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British trees and shrubs to plant: 14 native garden trees

British trees pack a big punch in your garden. Make space for one or two you’ll have year-round interest and be supporting wildlife too. Here's our top 14 native trees to plant in your garden.

Helen Keating  •  08 Nov 2021

Trees woods and wildlife

Eucalyptus

Pleasant smelling, antiseptic, highly flammable. Eucalyptus might be the favourite of koalas in its native Australia, but in the UK it is insects which are drawn to its rich oil.

Trees woods and wildlife

Monkey puzzle

Distinctive and spiky, the monkey puzzle has been making strong impressions since dinosaurs roamed the earth. These days, jays and squirrels feast on its nuts.

Trees woods and wildlife

Box, common

A native evergreen that’s at home in your garden. Box is so special it’s got a hill named after it. Box Hill in Surrey takes its name from the ancient box woodland on its steep chalk slopes.

Trees woods and wildlife

Great spotted woodpecker

Not afraid to make itself heard. The great spotted woodpecker is equipped with a toolkit that makes it a true woodland specialist. Its strong beak and shock-absorbing skull are perfect for finding food and making its home among the trees.

Trees woods and wildlife

Hawthorn shieldbug

Leaf-munching minibeasts. The hawthorn shieldbug takes its name from the tree that it relies on for food.

Trees woods and wildlife

Poplar leaf beetle

A bright-coloured, picky eater. The poplar leaf beetle spends its time munching on the leaves of willows and, you guessed it, poplars.

Trees woods and wildlife

Chaffinch

Colourful characters. The chaffinch is one of our most common birds, but that doesn’t detract from its beauty.