Ornamental – Wykeham Mature Plants

Weeping Willow

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:44:18 +0000

“Golden Weeping Willow”. Beautiful, wide-spreading, weeping tree. Fast-growing with golden pendant shoots, and narrowly lance-shaped bright green leaves. Male and female catkins in spring.

The classic weeping willow. Needs plenty of space, and shouldn’t be planted too close to houses, but is good on wet ground. Can be hard-pruned periodically if required.

Available as standard trees 14 to 18cm girth.

Silver Birch

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 15:51:58 +0000

The native common birch – an elegant medium-sized deciduous tree with slender drooping twigs and silvery-white stems that fissure with age. The delicate mid-green leaves turn butter-yellow in autumn. It grows well on a wide range of soils including damp ones, will tolerate a lot of exposure, and is quite often seen growing on exposed hill sides. Mature height around 10-15 metres in the north of England, but can grow taller where conditions allow.

A good pioneer tree that tolerates a wide range of conditions, including damp, exposed sites and on poor soils.

Usually in stock as container trees from about 12cm to 18cm girth or more.

Rowan or Mountain Ash

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 15:14:47 +0000

Mountain Ash or Rowan trees are perfect for small gardens or avenues. This small to medium-sized tree grows to a maximum height of 10m in 20 – 30 years’ time. It has a distinctively slender, conical crown. Any stiffly upright branches become more open and ovate – or curved – with time.

This native UK tree produces white flowers in early summer, followed by bright orange-red berry-like fruit which birds love. In the autumn, the grey-green, pinnate leaves turn to yellow and then orange-red. Just one Rowan in a small garden can make a big impact.

The Rowan can grow at a higher altitude than any other tree in the UK – hence its common name of Mountain Ash. Suited to open, mildly acid soils, Rowan trees will tolerate slightly chalky and clay locations. As well as windy sites, coastal sites and urban conditions. Not suitable for waterlogged sites.

Available as a standard tree with a 12cm to 18cm girth.

A tree of many names

As well as Rowan and Mountain Ash, the Sorbus aucuparia has other spookier names! Find out more in our Something spooky – Witchbane article.

Lime Tree

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 13:06:21 +0000

Reliable variety of “Common Lime” tree with a conical crown and straight leading stem. Fast growing, with conspicuously red shoots and buds in autumn. Broadly ovate to rounded, vivid green leaves (to 10cm long), with pale-green undersides, turning yellow in autumn. Produces pale yellow flowers in midsummer. Will tolerate mildly acid sites if not too dry. Tolerates urban sites, temporary drought (when established), and wind.

A classic lime with scented flowers in summer. Good for large avenues. Reasonably Aphid free.

Available as standard trees 12cm to 20cm girth.

Himalayan birch – multistem

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:59:43 +0000

As the name suggests this is a tree with many stems. This not only increases the number of white stems it also has the added advantage of reducing the overall height of the tree. Originally from the Himalayas. A truly beautiful small tree grown for its pure white stems that just get better with age. In addition, the tree has a vivid yellow autumn leaf colour. This is a good choice for the small garden and grows well on a wide range of soils, including damp ones (not permanently waterlogged!) and will tolerate quite a bit of exposure. Mature height: around 8 metres in the north of England.

The brilliant white stems just gets whiter with age and is excellent against a dark back ground. It will tolerate a fairly damp soil.

Usually available as a multistem tree 200cm to 400cm tall.

Flowering Cherry (white)

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:27:26 +0000

The ‘Great White Cherry’ – one of the best of the Japanese group of ornamental Cherry trees with stunning, pure white blossom in spring and a magnificent, spreading shape.

Crab Apple

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 14:05:36 +0000

A colourful crabapple with deep pink blossom in spring just as the new spring foliage emerges as a rich burgundy colour – new foliage has this rich, deep colour but gradually changes to a bluish-green as the leaf matures. The fruits produced in autumn are smaller than on most Crab Apples and are a similar plum/burgundy colour as the spring foliage; these are a popular food source for birds. Ideal for a smallish garden; does well in urban areas, exposed sites and is hardy.

Acer x freemanii Jeffers Red

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:33:51 +0000

A hybrid cross between Acer saccharinum and Acer rubrum that inherits the best of both worlds with good vigour and good autumn colour. This tree is especially suited to the north of England where it is almost guaranteed to produce good autumn colour where Acer rubrum might not. It’s mature height is around 15 metres in the north of England.

This is one of the first trees to colour-up for autumn; but this also means that the leaves drop relatively early so it isn’t one of the best trees for screeing (or for growing on a windy site for that matter). However; the autumn colour is such a bright vivid scarlet-red; which really shines with the sun on it that this tree is a must-have if you have space.

Ornamental Pear – pleached

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:15:29 +0000

When it comes to pleached trees, an Ornamental Pear delivers wonderful interest with dark glossy-green leaves. Umbels of white flowers appear in March to early April. With enough direct sunlight, the foliage turns coppery-red in autumn.

Although deciduous, Ornamental Pear leaves can remain on the tree well into winter. This makes it a great tree for screening. Its compact root system makes it ideal for urban planting even when close to buildings. An Ornamental Pear tree is also air pollution-tolerant and fire blight-resistant.

Pleached trees are an excellent way to create privacy above a 180cm wall or fence. To maintain the shape and density, prune and train the tree annually.

Pear trees prefer a well-drained soil, anything from slightly acid to slightly limy, but not too dry. Add plenty of organic material if planting in sandy soils. We recommend a planting distance of 180cm between stems/trunks. Check out Caring for ornamental pear trees for more tips.

Our pleached pear trees have a 180cm stem/trunk, with a pleached head 150cm wide and 120cm high.

Ornamental Pear

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:11:03 +0000

Small-medium deciduous tree with narrow conical crown and dark glossy-green leaves which may remain on the tree well into winter. Early into leaf. Autumn colour: turning orange-yellow, scarlet to purple in late autumn. Bears umbels of white flowers in March to early April. Tolerant of air pollution, resistant to fire blight. The long leaf retention make this a great tree for screening, and its compact root system make it ideal for urban planting even when close to buildings.

A good uniform conical tree with white flowers in the early spring followed by glossy heart shaped leaves early in the year. The autumn colour is spectacular with reds and oranges which hang on into mid December. This tree is 3/4 evergreen and is good for small avenues and screening. Will tolerate most soils as long as they are not waterlogged.

Available as a standard tree 12cm to 20cm girth.