Trees for Shade

Hoping to fill a shady area with a tree? Relax, most trees evolved to grow in the shade of a forest. Some grow better than others, however, and in this collection, we've curated a selection of the very best trees for shade, so you can rest assured you'll be getting a beautiful, long-lived tree, even if you're not lucky enough to live in a suntrap. 

 

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Ornamental trees (233) Cherry blossom trees (32)Crabapple trees (29)Birch trees (10)Willow trees (13)Acer trees (33)
  • 'Red Sentinel' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    From £28
    £30 From £28

    'Red Sentinel' Crabapple Tree

    Ruby red, jewel-like fruits

    • A charming, upright-to-spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Clouds of pinkish white blossom in spring
    • Award of Garden Merit winner

    4 options available

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  • The 3 Top Performing Fruit Trees to Grow in the UK | Apple, Pear & Plum Fruit Trees
    From £70
    £97 From £70

    The 3 Top Performing Fruit Trees to Grow in the UK | Apple, Pear & Plum

    Three trees our growers swear by

    • Bumper-cropping varieties
    • Easy to grow and full of flavour
    • Neat and compact trees for any garden
    • Harvest from August to November

    1 option available

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  • 'Queen Cox' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    £50 From £32

    'Queen Cox' Apple Tree

    All hail this royal icon!

    • Crisp, aromatic and delicious (dual)
    • Self fertile (no pollinating partner needed)
    • Use in a range of dishes or eat fresh
    • Harvest from August (stores well)

    2 options available

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  • Walnut Tree | Juglans regia Fruit Trees
    From £38
    From £38

    Walnut Tree | Juglans regia

    An iconic countryside staple

    • Creamy, sweet and slightly bitter
    • Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Make a classic coffee and walnut cake
    • Harvest from September

    2 options available

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  • Red Weeping Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Garnet' Ornamental Trees
    From £40
    £45 From £40

    Red Weeping Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Garnet'

    The gem your garden deserves

    • Bushy, weeping tree
    • Small tree - grows to 2.5m
    • Jewel-toned, deeply-lobed foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Growers' Talk

    The best trees for shade

  • Sweetgum Tree | Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' Ornamental Trees
    From £65
    £70 From £65

    Sweetgum Tree | Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon'

    Spectacular autumn hues

    • Broadly pyramidal tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • Lobed deciduous leaves turn fiery in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Sweetgum Tree | Liquidambar styraciflua Ornamental Trees
    From £60
    £65 From £60

    Sweetgum Tree | Liquidambar styraciflua

    Truly special autumn displays

    • Wonderfully rounded, pyramidal tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • Lobed green foliage becomes fiery in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Royalty' Crabapple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £43 From £30

    'Royalty' Crabapple Tree

    All hail this regal sensation!

    • A tasteful, spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Single, burgundy red blooms in spring
    • Purple foliage becomes more red in autumn

    2 options available

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  • Patio Loropetalum Tree | Loropetalum 'Fire Dance' Ornamental Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    Patio Loropetalum Tree | Loropetalum 'Fire Dance'

    A riot of red-purple flames

    • Bushy patio tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.2m
    • Burgundy, evergreen leaves and pink flowers
    • Suitable for pots

    1 option available

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  • Video thumbnail

    Video Tips

    Lydia's best ever plants for shade

  • 'Profusion Improved' Crabapple Tree | Malus moerlandsii Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £35 From £30

    'Profusion Improved' Crabapple Tree | Malus moerlandsii

    Like 'Profusion'... but better!

    • A vigorous, spreading tree
    • Medium tree – grows up to 5m
    • Covered in magenta purple blossom each spring
    • Displays great resistance to apple scab

    2 options available

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  • 'Kentish Cob' Cobnut Tree Fruit Trees
    From £38
    £45 From £38

    'Kentish Cob' Hazelnut Tree

    Bursting with fab, nutty flavour

    • Fantastic texture and flavour
    • Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Make a plum and cobnut crumble
    • Harvest from September

    Currently out of stock

  • Red Williams' Pear Tree Fruit Trees
    From £45
    £50 From £45

    'Red Williams' Pear Tree

    Red pear at night, your delight

    • Delicate, buttery and juicy flesh
    • Good resistance to pests and diseases
    • Bite into fresh or slice and serve in salads
    • Harvest from September

    2 options available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' Ornamental Trees
    From £45
    From £45

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

    Impactful doesn't cover it

    • Naturally bushy, shrub-like tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 5m
    • Purple to sanguine-red, deciduous foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Discover

    Shade-loving acers

  • 'Goutte d'Or' Fig Tree Soft Fruit
    From £22
    From £22

    'Goutte d'Or' Fig Tree

    The drop of gold fig

    • Decadent, juicy and sweet
    • Perfect for pots!
    • Roast with honey or bake in a pie
    • Biferous (harvests in June and August)

    2 options available

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  • 'Nottingham' Medlar Tree Soft Fruit
    From £48
    From £48

    'Nottingham' Medlar Tree

    A fantastic base for fruit jams

    • Notes of apples and dates once "bletted"
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Incorporate in a homemade 'fruit butter'
    • Harvest from November to December

    1 option available

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  • 'Crimson Cloud' Hawthorn Tree | Crataegus laevigata Ornamental Trees
    From £38
    £40 From £38

    Midland Hawthorn Tree | Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’

    A true wildlife magnet

    • Elegantly spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 8m
    • Masses of striking two-toned, single flowers
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    1 option available

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  • 'Europa' Walnut Tree Fruit Trees
    From £75
    £90 From £75

