Broadleaf Trees: A Buying Guide
Whether you're planting for wildlife, screening, woodland creation or garden interest, this guide will help you choose the right broadleaf tree for your site, your soil and your goals. Every tree is cell-grown at our nursery in East Lothian, ready to plant as soon as it arrives.
Shop Broadleaf Trees Start the guideBefore you order: what to expect
Your order arrives safely boxed, with roots protected and well watered, ready to plant. Here are 6 things our customers ask about before placing their order.
How tall will it be when it arrives?
All our broadleaf trees arrive at 20 to 50cm tall (conifers are usually a touch smaller). That's the ideal size for establishment, not the tree's final size. Young, actively growing stock settles in and grows away faster than a larger, more mature tree.
How big will it eventually grow?
This varies hugely by species, from compact garden trees to large estate specimens. See our guide to choosing by scale further down this page for a general steer, or ask our team if exact dimensions matter for your site.
Why does my tree look bare?
Broadleaf trees are deciduous, they lose their leaves every winter, just as they would in the wild. If your order arrives between roughly November and March, it's completely normal for it to look like a bare stick. The tree is dormant, not damaged, and will come into leaf again in spring.
Why isn't it growing yet?
Some species are naturally quick to put on visible height, others spend their first couple of seasons building roots before top growth follows. Slower growth in year one isn't a sign that something's wrong.
Will every tree look the same?
These are living plants, not manufactured items. Within a batch of the same species you can expect some natural variation in height and shape, that's normal and doesn't affect how well they'll establish.
How much light does it need?
Most broadleaf trees do best in full sun, though tolerance varies by species. If your site is partially shaded, get in touch and our team can help you pick a species suited to it.
Shop by tree family
Choose a family to see which species belong to it, then browse the full range to shop.
What do you want to achieve?
Create wildlife habitat
Broadleaf trees are among the most ecologically valuable plants you can put in the ground. The right species will support insects, birds and mammals from spring blossom through to autumn berries.
- Hawthorn
- Crab Apple
- Goat Willow
- Hazel
- Rowan
Screening and privacy
Looking for height, structure and coverage? Several broadleaf species establish quickly and give effective visual screening without the ongoing maintenance of a formal hedge.
- Goat Willow
- Silver Birch
- Hornbeam
- Common Alder
Woodland creation
Planting a mixed woodland scheme? Broadleaf trees cover every woodland role, from canopy species to hedgerow edges. Species selection and layering are what matter most.
- Pedunculate Oak
- Common Alder
- Hazel
- Wych Elm
- Hawthorn
Garden planting
A single well chosen broadleaf tree can anchor a garden for a generation. Compact species work well in smaller spaces and offer interest from spring blossom through to autumn colour.
- Crab Apple
- Rowan
- Silver Birch
- Field Maple
- Hazel
Choosing by scale
Broadleaf trees vary in their mature size and shape. Thinking about the scale of your planting area before you order will save disappointment later, since a sapling that fits comfortably in your hand today can grow into a large tree within a generation.
Compact
Smaller gardens & tight spacesA good fit for garden planting, smaller sites, or as an understorey species within a larger scheme.
- Crab Apple
- Rowan
- Cherry Plum
- Hazel (kept smaller if coppiced)
Mid-size
A dependable middle groundSuits mixed woodland edges, estate planting and effective screening without overwhelming a moderate sized site.
- Field Maple
- Whitebeam
- Hawthorn
- Wild Pear
Large-scale
Needs room to reach full sizeBest suited to woodland creation, avenues, parkland and estates. These trees need space and a long term outlook.
- Pedunculate & Sessile Oak
- Common & Italian Alder
- Wych Elm
- Aspen
- Large-Leaved Lime
- Sycamore
- Silver & Downy Birch
- Hornbeam
Planning tip: Cell-grown broadleaf trees all arrive at a similar size, 20 to 50cm tall, whatever the species. It's the mature size of the tree, not its size on delivery, that determines how much room you'll need. If exact height and spread matter for your project, for example near buildings, boundaries or overhead lines, speak to our team before ordering.
