{"title":"Potted Trees","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhy wait for winter? Our container-grown trees arrive with roots already snug in their compost, so you can plant them almost any time of year (heatwaves and frozen ground excepted, obviously – we're gardeners, not miracle workers). This is a gloriously mixed bunch: figs and a dinky peach for sunny patios, mulberries with a touch of royal history, a proper old-fashioned greengage, and a handful of handsome specimen trees, from snow-white birch to a crinkly golden elm. Every tree is hand-picked at our nursery and delivered to your door.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"topiary-bay-laurel-trees-laurus-nobilis","title":"Bay Laurel Trees, Lollipop \u0026 Pyramid","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bay Laurel, to make your front and back doors welcoming\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bay, sweet Bay, Bay laurel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eLaurus nobilis\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrained shapes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lollipop, pyramid and spiral, 100cm to 160cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize it holds:\u003c\/strong\u003e Whatever you clip it to, for as long as you keep clipping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeft uncut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reaches 7.5m and more, but that takes decades\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow to moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardy (H4). Cold wind scorches the leaves long before cold alone does\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well drained. Hates being waterlogged in pot or ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS AGM:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes: \u003cem\u003eLaurus nobilis\u003c\/em\u003e holds the Award of Garden Merit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinators:\u003c\/strong\u003e On the RHS Plants for Pollinators list\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Doorways, courtyards, formal gardens, big pots, use in the kitchen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContainer suitable:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes: 40cm pot upwards, in soil-based compost with added grit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Potted trained specimens, bought in young and grown on by us\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any time the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e All year round. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDark, glossy, aromatic evergreen leaves on a clipped stem, in shapes from a 100cm pyramid to a 160cm lollipop. The one plant that is equally at home flanking a doorway and sitting in a casserole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBay Laurel Trees: Two Either Side of a Door\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLaurus nobilis\u003c\/em\u003e is an evergreen tree with dark, leathery, strongly aromatic leaves, trained here into lollipops, pyramids and spirals between 100cm and 160cm tall. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit and appears on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list. Clipped, it stays exactly where you put it. Left alone for thirty years, it becomes a 7.5m tree, which is the fate of very few Bays in this country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost people who buy Bay trees get two. They go either side of a door, a gate, or a flight of steps, and the whole point is that they match. That sounds obvious until you try to buy a matched pair from two different places, or two years apart, and discover that stem girth and head diameter drift. Ours are grown on together in the same batch under the same conditions in Somerset, which is the only reliable way to get two plants that look like siblings rather than distant cousins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing them on to that standard takes time. It is why a trained Bay costs what it does, and why we would rather sell you one good one than two cheap ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Tree Behind the Wreath\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe ancient Greeks believed Bay laurel was sacred to Apollo. Ovid tells you, in the first book of the \u003cem\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/em\u003e, the nymph Daphne, fleeing the god, is turned into a laurel. Daphne, of course, is simply the Greek word for Bay laurel. Apollo took it as his emblem, and its evergreen leaves have been the crown for poets and victors pretty much ever since. That is where \"poet laureate\" comes from, and it is the reason a plant with such a modest flower has spent two thousand years standing beside important doorways. They are also a culinary must-have. Use dried if you must, but nothing tastes quite like a stew made with a Bay leaf, or two picked 15 seconds before it went into the pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBay sits with the other Mediterranean evergreens, all of which do best in the same conditions: sun and sharp drainage. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rosemary-plants-rosmarinus-officinalis\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRosemary\u003c\/a\u003e is the natural partner and doubles the kitchen value of the same corner (or doorway). An \u003ca href=\"\/products\/olive-trees-olea-europaea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eolive tree\u003c\/a\u003e gives you silver against the Bay's dark green, though it is fussier about winter wet than Bay. For the planting at their feet, apart from Rosemary, English lavenders such as Hidcote or Munstead from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lavender-plants\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elavender collection\u003c\/a\u003e will enjoy the same dry, sunny spot and flower for months. There are more ideas in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ornamental-evergreen-bushes\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eevergreen collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Your Bay Trees from Us?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe buy young plants from a specialist nursery and grow them on in Somerset so they are acclimatised and, crucially, uniform, which matters when you buy two. Our quality and service are great; Which? named us a Best Plant Supplier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre Bay trees hardy in the UK?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, Bay is hardy across most of Britain and rated H4 (to -10°C). Cold, dry winter wind browns the leaves more often than frost does, so shelter it from the east.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow a Bay tree in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and most trained Bays live in pots permanently. Use a 40cm pot or larger, soil-based compost with added grit, and feed from spring to midsummer. Repot every second year and stand the pot on feet over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the best way to clip a Bay lollipop or pyramid?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse secateurs, not shears, and clip in summer. Shears cut straight through the big leaves and leave a rim of brown edges across the head. Secateurs take each shoot back to a bud, so every leaf stays whole. Full method in our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/trees\/look-after-bay-tree-care-guide\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBay tree care guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between a lollipop and a standard Bay tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNothing: a lollipop is the everyday name for a standard, a single clear stem with a clipped ball of leaves on top. We say lollipop because that is exactly what it looks like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy have the leaves on my Bay tree curled and turned yellow at the edges?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is Bay sucker, an insect that thickens and curls the leaf margins from May to October. It looks alarming and does no lasting harm, so the RHS advises no treatment. Pick off the worst leaves. Other causes are in our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/trees\/bay-tree-problems-uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eguide to Bay tree problems\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill my Bay tree produce berries?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe cannot promise berries. Bay is dioecious; male and female flowers sit on separate plants, and only females carry the small black fruit. Trained plants are grown for shape, not sex, so treat berries as a bonus. They are ornamental, not edible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I pick the leaves for cooking straight away?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, from the day it arrives. Bay is evergreen, so you can pick year-round. Fresh leaves are stronger than dried, so use about half what a recipe assumes, and take the whole leaf out before serving. Only ever pick from true Bay: cherry laurel (\u003cem\u003ePrunus laurocerasus\u003c\/em\u003e) is an obviously different but poisonous plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 100cm Pyramid","offer_id":54963584336198,"sku":"LAURNOBI-100 Pyramid","price":69.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Potted \/ 100x35cm Lollipop","offer_id":54963584368966,"sku":"LAURNOBI-110 Lollipop","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 140x35cm Lollipop","offer_id":54963584401734,"sku":"LAURNOBI-140 Lollipop","price":109.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Potted \/ 160x40cm Lollipop","offer_id":54999467360582,"sku":"LAURNOBI-160 Lollipop","price":134.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 150cm Spiral Lollipop","offer_id":54999467393350,"sku":"LAURNOBI-150cm Spiral","price":159.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/topiary-bay-trees-bushes-comparison.jpg?v=1758114372"},{"product_id":"jupiter-apple-trees","title":"Jupiter Apple Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJupiter Apple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eJupiter Apple \u003c\/strong\u003eis a thing to behold. It's often as large as a cooker, round and orange red coloured over a green\/yellow main colour with no russety bits. The flesh is cream and slightly coarse but utterly delicious with a firm but not crisp bite and a taste that is like a Cox's Orange Pippin but for many is preferable because it's slightly sharper and more consistent. It certainly is one of the best eating apples we grow and sell. The tree itself errs on the large side - it needs to be to hold those enormous apples! - and crops splendidly. The real bonus is that for our money Jupiter has one of the prettiest blossoms out there; pink and white large flowers with dark pink buds appearing in mid-May and so a little later than some giving it good frost protection. It won its RHS AGM in 1993 and is extremely mildew resistant. Like all apples, it is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/apple-fruit-trees\"\u003eapple trees\u003c\/a\u003e or see the full variety of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/fruit-trees\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are always encouraging you to think of your apple trees not just as something that should be relegated to the orchard (many of us don't have room for those any more!) but seen as an enormously important aesthetic addition to your garden. For a slightly larger garden, Jupiter would be the one to choose for this purpose. The spectacular blossom makes it breath-taking in May especially if you can organise to surround it with May flowering pink and white tulips, or even the purple \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/negrita-tulip-bulbs\"\u003eNegrita\u003c\/a\u003e with the latest growing Narcissi - Old Pheasant's Eye. You will have achieved heaven then! Apple trees make fabulous natural supports to twine clematis through. Have a look at the enormous range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/clematis-climbing-plants\"\u003eclematis \u003c\/a\u003eavailable and then why stop at one? Jupiter apples are great to eat straight from the tree, do store for up to two months and juice to an ambrosial beverage, certainly a drink for the gods. Finally, as a triploid tree Jupiter does need a couple more apple trees around to pollinate it successfully. For a very different type of eating apple which Jupiter will approve of, why not try the lovely \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/beauty-of-bath-apple-trees\"\u003eBeauty of Bath\u003c\/a\u003e?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis apple must have been named after the King of the Gods from Greek mythology, although Jupiter is the Roman name for the Greek Zeus, not the planet. Jupiter's extraordinary japes and infidelities the Ancient's lore make him, like this apple, a larger than life character, even if he is definitely one you would prefer to have on your side.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ Maiden","offer_id":54963586400582,"sku":"MALUDOMJUP-MDN","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ Half-Standard","offer_id":54963586433350,"sku":"MALUDOMJUP-1\/2","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ Bush 7.5 Litre Pot","offer_id":54999229169990,"sku":"MALUDOMJUP-7.5L","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/jupiter-apples-fruit-2.jpg?v=1755634518"},{"product_id":"aprimira-miracot-hybrid-plum-trees","title":"Aprimira Miracot Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aprimira, a Miracot: a cross between an Apricot and a Mirabelle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prunus 'Aprimira' (Miracot Series)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eating fresh. Sweet, juicy and freestone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown tree in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRootstock:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wavit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.5 to 4.5m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-fertile. One tree crops alone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePicking:\u003c\/strong\u003e August, over a long period\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePots:\u003c\/strong\u003e Will live in a large pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, sheltered. A south-facing wall is ideal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained. Not for chalk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAprimira is a Miracot, a cross between an Apricot and a Mirabelle: yellow, juicy, freestone fruit the size of a medium Apricot, with a Mirabelle flavour and more sweetness. It is self-fertile, grows to 3.5 to 4.5 metres on Wavit rootstock, and is one of the few stone fruits that will live in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAprimira Miracot Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Aprimira' is an \u003cstrong\u003eApri\u003c\/strong\u003ecot \u003cstrong\u003eMira\u003c\/strong\u003ebelle hybrid, or Miracot, with medium-apricot-sized, juicy yellow fruit, conveniently free stone, with a mirabelle plum flavour but sweeter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis self fertile tree fruits in August with a long picking period.\u003cbr\u003eThe shelf life is decent for a stone fruit, over a week in the fridge: the smell of the fruit alone is irresistible, so it shouldn't sit around for long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse all of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plum-fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eplum family fruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis Miracot is grown on a Wavit rootstock, which gives medium-to-low vigour, reaching 3.5 to 4.5 metres tall, making it suitable for small gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a hardy tree, but like its Apricot parent requires full sun to crop well. A sheltered site near a South facing wall is perfect. \u003cbr\u003eIt needs good drainage, and isn't recommended for chalky soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis German creation was bred in 1994 at the Geisenheim research station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Mira-cot is a cross between a Mirabelle and an Apricot, so no prizes for guessing where the cultivar name Apri-mira comes from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAprimira crops alone, so its companions are a matter of taste. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mirabelle-de-nancy-plum-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMirabelle de Nancy\u003c\/a\u003e is the golden Plum on one side of its parentage. For another fruit that wants the same warm, sunny wall, plant a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-turkey-fig-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrown Turkey Fig\u003c\/a\u003e. Our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e has the rest, and our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/fruit\/pruning-plum-trees-guide\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlum pruning guide\u003c\/a\u003e covers summer pruning for every stone fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Your Miracot Tree from Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Aprimira Miracot is grown on Wavit rootstock and comes in a 12 litre pot, to plant in any month. A potted tree delivered leafless between November and March is guaranteed for 12 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a Miracot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA cross between a Mirabelle Plum and an Apricot. Aprimira has fruit the size of a medium Apricot, yellow and juicy, with a Mirabelle flavour that is sweeter than the Plum's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Aprimira need a pollination partner?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. It is completely self-fertile, so a single tree crops alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does the tree grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn Wavit rootstock it reaches 3.5 to 4.5 metres, which suits a small garden. Summer pruning keeps it smaller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you grow Aprimira in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It is one of the few stone fruits that will live in a large pot. Keep it watered and fed, and stand it in your sunniest, most sheltered spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere should you plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn full sun and shelter, ideally near a south-facing wall, in soil that drains well. It is not recommended for chalk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the fruit ripe?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August, with a long picking period. The fruit keeps for over a week in the fridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll year. The trees are pot-grown, so they can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":54999109042502,"sku":"MIRAAPRI-12L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/aprimira-plum-fruit-1.jpg?v=1755385756"},{"product_id":"black-cherry-plum-trees-prunus-cerasifera-nigra","title":"Purple-Leaved Cherry Trees, Large","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purple-Leaved Cherry Plum, Black Cherry Plum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot half-standard and standards of 6\/8cm and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown half-standard in a 10 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8m by 6m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single and pale pink, from deep pink buds, before the leaves in early spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red when young, then deep purple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Round-headed, with dark twigs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest soil and site:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderately fertile soil, chalk included. Full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (1993)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Purple-Leaved Cherry Plum is a round-headed tree with deep purple leaves, red when young, and single pale pink flowers that open from deep pink buds before the leaves in early spring. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit and is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePurple-Leaved Cherry Trees, Large Standards\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurple-Leaf Cherry, the tough and beautiful Prunus cerasifera Nigra, AKA black cherry plum, is a firm urban favourite, with its top tier reliability in poor soils, spectacular spring blossom and great foliage colour. It's one of the first cherries to flower, coming into bud in late February in warm areas. The buds open into blush-pink, single flowers, contrasted against rich burgundy-black-purple stems. Soon, glossy, pale copper new leaves emerge, which mature to deep purple, then fire up to rich reds and orange in autumn, providing interest throughout most of the year. In the winter months its dense mushroom-shaped crown brings pleasing structure. \u003cbr\u003eBrowse our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cherry-blossom-trees-prunus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental cherry trees\u003c\/a\u003e, or buy the slightly less ornamental \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cherry-plum-hedge-plants-prunus-cerasifera-myrobalan\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewild Prunus cerasifera\u003c\/a\u003e, which is great for hedges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt does bear fruit, although not regularly. The juicy red plums are sweet, and are better for making jam than eating fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cherry plums are delivered bareroot from late autumn to early spring, November to April. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. Our standard trees are measured by the girth of the trunk in centimetres, one metre above the ground, not by their height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Purple Leaf Cherry Plum Trees\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGive it a bit of sun, plant on soil that's not waterlogged, and it'll grow. It'll tolerate all but the toughest of conditions. It's shallow rooted, so it's ideal on streets and next to structures: town planners love it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's a handsome small tree, perfect for small and medium gardens, where it'll give you good screening planted in front of a shed or outbuildings. It makes a brilliant specimen, or a subject for an avenue of trees: imagine tree after tree covered in blossom in early spring. Underplant your tree with plenty of early spring bulbs for a fabulous show in March. Choose \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/crocus-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecrocus bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e in pale and interesting shades to complement the tree's soft-pink blossom, dark bark, and mature leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCerasi- means cherry, and the ending -fera means to carry or bear something, like an aqui-fer bears water (see also Christopher), and Nigra is black.\n  \u003cbr\u003e\n  Bred in the USA in 1916, it is also sold as Prunus Blaze or Pissardii Nigra.\n  \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species.\n  \u003cbr\u003e\n  So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height.\n  \u003cbr\u003e\n  On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/royal-burgundy-cherry-blossom-trees-prunus-serrulata\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoyal Burgundy\u003c\/a\u003e is the other dark-leaved tree in the family: plant the pair for two seasons of pink flowers over purple leaves. The Crab Apples \u003ca href=\"\/products\/profusion-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eProfusion\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/royalty-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoyalty\u003c\/a\u003e are purple-leaved too, with wine-red flowers. Dust bareroot roots with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rootgrow-universal-friendly-mycorrhizae-fungi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRootgrow\u003c\/a\u003e as you plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Cherry Plum comes bareroot, lifted while dormant, or pot-grown for planting in any month. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it a Cherry or a Plum?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Plum. It is a purple-leaved form of the Cherry Plum, Prunus cerasifera, and not a Flowering Cherry, although it is sold beside them and is one of the first of them to flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8 metres tall and 6 wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does it flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early spring, before the leaves. We find the buds showing in late February in warm areas, which makes it one of the first to flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, and not every year. The red plums are sweet and juicy, and you will find them better for jam than for eating fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It needs full sun and moderately fertile soil, and grows in chalk, clay, loam and sand, in exposed or sheltered places.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should you prune it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn mid-summer, if at all. It is in pruning group 1, which needs little pruning; cut in mid-summer where silver leaf is a problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999124640070,"sku":"PRUNCERNIGST-6\/8","price":104.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999124672838,"sku":"PRUNCERNIGST-8\/10","price":164.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ Half-Standard","offer_id":54999124705606,"sku":"PRUNCERNIGST-1\/2","price":64.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ Half Standard 10 Litre","offer_id":54999124738374,"sku":"PRUNCERNIST-1\/2-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/purple-cherry-plum-trees-prunus-cerasifera-nigra-2.jpg?v=1756800953"},{"product_id":"brown-turkey-fig-trees","title":"'Brown Turkey' Fig Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brown Turkey, the most reliable Fig for growing outdoors in Britain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown, in 9cm (P9), 3 litre and 7 litre pots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Up to 10cm long, green at first and purplish when ripe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-fertile. Figs set fruit here without pollination\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePicking:\u003c\/strong\u003e August and September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.5 to 4m tall and wide, less with its roots restricted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTime to full size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 to 20 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, sheltered. Best trained on a warm wall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, chalk included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePots:\u003c\/strong\u003e Good in a large pot, and better for it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H4, hardy to about -10°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (1993)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrown Turkey is the Fig for a British garden: a large, deciduous shrub with bold, lobed leaves and fruit up to 10cm long that ripens from green to purplish in August and September. It is self-fertile, it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, and it crops best on a warm wall or in a large pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e'Brown Turkey' Fig Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrown Turkey fig\u003c\/strong\u003e trees are the best figs for growing outside in the UK. It crops heavily every year, almost without fail, in a nice sunny spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you don't have space for a full size fig tree, never fear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/little-miss-figgy-dwarf-fig-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLittle Miss Figgy\u003c\/a\u003e is here.\u003cbr\u003eBrowse our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll varieties of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/common-fig-trees-ficus-carica\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFicus carica\u003c\/a\u003e are fully self-fertile, so you only need one Brown Turkey to keep a family happy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Brown Turkey Figs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFigs need special attention to crop well. If you think it needs more than you can give, then a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-wild-fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003emedlar or quince\u003c\/a\u003e might be a better choice for something exotic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you plant a fig tree into the ground without taking precautions, you will quickly realise just how big fruiting figs can grow. In the wild they can be very large trees indeed. So, here is what you do:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe principle is similar to Bonsai, where a small container restricts the size of the tree. In the case of figs, restricting the food supply limits the size of the tree while allowing fruit to form naturally. So, if planting in the garden, preparation is all important. Dig a hole no more than 60cm long x 60cm wide x 75 cm deep. Line the walls with material that roots cannot penetrate. Paving slabs are often used, or the thick plastic damp proof membrane used by builders when casting concrete floors. Put a layer of at least 20-25cm rubble or hardcore in the bottom of the hole and then fill with ordinary garden soil. Plant the fig in this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want to put your fig in a container, choose one of a similar size to the hole outlined above and make sure it's sturdy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs long as you follow the rules above, figs can be grown freestanding as a low bush or larger standard tree, but they're more generally grown trained in a fan shape against a wall or fence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrown Turkey is tremendously vigorous and requires pruning every year. Figs crop on last year's wood, which means they should be treated like summer fruiting raspberries. Any wood that has fruited is cut out and older structural branches can be removed without fear of hurting the plant. In spring, it's a good idea to cut out crossing branches and suckers. Depending on growth, sometime in the summer cut back new growths to 5-6 leaves to encourage fruit formation the following year. Before winter sets in remove any large fruits that have not ripened. However, leave the little marble sized figlets for the following year. Always leave 5cm (2in) long stubs when removing any branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/fruit\/how-grow-brown-turkey-fig-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHow to Harvest figs in the UK\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor a pale, honeyed Fig beside this dark one, plant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/white-marseilles-fig-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWhite Marseilles\u003c\/a\u003e against the same warm wall. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/aprimira-miracot-hybrid-plum-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAprimira Miracot\u003c\/a\u003e wants the same sun and shelter, and will also live in a pot. When the crop comes, our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/fruit\/homemade-fig-jam-recipe\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFig jam recipe\u003c\/a\u003e was written for Brown Turkey. See all our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-wild-fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eexotic and wild fruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Your Fig Tree from Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold plants since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Brown Turkey Fig comes pot-grown, in a choice of three pot sizes, so you can plant it in any month. A potted plant delivered leafless between November and March is guaranteed for 12 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you grow Figs outdoors in the UK?