Conifer Trees: A Buying Guide
From stately cedars and forestry spruce to compact garden pines and a native churchyard yew, this guide will help you choose the right conifer for your site, whether that's a single specimen tree, a windbreak, or a large-scale planting scheme. Every tree is cell-grown at our nursery in East Lothian, ready to plant as soon as it arrives.
Shop Conifer Trees Start the guideBefore you order: what to consider
Conifers are a more varied group than they first appear, from an 8m garden shrub to a 70m forest giant. Here's what's worth knowing before you choose one.
Do conifers lose their needles?
No. Every conifer in this range is evergreen and holds its foliage year round, unlike broadleaf trees, which lose their leaves every winter.
How big will it get?
Conifers span an enormous range, from Juniper, usually a low spreading shrub, to Grand Fir and Western Red Cedar, which can reach 70 metres given the space and time. Check our comparison table below before you order.
Will it grow quickly?
It varies widely. Several species, including Sitka Spruce and Grand Fir, are fast and productive. Others, like Yew and Juniper, are notably slow and reward patience with exceptional longevity.
Will it cope with my site?
Some conifers, like Sitka Spruce and Maritime Pine, are built for wind and exposure. Others, like Pacific Silver Fir, need a sheltered spot to do well. Matching the species to your site matters more here than with most trees.
Ornamental, forestry, or festive?
Conifers do a lot of different jobs, specimen trees, windbreaks, forestry planting, and even Christmas trees. Knowing which job you need done narrows the choice quickly.
What will my delivery look like?
Your trees arrive safely boxed and ready to plant. As with the rest of our range, cell-grown stock means you're not limited to a narrow planting season.
Shop by conifer family
Our conifers fall into six families. Choose one to see which species belong to it, then browse the full range to shop.
What do you want to achieve?
Most buyers come to conifers with one clear job in mind. Find the scenario below that fits your project to see which species are worth starting with.
Specimen and ornamental
A single striking conifer can anchor a garden or estate for generations, valued for form, bark, foliage colour or sheer scale.
- Cedar of Lebanon
- Atlas Cedar
- Japanese Red Cedar
- Blue Spruce
Screening and windbreaks
Dense, wind-tolerant species that hold a line and provide year-round shelter and privacy.
- Lawson Cypress
- Western Red Cedar
- Yew
- Grand Fir
Christmas and festive
The classic seasonal species, also valuable as ornamental garden trees the rest of the year.
- Norway Spruce
- Nordmann Fir
- Blue Spruce
Exposed and coastal sites
Built to cope with wind, salt spray and poor ground where many other trees would struggle.
- Maritime Pine
- Sitka Spruce
- Serbian Spruce
Conifer trees at a glance
All species side by side, so you can quickly compare the traits that matter most before you buy.
