Bare Root Shrubs

How to choose the best bare root shrubs for your garden

Whether you want a specimen shrub to put on a spectacular show or something to provide a backdrop for other flowers, we have a bare root shrub for the job. Try lilac for a display of scented blooms, Amelanchier canadensis for interest from spring to autumn, and Ligustrum ovalifolium for easy-care hedging. Whatever you choose, give all bare root shrubs a good start by adding plenty of high quality compost into the planting hole along with some Mycorrhizal Fungi. For more information, read our expert advice on growing bare root plants and see our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Which bare root shrubs have winter interest?

If you’re looking for some bright winter colour, the vibrant red stems of common dogwood are a great choice. The sun-splashed, variegated leaves of evergreen Golden Privet are particularly welcome through the darker months and, if you’re after flowers, try a Cornelian Cherry which blooms from January to February.

Which bare root shrubs are good for wildlife?

Berberis flowers early in the year providing much-needed food for pollinators, and the later berries are loved by birds. Other good sources of berries to feed the birds include Viburnum opulus and elderberry. For pollinators, you can’t beat the flowers on common lilac.

Which bare root shrubs grow tallest?

The tallest of our bare root shrubs is the beautiful Magnolia ‘Blue Baby’, which forms an upright shrub of around 3-5m.