10 Fantastic Trees, Part 2

Between November and March, the gardeners are busy planting the gardens. During the autumn period, the plants are dormant and this is the ideal time to transplant trees, hedges and shrubs.

Trees give structure to your garden. They are eye-catchers that immediately draw attention, but you also have to take them into account in the rest of your plant choices (just think of the shade a tree provides). In this article, we highlight 10 special or popular trees. These are best suited to small or medium-sized gardens.

6. Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin' or shiny medlar

• Height: 2.5 to 4.5 m
  
• Position: Sun or semi shade. Look for a sheltered spot!
  

Photinia fraseri 'Red Robin' is a very common shrub that is also available in tree form. It can also be used as an espalier. Its main assets are its beautifully glossy leaves. Moreover, this shrub is a deciduous plant, which means that it keeps out of sight in winter as well. Young leaves turn red, while older leaves turn green. This makes for a beautiful colour shading. In spring, it also flowers with beautiful white umbels. Afterwards, the berries appear. This tree is easy to maintain; you only have to prune it once a year.

7. Cercis siliquastrum or Judas tree

• Height: 6 to 8 m
  
• Position: Half shade or sun
  

It owes its name to the fact that, according to the Bible, Judas hanged himself on this type of tree. Despite this sinister story, this is a fantastic and beautifully flowering tree. It is especially known for its beautiful pink flower clusters and graceful, dark-brown pods. The Judas Tree is a nude flowering tree, which means that the flowers are arranged in bundles directly on the branches and even sometimes on the trunk. You can also buy this tree as a shrub.

8. Halesia carolina or snowdrop tree

• Height: 6 to 8 m
  
• Position: Full sun or semi shade. Preferably out of the wind.
  

This tree did not steal its name. It bears beautiful white flowers that look like snowdrops and flowers very abundantly. This attracts many bees and butterflies to the garden. The flowering is followed by the appearance of lime-coloured fruits in the autumn. In the autumn, its leaves turn a yellow colour. The snowdrop tree does not require much maintenance. Prune only when necessary and remove dead branches regularly.

9. Malus 'Red Sentinel' or Crabapple

• Height: 4 to 7 m
  
• Position: Full sun or semi shade
  

‘Red Sentinel' is one of the most beautiful crab apple trees. It blooms beautifully with fragrant white flowers. Followed by small, deep red apples that are edible. The leaves are green, but acquire a warm yellow glow in the autumn, after which they fall off. It is a medium-sized tree with an upright form that later forms a broader crown with drooping branches. This Crabapple is very hardy and a real bee attractor.

10. Liquidambar styraciflua or amber tree

• Height: 15 to 20 m
• Position: Sun or semi shade

This versatile tree is best known for its beautiful autumn colouring from green to orange-red/purple. Due to its 5-lobed leaves and beautiful palette of colours, we are happy to declare it our favourite autumn tree. Its trunk is grey and deeply grooved. In late summer, spiny fruits with long stalks appear. It grows to about eight metres wide and fifteen to twenty metres high. Don't have that much room but would still like to enjoy this magnificent tree? Then you can plant it as an espalier and prune it regularly.

Curious about our other 5 favourites? Then click here for part one