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Brown Turkey is rated H4, hardy to about -10°C. The fruit is the tender part, so in a cold garden give it a warm wall, or a pot you can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo you need two Fig trees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Figs set fruit here without pollination, so one Brown Turkey crops alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do Figs ripen?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August and into September, from the small Figs that sat on the tree through winter. There is usually one crop a year, and sometimes two in a hot summer or under glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you grow Brown Turkey in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and it fruits better for it: a Fig with its roots confined makes fewer leaves and more fruit. Start with a pot about 45cm across and repot every couple of years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt grows 2.5 to 4 metres tall and wide in 10 to 20 years. With the roots restricted, against a wall or in a pot, you decide the size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do you protect a Fig in winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCover the branch tips with fleece or straw, because the pea-sized Figs there are next summer's crop. Move a potted tree into a shed or cold greenhouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll year. The trees are pot-grown, so they can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 3 Litre","offer_id":54999129620806,"sku":"FICUCARBROTU-3L","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Potted \/ P9 (9cm Pot)","offer_id":54999129653574,"sku":"FICUCARBROTU-P9","price":3.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Potted \/ 7 Litre","offer_id":54999129686342,"sku":"FICUCARBROTU-7L","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/brown-turkey-fig-ficus-carica-1.jpg?v=1755543116"},{"product_id":"common-native-oak-trees-quercus-robur","title":"English Oak Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e English Oak, the tree the rest of the wood is measured against\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e English oak, common oak, pedunculate oak\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Quercus robur\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUK native:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20-40m (65-130ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e More than 8m, with a broad crown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAcorns:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2-2.5cm long, carried on stalks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reddish-brown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, moist but well-drained and fertile. Lime tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large gardens, parkland, field corners, wildlife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar varieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sessile Oak (the upland native), Turkey Oak (faster)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot trees 200\/250cm. Bareroot standards, 6\/8cm and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown in 10 litre pots, 150\/175cm and 175\/200cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot from November to April. Pot-grown in any month\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot November to April, pot-grown all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish Oak, Quercus robur, is the native common oak: a large deciduous tree of 20 to 40m with a broad crown, lobed dark green leaves and acorns on stalks. It wants deep, moist but well-drained soil, takes lime, and is planted for your grandchildren as much as for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eEnglish Oak Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuercus robur, the Common or Pedunculate Oak AKA just English Oak, is an enormously strong tree with spreading branches; old oaks are often a bit wider than they're tall. It has distinctive, deep green lobed leaves and short strings of light green, wind-pollinated flowers in spring that ripen into acorns. \u003cbr\u003e They can reach a height of 20 to 40 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also buy \u003ca href=\"\/products\/english-oak-sapling-plants-quercus-robur\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCommon Oak as smaller saplings\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e Browse our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/oak-trees-quercus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOak tree varieties\u003c\/a\u003e, or all of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oak trees are delivered bareroot during late autumn and winter, approximately November-April inclusive. Pot-grown trees are delivered all year, whenever they are in stock. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Common Oaks\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOak will grow in most soils, tolerates a bit of damp, and loves rich clay. Young oak trees are shade-tolerant and can take their time growing up into the sunlight. They're often interplanted with fast-growing conifers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sessile-oak-trees-quercus-petraea\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSessile Oak\u003c\/a\u003e is a better choice for rocky hillsides with sharper drainage and higher altitude.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuercus is Latin for oak, and robur, as in robust, refers to the strength of the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mature native oak is probably the single best tree for supporting wildlife, playing host to over 400 insect species and attracting jays. The bark of older trees is deeply ridged and provides a home or place to lay eggs for insects. The acorns are eaten by all sorts of animals, and pigs love them. Pollarding trees used to be a common practice to provide easily accessible firewood and fodder for animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOak timber is excellent and was prized for ship-building in the past, and is still in demand for furniture and the interiors of houses: you can't beat an oak floorboard. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003eThen here’s to the oak, the brave old oak, \u003cbr\u003e Who stands in his pride alone; \u003cbr\u003e And still flourish he, a hale green tree, \u003cbr\u003e When a hundred years are gone!\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003e So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003e On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn oak keeps the company of the hedgerow. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hawthorn-hedge-plants-crataegus-monogyna\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHawthorn\u003c\/a\u003e and field maple run along beneath it in every old field boundary, and a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/green-beech-trees-fagus-sylvatica\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGreen Beech\u003c\/a\u003e is the other great native for a big space. Where you want speed, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/turkey-oak-trees-quercus-cerris\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTurkey Oak\u003c\/a\u003e is the fast-growing cousin. You will find the rest of the natives among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/native-british-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003enative British trees\u003c\/a\u003e, and the big ones gathered under \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/large-garden-parkland-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for large gardens and parkland\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Your Trees from Us?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has been in business since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your oak is grown for us by specialist growers, in five sizes. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, as are pot-grown trees delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between English oak and sessile oak?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLook for the stalk. English oak carries acorns on stalks and its leaves have almost none; sessile oak is the reverse. English is the lowland tree of clay and hedgerows, sessile the upland one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs an English oak too big for a garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most gardens, yes. It reaches 20 to 40m with a crown wider than 8m. Give it a field corner, a paddock or parkland to grow into and it will outlive the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill an English oak grow on chalk or clay?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish oak is lime tolerant, so chalk is no bar where there is depth of soil over it. It is happiest on deep, moist but well-drained ground, and rich clay suits it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does an oak tree first produce acorns?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn oak takes about forty years to bear its first real crop. After that crops vary from year to year, and wildlife eats much of what falls before it can germinate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I buy an oak sapling or a standard tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaplings for a wood, a hedge or a long view: they are cheap and establish easily. A standard where you want a tree you can see from the house in its first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 200\/250cm","offer_id":54999146561862,"sku":"QUERROBST-200\/250","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999146496326,"sku":"QUERROBST-6\/8","price":79.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999146529094,"sku":"QUERROBST-8\/10","price":114.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 150\/175 10 Litre","offer_id":54999146594630,"sku":"QUERROB-150\/175-10L","price":59.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 175\/200cm - 10 Litre","offer_id":54999146627398,"sku":"QUERROBST-175\/200-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/english-oak-mature-tree.jpg?v=1755542994"},{"product_id":"director-moerland-crab-apple-trees-malus-moerlandsii","title":"Director Moerland Crabapple Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Director Moerland, a purple-leaved Crab Apple bred with clean, healthy foliage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Malus 'Directeur Moerlands', from the Malus × moerlandsii group. Also sold as 'Profusion Improved'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot standards, 6\/8 and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 7m tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTime to full size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 to 20 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single and wine-red, in mid to late spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small, round and dark red to purple, hanging on after leaf fall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lobed like a Maple leaf. Reddish-purple when young, then dark reddish-green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any moderately fertile soil, chalk and clay included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDirector Moerland is a vigorous Crab Apple with a rounded head: reddish-purple young leaves, wine-red flowers in mid to late spring and small, dark fruit that stays on the bare branches. It was bred to resist the canker and mildew that trouble other purple-leaved Crab Apples, and it is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDirector Moerland Crabapple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Malus moerlandsii crabapple trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are also known as Director Moerland. It's \u003cstrong\u003edisease resistant crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e tree and was bred to resist canker and mildew, which can be problems for some of the other red or purple leaved crabapples. It has proven to be a success on the disease front and is every bit as pretty as its relatives. The young leaves are a fantastic crimson-purple, deepening to a rich green as they develop. The wine pink flowers are abundant and create a lovely layered colour effect with the foliage: bees go mad for them too. It has a rich autumn display and when the leaves have all fallen, the small, purplish fruit'll continue to adorn the branches for several months. One of the best for a combination of foliage, flower, fruit and ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMalus moerlandsii can reach a height of about 7 metres.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrowse our variety of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecrab apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e or see our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Standard Trees are Measured:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll the plants in the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental trees section\u003c\/a\u003e are graded as standards, which means that they're measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level (basically, their trunk's waist measurement). They aren't measured by their height, which will vary. So, a 6\/8 standard has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8 centimetres and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10 centimetres around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003eStandard trees are 2 to 3.5 metres tall (on average) when they arrive; they're the most mature trees that you can buy from us. We cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDirector Moerland belongs to the purple group of Crab Apples, with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/profusion-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eProfusion\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/royalty-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoyalty\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liset-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLiset\u003c\/a\u003e: compare them before you choose, as one purple tree is usually enough in a garden. It sits among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/small-garden-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for small gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, and our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/fruit\/pruning-crab-apple-tree\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003epruning a Crab Apple\u003c\/a\u003e covers the little cutting it needs. Dust bareroot roots with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rootgrow-universal-friendly-mycorrhizae-fungi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRootgrow\u003c\/a\u003e as you plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge for Crab Apple Trees?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Director Moerland Crab Apple comes bareroot, lifted while dormant, or pot-grown for planting in any month. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does Director Moerland grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is vigorous, and grows to about 7 metres, with a roundish crown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Director Moerland the same as Profusion?