By Feature - Patio | Planter

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium', commonly known as the Fernleaf Full Moon Maple, is a stunning deciduous tree cherished for its striking foliage and remarkable autumn display. Native to Japan, this variety is celebrated for its deeply lobed, fern-like leaves which provide a delicate, lacy texture that adds a unique aesthetic to any garden.

In spring and summer, the leaves emerge with a soft green hue, creating a serene and refreshing presence. As the seasons transition to autumn, 'Aconitifolium' truly shines. Its foliage transforms into a spectacular array of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, making it one of the most brilliant autumnal displays among maples. This transformation adds a dynamic and fiery focal point to gardens, capturing the essence of the changing seasons.

'Aconitifolium' typically reaches a height and spread of 3 to 4 meters, making it suitable for smaller gardens as well as larger landscapes. It thrives in well-drained, moist soil and prefers partial shade, although it can tolerate full sun if provided with adequate moisture. Its compact size and slow growth rate make it an excellent choice for urban gardens, patios, and container planting.

This maple is not only admired for its foliage but also for its elegant, spreading habit and attractive branching structure, which provide year-round interest. Whether as a specimen tree or part of a mixed border, Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' brings a touch of elegance and seasonal drama to any garden setting in the UK.

Malus 'Royal Raindrops' is an exceptional variety of crabapple tree, recognized for its multifaceted ornamental appeal. This small to medium-sized deciduous tree is lauded for its prolific, vibrant magenta blooms that emerge in spring, offering a stunning contrast to its distinct, deeply cut foliage. The foliage unfurls in a striking deep purple hue, transitioning to a lustrous green as summer progresses, and culminating in a fiery display of orange-red hues in autumn.

Apart from its visual allure, 'Royal Raindrops' provides practical benefits. It is relatively disease-resistant, combating common maladies like apple scab and mildew, which ensures its aesthetic longevity in a garden setting. It's known for its hardiness, adaptable to a range of soil types and conditions, proving to be drought-tolerant once established.

This tree is further adorned by tiny, red jewel-like fruits in the fall, attracting various birds and adding an extra layer of seasonal interest. While these fruits are not ideal for human consumption, they contribute to the tree's ecological value.

In landscapes, Malus 'Royal Raindrops' serves as a dazzling focal point, its diverse palette and structural elegance making it a desirable choice for those seeking year-round interest and beauty in the garden.

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' is a captivating variety of Japanese Maple renowned for its eye-catching color transitions through the seasons. It typically exhibits vibrant orange-yellow foliage in spring, subtly transforming to a soft, light green as summer approaches. This stunning foliage coloration is accentuated with a contrasting network of delicate, dark red veins running through the leaves, contributing to its ornamental value.

In autumn, ‘Orange Dream’ puts on a spectacular display as the leaves transmute to a brilliant gold, sometimes with shades of red, providing a lasting impression before they fall. It's a compact, bushy, deciduous tree, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens or for growing in containers. Additionally, it’s relatively slow-growing, reaching a height of approximately 3-4 meters over a 10-year period, ensuring manageability.

This variety prefers a sheltered location, avoiding the harshest midday sun, and appreciates well-draining, acidic to neutral soil. Providing adequate protection from strong winds and extreme temperatures will help in maintaining its vibrant leaf color and overall health. Regular watering, particularly in drier periods, is crucial, although it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions.

The aesthetic appeal and manageable size of 'Orange Dream' make it a popular choice among gardeners seeking to add a touch of drama and sophistication to their landscapes.

Malus tschonoskii, known as the Chonosuki crabapple, is a species of deciduous tree native to Japan. It is esteemed for its ornamental value, exhibiting a breathtaking array of color throughout the seasons. In spring, it produces a profusion of delicate white or pale pink flowers that attract various pollinators. The blossoms are a visual spectacle and are highly fragrant, contributing to the sensory experience of the landscape.

The tree's leaves are also notable, starting as a fresh green color in spring and transforming into striking shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, providing a vibrant fall display. The leaves are simple and alternate with a serrated margin. In addition to its colorful foliage and flowers, the tree bears small, red to yellowish, inedible fruit in the fall, which adds another layer of visual interest.

Malus tschonoskii is a medium-sized tree, typically reaching heights of 6 to 12 meters. It is adaptable to a range of soil types but prefers well-drained, moist soil and a sunny location. It’s known for its upright, columnar growth habit, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces or as a specimen tree in mixed borders. The tree is resilient and relatively low-maintenance, often utilized in urban landscaping projects for its aesthetic appeal and hardiness.

Acer palmatum dissectum, commonly known as the laceleaf Japanese maple, is a popular ornamental tree renowned for its intricate, finely divided foliage. This deciduous shrub or small tree is part of the Aceraceae family and originates from Japan, Korea, and China. It typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) with a similar spread, making it a perfect choice for small gardens and container planting.

The leaves of Acer palmatum dissectum are deeply lobed and serrated, resembling delicate lace. Throughout the seasons, the foliage transitions from a vibrant green in spring and summer to spectacular shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, providing year-round interest. The tree's cascading, weeping habit adds an elegant and graceful element to any landscape design.

Acer palmatum dissectum prefers a position in partial shade with well-drained, moist soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape. This tree is also known for its resilience to pests and diseases. Its compact size and striking appearance make it an excellent choice for adding structure and color to garden borders, patios, and rockeries in British gardens.

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is a distinct cultivar of Japanese Maple notable for its stunning autumn foliage, which transforms into brilliant shades of fiery red. This deciduous tree has an elegant, rounded form and typically reaches a height and spread of 15-20 feet, making it a spectacular feature in gardens, especially in autumn.

The leaves of 'Osakazuki' are palmate and lobed, displaying a lush green color through spring and summer, before their autumn transformation. These leaves have a uniquely refined texture, enhancing its aesthetic appeal throughout the growing season.

Ideal for small gardens, 'Osakazuki' prefers well-drained, moist soils and sheltered locations to protect its delicate foliage from harsh winds. It can thrive in full sun to partial shade, but for the best autumn color, a location with more sunlight is preferable.

This tree is relatively low-maintenance but benefits from regular watering, especially in dryer periods, and mulching to maintain soil moisture. Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' is highly resistant to pests and diseases, making it a robust choice for a wide range of landscapes. The vivid, extended display of autumn color, coupled with its graceful growth habit, renders 'Osakazuki' a coveted choice among garden enthusiasts.

Laurus nobilis, or Bay Laurel, is a dense, compact, slow-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree of pyramidal habit, dark grey bark, and aromatic, narrowly ovate, leathery, dark green leaves used in cooking, especially in French and Mediterranean cuisine. Clusters of small, yellowish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by glossy, dark purple, berry-like drupes. Bay Laurel can grow in a wide range of soils, as long as they are well-drained, but thrives in fertile, moist, and well-drained soils. It prefers full sun, but doesn’t mind partial shade. It is tolerant of salt, therefore, suitable for coastal areas. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. In colder climates, it needs to be grown in containers and brought inside during the winter. Laurus nobilis ½ std is a wonderful, long-lived shrub, perfect as a specimen plant or planted in groups. Suitable for growing in containers, great as a topiary, and excellent for hedges and screens. Essential for herb garden.