    'Europa' Walnut Tree

    Grow walnuts in small spaces

    • Sumptuously sweet and rich
    • Far more compact than most walnut trees
    • Combine with apples to make a tangy chutney
    • Harvest from October

    1 option available

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  • 'Broadview' Walnut Tree Fruit Trees
    From £92
    £95 From £92

    'Broadview' Walnut Tree

    Ideally suited to UK-growing

    • Flavourful and sweet
    • Crops well even when young
    • Pickle or use in a Wardorf salad
    • Harvest from September or October

    2 options available

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  • Canadian Red Maple Tree | Acer rubrum Ornamental Trees
    £60
    £65 £60

    Canadian Red Maple Tree | Acer rubrum

    Bold, bright and beautiful

    • Beautifully rounded tree
    • Large tree - grows to 12m+
    • Red-tinted foliage turns dark green with age
    • The perfect feature tree for large gardens

    1 option available

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  • Viper Acer Tree | Acer davidii | Snake Bark Maple Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    £65 From £35

    Snake Bark Maple | Acer davidii 'Viper'

    Eyecatching striped bark

    • Upright, arching tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 7m
    • Dark green leaves turn orange in autumn
    • Exceedingly easy to grow

    2 options available

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  • Purpurea' Filbert Tree | Purple Filbert Tree Fruit Trees
    From £55
    £60 From £55

    Purple Hazelnut Tree | Corylus maxima 'Purpurea'

    Striking purple-leaved nut tree

    • Rich and complex flavour profile
    • Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Roast, chop and add to muesli
    • Harvest from the end of August

    1 option available

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  • Variegated Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    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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  • Rote Zellernuss' Filbert Tree | Red Filbert Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    From £30

    Red Hazelnut Tree | Corylus avellana 'Rote Zellernuss'

    Bold foliage, fab filbert taste

    • Mild, delicate and balanced flavour
    • Striking, colour-changing leaves
    • Toast with a dash of sea salt or eat fresh
    • Harvest from September

    2 options available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama' Ornamental Trees
    From £35
    From £35

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama'

    Unbeatable burgundy foliage

    • Gently spreading tree
    • Small tree - grows to approximately 1.5m
    • Lacy, deciduous leaves
    • A spectrum of purples and reds

    2 options available

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  • Cosford' Cobnut Tree | Corylus avellana Fruit Trees
    From £32
    £38 From £32

    'Cosford' Hazelnut Tree | Corylus avellana

    Compact in size, big on impact

    • Sweet, scrummy and oh-so snackable
    • Great for attracting wildlife to the garden
    • Bake with apples in a loaf cake
    • Harvest in late September and October

    2 options available

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  • Meech's Prolific' Quince Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    From £30

    'Meech's Prolific' Quince Tree

    Seriously heavy cropper

    • Punchy tartness, becoming gentler when cooked
    • Tolerates poor soil and conditions
    • Use to make quince jelly
    • Harvest from October

    1 option available

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  • 'Golden Hornet' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    £35
    £55 £35

    'Golden Hornet' Crabapple Tree

    Glorious bright yellow fruits

    • A broad, spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • White springtime blossom with a hint of pink
    • Loved by thrushes and blackbirds

    1 option 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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Which trees grow well in shade?

Which trees grow well in shade?

There are a number of trees that grow nicely in shade, which is good news for those gardens not blessed with lots of sunlight. There are both deciduous and evergreen options, all offering a range of different appeals. Take the humble Japanese maple, for example. Certain varieties actually prefer a partially-shaded spot over direct sunlight, as the latter can lead to leaf scorch. Green-leaved varieties are particularly-suited to deeper shade. Other suitable trees for more shaded locations include dogwood, amelanchier, redbud, katsura, holly, hornbeam, crabapple and magnolia trees.

Caring for trees for shade

Caring for trees for shade

Generally speaking, once established trees for shade require little by way of maintenance. Unless they fall within a rain ‘shadow’ – in which case a bit more watering is required – most require less watering than trees grown in full sunlight, as the soil dries out less quickly. Give your tree a mulch every spring; this will help both retain moisture and suppress competition from weeds and grass. Prior to mulching, you can apply some slow-release general fertilliser, though most trees will be fine without this. Pruning requirements will vary from tree to tree, but typically most will be fine with just a light trim each year to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches.

Planting schemes for trees for shade

Planting schemes for trees for shade

There are two planting schemes that immediately spring to mind when considering trees for shade: Japanese and woodland gardens. The former features trees like acers and magnolias, which tend to perform well in slightly shadier areas, while the latter comprises all sorts of trees adapted to growing in the dappled light or understorey of forests and woods. This includes plants like tree ferns, yew and hazel.

Trees for Shade FAQs

What is the best tree to grow in shade?

Various trees grow well in shadier conditions, including yew, holly and Portuguese laurel, while various others grow well in dappled/partial shade, including Japanese maples, flowering dogwoods, rowans and some beech trees.

What is the fastest-growing tree to provide shade?

Certain willows and poplars are two of the fastest-growing trees to provide some shade, with weeping willows growing up to a whopping two-and-a-half metres per year given the appropriate conditions.

How do you look after trees for shade?

Trees for shade are looked after in a very similar manner to any other tree; that’s to say, water your tree well to help establishment, and then during hot, dry spells thereafter. Consider mulching and feeding with slow-release fertiliser in spring and trim away dead, damaged or diseased branches as and when you see them. For more specific care requirements, see each tree’s individual product page or one of our comprehensive guides.

Happy plants make happy customers

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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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