Bare Root Plants

Growers choose bare root because they’re better for plants, the planet and you. Our bare root plants are freshly lifted from November and delivered to you without soil around the roots, making them cheaper to transport and also better value. Plant them from November to March and they’ll be strong, well-rooted and ready to burst into life in spring.

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Soft fruit bushes and canes (171)Bare root raspberry canes (16)Bare root trees (223)
  • 'Blenheim Orange' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £48 From £30

    'Blenheim Orange' Apple Tree

    The RHS love it - so do we!

    • Nutty, tangy flavour which sweetens (dual)
    • Award-winning heritage variety
    • Use to make a creamy puree or eat fresh
    • Harvest from October (keeps for two months)

    3 options available

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  • Sun Rival' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    From £28
    From £28

    'Sun Rival' Crabapple Tree

    The perfect specimen tree

    • A beautifully weeping, small tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 5m
    • White blooms emerge from carmine pink buds
    • Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Jelly King' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    From £28
    From £28

    'Jelly King' Crabapple Tree

    The best for jam-making

    • A proudly spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Myriad linen-white flowers appear in spring
    • Harvests increase with age

    2 options available

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  • 'Pink Glow' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    From £28
    From £28

    'Pink Glow' Crabapple Tree

    Makes outstanding jelly

    • A delightful, spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Scented white flowers with a pink blush
    • Great disease resistance

    2 options available

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  • 'Imperial Gage' Plum Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    From £32

    'Imperial Gage' Plum Tree

    Superb taste, superb crop!

    • Decadent and delectably sweet gages
    • Well-suited to Northern climates
    • Try making a greengage and vanilla tart
    • Harvest from late August

    1 option available

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  • Purple Weeping Crabapple Tree | Malus 'Royal Beauty' Ornamental Trees
    From £28
    £34 From £28

    Purple Weeping Crabapple Tree | Malus 'Royal Beauty'

    Pendulous perfection

    • A beautifully weeping tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Single, magenta blossoms in spring
    • Perfect for pots and compact gardens

    2 options available

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  • Cordon Plum Tree Trained Fruit Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Cordon Plum Tree

    Plenty of plums, minimal space

    • Expertly grown in a columnar shape
    • Includes reliably-cropping varieties
    • Use to make syrups, jams and chutneys
    • Honeyed plums, evocative flowers

    3 options available

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  • Early Moorpark' Apricot Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    From £32

    'Early Moorpark' Apricot Tree

    Wonderfully neat and compact

    • Sweeter than a summer's day
    • Perfect for pots (move inside when cold)
    • Use your apricots in a lamb tagine
    • Harvest from late July or early August

    2 options available

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  • Golden Glow' Apricot Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    £45 From £32

    'Golden Glow' Apricot Tree

    Gold from the Malvern Hills

    • Punchy apricot flavour with lovely sweetness
    • Copes well with UK conditions
    • Rustle up an easy apricot tart
    • Harvest in early August

    2 options available

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  • Karina' Cherry Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £35 From £30

    'Karina' Cherry Tree

    An incredibly reliable variety

    • Bursting with juicy sweetness
    • Self fertile (doesn't require a partner)
    • Use in a chocolate and cherry roulade
    • Harvest from mid-July

    2 options available

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  • Variegated Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' Ornamental Trees
    From £150
    From £150

    Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' | Variegated Maple Tree

    Glorious cream-margined leaves

    • Bushy, oval (sometimes rounded) tree
    • Large tree - up to 12m (can be kept shorter)
    • Stunning cream and green variegated leaves
    • Exceptional autumn hues of orange and bronze

    1 option available

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  • 'Pink Cascade' False Acacia Tree | Robinia pseudoacacia Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    'Pink Cascade' False Acacia Tree | Robinia pseudoacacia

    A top choice for flowers

    • Bushy pyramidal tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 15m
    • Green to golden yellow leaves, pink blossoms
    • Boasts a lovely fragrance

    1 option available

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  • Common Dogwood | Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' Shrubs
    From £25
    From £25

