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 (237) Cherry blossom trees (32)Crabapple trees (26)Birch trees (10)Willow trees (13)Acer trees (35)
  • Purple Beech Tree | Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £55

    Purple Beech Tree | Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain'

    Brilliant burgundy foliage

    • Upright, weeping tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 10m
    • Alluring purple leaves turn copper in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Crimson Frost' Silver Birch Tree Ornamental Trees
    £70
    £75 £70

    'Royal Frost' Silver Birch Tree

    Amazing interest all year round

    • Upright-to-spreading tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • Vivid purple leaves turning yellow in autumn
    • Fantastic contrast between bark and foliage

    1 option available

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  • 'Rudolph' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    £50
    £50

    'Rudolph' Crabapple Tree

    More magical than any reindeer!

    • Impressive, upright tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 7m
    • Stunning pink flowers, bright red fruits
    • Fabulous spring and autumn foliage colour

    1 option available

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  • 'White Wax' Rowan Tree | Sorbus arnoldiana Ornamental Trees
    £60
    £60

    'White Wax' Rowan Tree | Sorbus arnoldiana

    Clouds of snow white berries

    • Upright to spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 7m
    • Snowy fruits and flowers, good autumn colour
    • Highly popular with wildlife

    1 option available

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  • 'Yellow Siberian' Crabapple Tree Fruit Trees
    £50
    £55 £50

    'Yellow Siberian' Crabapple Tree

    Laden with sunshine-yellow fruit

    • Picturesque spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Intensely vibrant fruits and white blossoms
    • Offers a valuable winter food source to birds

    1 option available

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  • Cut-Leaf Mountain Ash Tree | Sorbus asplenifolia Ornamental Trees
    £65
    £70 £65

    Cut-Leaf Mountain Ash Tree | Sorbus asplenifolia

    Fab foliage, fruits and flowers!

    • Neat and slender tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 10m
    • Distinctive fern-like, pinnate leaves
    • Highly attractive to wildlife

    1 option available

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  • Kashmir Rowan Tree | Sorbus cashmiriana Ornamental Trees
    From £45
    From £45

    Kashmir Rowan Tree | Sorbus cashmiriana

    Snow-white berry blizzard!

    • Charming spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 8m
    • Oblong green foliage, linen white berries
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    2 options available

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  • Pleached Ebbinge's Silverberry Tree | Elaeagnus x ebbingei Ornamental Trees
    £350
    £350

    Pleached Ebbinge's Silverberry Tree | Elaeagnus x ebbingei

    Instant formality and elegance

    • Elegant pleached tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 3.2m
    • Jade leaves, fragrant blooms, orange fruits
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Freeman Maple Tree | Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £55

    Freeman Maple Tree | Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze'

    An autumn colour heavyweight

    • Bushy, oval tree
    • Large tree (grows to 12m+)
    • Deeply-cut leaves turn ruby red in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Freeman Maple Tree | Acer x freemanii 'Celebration' Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £55

    Freeman Maple Tree | Acer x freemanii 'Celebration'

    Shines brightest in autumn

    • Bushy, upright tree
    • Large tree (grows to 12m+)
    • Deciduous foliage with superb autumn colour
    • Naturally fast-growing

    1 option available

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  • Photinia 'Compacta' | Iron Frame Trellis Ornamental Trees
    £80
    £110 £80

    Photinia 'Compacta' | Iron Frame Trellis

    Small in stature, big on impact

    • Formal, rectangular shrub
    • Small shrub - grows up to 0.9m
    • Vivid red evergreen foliage
    • More compact than most photinias

    1 option available

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  • Columnar Rowan Tree | Sorbus x thuringiaca 'Fastigiata' Ornamental Trees
    From £65
    From £65

    Columnar Rowan Tree | Sorbus x thuringiaca 'Fastigiata'

    Blazing orange autumn hues

    • Bold columnar to oval tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 10m
    • Dark green leaves, cream flowers, red berries
    • Sensational autumn leaf colour

    1 option 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

    Currently out of stock

  • Patio Bay Tree | Laurus nobilis 'Bay Junior' Ornamental Trees
    From £25
    £35 From £25

    Patio Bay Tree | Laurus nobilis 'Bay Junior'

    The young star of the family

    • Patio tree with an upright, bushy habit
    • Small tree - grows up to 1.5m (when pruned)
    • Delicate green leaves (wonderfully aromatic)
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Sultane' Almond Tree | Prunus dulcis Fruit Trees
    From £40
    £50 From £40

    'Sultane' Almond Tree | Prunus dulcis

    A soft-shelled sensation

    • Sweet and perfect for making milk
    • Glorious scented, springtime blossom
    • Grind your almonds to make a flour for baking
    • Harvest from mid-September

    Currently out of stock

  • Princess' Almond Tree | Prunus dulcis Fruit Trees
    From £40
    £54 From £40

    'Princess' Almond Tree | Prunus dulcis

    Sweet almonds and scented blooms

    • Delightfully moreish, soft-shelled nuts
    • Makes a spectacular specimen tree
    • Coat in paprika for a spiced snack
    • Harvest from late September

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Europa' Walnut Tree Fruit Trees
    From £70
    £90 From £70

    '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

    Currently out of stock

  • Saturne' Peach Tree Fruit Trees
    From £40
    £42 From £40

    'Saturne' Peach Tree

    The original donut peach

    • Floral flavour with a honeyed sweetness
    • Highly-unusual flattened peaches
    • Try your hand at a traditional peach cobbler
    • Harvest from late August into September

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

    Currently out of stock

  • Meech's Prolific' Quince Tree Fruit Trees
    From £32
    From £32

    '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

    Currently out of stock

  • Professor Sprenger' Crabapple Tree Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £60 £55

    'Professor Sprenger' Crabapple Tree

    Perfect for pollinators

    • A rounded, spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 6m
    • Scented white blooms in spring
    • Golden yellow leaves in autumn

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

    Currently out of stock

  • '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

    Currently out of stock

  • Honeylocust Tree | Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    Honeylocust Tree | Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst'

    A spectacular sunny display

    • Bushy, rounded tree
    • Large tree – grows up to 12m
    • Bright yellow leaves turn green with age
    • Thornless (unlike other honeylocust trees)

    Currently out of stock

  • Paperbark Maple Tree | Acer griseum Ornamental Trees
    From £100
    £105 From £100

    Paperbark Maple Tree | Acer griseum

    A Chinese acer with peeling bark

    • Upright, oval tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 5m (in first 20 years)
    • Veined green leaves turn red in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

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.

Need help picking?

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.

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

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| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

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| 8 Nov

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