Trees and Shrubs Finder A-Z

As the largest and most prominent of all garden plants, trees establish the basic, long-term framework of the garden, and their forms and colours influence the selection of other plants. Since they originate from most regions of the world, there are an immense variety of ornamental trees suitable for almost any garden site. Both deciduous and evergreen, shrubs are prized as essential elements in most garden design. The diversity of their ornamental features- architectural habit, fragrant flowers, striking fruits, or attractive foliage and the year round presence of their woody, often decorative stems, offer an almost infinite choice for gardeners. Both trees and shrubs occur in the wild in a broad spectrum of habitats, ensuring there is a wide range suitable for every soil and aspect. The foliage of trees and shrubs are often highly decorative, and vary greatly in size, shape, texture and colour. The dense mass of colour can compliment other plants throughout the year, some especially favoured for their autumn colorations, whilst the textures of the leaves add further interest. Many trees and shrubs are cultivated for their attractive, often scented flowers and berries which follow the fruits, with their bold shapes and colours, persisting throughout the autumn and winter. Trees are most commonly grown in an open site as a specimen plant or in a large shrub as a focal point. Trees may also be used as hedging, as wind or sound barriers, to frame a view or to line a pathway. They give shelter from rain or sun, as well as provide a home for wildlife. Most shrubs are grown in a shrub border or mixed among annuals or perennials. Shrubs that exhibit a variety of ornamental features make excellent specimen plants, and are ideally sited where they can be viewed from different angles.