    Common Dogwood | Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

    A blazing riot of winter colour

    • Burnt sienna stems, white summer flowers
    • Incredible winter stem colour
    • Average growth rate - 20-40cm per year
    • Grows up to 3m or keep trimmed at 1-3m

    1 option available

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  • Stepover Pear Tree Trained Fruit Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    Stepover Pear Tree

    Pear back on size, not quality

    • Expertly trained into a low-growing shape
    • Includes one of the best old varieties
    • Poach in red wine, cinnamon and cloves
    • Moreish pears, charming blossoms

    3 options available

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  • 'Czar' Plum Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    From £32

    'Czar' Plum Tree

    Award-winning heavyweight

    • A naturally sharper-tasting plum
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Make a plum sauce to serve with dumplings
    • Harvest from early August to September

    1 option available

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  • 'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    From £32

    'Bloody Ploughman' Apple Tree

    An incredible origin story!

    • Juicy and mild (dual)
    • Stained, pinkish-red flesh
    • Cooks down wonderfully into a sauce
    • Harvest from September

    2 options available

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  • Alfred' Apricot Tree Fruit Trees
    From £38
    £45 From £38

    'Alfred' Apricot Tree

    Born in the USA

    • Juicy and aromatic flavour
    • Less prone to dieback than other varieties
    • Eat fresh from the tree or use to make jam
    • Harvest in late July

    2 options available

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  • Scarlet Japanese Rowan Tree | Sorbus commixta 'Embley' Ornamental Trees
    From £38
    From £38

    Scarlet Japanese Rowan Tree | Sorbus commixta 'Embley'

    Incredible autumn colour!

    • Upright, bushy tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 8m
    • Autumnal hues of purple, red and orange
    • Attracts all manner of birds to your garden

    3 options available

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  • Cordon Cherry Tree Trained Fruit Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Cordon Cherry Tree

    Great yields in half the space

    • Expertly grown in a columnar shape
    • Includes both sweet and sour cherries
    • Use in crumbles, cobblers and conserves
    • Flavour-packed fruit, fab flowers

    3 options available

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  • 'Sonata' Strawberry Plants Soft Fruit
    From £10
    From £10

    'Sonata' Strawberry Plants

    Make music on your palate

    • Sweet, firm and aromatic
    • An excellent-jam making strawberry
    • Give a classic pavlova a go
    • Pick from late June to July

    2 options available

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  • Patio Apricot Tree Trained Fruit Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Patio Apricot Tree

    A little tree goes a long way!

    • Expertly grown to keep nice and small
    • Includes heavy-cropping varieties
    • Eat straight after picking or dry for a snack
    • Refreshing apricots, charming flowers

    2 options available

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  • Mini Orchard Collection | Apple, Pear & Plum Fruit Trees
    From £80
    £95 From £80

    Mini Orchard Collection | Apple, Pear & Plum

    Grow your own thriving orchard!

    • Juicy, sweet and intensely flavourful
    • RHS award-winning varieties
    • Eat fresh or use in scrummy desserts
    • Harvest from July to November

    1 option available

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  • Cordon Pear Tree Trained Fruit Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Cordon Pear Tree

    A space-saving way to grow pears

    • Expertly grown in a columnar shape
    • Includes RHS award-winning varieties
    • Bake in crumbles, pies and tarts
    • Succulent pears, delightful blossoms

    4 options available

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  • 'Malling Jewel' Raspberry Plant Soft Fruit
    From £15
    From £15

    'Malling Jewel' Raspberry Plant

    Raspberries worthy of any crown

    • Deliciously sweet and juicy
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Rustle up a raspberry and thyme jam
    • Summer-fruiting variety

    1 option available

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  • Broad-Leaved Cockspur Thorn Tree | Crataegus persimilis 'Prunifolia' Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    £38 From £35

    Broad-Leaved Cockspur Thorn Tree | Crataegus persimilis 'Prunifolia'

    An unbeatable floral display

    • Broad and bushy tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 5m
    • Clusters of single white blooms in spring
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • White Columnar Cherry Blossom Tree | Prunus 'Spire' Ornamental Trees
    From £32
    £38 From £32

    White Columnar Cherry Blossom Tree | Prunus 'Spire'

    Ideal for city gardens

    • Slender columnar form
    • Ideal for small spaces, growing to 5x3m
    • Pale pink, scented single flowers
    • Blossoms in April

    2 options available

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  • Pink Weeping Winter Flowering Cherry Tree | Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula Rosea' Ornamental Trees
    From £36
    From £36

    Pink Weeping Flowering Cherry Tree | Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula Rosea'

    Bronze toned fresh foliage

    • Elegant weeping tree
    • Can grow to 2.2m (depending on form)
    • Semi-double, rose pink flowers
    • Blossoms in March

    3 options available

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Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery

Meet Mike

Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe

Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.

