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)
  • 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

    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

    Trustpilot
  • Pleached Holly Tree | Ilex aquifolium 'Nellie R Stevens' Ornamental Trees
    £250
    £250

    Pleached Holly Tree | Ilex aquifolium 'Nellie R Stevens'

    Year-long formality and privacy

    • Bold pleached tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 3.2m
    • Glossy evergreen foliage, vivid red berries
    • Tough and low-maintenance

    1 option available

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

    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

    Trustpilot
  • Pleached Photinia Tree | Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' Ornamental Trees
    £250
    £250

    Pleached Photinia Tree | Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'

    Scorching red screening plant

    • Charming pleached tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 3.2m
    • Bold red and green foliage, white flowers
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Pleached Ebbinge's Silverberry Tree | Elaeagnus x ebbingei Ornamental Trees
    £250
    £250

    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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  • '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

  • Patio Bay Tree | Laurus nobilis 'Bay Junior' Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £35 From £30

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • King James' Mulberry Tree | Morus nigra Fruit Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    'King James' Mulberry Tree | Morus nigra

    An old English variety with a royal pedigree

    • Large crops of rich and succulent berries
    • A lovely ornamental tree with heart shaped foliage
    • Crops from August to September
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    Currently out of stock

  • Glauca' Blue Cedar Tree | Cedrus atlantica Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £80 £75

    Blue Cedar Tree | Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

    Unmistakable blue branches

    • Evergreen conical (to spreading) tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 18m
    • Silvery-blue needles and attractive cones
    • Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' Ornamental Trees
    £105
    £105

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'

    The most alluring crimson hues

    • Delicately rounded, shrubby tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Deeply-lobed red foliage (starting green)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Eastern Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £60 £55

    Eastern Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis

    Pink blooms illuminate the sky

    • Vase-shaped to rounded tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 10m
    • Heart-shaped foliage and myriad pink blooms
    • Foliage possesses a fabulous papery quality

    Currently out of stock

  • Pink Flowering Dogwood Tree | Cornus florida 'Rubra' Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £75

    Pink Flowering Dogwood Tree | Cornus florida 'Rubra'

    A riot of nature-friendly colour

    • Architectural spreading tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Mid-green foliage, deep pink flowers
    • Attracts birds and other wildlife

    Currently out of stock

  • Canadian Red Maple Tree | Acer rubrum 'Fairview Flame' Ornamental Trees
    £65
    £70 £65

    Canadian Red Maple Tree | Acer rubrum 'Fairview Flame'

    A hot autumn display

    • Bushy, pyramidal (or conical) tree
    • Large tree - grows to 12m
    • Dazzling, flame-red autumn foliage
    • Ideal as a feature tree in a large lawn

    Currently out of stock

  • Copacabana' Japanese Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £75

    'Copacabana' Japanese Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa

    Puts on a show all year round

    • Largely conical tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 2.5m
    • Showy white flowers with a pink picotee edge
    • Perfect for smaller gardens

    Currently out of stock

  • Cedar of Lebanon Tree | Cedrus libani Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £80 £75

    Lebanese Cedar Tree | Cedrus libani

    Majestic and low-maintenance

    • Broadly spreading tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 18m
    • Clusters of dark green needles
    • Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Black Lily Magnolia | Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' Ornamental Trees
    £45
    £45

    Black Lily Magnolia | Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra'

    Abundant showy blooms

    • Strong bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Tulip-like, reddish-purple flowers
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • White Flowering Dogwood Tree | Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £75

    White Flowering Dogwood Tree | Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder'

    Wonder by name, wonder by nature

    • Domed spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 4m
    • Lush green foliage turning red and pink
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Wedding Cake Tree | Cornus contraversa 'Variegata' Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £75

    Wedding Cake Tree | Cornus contraversa 'Variegata'

    Unique form and colour

    • Highly-unusual tiered tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Bright, variegated leaves (green and cream)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Green Weeping Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Dissectum' Ornamental Trees
    From £30
    £60 From £30

    Green Weeping Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Dissectum'

    Low-growing, high impact

    • Bushy, gently weeping tree
    • Small tree - grows to 2.5m
    • Leaves turn red, orange and yellow in autumn
    • Can be grown in containers

    Currently out of stock

  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'SeiryÅ«' Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Seiryu'

    Seiryuously stunning!

    • An upright, shrubby tree
    • Small tree - grows to 4m
    • Bright green leaves take on fiery autumn hues
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Parrotia 'Persian Spire' | 3L Pot Ornamental Trees
    From £50
    From £50

    Parrotia 'Persian Spire' | 3L Pot

    Perfect for pots!

    • Compact upright tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 3m
    • Green, purple-edged leaves, fiery autumn hues
    • Grow in a large container on your patio

    Currently out of stock

  • Coral Bark Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku' Ornamental Trees
    From £40
    From £40

    Coral Bark Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku'

    An acer for all seasons

    • Upright, vase-shaped tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 7.5m
    • Leaves adopt a range of yellow and green hues
    • Striking red stems

    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
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
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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
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
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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.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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