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot quite. It is listed as Malus 'Directeur Moerlands', and 'Profusion Improved' is another name for the same plant. Profusion itself is a separate, older variety, which we also sell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it good for bees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, and the single flowers are open to insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat soil and position does it need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull sun and any moderately fertile soil. It grows in chalk, clay, loam and sand, acid or alkaline, as long as the ground drains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need pruning?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery little. It is in pruning group 1: take out dead, damaged or crossing wood in winter and leave the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999163830598,"sku":"MALUSYLDIRMO-6\/8","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999163863366,"sku":"MALUSYLDIRMO-8\/10","price":129.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 12L","offer_id":56264663793990,"sku":"MALUSYLDIRMO-12L","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/malus-director-moerland-crabapple-tree-flowers.jpg?v=1755466831"},{"product_id":"golden-hornet-crab-apple-trees-malus","title":"Golden Hornet Crab Apple Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden Hornet, the yellow-fruited Crab Apple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Malus x zumi 'Golden Hornet'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot standards, 6\/8 and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown, 12 litre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e White, from pink buds, in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep yellow, 2.5cm, held well into winter. Good for jelly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-fertile, and a pollinator for eating and cooking Apples\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 6m tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTime to full size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20+ years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun for fruit. Takes partial shade. Exposed or sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any moderately fertile, well-drained soil, chalk and clay included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGolden Hornet is the Crab Apple for yellow fruit: white flowers from pink buds in spring, then a heavy crop of deep yellow Crab Apples that hang on the bare branches well into winter. It is self-fertile, pollinates eating Apples, and makes a golden jelly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Hornet Crab Apple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGolden Hornet \u003c\/strong\u003egets its name from the honey yellow crab apples, which stay on the branches well into winter. These are excellent for jelly making (which is golden) or pressing into cider, although \u003ca href=\"\/products\/butterball-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eButterball\u003c\/a\u003e is slightly better in that the fruit can be stored for longer before use. The flowers open in spring from bright pink buds: most will be pure white, some will keep a pink blush.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey're one of the best pollinators for apple orchards; along with the likes of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/john-downie-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJohn Downie\u003c\/a\u003e, they have an especially long flowering period that covers almost all apple pollination groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our variety of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecrab apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e or our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crab apple trees are delivered bareroot from late autumn to early spring, November to April, and pot-grown in any month when in stock. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Golden Hornet Crab Apples\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny well drained soil. Full sun is ideal if you plan to harvest the fruit, otherwise partial shade is fine. Tolerant of pollution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf scab is a problem in your area, consider using the highly disease resistant \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sentinel-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRed Sentinel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tree was bred in 1948 by J Waterer \u0026amp; Sons Nursery. The records do not survive, but the ancestors are thought to be Malus prunifolia rinki \/ coccinea crossed with M. sieboldii calocarpa, which led to a variety called Wintergold, of which Golden Hornet is an improved version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003eSo, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003eOn average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant yellow against red: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sentinel-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRed Sentinel\u003c\/a\u003e holds its deep red fruit as long as Golden Hornet holds its yellow. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/butterball-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eButterball\u003c\/a\u003e is the other yellow, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/john-downie-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJohn Downie\u003c\/a\u003e is the classic jelly Crab Apple. See all our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCrab Apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e, and dust bareroot roots with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rootgrow-universal-friendly-mycorrhizae-fungi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRootgrow\u003c\/a\u003e as you plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Golden Hornet Crab Apple comes bareroot, lifted while dormant, or pot-grown for planting in any month. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Golden Hornet pollinate your Apple trees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Every Crab Apple we sell is self-fertile and a pollinator for eating and cooking Apples. Golden Hornet has long been planted in orchards for that job.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you eat the fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCooked, yes. The fruit makes a golden jelly, and you can add it to a cider pressing. Raw, it is too sharp to enjoy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does the fruit stay on the tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell into winter, long after the leaves have gone. That is the reason to plant it where you see it from the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does Golden Hornet grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4 to 6 metres tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat soil and site suit it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny moderately fertile, well-drained soil, including chalk and clay. Give it full sun if you want the fruit. It will tolerate partial shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999187620166,"sku":"MALUSYLGOLHO-6\/8","price":99.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999187652934,"sku":"MALUSYLGOLHO-8\/10","price":129.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 12L","offer_id":56264670544198,"sku":"MALUSYLGOLHO-12L","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/carmen-holding-malus-golden-hornet-potted-crabapple-tree.webp?v=1785416142"},{"product_id":"john-downie-crab-apple-trees-malus","title":"John Downie Crab Apple Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e John Downie, the jelly Crab Apple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Malus 'John Downie'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot half-standard and standards of 6\/8cm and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown standard in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 6m tall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e White, from pink buds, and profuse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Egg-shaped, 3cm long, bright red and orange-yellow. For jelly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vigorous, with an egg-shaped crown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-fertile, and a pollinator for eating Apples\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest soil and site:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderately fertile soil, chalk and clay included. Sun or partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Downie is the Crab Apple for jelly: profuse white blossom from pink buds, then heavy crops of egg-shaped fruit, 3cm long, in bright red and orange-yellow. It is self-fertile, pollinates eating Apples, tolerates partial shade and is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eJohn Downie Crab Apple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Downie crab apple trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are attractive and make heavy crops of some of the best crab apples for use in the kitchen. They're commonly planted in orchards and their narrow canopy makes them a great specimen tree for a small garden. It has abundant white blossom in mid-late spring and good red-gold autumn colour. The long, conical, bright red-orange fruit are some of the prettiest of any crab apple. They don't remain for long on the branches when ripe, which is fine because they make great crab apple jelly or apple sauce, and can be blended into a cider brew.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nVigorous yet naturally tidy, it can reach a height of about 6-8 metres. Half standards will reach approximately 4 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrowse our variety of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecrab apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e, or our range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental garden trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crab apple trees are delivered bareroot from late autumn to early spring, November to April.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. Our standard trees are measured by the girth of the trunk in centimetres, one metre above the ground, not by their height.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eGrowing John Downie Crab Apples\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eAny well drained soil. Suitable for large containers designed for trees. Full sun or partial shade. Tolerant of pollution.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eModerately susceptible to scab.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt's one of the best pollinators for apple orchards, along with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-hornet-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGolden Hornet\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTip for harvesting: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe ripe fruit drop easily from the tree, so as soon as you see one fall, put a tarp on the ground and shake the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tree was bred in 1875 by Edward Holmes in Lichfield and named after his friend, a Scottish nurseryman who worked at Handsworth Nurseries in Sheffield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species.\u003cbr\u003e\nSo, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height.\u003cbr\u003e\nOn average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/butterball-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eButterball\u003c\/a\u003e is another jelly Crab, with yellow-orange fruit, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/evereste-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEvereste\u003c\/a\u003e is the white-flowered, red-fruited Crab that keeps its fruit into winter. In an orchard, plant it among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/apple-fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eApple trees\u003c\/a\u003e as a pollinator, and see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/wildlife-ecology-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for wildlife\u003c\/a\u003e. Dust bareroot roots with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rootgrow-universal-friendly-mycorrhizae-fungi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRootgrow\u003c\/a\u003e as you plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Crab Apple comes bareroot, lifted while dormant, or pot-grown for planting in any month. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat can you do with John Downie Crab Apples?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMake jelly first of all: it has been the jelly Crab since 1875. The fruit also makes a good apple sauce and can go into a cider blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it pollinate your Apple trees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Every Crab Apple we sell is self-fertile and a pollinator for eating Apples, and we rate John Downie among the best for an orchard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt reaches 4 to 6 metres tall, about 3 metres for a half-standard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do you pick the fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs soon as the first ripe ones fall. They do not hang long, so put a sheet on the ground and shake the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEvereste or John Downie?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are white-flowered Crabs that make jelly. Evereste holds its fruit into winter for show. John Downie drops its fruit when ripe, which suits you if the crop is for the kitchen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in partial shade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It will tolerate partial shade, in moderately fertile soil, and grows in chalk, clay, loam and sand in exposed or sheltered places.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999226908998,"sku":"MALUSYLJOHDO-6\/8","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999226941766,"sku":"MALUSYLJOHDO-8\/10","price":99.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ Half-Standard","offer_id":54999226974534,"sku":"MALUSYLJOHDO-1\/2","price":64.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":54999227007302,"sku":"MALUSYLJODOST-12L","price":79.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/malus-john-downie-crab-apple-flowers-1.jpg?v=1757520641"},{"product_id":"king-james-chelsea-mulberry-trees","title":"King James \/ Chelsea Mulberry Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chelsea, also sold as King James: the old English Black Mulberry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Morus nigra 'Chelsea' (syn. 'King James')\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large, dark red to black, tart and sweet. Late summer, around August\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-fertile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. One tree is enough\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8 to 12m tall and wider than 8m, over 20 to 50 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low and spreading, with crooked, gnarled branches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest soil and site:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil that drains. Full sun, sheltered from cold, dry winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Only in late autumn or early winter. It bleeds if cut in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe King James or Chelsea Mulberry is a self-fertile Black Mulberry with the RHS Award of Garden Merit and large, dark red to black fruit in late summer. It grows slowly into a spreading tree 8 to 12 metres tall and wider than that, in fertile soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKing James \/ Chelsea Mulberry Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing James \/ Chelsea Mulberry is one of the most popular Mulberries, with large, dark red to black fruits that are full of tart and sweet flavour: superb eaten straight from the tree, and can also be used in jam and various other recipes. Chelsea is a self-fertile tree, cropping around August time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe large, heart shaped leaves are lush green, turning mellow yellow in Autumn. The fluffy catkins in spring add to the ornamental value, and old trees develop lovely gnarly, twisting branches. Their maximum height is 8 to 12 metres, but that will take a fair few decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKing James I Mulberry is very hardy and easy to grow in pretty much any well drained soil, but it needs full sun and shelter from prevailing winds, especially in the North and Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMulberries have been grown in Britain since at least Roman times and, like so many valuable resources and technologies, were preserved by the Church, especially monasteries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the Elizabethan period, fresh mulberries were an essential part of an ostentatious feast, partly because they perish so quickly and don't travel well, so they couldn't be bought in for any price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1607, King James I ordered the planting of 10,000 black mulberry trees to kickstart a British silk industry to compete with the French and Italian ones, but this never caught on, probably due to the climate (it also turns out that silkworms much prefer white mulberry trees).