This trained form is especially valuable in smaller gardens, courtyards, kitchen gardens, and narrow spaces where a traditional orchard tree would be too large.

In spring, the tree is covered with attractive blossom that brings seasonal colour and helps support pollinators. Through summer, the neatly arranged branches carry developing fruit, followed by a rewarding harvest in autumn. Even in winter, the structured framework provides strong visual interest and classic garden character.

Espalier-trained apples perform best in a sunny, open position with fertile, well-drained soil. A south or west-facing wall can improve ripening and protect blossom from late frosts. Regular pruning is needed to maintain the elegant tiered shape and encourage productive fruiting spurs, making it ideal for gardeners who enjoy hands-on care and training.

Euonymous alatus is a large, dense, spreading deciduous shrub with oval, green leaves, that turn spectacularly scarlet-red in autumn. Tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in spring and summer, and are followed by highly ornamental purple and red fruits in autumn and throughout the winter. Bare winter branches are attractive because of their “corky” wings. Euonymous alatus can grow in a wide range of soils, but thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It prefers full sun and the best leaf colour is achieved in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Generally, pest-free. Attractive to birds. It can withstand severe pruning, and has a tendency to be invasive. Euonymous alatus is a stunning shrub with beautiful fiery red autumn foliage, hence the name Burning Bush. It is perfect as a specimen plant, great for informal hedges and screens, wall-side borders, and shrub borders. Best-looking when planted against evergreens.

A Ligustrum texanum shaped as a ball is a beautifully refined ornamental shrub that brings structure, symmetry, and elegance to any garden design. Carefully trained and pruned, it develops into a perfectly rounded sphere of dense, glossy green foliage. Each leaf is small, oval, and leathery, creating a smooth, uniform surface that enhances the plant’s sculpted appearance. When maintained regularly, the spherical shape remains crisp and tidy, offering a polished, contemporary look suitable for both formal landscapes and modern outdoor spaces.

In spring and early summer, the shrub may produce small clusters of creamy white flowers, adding a gentle fragrance and a touch of seasonal interest. Though subtle, these blooms contrast attractively with the deep green leaves, giving the ball shape an added dimension. Its evergreen nature ensures the structure remains intact throughout the year, providing year-round colour and architectural stability even in winter.

Because of its compact habit and adaptability, a Ligustrum texanum ball works beautifully in pairs flanking entrances, in rows along pathways, or as a single specimen in a pot. With consistent pruning and occasional feeding, it becomes a long-lasting, elegant feature that enhances both classic and contemporary garden styles.

Prunus avium, or Wild Cherry, is a medium-sized deciduous cherry tree, with brown bark, silvery when mature, and serrated, dark green leaves, yellow and orange in autumn. The clusters of pure white flowers bloom in late spring and are followed by small, glossy, red-purple cherries, edible but a bit bitter, ready for harvesting in summer or autumn. Attractive to bees and birds. Toxic for pets.

Wild Cherry thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, in full sun. It can adapt to a wide range of soils, but doesn’t tolerate too wet soils, therefore, good drainage is essential. It can withstand frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. Late frosts may damage the flower buds. Needs periodic chemical spraying. Low maintenance plant.

Prunus avium is a nice ornamental tree for large informal, cottage and wildlife gardens, great for beds and borders and wall-side borders.

Magnolia Susan is a beautiful flowering tree known for its stunning blooms and attractive foliage. This deciduous tree is a member of the magnolia family and is a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers for its showy flowers that come in shades of pink and purple. The Magnolia Susan typically grows to a height of 10-15 feet and can spread up to 12 feet wide. It has a dense, upright growth habit and produces large, tulip-shaped flowers in mid to late spring. The flowers are about 5 inches across and have a sweet fragrance that fills the air. The leaves of the Magnolia Susan are glossy and dark green, with a slightly wavy margin. They are oval-shaped and can grow up to 6 inches long. In the fall, the leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow before dropping for the winter.

