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)
  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' Ornamental Trees
    £100
    £140 £100

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg'

    A Dutch delight

    • Glorious shrubby tree
    • Small tree - grows to 4m
    • Downwards-curving, purple, deciduous foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Scarlett' Crabapple Tree Fruit Trees
    £50
    £55 £50

    'Scarlett' Crabapple Tree

    Arching boughs, scented blooms

    • Delightful spreading tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Fragrant pink blooms, colour-changing foliage
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Copper Beech Tree | Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' Ornamental Trees
    £35
    £35

    Copper Beech Tree | Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea'

    A purple-leaved classic

    • Strong, spreading tree
    • Large tree - grows to 12m+
    • Wreathed in brilliant, bold purple foliage
    • Provides excellent contrast to green foliage

    Currently out of stock

  • Variegated Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Shirazz' Ornamental Trees
    £165
    £165

    Variegated Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Shirazz'

    Worth raising a glass to

    • Upright, arching tree
    • Medium tree - grows to 5m
    • Striking shades of red in autumn
    • Makes a brilliant feature tree

    Currently out of stock

  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Ueno Yama' Ornamental Trees
    £100
    £100

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Ueno Yama'

    Superb spring and autumn colour

    • Upright and bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Foliage in shades of orange, green and yellow
    • Looks brilliant alongside other shrubs

    Currently out of stock

  • Ruby Falls' Weeping Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis Ornamental Trees
    £75
    £75

    'Ruby Falls' Weeping Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis

    A compact, weeping redbud

    • Compact weeping tree
    • Small tree - grows up to 2m
    • Deep ruby-red foliage, purple spring blooms
    • Suitable for growing in containers

    Currently out of stock

  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' Ornamental Trees
    £25
    £25

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Butterfly'

    As graceful as its namesake

    • Charming upright shrub
    • Small tree - grows to 2.5m
    • Variegated cream and green, deciduous foliage
    • Brilliant for containers

    Currently out of stock

  • Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' Ornamental Trees
    £105
    £190 £105

    Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'

    The most gorgeous garden guard

    • Proudly upright tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • Deep crimson, penta-lobed deciduous leaves
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Currently out of stock

  • Small-Leaved Lime Tree | Tilia cordata 'Winter Orange' Ornamental Trees
    £55
    £60 £55

    Small-Leaved Lime Tree | Tilia cordata 'Winter Orange'

    Stunning orange shoots in winter

    • Fiery columnar tree
    • Large tree - grows to 12m+
    • Green foliage turns a rich yellow in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

    Currently out of stock

  • Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa Ornamental Trees
    £23
    £23

    Dogwood Tree | Cornus kousa

    An absolute stunner

    • Neat, usually multi-stemmed tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 7m
    • White flower bracts and deciduous foliage
    • Unusual strawberry-like ornamental fruits

    Currently out of stock

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

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Shidava Gold'

    Head-turning yellow hues

    • Upright, bushy tree
    • Small tree - grows to 2.5m
    • Chartreuse foliage turns yellow in autumn
    • Vivid green stems add to the plant's impact

    Currently out of stock

  • Columnar Rowan Tree | Sorbus x thuringiaca 'Fastigiata' Ornamental Trees
    From £45
    From £45

    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

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Butterball' Crabapple Tree Fruit Trees
    £55
    £60 £55

    'Butterball' Crabapple Tree

    Stunning sunset-hued fruits

    • Charming spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 5m
    • Delicate white blossoms and amber fruits
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Variegated Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Beni-schichi-henge' Ornamental Trees
    £155
    £155

    Variegated Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Beni-schichi-henge'

    The variegation sensation

    • Elegant, shrub-like tree
    • Small tree - grows to 4m
    • Variegated cream, pink and green foliage
    • Lovely and low maintenance

    Currently out of stock

  • Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Emerald Lace' Ornamental Trees
    £105
    £105

    Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum dissectum 'Emerald Lace'

    Plumed perfection

    • Gently arching, shrub-like tree
    • Small tree - grows to 3m
    • Gem-green foliage turns ruby-red in autumn
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • 'Neville Copeman' Purple Crabapple Tree Fruit Trees
    £100
    £100

    'Neville Copeman' Purple Crabapple Tree

    Wonderful purple foliage

    • An elegantly spreading tree
    • Medium tree - grows up to 6m
    • Single, light fuchsia-pink flowers in spring
    • Heavy cropper (use to make jams and jellies)

    Currently out of stock

  • Mountain Ash Rowan Tree | Sorbus aucuparia 'Aspleniifolia' Ornamental Trees
    £100
    £175 £100

    Mountain Ash Rowan Tree | Sorbus aucuparia 'Aspleniifolia'

    Berries that birds love

    • Strong, bushy tree
    • Large tree - grows up to 12m
    • White blooms and pinnate, deciduous leaflets
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    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
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.

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| 8 Nov

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