The best trees for a London garden
Photograph coming soon
Suggested lead photograph: the best trees for a London garden
London gardens tend to be warmer, smaller and more shaded by buildings than gardens elsewhere, and access can be tight. The best trees cope with heat, drought and city air, stay in scale and look beautiful all year.
What makes London gardens different
The biggest difference is the urban heat island. London is often several degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside, especially at night, which favours trees that thrive in warmth and tolerate drought. Tall buildings add their own conditions, creating deep shade and gusty corners. Spaces are usually small and neighbours close, so trees need to stay in scale and offer privacy without blocking light. Access is the final consideration, because many trees must come through the house or be craned over.
Photograph coming soon
Suggested photograph: our pick for London
Our pick for London
For heat and city air
Ginkgo biloba is tough, slow-growing and pollution tolerant, with butter-yellow autumn colour. Styphnolobium japonicum (formerly Sophora japonica) has feathery foliage that casts light shade, along with excellent drought tolerance. For a hot, sheltered London courtyard, the crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, is in its element, and the pomegranate, Punica granatum, brings a Mediterranean feel to a sunny wall.
For small spaces and year-round interest
For beautiful bark, choose Acer griseum or Prunus serrula. Amelanchier lamarckii gives blossom, berries and autumn colour, while Parrotia persica 'Vanessa' offers an upright shape and fiery autumn colour.
For privacy and evergreen structure
Osmanthus heterophyllus and Osmanthus × burkwoodii both make fragrant, evergreen screening. Where windows overlook the garden, pleached trees and Taxus baccata hedging are the answer.
Getting the tree in
Access is often the biggest challenge in London, so measure doorways, passages and gates before you choose, and think about craning for larger specimens. Our in-house delivery team is used to working in tight city spaces, and we can help you plan the logistics. Root-balled and container-grown trees each have advantages here; read why root-balled trees offer the best value.
Photograph coming soon
Suggested photograph: visit us, 30 minutes from London
Visit us, 30 minutes from London
Our Row Town showroom in Surrey is about 30 minutes from London, with plenty of free parking. Stock changes with the seasons, so get in touch before you visit and we will check what is available.