Riverside's Trees
Posted By: Category: Seasonal AdviceTrees matter! Here, at Riverside, we have curated our new season’s range of trees, both ornamental and fruiting.
Download this blog in a PDF format or pick up a copy at Riverside
Our supplier, Frank P. Matthews, is one of the largest tree growing nurseries in the UK. They produce over 1 million bare-root and container-grown trees each year. The container-grown specimens are 2-3 years old with a developed root system that you won’t find on cheaper saplings that are generally for sale from non-garden centres.
Due to the high demand for their quality and essentially British stock, we must make our stock reservation a year in advance. This demand has affected tree industry prices and made purchasing a tree a considerable investment.
We have put a lot of thought into this year’s selection and included what customers tell us they generally expect from a tree – compact size (often destined for a container), as well as seasonal interest (e.g. spring flowering, fruit producing, autumn colour). As a result of listening to you, our customers, we have expanded our range of dwarf stock and included somewhat unusual varieties instead of many commonplace ones. Over autumn and spring that range will be supplemented by further scheduled deliveries.
Each variety on our treeline has a description, size guide and photo to help you choose.
Please ask our knowledgeable team if you have any questions or would like advice!
Now, here are some of the varieties that caught our eye and are new to Riverside, many of which are presently in stock (subject to availability at the time you read this, of course!)
Ornamentals
Cercidiphyllum Japonicum Pendulum: Also known as ‘Katsura Weeping Tree’, due to its long, sweeping branches. The mature bark turns grey and peeling, whilst its leaf colour shifts from spring bronze, summer blue/green to autumn orange/purple/red.
Malus ‘Candied Apple’: Striking pink blossom and bright red fruits that better resemble clusters of cherries.
Malus ‘Halloween’: White, semi-double blossom with yellow/orange fruit that, once ripened, appear ribbed like tiny pumpkins! A heavy cropper that’s popular with pollinators and birds.
Malus ‘Jelly King’: White blossom with spectacular large orange/pink, long-lasting fruit. Makes excellent pink crab apple jelly.
Prunus ‘Crystal Falls’: A weeping habit, bearing white flowers that has an extended, winter flowering period of December through to February.
Prunus ‘Starlight’: The RHS ‘Plant of the Year 2024’. Unusual, pure white flowers (star-shaped), repeat flowering in winter if mild. A graceful, upright habit.
Sorbaronia ‘Likjormaja’ Liquorice: A hybrid of Sorbus and aronia, creating a small, slender tree with stunning autumn colour. Flowers are pink/white and develop into red berries in autumn.
Fruit trees
Cherry ‘Celeste’: One of the best eating cherries, with dark red fruit that is soft and juicy. Great for containers.
Malus ‘Honeycrisp’: a high-quality eating apple whose flesh won’t brown, so it’s perfect for fruit salads. Produces sweet, slightly fizzy apples.
Malus ‘Pixie’: Excellent, heavy cropper of small apples, making them ideal for children. The fruit has yellow skin with red stripes and a crisp and sweet (yummy!)
Malus ‘Dabinett’: A most reliable cider apple from 19th century Martock in Somerset. Bittersweet, high quality, medium-dry. The beautiful blossom is pink.
Pear ‘Concorde’: One of the best varieties for gardens. It bears pale green fruit patched with gold and russet. The fruit is buttery and melting, and stores well.
Plum ‘Avalon’: One of the finest dessert plums! Golden flushed red coloured fruits which are juicy and sweet. Also free-stoned (stone not attached to flesh).
