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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.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘François Treyve’ is an outstanding evergreen standard tree, valued for its bold foliage, elegant form, and spectacular summer flowers. Trained on a clear stem, it develops a dense, rounded crown of large, glossy, dark green leaves with attractive rich brown, felted undersides, providing year-round structure and colour. From early to mid-summer, it produces impressive, creamy-white, cup-shaped blooms with a powerful, sweet fragrance, creating a striking focal point and adding a touch of Mediterranean character to the garden.

This variety is more compact and hardier than many evergreen magnolias, making it particularly suitable for gardens in cooler climates. It thrives in a sheltered, sunny to lightly shaded position in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and is ideal for patios, lawns, entranceways, and formal plantings. The standard form allows light to filter beneath the canopy, enabling underplanting with shade-tolerant shrubs or perennials. Requiring minimal pruning and offering excellent wind tolerance once established, Magnolia ‘François Treyve’ is a long-lived, low-maintenance tree that delivers year-round interest, fragrance, and architectural elegance.

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.

Acer palmatum 'Shaina' is a slow-growing, dense, compact, upright, slightly columnar, deciduous shrub or small tree with globe-shaped habit and beautiful, narrowly lobed, deeply-divided leaves, bright red in spring, ruby red in summer, crimson red in autumn. Small, inconspicuous flowers bloom in spring and are followed by winged seed pods. Acer palmatum 'Shaina' prefers fertile, humus-rich, loamy or sandy, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in partial shade but is adaptable to full sun. Best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade. Excessive exposure to sun or lack of soil moisture can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but has to be protected from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, needs little to no pruning. Japanese maple 'Shaina' is a gorgeous red-leaved Japanese maple perfect for small informal, cottage, urban, gravel or Japanese-style gardens. Great for beds and borders. Excellent for growing in containers.

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' on a small 40cm clear stem with a total height of 80cm is a striking ornamental plant, perfect for website descriptions. This plant features a clear, straight stem that is 40cm in height, supporting a dense, rounded crown of glossy leaves. The young foliage emerges in a bright, vibrant red, creating a striking contrast against the older, dark green leaves. As the plant matures, the leaves gradually turn to a deep, rich green, maintaining their glossy sheen.

With a total height of 80cm, this Photinia is compact and ideal for small gardens, patios, or as a potted plant. It's a versatile shrub, popular for its year-round interest and low maintenance requirements. It thrives in well-drained soil and prefers a position in full sun to partial shade, where its colors are most vibrant.

Its ability to withstand pruning makes it a popular choice for creating structured looks or hedges. The plant also produces small white flowers in the spring, although these are often overshadowed by the stunning foliage. This Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a splash of color and elegance to their garden or outdoor space.

Laurus nobilis ½ std, or Bay Laurel, is a dense, compact, slow-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree of pyramidal habit, dark grey bark, and aromatic, narrowly ovate, leathery, dark green leaves used in cooking, especially in French and Mediterranean cuisine. Clusters of small, yellowish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by glossy, dark purple, berry-like drupes. Bay Laurel can grow in a wide range of soils, as long as they are well-drained, but thrives in fertile, moist, and well-drained soils. It prefers full sun, but doesn’t mind partial shade. It is tolerant of salt, therefore, suitable for coastal areas. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. In colder climates, it needs to be grown in containers and brought inside during the winter. Laurus nobilis ½ std is a wonderful, long-lived shrub, perfect as a specimen plant or planted in groups. Suitable for growing in containers, great as a topiary, and excellent for hedges and screens. Essential for herb garden.

Betula 'Royal Frost', commonly known as the purple birch, is a striking deciduous tree celebrated for its vivid foliage and elegant form. Reaching an ultimate height of approximately 8–12 metres with a spread exceeding 8 metres, it boasts an upright yet spreading habit, making it a commanding presence in any landscape.

In spring and summer, the tree displays deep burgundy to dark purple leaves, which contrast beautifully against its smooth white bark—a feature that becomes more pronounced as the tree matures. Come autumn, the foliage transforms into a vibrant yellow, adding seasonal interest . For the most intense leaf colour, a position in full sun is ideal, though it will tolerate partial shade; however, leaves may appear greener in shadier spots.

'Royal Frost' thrives in a variety of soil types, including loam, sand, clay, and chalk, provided the soil is moist but well-drained. It is adaptable to a range of pH levels, from acidic to alkaline, and is hardy throughout the UK, even in severe winters . This cultivar is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning—typically just the removal of any broken, diseased, or crossing branches during late autumn or winter.

Due to its distinctive colouring and form, Betula 'Royal Frost' serves as an excellent specimen tree or focal point in garden designs. Its year-round appeal, from the rich summer foliage to the striking winter bark, ensures it remains a standout feature across all seasons.

Acer palmatum ‘Inosukaza’ is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a graceful, fine-textured ornamental tree that brings year-round interest to a variety of landscape styles. Its deeply dissected green leaves and naturally cascading, airy branching structure give it a soft, elegant appearance that works beautifully as a feature plant in small to medium gardens. Although visually delicate, it is generally hardy and adaptable, thriving in temperate climates where it receives protection from harsh afternoon sun and drying winds.