Choosing by soil type
Soil type is one of the most reliable predictors of long-term establishment success. Planting the wrong species in the wrong ground can limit growth and reduce survival rates over time.
Heavy, poorly drained soils or sites close to water courses. Not all broadleaf species tolerate these conditions, but several thrive in them.
- Common Alder
- Grey Alder
- Italian Alder
- Goat Willow
- Grey Willow
- Crack Willow
- Eared Willow
- Downy Birch
- Sessile Oak
The most common garden and agricultural soil type in the UK. The widest range of broadleaf species perform well here.
- Hazel
- Hawthorn
- Crab Apple
- Field Maple
- Cherry Plum
Lighter soils with low moisture retention, often in upland or heathland areas. A handful of native species are well adapted.
- Silver Birch
- Rowan
- Pedunculate Oak
- Whitebeam
Dense, nutrient rich soils that can become waterlogged in winter. Choose species that tolerate compaction and seasonal wetness.
- Hornbeam
- Field Maple
- Common Alder
- Hawthorn
- Wych Elm
- Hazel
- Crab Apple
Free-draining, low-nutrient ground typical of chalk downland. One of our most common customer questions, and several species handle it well.
- Field Maple
- Hawthorn
- Whitebeam
- Wych Elm
- Small-Leaved Lime
- Hazel
- Pedunculate Oak
How to test your soil type: Dig a small test hole after rain. If water is still sitting in it a few hours later, your ground holds moisture, so look toward the wet ground species above. If it drains away quickly and dries out in summer, prioritise the dry and acid soil group instead. Pale, stony or flint-flecked soil that drains very fast is usually chalky, in which case the alkaline soil group is your starting point.
Broadleaf trees at a glance
A selection across our range, compared to the characteristics that matter most to your project.
| Species | Scale | Growth pace | Soil | Wildlife interest | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | Mid-size | Fast | Most soils | High | Hedging, woodland edge, wildlife |
| Rowan | Compact | Moderate | Most soils | High | Garden, upland sites, exposed ground |
| Crab Apple | Compact | Moderate | Loam / clay | High | Garden, woodland edge, wildlife |
| Hazel | Compact | Fast | Chalk, clay, loam | High | Coppice, understorey, hedgerow |
| Wych Elm | Large | Moderate | Most soils | High | Woodland, wildlife corridors |
| Silver Birch | Large | Fast | Dry / acid | High | Woodland, garden, screening |
| Downy Birch | Large | Fast | Wet / damp | High | Northern or damper sites |
| Field Maple | Mid-size | Moderate | Chalk, clay, loam | Medium | Hedgerows, garden, woodland edge |
| Common Alder | Large | Fast | Wet / damp | High | Riparian, waterside, woodland |
| Goat Willow | Compact | Fast | Moist / damp | High | Wildlife, early pollinators, screening |
| Pedunculate Oak | Large | Slow | Clay, loam, chalk | High | Woodland creation, estate planting |
| Small-Leaved Lime | Large | Moderate | Loam / clay | High | Avenue, parkland, pollinators |
| Sycamore | Large | Fast | Most soils, exposed sites | Medium | Screening, exposed or coastal sites |
All species listed are available as UK-grown, cell-grown stock.
Ready to choose your broadleaf trees?
Browse the full range of UK-grown, cell-grown broadleaf trees, or get in touch and our team will help you choose.
Why cell-grown trees?
Every broadleaf tree from Alba Trees is cell-grown at our nursery in East Lothian. This isn't simply a production method, it has a direct impact on how your trees establish once they're in the ground.
Plant almost any time of year
Because the root system stays protected in its cell, planting isn't limited to the traditional bare root season.
Protected root plug
Each tree arrives with an intact root plug, which reduces transplant shock and helps it establish quickly in its new site.
