When children are shown plants and taught how to identify them, they’re encouraged to see more than just flowers. They look at textures, leaf shape, patterns in the bark. All of these things are what makes a tree beautiful, even when it doesn’t have a big show of blooms. And in a front garden, somewhere you see a tree up close every day, all through the year, these different aesthetic qualities can bring so much interest. The more you look, the more there is to enjoy.
Our front gardens are particularly special places and aren’t just for us, the owner, to enjoy as a secret sanctuary tucked in privacy behind high fences or hedges. They make up the beauty and atmosphere of the road you live on, something for everyone to enjoy. A well thought-out front garden tree that thrives in its conditions will also provide on more than just good looks. It can offer food and habitats for wildlife, as well as help slow water run off and prevent flooding. In the summer, a tree offers shade and reduces the urban heat island effect.
From beautiful bark to zingy spring colour and deep red autumn berries, here are seven of the best trees for an attractive front garden all year round.
NB. All of the below trees all can be pruned and maintained to be small and neat in habit, with annual work to reduce crown size and shape growing habit where necessary.
For three long, wonderful seasons of interest: Cornus mas
The Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, has delicate little flowers that arrive in February; an explosion of yellow fireworks dotted across its bare bark, at a time of year when we desperately need some cheer. A compact tree, it won’t dominate a garden or give too much shade. In mid-summer, bright red, glossy fruits appear which are edible. The leaves then turn a reddish purple in autumn, with the lovely, slightly drooped leaves that are characteristic of a cornus.
I like these trees so much I’ve recently put one of them as a single specimen tree, just metres away from a client’s kitchen window. It will brighten up the view from her dining table, and provide a gentle tether to the changing seasons in her small London garden. Native to central and southern Europe, Cornus mas was introduced to the UK in the late 1890s.
For a hit of neon spring colour: Acacia dealbata
There’s a moment in early spring when all the mimosas start to flower, usually early March, and I wonder again why I don’t have one in my own garden. Some parts of west London do them particularly well; one road in Chiswick in particular has some spectacular specimens. Their spring display, with its shock of bright yellow, pom pom flowers, even smells delicious too. And with pinnate evergreen leaves, it’ll also give you a good dose of fern-like year round greenery.
For a bountiful blossom season and spectacular winter bark: Prunus serrula
In Japan, these trees are so venerated that festivals happen across the country from March until May (depending on the climate) celebrating their blossom season. Although most of the garden varieties we see now are originally from western Asia, cherries have become synonymous with spring in the UK too. As well as their cloud-like fluffy white and pink flowers – which range from tight and compact to more open, delicate shapes – cherries have very distinctive bark. Varieties like Prunus serrula have a deep red bark which peels back with age. This mahogany shade can brighten up a grey winter’s day in town or country, positively popping when the sun shines.
For tighter spaces where you need to plant closer to the house: Magnolia grandiflora
The evergreen Magnolia grandiflora can be grown right up against the house – handy if space is at a real premium. For the best flower show, make sure it’s going to get lots of sun and is protected from harsh winter weather and sheltered from strong winds. The pale flowers are big and firm and ombre from pink to white. As well as being very easy on the eye, they’re edible and have medicinal properties. The very base of the petal tastes like ginger.
For an even tighter space: Acer palmatum ‘Ukigumo’
Acers are slow growing and most can tolerate a bit of shade so are very useful small garden trees. They can even thrive under the canopy of a much larger tree; for instance if your neighbour has a monstrosity that overcasts your own garden. Acers are known for their fiery colour palette that ranges from lime green to blood red to dark purple, but the Ukigomo brings a different shade to the table with leaves that turn from cream to a pale pastel pink and green in the autumn. It’s also known as ‘floating clouds’ and the softer, lighter colours will stand out well against a dark background like that of an evergreen hedge.
For deep, rich colours: Malus ‘Mokum’
I’ve recently used a pair of these in a garden in Belsize Park and was thrilled with the results. It’s one of the more unusual varieties of crab apple, and its colour makes it stand out too; the deep pink blossom brings a lovely rich colour to the late spring garden and its leaves appear a dark red colour before turning to green and then yellow. Designers like to plant crab apples because of their long season of interest and this one delivers on that too with juicy red berries appearing over the summer and hanging on long into the autumn.
For gnarly twisted bark and a lot of character: Crataegus crus-galli
Hawthorns are beautiful trees for a front garden; their bark is distinctive and I love them in winter almost as much as spring. I have a bias towards this particular variety because growing up, my granny had a beautiful one in her garden. It's still there now, and still resplendent. We also used it on our installation at Chelsea this year for Kent Wildflower Seeds, where it was positioned in a large shell-covered planter.
The cockspur hawthorn can grow quite big (over a long period) but it’s also got a beautiful shape to it, so with a bit of help is a wonderful front garden tree. They’re also known for being particularly resilient to pollution so are well suited to front gardens in urban areas. Just beware the thorns; they are centimetres long so make sure the branches will be above head height wherever you end up planting it.