\u003cbr\u003eMany of these old trees are alive and well today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis excellent cultivar was planted in the Chelsea Physic Garden \"by\" King James I (obviously it was Barry the gardener who did all the actual work, but that isn't recorded in the history books, alas), and the original tree was in fine form until the Second World War, when it was felled to make way for an air raid shelter. \u003cbr\u003eIt's rumoured that the tree was really cut down for insurance claim purposes, given that it would have been easier to install the shelter anywhere in the open ground around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant spring bulbs under the canopy while the tree is young: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/galanthus-nivalis-snowdrop-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSnowdrops\u003c\/a\u003e and daffodils from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/spring-flowering-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003espring bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e are the usual choice. Use a hand trowel, because a Mulberry resents having its roots cut. Keep the tree away from paving and anything else you would not want stained purple in August. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-turkey-fig-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrown Turkey Fig\u003c\/a\u003e likes the same sun and shelter. The tree also comes \u003ca href=\"\/products\/king-james-chelsea-mulberry-tree-gift-wrapped\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003egift wrapped\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Mulberry is a named, pot-grown tree that you can plant in any month. Delivered leafless between November and March, it is guaranteed for 12 months, and real people answer the phone in Somerset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the King James Mulberry self-fertile?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. One tree is enough. It needs no partner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does a Black Mulberry grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBig, in time: 8 to 12 metres tall and more than 8 metres wide, over 20 to 50 years. It ends up low, spreading and wider than it is tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long before your Mulberry fruits?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA named tree like this one fruits within a few years: Chelsea crops from a young age. A seedling Mulberry can take a decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should you prune a Mulberry?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly when it is dormant, in late autumn or early winter, and only if you must. Cut it in spring and it bleeds. An established tree needs almost no pruning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you grow a Mulberry in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a few years, yes. For life, no: it wants to be a large tree. Treat a pot as a waiting room while you find it a permanent home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere should you plant a Mulberry?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn full sun and deep soil, sheltered from cold, drying winds, somewhere you will not mind it being for a century. Keep it clear of paths, because the ripe fruit stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":54999235133766,"sku":"MORNIGKINJAM-12L","price":84.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/chelsea-king-james-mulberry-fruit-1.jpg?v=1755543043"},{"product_id":"little-miss-figgy-dwarf-fig-trees","title":"'Little Miss Figgy' Fig Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003e'Little Miss Figgy' Fig Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLittle Miss Figgy\u003c\/strong\u003e is the solution for fig lovers without the room for a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/common-fig-trees-ficus-carica\"\u003eCommon fig tree\u003c\/a\u003e (which will grow to the size of a house if you let them); this petite little figlet will only grow to under 2 metres (6ft) in height and width - ideal for small spaces and patio pots. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is self fertile, and her fruit are normal-sized, richly purple-burgundy coloured and wonderfully sweet as long as the summer isn't terrible. She crops in August (potentially in Spring as well), and we recommend eating the fruit straight from the tree, but of course they can be dried or cooked as well. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDwarf variety, grows to under 2m x 2m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood crops of normal size figs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for small gardens \u0026amp; patios\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBest grown in a container\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeeds full sun and shelter from wind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo crops per year are possible in ideal conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSelf fertile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough figs are relatively hardy trees that will grow in most of the UK, they do need a warm sheltered area out of cold winds but in full sun in order to make nice ripe fruit - against a South facing wall is perfect. They don't like heavy soils that remain damp in winter, and are drought tolerant once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trick to getting a good crop of figs is to inspect the tree in Autumn. Remove any fruit that have developed beyond the fruitlet stage - bigger than a large pea - leaving only the tiny ones that are still tucked against the stems. Protect the tree with horticultural fleece overwinter, and then with a little luck you will have a crop in spring, followed by a second in August if the summer is hot enough.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 7 Litre","offer_id":54999248044358,"sku":"FICULITMISFIG-7L","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 3 Litre","offer_id":54999248077126,"sku":"FICULITMISFIG-3L","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Potted \/ P9 (9cm Pot)","offer_id":54999248109894,"sku":"FICULITMISFIG-p9","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/little-miss-figgy-dwarf-fig-tree-1.jpg?v=1755543173"},{"product_id":"profusion-crab-apple-trees-malus","title":"Profusion Crab Apple Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProfusion Crab Apple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProfusion crab apple trees\u003c\/strong\u003e long season of interest starts with blazing purple-red spring foliage and shoots that simmer down into a dark, almost metallic purple-green colour as they mature. This darker tone provides a background for the deep pink flowers that come out in such quantity that this tree could only be called Profusion! The overall effect is something like the colour of a glass of red wine with sunlight shining through it. After the autumn display of coloured foliage, the clusters of tiny maroon fruit become visible, which can hang on the branches well into the new year. These can be cooked and eaten but apart from being used in crab apple jelly, they're too small to recommend for this purpose. If it has a weakness, it's slightly susceptible to apple canker and mildew, which can be a problem in warmer, damper parts of the country like Wales and South West England, but they're such a magnificent sight that the risk is worth the reward. Profusion forms a medium sized trees with a rounded canopy that tends to droop with age rather than spread outwards so very suitable for the average garden. Ultimately, Profusion will grow to about 8 metres tall.  Like all crab apples, it is on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHave a look at our other varieties of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\"\u003eflowering crab apples\u003c\/a\u003e. For a slightly less gorgeous but more disease resistant variety of red leaved crabapple, have a look at its parent, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/director-moerland-crab-apple-trees-malus-moerlandsii\"\u003eMalus moerlandsii\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Standard Trees are Measured:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e All the plants in the ornamental trees section are graded as standardss, which means that they're measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level (basically, their trunk's waist measurement). They aren't measured by their height, which will vary. So, a 6\/8 standard has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8 centimetres and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10 centimetres around. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis hybrid tree comes from the USA, where it was bred in the 1930's.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999302635846,"sku":"MALUPROST-6\/8","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ Half-Standard","offer_id":54999302668614,"sku":"MALUPROST-1\/2","price":64.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ Half Standard 10 Litre","offer_id":54999302701382,"sku":"MALUPROST-1\/2-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/malus-profusion-crabapple-tree-flowers.jpg?v=1755466831"},{"product_id":"royalty-crab-apple-trees-malus","title":"Royalty Crab Apple Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003eRoyalty Crab Apple Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMalus Royalty crab apples\u003c\/strong\u003e are excellent ornamental trees, suitable for an average sized garden, giving you rich, deep colours from spring to autumn. Its glossy, dark, purplish foliage keeps its pigment through the summer, unlike other many crabs that have colourful young leaves. The large, pink-red flowers really benefit from this deeply toned background, creating a very pleasing effect of layered, contrasting colour when admired close up, although from a distance the leaves tend to drown out the flowers. \u003cbr\u003e The scarlet autumn display is magnificent, and then the dark red-black fruits continue to adorn the branches for several more weeks after the leaves fall. All in all a simply beautiful tree if you need some darker tones in your garden. \u003cbr\u003e Ultimately, Royalty can reach a height of about 7 metres with a neatly conical, rounded habit. Older trees will spread if you let them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our variety of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/crab-apple-trees-malus\"\u003ecrab apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e or our full range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\"\u003eornamental garden trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crab apple trees are delivered bareroot during late autumn and winter, approximately November-March inclusive. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 7m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoil: Any well drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse: Specimen, small(ish) gardens, urban\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColour: Purple red flowers in May\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSusceptible to scab\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBareroot delivery only: November-March \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Royalty Crab Apples\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny well drained soil with decent fertility and moisture; it doesn't perform well on really dry sites without irrigation. Tolerant of pollution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt makes a good pollinator in an apple orchard, but sadly is quite susceptible to scab, which tends to be a problem in the warmer, more humid parts of the South and West of England and Wales. If scab is a concern in your area, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/red-sentinel-crab-apple-trees-malus\"\u003eRed Sentinel\u003c\/a\u003e is a better choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tree was selected in the 1950's from open pollinated seedlings by the Canadian plantsman W. L. Kerr, who was superintendent of the Dominion Forest Nursery Station at Sutherland, Saskatchewan, which closed in 1966.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003e So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003e On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999320625478,"sku":"MALUROYST-6\/8","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999320658246,"sku":"MALUROYST-8\/10","price":129.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ Half Standard 10 Litre","offer_id":54999320691014,"sku":"MALUROYST-1\/2-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 10L 160-180cm","offer_id":55074132230470,"sku":"MALUROY-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/malus-royalty-crab-apple-flowers-2.jpg?v=1755634580"},{"product_id":"shirofugen-japanese-cherry-blossom-trees-prunus-serrulata","title":"Shirofugen Cherry Blossom Trees","description":"\u003ch2\u003eShirofugen Cherry Blossom Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrunus Shirofugen \u003c\/strong\u003eis a beautiful, spreading tree that is wider than it's tall when mature, with a distinctive flat canopy. In our range, the Shirofugen Cherry is the latest to come into bloom, with flowers that sometimes last into June. The large, double, fragrant white blossom open from pink buds and darken into pink again just before they fall. These contrast very well against the rich, copper coloured young leaves. \u003cbr\u003e Shirofugen can reach a height of about 8-10 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our variety of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/cherry-blossom-trees-prunus\"\u003echerry blossom trees\u003c\/a\u003e or our full range of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\"\u003eornamental trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shirofugen Cherry trees are delivered bareroot during late autumn and winter, approximately November-March inclusive. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: To 8-10m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoil: Any decently well drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse: Specimen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColour: Pink and white flowers in May to June\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBareroot delivery only: November-March \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRHS Plants for Pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Shirofugen Trees\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable for any well drained soil, we recommend planting in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShirofugen means \"white god\" in Japanese according to the garden books, but according to online translators, it means \"white addendum\". Either way, it doesn't seem to be the tree's name in Japan, which is probably Fugenzo: the confusion deepens because there is another tree that we call Fugenzo in the West, which is probably called Kofugen in Japan and is the parent of Shirofugen. But maybe all that is Chinese whispers: the RHS says Shirofugen and Fugenzo are the same. \u003cbr\u003e It was bred about 500 years ago, and introduced to Britain around the start of the 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003e So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003e On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999356801350,"sku":"PRUNSHIROFST-6\/8","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999356834118,"sku":"PRUNSHIROFST-8\/10","price":159.