Arrives ready to plant
Stock arrives well watered and in good condition. You don't need to plant immediately, and trees can be stored for a short period if your site isn't ready.
Consistent, biosecure quality
Every tree is grown at our own nurseries and never imported. As a Plant Healthy certified nursery, traceability and biosecurity are built in.
What to expect when your trees arrive
Knowing what to do in the days after delivery will make a real difference to establishment success.
Check your order
Open your delivery and check the species, quantities and condition of the trees. If you have any concern, get in touch within 7 days of delivery so we can take a look, often from photographs alone.
If you're not planting straight away
You don't need to plant immediately. Keep your trees in a cool, dry place and aim to get them in the ground within a couple of weeks. Dormant trees need little care before planting, but water them if the weather is warm.
Getting them in the ground
- Dig a hole twice the size and about an inch deeper than the root plug.
- Place the tree in the hole and hold it upright.
- Backfill the soil around it as you go.
- Firm the soil gently with your heel.
- Water well and keep the base clear of weeds.
What else you'll need
A common question we get is what to order alongside your trees. These three categories cover most planting projects, from a single garden tree to a larger scheme.
Tree protection
Guard young trees against deer, rabbits, hares and voles while they establish. All types of tree protection are available, including biodegradable options with appropriate stakes.
Shop Tree ProtectionPlanting equipment
A proper planting spade makes the job far easier, particularly in compact or rocky ground. The range includes 3 and 4 pouch Bushpro planting harnesses, fertiliser pouches, and tree stakes.
Shop Planting EquipmentFertilisers
Give your trees the best possible start, from controlled release fertiliser at planting time to top dressing that sustains growth once your trees are established.
Shop FertilisersFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between cell-grown and bare root trees?
Bare root trees without soil are lifted from the ground while dormant and need planting within days. Cell-grown trees, like ours, keep their root system protected in a cell, so they can be planted at almost any time of year and settle in with less transplant shock.
How tall will my tree be when it arrives, and how tall will it grow?
All our broadleaf trees arrive at 20 to 50cm tall, that's not the tree's final size. Mature height depends entirely on the species, see our guide to choosing by scale above, or ask our team if exact dimensions matter for your project.
Will every tree in my order look identical?
Not exactly, and that's normal. These are living plants, not manufactured items, so expect some natural variation in height and shape within a batch. It won't affect how well they establish.
How much sunlight does my tree need?
Most broadleaf species do best in full sun, though shade tolerance varies. If your site is partially shaded, get in touch and we'll help you choose a suitable species.
What will my delivery look like, and how long will it take?
Your trees arrive safely boxed, roots protected and well watered.
- UK mainland postage included
- Next day delivery from dispatch, on working days
- Orders are typically dispatched 2–3 working days after an order is placed
Can I order in bulk for a larger project?
Yes. We regularly supply trees at scale for forestry, farm, estate and community planting schemes, with flexible order quantities and fast processing. Get in touch with our team to discuss larger orders.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards, along with Apple Pay and other standard payment methods, through Shopify Payments.
Can I cancel or change my order?
Yes, as long as it's before dispatch. Our turnaround is usually 24 to 48 hours, so get in touch as soon as possible. If your order hasn't been sent yet, we'll cancel it and refund you in full.
Do I need to plant my tree as soon as it arrives?
No. Keep them cool and dry, and plant within a couple of weeks.
- Dormant trees need little care before planting
- In summer, keep them watered until they're in the ground
What if I'm not happy with a tree on arrival?
We check every tree before it leaves the nursery, but mistakes happen.
- Contact us within 7 days of delivery
- Often diagnosed from photos alone
- Free replacement or refund where we're at fault
Are your broadleaf trees grown in the UK?
Yes. Every tree is grown at our own nurseries in East Lothian from UK-sourced seed, we never import stock. We're Plant Healthy certified, so traceability and biosecurity are assured.