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)
  • Calamondin Orange Tree | Citrus calamondin Trained Fruit Trees
    £45
    £60 £45

    Calamondin Orange Tree | Citrus calamondin

    Step aside lemon and lime...

    • A combination of sweet and sour
    • Perfect for patio growing
    • Eat fresh, use in drinks or make a marmalade
    • Harvest from July to November

    1 option available

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  • 'Serbian Gold' Quince Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £32 From £30

    'Serbian Gold' Quince Tree

    Award-winning early harvests

    • A sourness that softens when cooked with
    • Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Rustle up a quince chutney
    • Harvest from September to October

    2 options available

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  • 'Pink Glow' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £42 From £30

    '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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  • Purple Weeping Crabapple Tree | Malus 'Royal Beauty' Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £38 From £30

    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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  • Scarlet Japanese Rowan Tree | Sorbus commixta 'Embley' Ornamental Trees
    From £38
    £45 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

    2 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

    2 options available

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  • Patio Acer Tree | Acer Palmatum 'Inaba-shidare' Ornamental Trees
    £35
    £50 £35

    Patio Acer Tree | Acer palmatum 'Inaba-shidare'

    Punchy purple patio hues

    • Upright, semi-weeping patio tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Alluring burgundy, deciduous foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Best Fruit Trees For Beginners Fruit Trees
    From £50
    £80 From £50

    3 Super Easy to Grow Fruit Trees | Apple, Fig & Plum

    Your orchard shortcut

    • Sweet and juicy fruits
    • Grow these compact trees in any size garden
    • Eat fresh or make into jams
    • Harvest from July to September

    2 options available

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  • Webb's Prize' Cobnut Tree | Corylus avellana Fruit Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    'Webb's Prize' Hazelnut Tree | Corylus avellana

    A new weeping variety of cobnut

    • Wonderfully sweet, tasty (and large) nuts
    • Heavy cropper
    • Roast or stir through melted, salted butter
    • Harvest from September

    2 options available

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  • Montreal Beauty' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £60 £55

    'Montreal Beauty' Crabapple Tree

    Beautiful in every season

    • A compact, bushy tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Masses of white blossom in spring
    • Fruits that look like rosy apple sweets!

    1 option available

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  • Patio Spindle Tree | Euonymus Fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £40 From £30

    Patio Spindle Tree | Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'

    The jewel your patio deserves

    • Upright patio tree with a bushy head
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Rounded, variegated green foliage (evergreen)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • Broad-Leaved Cockspur Thorn Tree | Crataegus persimilis 'Prunifolia' Ornamental Trees
    From £65
    From £65

    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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  • Red Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Fireglow' Ornamental Trees
    From £60
    £100 From £60

    Red Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Fireglow'

    A glowing palette of colour

    • Upright and bushy tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 4m
    • An array of red, green and purple foliage
    • Ideal for small gardens or containers

    1 option available

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  • Double White Hawthorn Tree | Crataegus laevigata 'Plena' Ornamental Trees
    From £65
    £70 From £65

    Double White Hawthorn Tree | Crataegus laevigata 'Plena'

    Masses and masses of flowers

    • Beautifully rounded tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 5m
    • Abundant double flowers in linen white
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Katsura' Ornamental Trees
    From £120
    £150 From £120

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Katsura'

    An unbeatable feature tree

    • Bushy, vase-shaped tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Yellow-orange leaves which mature to green
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Patio Crabapple Tree | Malus 'Evereste' Ornamental Trees
    £35
    £35

    Patio Crabapple Tree | Malus 'Evereste'

    The pinnacle of patio pomes

    • Delightful clear-stemmed patio tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Dark green foliage turning orange in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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

    'Lara' Walnut Tree

    Fantastic French 'noyer' variety

    • Decadent, creamy-tasting walnuts
    • Award of Garden Merit winner
    • Eat fresh or bake into bread
    • Harvest from late September

    1 option available

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  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Flavescens' Ornamental Trees
    From £40
    £90 From £40

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Flavescens'

    A gorgeous green jewel

    • Beautiful top-worked tree
    • Small tree - grows to 1.5m
    • Feathery foliage in chartreuse shades
    • Fabulous autumn colour

    2 options available

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  • Pearson's Prolific' / 'Nottingham Early' Filbert Tree Fruit Trees
    From £38
    £40 From £38

    'Pearson's Prolific' Hazelnut Tree

    Early crops of rich nuts

    • Nutty, earthy flavour with a good crunch
    • A native tree ideal for wildlife gardens
    • Use to make nutty, chocolate overnight oats
    • Harvest from September

    1 option available

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  • Geant du Portugal' Quince Tree Fruit Trees
    From £30
    £36 From £30

    'Portugal' Quince Tree

    A glorious heirloom quince

    • Tart flesh mellows brilliantly when cooked
    • A reliable cropper
    • Make a Persian quince lamb stew
    • Harvest from mid-September

    1 option available

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  • Hall'sche Reissenuss' / 'Merveille de Bollwyller' Cobnut Tree Fruit Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    'Merveille de Bollwyller' Hazelnut Tree

    Versatile, compact and tasty!

    • Large nuts with perfectly-balanced flavour
    • Easy to grow and heavy cropping
    • Use in a cobnut and pear salad
    • Harvest from late August

    2 options available

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  • 'Pixie' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
    From £48
    £53 From £48

    'Pixie' Apple Tree

    As magical as its namesake

    • Traditional sharp and juicy flavour (eating)
    • Easy to grow and very reliable
    • Normally eaten fresh but can be cooked with
    • Harvest from September (stores well)

    1 option available

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  • Patio Viburnum Tinus Tree | Laurustinus Ornamental Trees
    £40
    £40

    Patio Viburnum Tinus Tree | Laurustinus

    Evergreen wildlife magnet

    • Upright patio tree with a bushy habit
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Glossy leaves, white flowers, blue berries
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    1 option available

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  • Dwarf Russian Almond Blossom Tree | Prunus tenella 'Firehill' Ornamental Trees
    From £33
    £40 From £33

    Dwarf Russian Almond Blossom Tree | Prunus tenella 'Firehill'

    The most beautiful blossoms

    • Characterful bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m
    • Glossy green foliage, pink spring blossoms
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    1 option available

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  • 'Milky Way' Japanese Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    'Milky Way' Japanese Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa

    The best flowers in the galaxy

    • Spreading, vase-shaped tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 6m
    • Stunning foliage and unusual red berries
    • Wonderful autumn colour

    2 options available

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  • Patio Holly Tree | Ilex aquifolium 'Alaska' Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £40 From £30

    Patio Holly Tree | Ilex aquifolium 'Alaska'

    Bright red winter berries

    • Clear-stemmed, upright patio tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Glossy green, spiny leaves and red berries
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    2 options available

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  • Red Force' Canadian Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis Ornamental Trees
    £45
    £45

    'Red Force' Canadian Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis

    Glorious red-purple shades

    • Well-branched, spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 6m
    • Crimson-toned foliage, bright pink flowers
    • Compact in form (suits any garden size)

    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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