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ Half-Standard","offer_id":54999356866886,"sku":"PRUNSHIROFST-1\/2","price":64.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ Half Standard 10 Litre","offer_id":54999356899654,"sku":"PRUNSHIST-1\/2-10L","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/shirofugen-cherry-tree-autumn-2.jpg?v=1771575470"},{"product_id":"silver-birch-trees-betula-pendula","title":"Silver Birch Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Silver Birch, the native Lady of the Woods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Silver birch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Betula pendula\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUK native:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e Up to 25m (80ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e More than 8m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Narrowly conical, with slender drooping twigs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peeling white, turning black and rugged at the base\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatkins:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow-brown, in early spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any, acid or alkaline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or light shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H7, hardy anywhere in the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dappled shade, small groups, wildlife gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar varieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Himalayan Birch (white to the base), Paper Birch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot standards, 6\/8cm and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown standard, 200\/250cm tall in a 7.5 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot from November to April. Pot-grown in any month\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot November to April, pot-grown all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSilver Birch, Betula pendula, is the native birch: a narrowly conical deciduous tree up to 25m with peeling white bark, slender drooping twigs and yellow autumn leaves. It is hardy anywhere in Britain, grows in any soil and casts shade light enough to garden under.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSilver Birch Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cstrong\u003e Common Silver Birch \u003c\/strong\u003etree, \u003cstrong\u003eBetula pendula\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a handsome, vigorous, slender, medium-sized British native. The pale, near-white bark of mature trees is a lovely feature throughout the year; it's relatively smooth and peels over time, which keeps it looking white and bright. Older trees develop dark ridges as they mature, especially at the base. \u003cbr\u003e The light, feathery canopy of supple, leafy stems hanging from the main branches flutters and sways in the breeze, only casting gentle dappled shade, so many plants can be grown underneath it. \u003cbr\u003e Silver Birch catkins are yellow-green, appearing in early spring and are a valuable source of pollen for insects coming out of hibernation early.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the right position, it can reach a height of about 25 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStandard trees are the largest size that we deliver; you can also buy \u003ca href=\"\/products\/silver-birch-sapling-plants-betula-pendula\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eyounger Silver Birch saplings\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e Browse our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/birch-trees-betula\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ebirch trees\u003c\/a\u003e, or our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eornamental trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birches are delivered bareroot during late autumn and winter, approximately November-April inclusive. Pot-grown trees are delivered all year, whenever they are in stock. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Silver Birch\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's happy in most soils and prefers a sunny site, but will tolerate light shade. It's commonly found growing wild at the edge of a mature wood and in damp places that larger trees dislike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePruning should be kept to a minimum: it tends to spoil their shape, so just remove ill placed and broken or damaged branches in late Autumn, as pruning cuts bleed excessively in late Winter and Spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the Lady of the Woods, it is one of the most native British trees: it was here before the last Ice Age and was one of the first trees to return from Europe when the ice pulled back from the soggy southern edge of the land that would become England. Its flexible, oily bark was invaluable to our ancestors, who used it for roofs, boats and even clothing. These days it is used for paper pulp and making high-grade charcoal for artists. It is good firewood, but it burns up quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs trees go, the whole Birch family is short-lived: 80-100 years is a good age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther common names include bed wen, birk, and warty birch. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003e So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003e On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe native sits well with other natives. A \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountain-ash-rowan-trees-sorbus-aucuparia\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRowan\u003c\/a\u003e gives you berries where the birch gives you bark, and both are at home on poor, acid ground. For bark that stays white to the base, plant a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/himalayan-birch-trees-betula-utilis-jacquemontii\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHimalayan Birch\u003c\/a\u003e alongside, or a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/paper-birch-trees-betula-papyrifera\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePaper Birch\u003c\/a\u003e for the American version. There are more in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/native-british-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003enative British trees\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/wildlife-ecology-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for wildlife\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge Nurseries has supplied trees since 1949 and holds the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award. Your silver birch comes bareroot in two sizes or pot-grown, and bareroot is the better value. Bareroot trees carry a 12 month guarantee, as do pot-grown trees delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow tall does a silver birch grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUp to 25m, with a spread of more than 8m. It is fast for its first fifteen years and slower after. In a garden, plant a group of three and let them compete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between silver birch and Himalayan birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilver birch is the native, with weeping twig tips and bark that blackens and cracks at the base. Himalayan birch keeps brilliant white bark right down the trunk. Both are hardy to H7.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo you sell a multi-stem silver birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, pot-grown, on the silver birch sapling page. Or make your own by planting three young trees in one hole. Plant silver birch in small groups, or grow it as a multi-stemmed specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs silver birch good for bees and wildlife?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is wind-pollinated, so it carries no pollinator badge, but the early catkins offer pollen when little else is about. As a native it earns its place in a wildlife garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow a silver birch in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. This is a 25m tree with shallow, wide roots, and it sulks in a container within a couple of years. Trinity College is the only birch to keep in a large pot, and then not for long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999369318726,"sku":"BETUPENST-6\/8","price":54.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999369351494,"sku":"BETUPENST-8\/10","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 200\/250cm 7.5 Litre Pot","offer_id":54999369384262,"sku":"BETUPENST-200\/250-7.5L","price":64.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/silver-birch-trees-betula-pendula-2.jpg?v=1755634764"},{"product_id":"snow-queen-birch-trees-betula-jacquemontii-doorenbos","title":"Snow Queen Birch Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Snow Queen, the Himalayan birch that turns white young\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Snow Queen birch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii 'Snow Queen'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 7m (23ft) in 20 years, more than 12m (40ft) in time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e More than 8m at maturity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ascending branches and an oval crown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clear white on trunk and branches, from a young age\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatkins:\u003c\/strong\u003e Male catkins to 15cm long\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any, chalk included. Smaller on thin chalk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or light shade. Sun gives the whitest bark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H7, hardy anywhere in the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (1993)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winter bark, a lawn specimen, a group of three\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar varieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trinity College (stops at 8m), Himalayan Birch (the parent)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot standards, 6\/8cm and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown standard, 200\/250cm tall in a 10 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot from November to April. Pot-grown in any month\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot November to April, pot-grown all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSnow Queen is a white-barked Himalayan birch, Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii 'Doorenbos', that shows clear white bark at a young age and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Allow for about 7m in twenty years and more than 12m in time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSnow Queen Birch Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Snow Queen Birch' betula utilis jacquemontii Snow Queen, or Doorenbos, is a royal presence in the garden. The sublime pure-white bark is a fabulous feature all year round, particularly in the colder months, when the structural 'bones' of a garden are revealed and the tree is lit by the low winter sun. Snow Queen develops her white bark earlier than regular \u003ca href=\"\/products\/himalayan-birch-trees-betula-utilis-jacquemontii\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHimalayan Birches\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e Spring brings those pretty little catkins, shivering in the March breeze like lambs' tails, and in Autumn the leaves turn soft mango-yellow before falling to reveal a handsome pyramid-shaped skeleton, the upper limbs swaying with the wind. It's a lovely specimen tree, used as a focal point, or planted in small groups to create a coppice of luminous white bark. Reaching about 7 metres in its first twenty years, and more than 12 metres in time, with an upright habit, an avenue of them can provide light screening. \u003cbr\u003e Browse the rest of our range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/birch-trees-betula\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ebirch trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDelivery season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birches are delivered bareroot during late autumn and winter, approximately November-April inclusive. Pot-grown trees are delivered all year, whenever they are in stock. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eChoosing a size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small trees are cheaper, easier to handle and more forgiving of less than ideal aftercare, so they're best for a big planting project. If instant impact is your priority, or if you are only buying a few plants for use in a place where it's convenient to water them well in their first year, then you may as well use bigger ones. All our bareroot trees are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Snow Queen Birch\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable for pretty much any soil, chalk included (though it makes a smaller tree on thin chalk), it looks best in full sun (especially in winter) but will tolerate light shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is a classic partner for white-flowered perennials. For a winter tableau, white hardy geraniums work well, as do hellebores and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/snowdrop-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esnowdrops\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Trivia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Doorenbos (1891-1980) was Director of The Hague Parks Department between 1927 and 1957, and a founder of the International Dendrology Society. He also worked extensively with Dahlias, and bred a hybrid Elm, Den Haag, the first recorded attempt at a variety resistant to Dutch Elm disease, which had been discovered in Holland in 1921. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liset-crab-apple-trees-malus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLiset crab apple\u003c\/a\u003e is one of his many creations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard trees\u003c\/strong\u003e are measured by their girth in centimetres 1 metre above ground level: their trunk's waist measurement. Unlike sapling trees and hedge plants, standards aren't measured by their height, which will vary quite a bit both between and within species. \u003cbr\u003e So, a 6\/8cm standard tree has a trunk with a circumference of 6-8cm and an 8\/10 standard has a trunk 8-10cm around. This measurement makes no difference to the tree's final height. \u003cbr\u003e On average, standard trees are 2-3.5 metres tall when they arrive, but we cannot tell you precisely how tall your trees will be before we deliver them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite bark shows best against colour. The red and orange winter stems of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/dogwood-hedging-plants-cornus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edogwoods\u003c\/a\u003e at its feet are the classic pairing, and a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tibetan-cherry-trees-prunus-serrula-tibetica\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTibetan Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e nearby sets shining coppery-brown bark beside the white. If 12 metres is more tree than you have room for, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trinity-college-white-birch-trees-betula-jacquemontii\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTrinity College\u003c\/a\u003e wears the same bark and stops at 8m. For more trees grown for bark, berries and winter outline, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/trees-for-ornamental-interest\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for ornamental interest\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge Nurseries, established in 1949, was named Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Like for like, your bareroot Snow Queen is a larger tree and better value than a potted one. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, as are pot-grown trees delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Snow Queen and Trinity College birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize. Snow Queen grows past 12m in time; Trinity College stops at about 8m. Both are Himalayan birches selected for white bark at a young age. Snow Queen holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow tall does a Snow Queen birch grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 6m in ten years and 7m in twenty, and it keeps going after that, to more than 12m in the end. Birches grow fast for fifteen years and slow down after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill a Snow Queen birch grow on chalk?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSnow Queen grows on chalk, clay, loam and sand, at any pH. On thin chalk it makes a smaller tree than on deep ground, which in a garden is rarely a complaint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the best time to prune a birch tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrune a birch in late summer or autumn, and only if you must. Cuts made in late winter or spring bleed heavily. Snow Queen needs no more than a damaged or crossing branch removed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does the white bark appear on a Snow Queen birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSooner on Snow Queen than on the ordinary Himalayan birch, which is what Doorenbos selected it for. The old layer peels away in papery strips to show fresh white beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat can I plant under a birch tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants that like light shade and dryish soil, because birch roots are shallow and wide. Snowdrops, hellebores and hardy geraniums all do well, and the canopy is thin enough to let them flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999385604422,"sku":"BETUUTIJASNQU-6\/8","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999385571654,"sku":"BETUUTIJASNQU-8\/10","price":104.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 200\/250cm - 10 Litre","offer_id":54999385637190,"sku":"BETUUTIJASNQUST-200\/250-10L","price":74.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/snow-queen-birch-trees-betula-jaquemontii-2.jpg?v=1755634769"},{"product_id":"trinity-college-white-birch-trees-betula-jacquemontii","title":"Trinity College Birch Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trinity College, the white-barked birch that stays small\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Himalayan birch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii 'Trinity College'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 6m (20ft) in 10 years, 8m (26ft) at most\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.5-4m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upright and narrow, with a light canopy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright white and peeling, at a younger age than other birches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buttery yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most soils. Best on acid or neutral ground, takes alkaline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or light shade. Sun gives the whitest trunk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H7, hardy anywhere in the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small gardens, front gardens, winter bark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContainer suitable:\u003c\/strong\u003e For a few years in a large pot, then plant it out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar varieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Snow Queen (taller), Himalayan Birch (the full-sized parent)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown tree in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any month. Autumn to early spring planting needs the least watering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year-round, whenever it is in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrinity College is the Himalayan birch for a garden without room for a Himalayan birch: the same pure white bark on a narrow tree that reaches about 6m (20ft) in ten years and stops at 8m, with a crown 2.5 to 4m across.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTrinity College Birch: White Bark on a Tree That Stays Small\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrinity College is a small, upright selection of the Himalayan birch, Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii, grown for bright white peeling bark that shows at a younger age than on other birches. It reaches about 6m in ten years and tops out at 8m, where its relations carry on past 12m. Dark green, saw-edged leaves open in spring alongside yellow-brown catkins, turn buttery yellow in autumn and hang on late. Then the bark has the garden to itself all winter, which is the point of the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe habit is narrow and the canopy light, so the shade beneath is dappled and you can garden under it. If you have the room, Snow Queen and the plain \u003ca href=\"\/products\/himalayan-birch-trees-betula-utilis-jacquemontii\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHimalayan Birch\u003c\/a\u003e make bigger trees. Trinity College is for the front garden, the courtyard bed, or the corner where a full-sized birch would be a quarrel with the neighbours in twenty years. Full sun gives the whitest bark, and a moist root run while it settles in is all the care it asks for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour tree arrives pot-grown in a 12 litre pot, so any month will do for planting. Stake it on the day; our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/trees\/how-plant-tree-with-stake\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehow to plant a tree with a stake\u003c\/a\u003e shows the method.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Dublin Tree Raised from Kew Seed\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe name is an address. The original tree grew at Trinity College Botanic Garden in Dublin, raised from seed that Joseph Hooker sent over from Kew in about 1883. It showed its white bark sooner than the run of Himalayan birches and kept a neater shape, and every Trinity College birch is a piece of that one seedling, struck from cuttings so that it stays identical to the original. Pressed specimens taken from the Dublin tree in the 1960s are still in the college's collection. Yours grows on its own roots, so there is no graft to watch and no rootstock to send up the wrong sort of shoot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhite bark wants a bright neighbour in winter. The red and orange stems of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/dogwood-hedging-plants-cornus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edogwoods\u003c\/a\u003e in low sun are the classic pairing, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/snowdrop-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esnowdrops\u003c\/a\u003e are happy in the light shade under a birch, where shallow roots keep the soil on the dry side. For a second tree on the same scale, look through our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/small-garden-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for small gardens\u003c\/a\u003e. And if the garden turns out to be bigger than you thought, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/snow-queen-birch-trees-betula-jacquemontii-doorenbos\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSnow Queen\u003c\/a\u003e is the same white on a larger scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge Nurseries has sold trees by mail order since 1949 and was named Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your birch is pot-grown in peat-free compost, one of our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/birch-trees-betula\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ebirch trees\u003c\/a\u003e. Delivered leafless between November and March, it is guaranteed for 12 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between Trinity College and Snow Queen birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize is the difference: Trinity College stops at about 8m, while Snow Queen grows past 12m. Both are white-barked selections of the Himalayan birch. Snow Queen holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit; Trinity College fits the smaller garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Trinity College birch a good tree for a small garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrinity College is the white-barked birch to choose for a small garden, reaching about 6m in ten years and 8m at most, with a narrow crown 2.5 to 4m across. The canopy is light, so you can plant underneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow Trinity College birch in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrinity College grows well in a large pot for a few years, but it belongs in the ground in the long run. Keep it watered, because birches resent drying out, and plant it out before it starts to sulk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does the white bark appear on a Himalayan birch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite bark appears on Trinity College at a younger age than on other birches, which is what it was selected for. Peeling is normal: the old layer comes away in papery strips to show fresh white beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen is the best time to prune a birch tree?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrune a birch in late summer or autumn, and only if you must, because cuts made in late winter or spring bleed sap heavily. Trinity College needs no routine pruning beyond taking out a damaged or crossing branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Trinity College birch grow on chalk?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrinity College grows on alkaline soil, though it does best on acid or neutral ground. On thin chalk expect a smaller tree, and mulch it each spring to hold moisture at the roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":54999475814726,"sku":"BETUUTITRICOL-12L","price":94.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/trinity-college-birch-bark-2.jpg?v=1755542962"},{"product_id":"tulip-trees-liriodendron-tulipifera","title":"Tulip Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Liriodendron tulipifera\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot standards, 6\/8 and 8\/10cm girth. Pot-grown, 175\/200cm tall in a 10 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e More than 12m tall and 8m wide. Commonly 30m in Britain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTime to full size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 to 50 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tulip-shaped, 4cm, yellowish-green marked with orange, in summer on a mature tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Butter-yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sun or partial shade. Exposed or sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lime-free: acid to neutral clay, loam or sand, moist but well-drained. Not chalk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H6, hardy through the British winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bareroot, November to April. Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tulip Tree is a big, stately tree with leaves of a shape no other tree has, butter-yellow autumn colour, and green and orange flowers like tulips once it is mature. It needs a lime-free soil and plenty of room, and commonly reaches 30 metres in Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTulip Trees\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is a big, stately tree with exotic flowers that are generously carried on even the lowest branches. The leaves are a unique shape, with four points and blunt head; they also turn a clean, deep yellow in autumn. The cup shaped, pale green petals are dashed with egg-yolk orange and the inner parts of the flower are like a tulip, but bigger and more prominent. Tulip trees take many years to begin flowering.\u003cbr\u003eIt's not a tree for a small garden, but we really recommend it if you have the space. It's suitable for inner city planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee our full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/garden-trees-big-standards\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Tulip Trees\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThese trees need a lime-free soil, and like it deep, rich and on the moist side. In the wild, they often grow next to water. \u003cbr\u003eYour trees will reach about 30 metres in Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiriodendron tulipifera is native to Eastern USA. In warm, sunny Florida, tulip trees have been recorded as tall as 58 metres, but they won't get that big in our climate. The first trees were brought to Britain during the 1600s, probably by John Tradescant the Younger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tulip Tree is one of a set of American trees for autumn colour on lime-free soil. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/worplesdon-sweet-gum-trees-liquidambar-styraciflua\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWorplesdon Sweet Gum\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pin-oak-trees-quercus-palustris\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePin Oak\u003c\/a\u003e are the other two. Browse our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/large-garden-parkland-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elarge garden and parkland trees\u003c\/a\u003e and our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/trees-for-ornamental-interest\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for ornamental interest\u003c\/a\u003e. Dust bareroot roots with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rootgrow-universal-friendly-mycorrhizae-fungi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRootgrow\u003c\/a\u003e as you plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge has sold trees since 1949 and is a Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025. Your Tulip Tree comes bareroot, lifted while dormant, or pot-grown for planting in any month. Bareroot trees are guaranteed for 12 months, and so is a potted tree delivered leafless between November and March.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long before a Tulip Tree flowers?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany years. It flowers once it is mature, in summer, and the flowers are 4cm across and often high in the crown. Buy it for the leaf and the autumn colour, and treat the flowers as a bonus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt grows more than 12 metres tall and more than 8 metres wide, in 20 to 50 years. In Britain it commonly reaches 30 metres. It is not a tree for a small garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow on chalk?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Grow it in lime-free soil. It wants an acid to neutral clay, loam or sand that is moist but well-drained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it a Poplar?