Prunus avium 'Regina' is a compact, upright, bushy, deciduous, cherry tree with ovate, toothed, dark green leaves, orange and red in autumn, and masses of lovely white flowers with yellow stamens, blooming in mid-spring. Flowers are followed by sweet, delicious, aromatic, glossy, very dark red cherries, ready for harvesting in mid-summer. Prunus avium 'Regina' can grow in a wide range of soils, as long as they are well-drained, but prefers moderately fertile, loose, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. It can withstand low temperatures, but needs to be sheltered from harsh winter winds. Late frost may damage the flower buds. Fairly tolerant of wind and resistant to cracking. It is not self-fertile, requires a pollinating partner planted nearby. Prunus avium 'Regina' is primarily grown for its delicious cherries but it is also very decorative, great as a specimen plant or planted against a wall or a fence. The fruit can be eaten fresh or preserved.

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' is a purple-leaved Japanese maple of great beauty and quality. This large deciduous shrub or a small rounded tree has attractive, deeply lobed wine-red to purple leaves that become blood red in autumn. Small, inconspicuous, red flowers that bloom in spring are followed by samaras. Its striking blackish red bark makes it attractive even in winter when leaves fall off. Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, in full sun or partial shade. It doesn’t like hot and dry locations. It is very hardy and needs sheltering only in extreme cold weather or from harsh winds. Easy to care for, it requires very little pruning. Lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch. This attractive plant is perfect for small gardens, urban gardens, or rock gardens. It is also suitable for growing in containers and pots.

Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala, commonly known as the Amur maple, is a small, ornamental tree or large shrub admired for its hardiness, compact size, and brilliant seasonal color. Typically growing 4 to 6 meters in height and spread, it features glossy, lobed green leaves that turn spectacular shades of red, orange, and yellow in autumn. In spring, clusters of small, fragrant white flowers appear, followed by distinctive paired winged seeds. Adaptable and resilient, the Amur maple thrives in a range of soils and conditions, including urban environments. Its manageable size and vibrant display make it perfect for gardens, parks, and streetscapes. It can also be grown as a multi-stemmed specimen, offering year-round interest and supporting local wildlife.

Pot grown from seed at Arundel Arboretum.

Sorbus aucuparia, or European Mountain Ash, is a vigorous, deciduous tree with oval, upright habit when young, rounded when mature and pinnate, serrated, dark green leaves, yellow, red, and purple in autumn. Flat-topped clusters of small, white flowers bloom in late spring and are followed by a profusion of bright orange-red berries. Attractive to birds and bees. European Mountain Ash prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but is adaptable to various soil conditions, even poor and dry. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is resistant to frost and can withstand wind and short floods. Doesn’t like hot and humid summers. Very easy to grow, tolerant of urban pollution and exposed areas. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Sorbus aucuparia is an attractive ornamental tree, perfect for cool northern climates. Great for cottage, wildlife, and urban gardens. Excellent as a street tree. Suitable for growing in containers on patios and roof gardens.

Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis,' commonly known as the Imperial Alder, is a cultivar of the European alder (Alnus glutinosa) renowned for its striking ornamental qualities. This deciduous tree is a favoUrite among landscape enthusiasts and horticulturists for its impressive appearance and adaptability.

Imperial Alder typically reaches a height of 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) and forms a broadly pyramidal shape. Its dark green, glossy leaves are deeply cut and serrated, measuring about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in length. During the growing season, the foliage provides a lush and vibrant backdrop to garden landscapes.

One of the standout features of Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis' is its stunning catkins. In late winter or early spring, long, pendulous catkins emerge, adding a unique and captivating element to the tree's appearance. These catkins sway gracefully in the wind, creating a charming visual effect. Additionally, this cultivar displays a lovely yellow fall coloUr, which adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.

Imperial Alder is highly adaptable to various soil types and moisture conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of environments. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for gardens and parks. Its ability to tolerate wet soil and even occasional flooding makes it an excellent choice for riparian zones or areas prone to seasonal waterlogging.

Beyond its aesthetic value, Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis' also contributes to the ecosystem by supporting various wildlife species. Its catkins provide a source of food for birds and insects, and its roots help stabilize soil along riverbanks and wetland areas.

In summary, Alnus glutinosa 'Imperialis' is a captivating cultivar of the European alder celebrated for its striking appearance, adaptability, and ecological contributions. Whether used as a focal point in a garden or to enhance riparian habitats, this tree adds a touch of elegance and functionality to its surroundings.