| Species | Scale | Growth pace | Soil | Wildlife | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani | Mid-size | Slow | Chalk, well-drained | Medium | Specimen and ornamental | Shop Now |
| Noble FirAbies nobilis | Large | Moderate | Moist soils | Medium | Forestry and diversification | Shop Now |
| YewTaxus baccata | Compact | Slow | Well-drained | High | Screening and wildlife | Shop Now |
| Norway SprucePicea abies | Large | Fast | Most soils, moist | High | Christmas trees and forestry | Shop Now |
| Grand FirAbies grandis | Large | Fast | Well-drained | Medium | Forestry and woodland | Shop Now |
| Lawson CypressChamaecyparis lawsoniana | Large | Fast | Moist, well-drained | Medium | Screening and hedging | Shop Now |
| Pacific Silver FirAbies amabilis | Large | Slow | Moist soils | Medium | Woodland and shade | Shop Now |
| Japanese Red CedarCryptomeria japonica | Compact | Fast | Well-drained, acidic | Medium | Specimen and screening | Shop Now |
| Atlas CedarCedrus atlantica | Mid-size | Slow | Poor, dry soils | Medium | Specimen, drought tolerant | Shop Now |
| Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis | Large | Fast | Poor soils | Medium | Forestry and exposed sites | Shop Now |
| European Silver FirAbies alba | Large | Moderate | Moist, well-drained | Medium | Forestry and woodland | Shop Now |
| Nordmann FirAbies nordmanniana | Mid-size | Slow | Moist, well-drained | Medium | Christmas trees | Shop Now |
| Blue SprucePicea pungens Glauca | Mid-size | Slow | Fertile, well-drained | Medium | Christmas trees and specimen | Shop Now |
| Serbian SprucePicea omorika | Compact | Slow | Most soils | Medium | Small gardens and exposed sites | Shop Now |
| Macedonian PinePinus peuce | Compact | Slow | Well-drained | Medium | Forestry and exposed sites | Shop Now |
| Maritime PinePinus pinaster | Mid-size | Fast | Sandy, well-drained | Medium | Exposed and coastal sites | Shop Now |
| White FirAbies concolor | Compact | Slow | Well-drained | Medium | Specimen, frost hardy sites | Shop Now |
| JuniperJuniperus communis | Compact | Slow | Chalk, well-drained | High | Wildlife and native conservation | Shop Now |
| Western Red CedarThuja plicata | Large | Fast | Most soils, damp | High | Screening and hedging | Shop Now |
All species listed are available as UK-grown, cell-grown stock. Shop Now links currently point to the relevant family collection; swap in individual product URLs once confirmed.
Ready to choose your conifer trees?
Browse the full range of UK-grown, cell-grown conifers, or get in touch and our team will help you choose.
Why cell-grown trees?
Every conifer from Alba Trees is cell-grown at our nursery in East Lothian. It isn't simply a production method, it has a direct impact on how well your tree establishes.
Plant any time of year, all year round
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 specimen tree to a larger scheme.
Tree protection
Guard young trees against deer, rabbits, hares and browsing animals while they establish. Spiral guards, mesh guards and stakes are available.
Shop Tree ProtectionPlanting equipment
A proper planting spade makes the job far easier, particularly for larger specimens or compact, rocky ground.
Shop Planting EquipmentFertilisers
Give your tree the best possible start, from controlled release fertiliser at planting time to top dressing that sustains growth once established.
Shop FertilisersFrequently asked questions
Do conifers lose their needles?
No. Every conifer we sell is evergreen and holds its foliage year round, unlike broadleaf trees, which lose their leaves every winter.
How do I choose the right size conifer for my garden?
Check the mature, unclipped height rather than the size it arrives at. Some conifers stay compact for decades, while others can eventually reach 40 metres or more. See our comparison table above, or get in touch and we can help you match a species to your space.
Can I grow one of these as a Christmas tree?
Yes. Norway Spruce, Nordmann Fir and Blue Spruce are all classic Christmas tree species and grow well as garden specimens the rest of the year too.
Will a conifer cope with an exposed or coastal site?
Several will. Sitka Spruce, Maritime Pine and Serbian Spruce are all noted for tolerating wind, salt spray and difficult ground. Others, like Pacific Silver Fir, need a more sheltered position, so it's worth checking before you order.
What soil is right for my conifer?
It depends on the species, conifers vary from chalk-tolerant cedars to acid-loving firs and spruce that can cope with occasional waterlogging. See the soil column in our comparison table above for a species by species steer.
Do I need to plant my tree as soon as it arrives?
No. Keep them protected from harsh weather and herbivores until planted, then plant within a couple of weeks.
What if I'm not happy with a tree on arrival?
We check every tree before it leaves the nursery, but mistakes happen. Make sure to contact us within 7 days of delivery along with photos so we can better understand the issue.
Are your conifer trees grown in the UK?
Yes. Every tree is grown at our own nurseries in Scotland. We never import stock. We're Plant Healthy certified, so traceability and biosecurity are assured.