When you buy a tree in a larger size, over about 2 metres, it is called a "standard". All the plants in our Ornamental Trees section are graded as standards. A standard tree isn't actually measured by its height. It is measured by the girth, in centimetres, of its trunk 1 metre above soil level (i.e. its waist measurement in centimetres). This size has nothing to do with a tree's final height, only the size of the tree when we deliver it to you.
Most standards are between 2 - 3.5 metres tall, but this will vary depending on the species: slow growing trees may be shorter and vigorous plants like willow can be much taller.
Standard trees are sized by their girth instead of their height to allow a mixed selection of specimen trees to look natural when planted. For example, an oak grows more slowly than a silver birch and so will be shorter for the same "waist measurement".
The table below is a rough guide to the approximate heights of standard trees at delivery.
You can buy these standard sizes from us:
Tree Size | Girth 1 metre above the ground | Approx. Height | Clear Trunk* |
Feathered Tree | less than 6cm | 1.75-2.50m | |
Light Standard | 6-8cm | 2.50-3.00m | 1.50-1.75m |
Regular Standard | 8-10cm | 2.50-3.00m | 1.75-2.00m |
Selected Standard | 10-12cm | 3.00-3.50m | 2.00m |
Heavy Standard | 12-14cm | 3.00-3.50m | 2.00m |
Extra Heavy Standard | 14-16cm | 4.25-4.50m | 2.00m |
*Applies to most species.
The above specimen tree heights are only a guide. In line with EU regulations, we sell our trees as standards measured by girth, not by height. We cannot tell you how tall your trees will be before you order them.