10 bare-rooted ornamentals to try in your garden

Bare-rooted refers to plants that are sold with exposed roots (no potting mix or soil). Fruit trees and ornamental trees and shrubs that are deciduous in winter (without leaves and not actively growing) are often sold this way. Here are 10 standout bare-root ornamentals, handpicked by horticulturist Steve Falcioni.

1. MAPLES
The Japanese maple Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ grows to 6m x 5m and has exquisite red stems and golden autumn foliage. The larger Canadian maple Acer rubrum ‘Frank Jr Redpointe’ (12m x 9m) has glorious red autumn foliage and improved heat tolerance.

2. ROSES
Potted roses are available year-round but buying them bare-rooted now provides more choice, so don’t miss out! Personally, I’m in love with the new myrrh-scented David Austin ‘William and Catherine’.

3. ORNAMENTAL PEARS
Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ (11m x 6m) is a favourite, with masses of white blossoms in spring and good autumnal colour. For narrow spaces, try ‘Javelin’ (10m x 2.5m).

4. BIRCHES
The trunk and bright green foliage of the 10m x 6m silver birch (Betula pendula) might be hard to resist, but in dry regions it’s worth choosing B. nigra ‘Dura Heat’, which grows to the same size and still has beautiful flaking bark but has better heat tolerance.

5. CRABAPPLES
If space is limited, consider Malus ‘Raspberry Spear’ (5m x 2.5m, left), with magenta flowers and dark purple foliage, or ‘Ivory Spear’ (4.5m x 2m), with white flowers and green leaves. Both bear masses of small (1cm) red apples from summer into autumn.

6. REDBUDS
Pink spring flowers and purple foliage, which turns golden in autumn, make Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (5m x 5m) a popular option. ‘Merlot’ is a new, smaller (3.5m x 4.5m) variety.

7. CREPE MYRTLES
For white summer flowers and red autumn leaves, consider the 3m x 3m Lagerstroemia ‘Acoma’. Growing 4m x 2.5m, L. ‘Ruffled Red Magic’ has red flowers and orange autumnal foliage.

8. ORNAMENTAL PLUMS
With bold pink flowers in spring and deep purple leaves, it’s hard to beat the tough-as-nails Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ (5m x 4m). P. ‘Oakville Crimson Spire’ is a narrower version (6m x 2m) but with white flowers.

9. FLOWERING CHERRIES
Recreate a bit of Japan at home with the weeping Prunus ‘Pink Cascade’ (2.5m x 4m), with magnificent double pink blossoms. For an upright tree, consider P. ‘First Blush’ (7m x 3m), which has pink blossoms with dark red centres.

10. EDIBLES
There’s an endless list of edible options, but my current favourite is a space-saving, multi-grafted cherry which combines the low-chill cultivars ‘Minnie Royal’ and ‘Royal Crimson’.

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