Native trees and shrubs to grow
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Sunday, 5 May 2019 at 3:07 pm
Discover 10 native trees and shrubs to grow, including holly, hornbeam and field maple.
Save
- Share on facebook
- Share on twitter
- Share on pinterest
- Share on whatsapp
- Share on blogger
- Email to a friend
Many of the plants in our gardens originate from around the globe, brought back by plant hunters over the centuries. Yet native plants are making a comeback, and more people are choosing to grow them alongside their often more showy cousins.
Ad
Discover 10 native wildflowers to grow.
‘Native’ plants are those that arrived in the UK without any help from humans, and have thrived here for thousands of years. As they have been here so long, they support an especially wide variety of wildlife. They are also less likely to need pampering in the form of watering, fertilising and protecting against pests, as they are ideally adapted to UK conditions.
Some native trees, such as English oak (Quercus robur), are too big for the average garden, but other native trees and shrubs are ideal for smaller spaces. They can be grown as specimen trees, as focal points in borders, as hedging or topiary or grown for coppicing.
Here are 10 beautiful native trees and shrubs to grow.
Beech
Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a large, vigorous deciduous tree native to southern England and south Wales. As a tree it is too large for most gardens, but it can also been grown as a fast-growing, attractive hedge that retains its coppery autumn leaves through to spring.
Beech hedges turning golden
Spindle
The spindle, Euonymus europaeus, is a large native shrub. It comes into its own in autumn, when the foliage turns red, complementing the bright orange-pink winged fruit, which remain on the tree long after the leaves have fallen, to stunning effect.
Vivid pink and orange fruit of the spindle tree
Hornbeam
Hornbeam trees (Carpinus betulus) make superb specimen trees; they can also be grown as pleached trees. Green catkins appear in spring and winged nuts develop in autumn. Hornbeam also makes an excellent hedge.
A hedge of hornbeam
Rowan
The rowan tree or mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia, is a robust European native. It produces bunches of bright red berries in autumn which attract birds of all kinds. It succeeds particularly well in town gardens and when planted closely as a screen or informal large hedge.
Rowan trees in bloom along the back of a border
Holly
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a spiky evergreen that can be grown as a tree, bush or hedge. There are lots of varieties, many with variegated leaves, including Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata', pictured. The berries are especially popular with mistle thrushes.
A variegated holly with many red berries
Dogwood
Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) grows at the edges of woodland and in hedgerows in southern England. In the garden, it's grown for its colourful red stems in winter. It looks great in the winter garden, with evergreen shrubs and with early spring flowers at its base.
Fiery red-pink-orange branches of dogwood
Guelder rose
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) is a hardy, vigorous native shrub. It bears white flowers from late spring to early summer (popular with hoverflies), and red berries that are popular with mistle thrushes and bullfinches. Its foliage is spectacular in autumn.
Green-white flowers of the guelder rose
Strawberry tree
The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is a large, bushy, evergreen shrub that is native to Ireland. It has rough bark and dark green eaves. Its bell-shaped autumn flowers resemble those of lily of the valley, alongside fruits that resemble strawberries. A good choice for a small garden.
Strawberry tree with hanging green fruit
Field maple
Field maple (Acer campestre) is an attractive medium-sized tree that bears fresh green leaves that turn yellow and red in autumn. It's tolerant of pollution and is another good wildlife choice - it supports insects, bees, birds and small mammals.
A field maple in a flower bed
Ad
Silver birch
The silver birch (Betula) is a fantastic addition to any garden, with its white trunk (especially stunning in winter), yellow autumn foliage and light, airy canopy. It supports a very wide range of wildlife, including hundreds of types of insect, moths and birds.
White trunks of silver birch beside pink flowers
Loading...
Ad
Ad
The perfect gift for gardeners
Gift 12 months of Gardeners’ World magazine, and Niwaki Sentei Secateurs, to a loved one. Enjoy year-round expert tips for a thriving garden.
Great gardening savings - straight to your inbox
Sign up to the BBC Gardeners’ World offers newsletter for exclusive deals, seasonal savings, and early access to special promotions.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...
Loading...