This cultivar prefers partial shade, especially in hotter regions, where filtered light helps prevent leaf scorch and maintains vibrant summer color. It also performs well in lightly dappled woodland settings, Japanese-inspired gardens, and courtyard plantings. With its moderate growth rate and compact habit, ‘Inosukaza’ is suitable for planting near patios, water features, or pathways where its intricate leaf shape can be appreciated up close.

In autumn, the foliage transforms into warm tones of yellow, orange, or soft red, adding seasonal drama without overwhelming surrounding plants. It is best grown in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. With consistent watering and gentle shelter, Acer palmatum ‘Inosukaza’ rewards gardeners with refined beauty and reliable performance.

Picea glauca 'Sander's Blue', commonly known as 'Sander's Blue' White Spruce, is a stunning dwarf conifer prized for its vibrant blue-green needles that add a colorful accent to any garden space. This cultivar exhibits a compact, pyramidal form, making it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes or as a focal point in a larger garden arrangement.

Typically reaching an ultimate height of 10 to 12 feet, with a spread of 4 to 5 feet, 'Sander's Blue' White Spruce grows slowly, which makes it manageable and suitable for residential gardens without the worry of overwhelming the space. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, moist soil. Hardy and adaptable, this spruce tolerates cold climates well, making it a versatile choice for various garden zones.

Gardeners often use 'Sander's Blue' as a specimen plant due to its distinctive color and structured form. It also fits beautifully into rock gardens, urban gardens, and even as part of a conifer collection, where its unique hue can be fully appreciated against contrasting greenery.

Catalpa biganoides ‘Purpurea’ is a fast-growing, medium-sized deciduous tree with a wide-spreading growth habit and large, heart-shaped leaves, glossy purple when young, dark-green and purple as they mature. Trumpet-shaped, creamy white flowers marked with yellow and purple brown, grow in upright clusters throughout spring and summer, and are followed by long, bean-shaped fruit. Hence the name Indian Bean Tree. Catalpa biganoides ‘Purpurea’ will tolerate any kind of soil as long as it is well-drained, but prefers fertile, moist soils in full sun. It needs to be sheltered from hard winds and protected from spring frosts when young. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Very resilient, easy to grow and low maintenance. Catalpa biganoides ‘Purpurea’ is a hybrid between Catalpa bignonioides and C. ovata that originated in France more than 100 years ago. It is an attractive shade tree, great for cottage and informal gardens, parks and streets.

Magnolia 'Sunsation' clear stem is a breath taking ornamental tree ideal for garden landscapes, featuring a strong, upright trunk and a canopy of large, goblet-shaped yellow flowers blushed with pink at the base. Blooming in late spring, it offers a vibrant burst of colour after many early-season magnolias have finished, extending the flowering season. Its clear stem form gives it an elegant, structured appearance, perfect as a focal point in lawns, borders, or courtyard plantings. This deciduous tree thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil and prefers full sun to partial shade. Magnolia 'Sunsation' is best placed in a sheltered spot to protect its blooms from strong winds. It's a magnet for pollinators and adds striking beauty to any garden setting.

Acer saccharinum 'Pyramidale', also known as the Pyramid Silver Maple, is a striking, fast-growing deciduous tree known for its strong, upright form and elegant foliage. Reaching a mature height of 20 to 25 meters with a spread of 10 to 15 meters, it forms a tall, narrowly oval canopy, making it ideal for spaces needing vertical emphasis. Its deeply lobed green leaves shimmer with silvery undersides, creating a beautiful, dynamic effect in the wind. In early spring, small red flowers appear before the leaves, offering subtle seasonal interest. 'Pyramidale' thrives in a wide range of soils, including wetter areas, and is highly adaptable to urban conditions. It provides quick shade, adds architectural interest, and brings year-round texture and movement to landscapes and parks.

Acer palmatum 'Ryusen' is a stunning cultivar of the Japanese maple tree, highly valued for its unique and graceful weeping habit. It is a deciduous tree that grows up to 10-12 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, with a dense and cascading canopy that forms a beautiful dome shape. Its branches are covered in delicate and deeply cut leaves, which emerge in spring as a vibrant green color and turn into golden-yellow in the fall. One of the most striking features of 'Ryusen' is its cascading habit, which makes it a perfect choice for small gardens or landscapes where space is limited. The tree's slender and flexible branches can be trained to grow over walls, fences, or trellises, creating a stunning vertical effect. In Japan, 'Ryusen' is often used as a bonsai tree, where its graceful weeping habit is highly appreciated. ' Ryusen' is a hardy tree that thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soils. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only regular watering during dry periods and occasional pruning to maintain its shape and prevent overcrowding.

Taxodium distichum 'Pendula', commonly known as the Weeping Bald Cypress, is a captivating ornamental tree renowned for its unique form and striking foliage. This cultivar of the native Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer, meaning it sheds its needles in the fall, revealing a graceful, architectural framework. It can reach up to 20 feet in height, but is notable more for its width and weeping habit than for its height.