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Why choose bare root plants?

Why choose bare root plants?

Opting for bare root plants is often cheaper and leads to a healthier, better-established plant than their potted counterparts. These plants are lifted from the ground during their dormancy period (generally November through to March). Bare root plants may look unimpressive, visually speaking, just a stem and tangle of roots, but trust us – once they take root, they’ll absolutely flourish. They also tend to require less packaging, making them a greener pick from an environmental perspective.

What do you need your bare root plants for?

What do you need your bare root plants for?

So, you know you want to go down the bare root pathway, now what? Well, it’s time for us to steer you towards the best plants. For spectacular flowering feature trees, it’s hard to look past cherry blossom trees. While wildlife lovers should look to trees like rowans and hawthorns. If you want to create a mini orchard in the back garden, then fruit trees like apple, pear, plum and cherry are all good choices. It’s not just trees that can be delivered bare root either! Raspberries and blackberries can also arrive as bare root canes that you plant in the same way you would a bare root tree. Limited on space? Not an issue. Get a patio-trained bare root tree – it’ll grow to just a metre or two in height and easily fit into a large container.

How do you plant bare root plants?

How do you plant bare root plants?

We’ve written a whole guide and made an in-depth video to take you through planting bare root plants, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s what you need to know. Once your bare root plant arrives, soak the roots in water for 24 to 72 hours. Then, dig the planting hole so that it’s at least twice as wide as the rootball (and as deep as it, too). Before you place your bare root plant into the hole, sprinkle some Rootgrow evenly into the hole. Position your plant in the hole, backfill with soil, firm the soil with your foot and then give the plant a good first watering in its new home.

Bare Root Plants FAQs

What are bare root plants?

Bare root plants are those that have been lifted from the ground and sold as the stem and the root network (as opposed to potted plants which are supplied in a pot with soil/compost). Trees, soft fruits and roses are often supplied as bare root plants.

What are the benefits of bare root plants?

There are a couple of major benefits to bare root plants; the first is that they’re typically cheaper than their potted counterparts. Another benefit is that it can help the plant to take root and establish more quickly and more successfully. With less packaging and being more lightweight, they’re often less damaging to the environment, too.

When are bare root plants supplied?

Bare root plants are lifted between November and March, during a plant’s dormant season. This is one of their few downsides; potted plants can be bought year-round whereas bare root plants can’t. Still, it’s a fair few months to be able to get them!

Do I need to soak bare root plants before planting?

Bare root plants benefit from being soaked for 24 hours prior to planting. Then, sprinkle some Rootgrow into the planting hole, before positioning your bare root plant and backfilling the hole. Firm the ground in with your feet and give a good initial watering.

Can you soak bare roots overnight?

Yes! In fact, we advise you soak your bare root plant(s) for at least 24 hours prior to planting, so that’s at least one set of nocturnal hours, whenever you choose to soak them.

Is bare root better than potted?

Neither bare root nor potted is better than the other, as they offer different benefits. Bare root plants offer better value for money, however they’re limited to one half of the year. Potted plants, meanwhile, can be bought throughout the year, but are more expensive and don’t necessarily establish as quickly as their bare root siblings.

Happy plants make happy customers

Trustpilot
Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence

| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

Jacqueline Burgess

| 2 Jun
five star rating on Trustpilot

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane

| 23 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
five star rating on Trustpilot

The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

Martyn Hill

| 5 Jul
E 'Braeburn Hillwell' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
five star rating on Trustpilot

As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
five star rating on Trustpilot

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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