If you’re looking for a centrepiece, focal point or simply want an attractive addition to your garden an ornamental weeping tree should be high on your list. They are colourful and compact with a huge variety of textures, foliage and beautiful blossoms. In short, ornamental weeping trees tick all the boxes.

Certainly, this type of tree is becoming more popular. Travelling around the UK it’s abundantly clear more and more people ranging from keen gardeners to those who just want their garden to look nice, are planting ornamental weeping trees.

Walk through most housing developments and you’ll see plenty of compact weeping trees in front gardens. They make a wonderful feature and for small urban spaces you really don’t need anything else in the space.

But you’ll also see them as the main feature of planting schemes in back gardens of all sizes. Planning the garden in my new house, an ornamental weeping tree was the first plant on my list and I based my new garden design around it.

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What are ornamental weeping trees?

As we’ve touched on above there are many varieties of these types of trees but they are characterised by their soft branches which cause them to bend and flow to the ground like a woody waterfall.

Because they are so colourful the waterfall effect makes them visually stunning. Weeping trees can of course be huge but ornamental varieties can be kept compact and are suitable for most gardens including front gardens when you're trying to improve your garden kerb appeal or are looking at planting schemes for a sensory garden.

Why you need a weeping tree in your garden

Every planting scheme or garden needs a focal point or series of features to draw the eye, add interest, height and provide colour. Ornamental weeping trees can be all these. Especially in small spaces.

A restricted front garden or small area of a larger space can be dominated (in a good way) by a weeping tree. If you’ve not planted one of these trees before, please consider it. Yes, they are a relatively expensive plant but they are easy to grow and maintain and provide so much joy and visual stimulation - especially in spring and summer when they blossom.

Which tree do you need?

Many varieties are fully hardy so ideal for the UK climate. As they thrive in full or semi-shade, they are very versatile and you’re sure to have the right spot for your new tree. Most will be supplied bare-rooted be sure to plant your tree as soon as you receive it and within 48 hours at the most.

The main consideration when thinking about which variety to buy is how high and wide the tree will grow. Look for ornamental weeping trees such as the Prunus Snow which will only reach around 8-10 feet and is ideal even for small gardens.

Choosing your ornamental weeping tree

If you survey gardeners which tree they would choose for their own garden it’s likely the most popular choice will be a weeping cherry tree. They feature very long branches that will almost kiss the ground and are festooned with colourful blossoms that populate the branches. They are simply gorgeous and look amazing in any setting.

But of course, there are many different types and varieties of ornamental weeping trees. Most of us will base our choice on spread and colour. To see the different types of trees you can choose from take a look at the ones we currently have in the nursery. Click here to see our selection of ornamental weeping trees.

Whatever your planting project you’ll find all the trees, plants and shrubs you need here at Direct Plants. Every plant on our website is in wonderful health and all ready to be picked and packed for delivery straight to your door. We have thousands of plants in our five-acre nursery. Click here to see our full selection.