If your outdoor area requires a distinctive touch, consider incorporating a 'lollipop' tree, also known as a standard tree. These are not merely plants; they serve as sophisticated design elements that infuse elegance into gardens, patios, and balconies. Standards are meticulously trained to resemble miniature trees, frequently seen adorning the entrances of boutique hotels and luxury estates. Their perfectly straight, woody stems typically support an evergreen ball of foliage, creating a crisp, geometric silhouette.
Benefits of Lollipop Trees
Ideal for those with limited space, lollipop trees occupy a minimal footprint and appear stunning in large, decorative pots. They can be underplanted with flowers or hostas to enhance their visual appeal. Maintenance is remarkably low, requiring only a quick trim once or twice annually to preserve their neat shape. An established standard can reach up to 150 centimeters in height, offering instant impact, though purchasing smaller, younger plants can be a cost-effective alternative.
Seven Popular Varieties
Explore these seven popular lollipop tree varieties to elevate your outdoor space:
- Bay Laurel: The fragrant Laurus nobilis Standard, priced at £59.99 from Thompson & Morgan, features dense crowns of leathery, dark green, aromatic leaves suitable for culinary use. It stands approximately 150 centimeters tall with a 50-centimeter spread.
- Photinia: A Photinia 'Little Red Robin' Standard, available on Amazon from Gardeners Dream for £39.99, showcases vibrant red new growth in early spring that matures to a deep glossy green. This compact evergreen measures about 70 to 80 centimeters tall, including the pot.
- Olive Trees: Thompson & Morgan's Pair of Olive Tree Standards, now £49.99 at Yimbly with an extra 10% discount using code SPRING10, are slow-growing, self-fertile evergreens with silvery grey-green leaves. Supplied with an 80-centimeter stem, they add a Mediterranean flair.
- Californian Lilac: A Pair of Hardy Californian Lilac Trees, costing £54.99 on Amazon from YouGarden, produce clusters of brilliant blue flowers in spring that attract bees. They are supplied at approximately 80 to 90 centimeters tall in 3-liter pots, ready for planting.
- Bottlebrush: The exotic Callistemon (Bottlebrush) Standard, priced at £32.99 on Amazon from YouGarden, serves as a focal point in late spring and summer with striking, fluffy, red cylindrical flower heads and lemon-scented leaves. It stands about 80 to 110 centimeters tall, including the pot.
- Japanese Maple: The spectacular Extra Large Acer palmatum 'Firecracker' Standard, now £149.99 at Gardening Express with a £150 saving, offers feathery purple foliage in summer that turns bright red in autumn. This deciduous alternative to evergreens is supplied at approximately 130 to 150 centimeters tall in a 15-liter pot.
- Holly: Not just for Christmas, the Holly 'Blue Maid' Standard, available on Amazon from YouGarden for £34.99, features spiky evergreen leaves, delicate white flowers in late spring, and vivid red berries in autumn. It is supplied at about 80 centimeters tall, ready to plant.
Prices are accurate at the time of publishing, providing an opportunity to enhance your garden with these elegant, low-maintenance trees.