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Americans call it the Tulip Poplar and the Yellow Poplar, and both names are in use, but it is a relative of the Magnolias.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere should you plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn sun or partial shade, with room to grow, and not in a frost pocket, because a late frost can catch the young leaves. Some shelter helps in the first years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen are the trees delivered?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBareroot trees are delivered from November to April, while they are dormant. Pot-grown trees can be delivered and planted in any month when you find them in stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Bareroot \/ 6\/8cm Girth","offer_id":54999479910726,"sku":"LIRITUL-6\/8","price":119.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bareroot \/ 8\/10cm Girth","offer_id":54999479943494,"sku":"LIRITUL-8\/10","price":169.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Potted \/ 175\/200cm - 10 Litre","offer_id":54999479976262,"sku":"LIRITUL-175\/200-10L","price":89.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/liriodendron-tulip-tree-flower.jpg?v=1756594112"},{"product_id":"wingham-elm-trees-ulmus-dutch-disease-resistant","title":"Wingham Elm Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wingham, the big elm bred to resist Dutch elm disease\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wingham elm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ulmus 'Wingham'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 30m (100ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e More than 8m\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast. Full height in 20 to 50 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stately and upright\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oval, mid to dark green, golden yellow in autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any well-drained soil, chalk included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun or partial shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e H7, hardy anywhere in the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife:\u003c\/strong\u003e Host tree of the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGood for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Parkland, field corners, avenues, large gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContainer suitable:\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The pot is how it travels, not where it lives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar varieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sapporo Autumn Gold (medium), 'Wredei' Golden Elm (small, yellow)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown tree in a 12 litre pot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Any month. Autumn to early spring planting needs the least watering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Year-round, whenever it is in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWingham is the elm for anyone who wants the big tree back: upright, fast, eventually about 30m (100ft) tall, and bred for resistance to Dutch elm disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWingham Elm: The Big Elm, Bred to Stand Up to the Disease\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWingham is a stately, fast-growing, upright elm that reaches about 30m, with oval mid to dark green leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn. It has significant resistance to Dutch elm disease, which is what it was bred for. Small reddish-brown flowers come before the leaves, followed by brown winged seeds. It is rated H7 and grows in any well-drained soil, chalk included, in sun or partial shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tree for a place, not a plot. Thirty metres is the height of the elms that stood in every hedgerow before the late 1960s, and Wingham is planted for the same reasons they were: a tall crown on a clean trunk, at the corner of a field, along a drive or at the far end of a large garden. Give it the space at the start. It takes 20 to 50 years to reach full height, which for a tree of this size is quick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour tree arrives pot-grown in a 12 litre pot, so any month will do for planting. Stake it on the day; our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/trees\/how-plant-tree-with-stake\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehow to plant a tree with a stake\u003c\/a\u003e shows the method.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBred in Florence, Proved in Kent\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWingham is a complex hybrid of four elm species, raised at the plant protection institute in Florence under the number FL493. It takes its name from the village of Wingham in Kent, where it was trialled from 2011 before its release in Britain in 2019. It is also an excellent host for the White-letter Hairstreak, a rare native butterfly whose caterpillars feed on nothing but elm. When the elms went, most of its habitat went with them. Every resistant elm planted puts some of it back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWingham keeps company with the other big trees of the old field pattern, and you will find them among our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/large-garden-parkland-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etrees for large gardens and parkland\u003c\/a\u003e. Where speed matters, it sits with the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fastest-growing-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efastest growing trees\u003c\/a\u003e, and for a planting made with butterflies and birds in mind, see the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/wildlife-ecology-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewildlife trees\u003c\/a\u003e. If 30m is more elm than you have room for, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sapporo-autumn-gold-elm-trees-ulmus-pumila\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSapporo Autumn Gold\u003c\/a\u003e is the medium-sized one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge Nurseries was named Which? Best Plant Supplier 2025, on the votes of its customers. Your Wingham is pot-grown in peat-free compost, one of three in our range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/elm-trees-ulmus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eelm trees\u003c\/a\u003e. Delivered leafless between November and March, it is guaranteed for 12 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Wingham elm resistant to Dutch elm disease?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWingham has significant resistance to Dutch elm disease, and was bred for exactly that. No elm is immune. Our article on \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/trees\/dutch-elm-disease\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDutch elm disease\u003c\/a\u003e explains the fungus and its beetle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does a Wingham elm grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Wingham elm grows to about 30m tall and more than 8m wide. It takes 20 to 50 years to get there, so plant it where a full-sized tree is welcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich elm is the most resistant to Dutch elm disease?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWingham: it has significant resistance, which is what it was bred for. Sapporo Autumn Gold is partially resistant, and the golden elm is said to be more resistant than many.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Wingham elm good for butterflies?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Wingham is an excellent host for the rare White-letter Hairstreak. The caterpillars feed only on elm, so every elm planted is habitat restored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat soil does a Wingham elm need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWingham grows in any well-drained soil, chalk included, in full sun or partial shade. It does not thrive on poor soil, so mulch a hungry one each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow a Wingham elm in a small garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWingham is too big for a small garden at about 30m. Choose the golden elm 'Wredei' instead, which stops at about 8m and keeps a narrow shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":54999510253894,"sku":"ULMUWING-12L","price":99.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/wingham-elm-tree-leaves-ulmus-2.jpg?v=1755634874"},{"product_id":"carman-mulberry-trees","title":"Carman Mulberry Trees","description":"\u003cul class=\"pdp-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carman, a white-fruited mulberry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Morus alba 'Carman'\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e White mulberry, a North American hybrid of Morus alba and Morus rubra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large, creamy-white and sweet. Ripens over a week or two in August\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-fertile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. One tree is enough\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCropping:\u003c\/strong\u003e From a very young tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRHS Award of Garden Merit:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown in a 12 litre pot, on its own roots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 6m (20ft) tall. Winter pruning keeps it to garden scale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest soil and site:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fertile, well-drained soil. Full sun, sheltered from cold, drying winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Only when fully dormant, from leaf fall to midwinter. It bleeds if cut in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardy. The RHS rates the species H5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDelivered:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pot-grown, all year when in stock. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/collect-your-order-from-castle-cary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCollection from Castle Cary\u003c\/a\u003e also available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCarman is a white-fruited mulberry, a self-fertile North American hybrid that reaches around 6m and crops from a very young tree. Its large, creamy-white fruit ripens in August and is sweeter than a black mulberry's, without the sharp edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCarman Mulberry Trees: White Fruit Without the Wait\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost mulberries ask for patience, and a seedling black mulberry can take a decade to fruit. Carman is a named Canadian selection from Ernie Grimo of Grimo Nut Nursery in Ontario, who calls it his sweetest large white mulberry, and it fruits as a very young tree. The fruit is large and creamy-white, and it ripens over a week or two in August rather than all summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"White\" describes the fruit here. Most trees of the white mulberry species, Morus alba, bear dark fruit, so the name alone promises nothing. Carman's really is pale, which is why the blackbirds are slower to find it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a proper tree of around 6m, so give it full sun, fertile well-drained soil, room to spread and shelter from cold, drying winds. It comes from Ontario winters, and the RHS rates the species H5, so a British winter is not the worry. Prune it only when fully dormant, between leaf fall and midwinter, because it bleeds if cut in spring. Once the shape is set it needs very little.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePicking Carman Mulberries: Spread a Sheet and Shake\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMulberries bruise and stain when picked by hand, black or white. Lay a sheet under the tree and shake the boughs instead: anything ripe drops, and you have not bruised a fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting Companions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant spring bulbs under the canopy while the tree is young. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/galanthus-nivalis-snowdrop-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSnowdrops\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ivyleaf-cyclamen-hederifolium-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eivyleaf cyclamen\u003c\/a\u003e both suit the shade under a tree, and our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/spring-flowering-bulbs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003espring flowering bulbs\u003c\/a\u003e offer more choice. Use a hand trowel, because a mulberry resents having its roots cut and you should never dig a bed beneath it. For a black-and-white pair, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/king-james-chelsea-mulberry-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChelsea Mulberry\u003c\/a\u003e crops in August too and wants the same sun and shelter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy buy from Ashridge?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAshridge Nurseries has sold trees since 1949 and holds the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award. Carman arrives pot-grown on its own roots, one of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fruit-trees\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efruit trees\u003c\/a\u003e. Delivered leafless between November and March, it is guaranteed for 12 months, and real people answer the phone in Somerset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the Carman Mulberry self-fertile?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. One tree crops on its own and needs no partner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Carman really have white fruit?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes: large and creamy-white. Most white mulberry trees bear dark fruit, so the species name promises nothing. Carman is one of the few that delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the difference between a white and a black mulberry?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are different species. A black mulberry such as Chelsea has dark, sharp-sweet, staining fruit and takes decades to look old. Carman is a white-fruited North American hybrid: larger, paler, sweeter and quicker into crop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do you pick Carman mulberries?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn August. They ripen over a week or two, so lay a sheet under the tree and shake the boughs. Anything ripe drops, and nothing is bruised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does a Carman Mulberry grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 6m, so a proper tree and not a bush. Winter pruning keeps it to garden scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long before a Carman Mulberry fruits?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot long. Carman crops from a very young tree, which beats a seedling black mulberry by years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you grow a Carman Mulberry in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a few years, yes. For life, no: the 12 litre pot is a starter, not a home. Plant it out in the ground once it outgrows the pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Ashridge","offers":[{"title":"Potted \/ 12 Litre","offer_id":56271005155654,"sku":"MORUALBCAR-12L","price":80.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/potted-mulberry-tree.webp?v=1791291104"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/collections\/carmen-holding-malus-golden-hornet-potted-crabapple-tree.webp?v=1790249737","url":"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/potted-trees.oembed","provider":"Ashridge Nurseries","version":"1.0","type":"link"}