The tree boasts feathery, light green needles that turn a rich coppery-brown before dropping in autumn, offering seasonal interest. In spring, fresh green foliage emerges, creating a lush, soft appearance. The Weeping Bald Cypress thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils. It's particularly well-suited for waterside plantings, where it can reflect its beauty in the water, but also adapts well to urban environments.

Resistant to pests and diseases, this low-maintenance tree is a fantastic choice for adding structure and elegance to landscapes. Its distinctive weeping form makes it a focal point in gardens, parks, or along streets.

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.

Sorbus aucuparia 'Sheerwater Seedling' is a decorative and hardy variety of rowan, or mountain ash tree, particularly noted for its profuse clusters of bright red berries and lush, pinnate, green leaves. Originating in Europe, this cultivar is recognized for its more compact and upright growth habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens or landscapes. It typically reaches heights of around 15 meters.

The 'Sheerwater Seedling' unfolds its beauty in every season. In spring, it brings forth dense clusters of creamy-white flowers, attracting a myriad of pollinators. As summer progresses, these flowers give way to vibrant, red berries, which become a primary food source for birds, especially in winter months. By autumn, the foliage turns into a fiery spectacle of oranges, reds, and yellows, creating a striking contrast with the bold berries.

Besides its aesthetic attributes, the 'Sheerwater Seedling' is valued for its adaptability and resilience. It thrives in a range of soil types, and its robust nature allows it to withstand urban pollution and harsh weather conditions. The resilience and prolific berry production make it a valuable addition to wildlife gardens, providing shelter and sustenance to various bird species and other fauna. Its attractive features and hardiness make it a popular choice for both ornamental and ecological plantings.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Galissonniere' is an exotic evergreen tree of conical to spreading pyramidal habit, with thick, leathery, glossy green leaves, velvety haired and rusty-brown beneath. Very large, saucer-shaped, creamy-white flowers with purple stamens bloom in summer and early autumn. Their fragrance is strong and pleasant.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Galissonniere' is easily grown in a wide range of soils, but prefers hummus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, and well-drained soils. Once established, it can withstand some drought. It thrives in full sun and partial shade. It has very good cold tolerance, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, dry winds. Low maintenance, it doesn’t require much pruning. Magnolia grandiflora 'Galissonniere' is a French variety of Southern Magnolia cultivated 150 years ago. It’s an excellent ornamental tree, often grown against the wall, rarely free-standing. Great for informal, cottage, woodland, and urban gardens. Excellent for beds and borders, informal hedges and screens, and for growing in containers.

Sorbus 'Joseph Rock', or Mountain Ash 'Joseph Rock', is a medium-sized, compact, deciduous tree of bushy, upright habit, with elegant, pinnate blue-green leaves, orange, red, and purple in autumn. Corymbs of tiny, creamy-white flowers bloom in spring and are followed by clusters of butter-yellow berries in autumn. Attractive to birds and bees.

Mountain Ash 'Joseph Rock' grows best in moderately fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but can adapt to a wide range of soil types. Once established, tolerant of drought. It is resistant to frost and wind, and tolerant of exposed conditions and air pollution. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require regular pruning.

Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' is a tough, highly ornamental tree perfect as a specimen plant in small informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Great for beds and borders, as well as informal hedges and screens. Excellent as a street tree. Suitable for growing in containers on patios or roof gardens.

Zelkova serrata, commonly known as Japanese Zelkova, is a graceful deciduous tree native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan. It is highly valued for its attractive vase-shaped form, making it an excellent choice for urban landscapes, parks, and streetscapes. The tree features finely serrated, ovate leaves that emerge bright green in spring, deepen in color through summer, and turn stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall, offering vibrant seasonal interest.

Zelkova serrata is also prized for its smooth gray bark, which exfoliates with age to reveal patches of orange and brown beneath, adding visual texture year-round. It is a hardy and adaptable species, tolerant of pollution, drought, and a variety of soil types, making it ideal for city environments. Often used as a replacement for the American elm, it is resistant to Dutch elm disease and provides reliable shade, beauty, and structure in the landscape.

Acer palmatum is a species with rich variety of deciduous trees or shrubs with elegant habits, palmate, lacy, hand-like leaves, and beautiful colourful foliage, especially in autumn. The colours vary from rich shades of yellow and golden-yellow, then red, purple, and bronze, to bright and dark green. Most Japanese maples belong to Acer palmatum species. It’s a slow-grower with an upright, bushy, compact habit, rounded to broad-rounded with layered branching structure. Acer palmatum is very adaptable and easy to grow. It prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils, but it can grow in almost any kind of soil. Leaf colour is best in partial shade, but the plant tolerates full sun very well. It needs to be protected from harsh winds. Lack of soil moisture and excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch. Acer palmatum is highly decorative and ornamental. Perfect as specimen plant, great for small, urban, cottage or rock gardens. Very suitable for growing in containers and pots.