Behind the Scenes at Creepers: How We Select and Care for Our Specimen Trees
At Creepers, we know that specimen trees are more than just plants, they’re living architecture, focal points, and long-term investments in beauty and character. Whether destined for a private garden, a landscape-led development, or a public space, every standout tree we supply begins its journey with careful sourcing, expert selection, and meticulous care.
Sourcing with Purpose
Our process starts far from the nursery, often in the fields of Europe, where our team regularly travels to hand select the finest specimens. We work with trusted growers who understand the standards our clients expect, and we never settle for second best.
From striking multi-stems to perfectly formed standards, each tree is selected for its structure, vitality, and long-term potential. We look for balance, beauty, and a sense of presence, trees that will hold their own in a space from day one.
Recent tagging trips have included standout specimens like Liquidambar styraciflua, prized for its brilliant autumn colour and sculptural form, and Ginkgo biloba, a living fossil with fan-shaped leaves and year round elegance. We’ve also sourced exceptional Acer palmatum, Betula jacquemontii, and Fagus sylvatica, each chosen for their unique seasonal interest and architectural impact.
Championing Character Trees
At the heart of Creepers’ offering are trees that bring instant maturity and a sense of story. Clients regularly request specimens such as Prunus serrula, known for its rich mahogany bark, or Amelanchier lamarckii, which offers delicate blossom, autumn foliage and berries in one graceful package.
We’re also proud to offer trees with strong native or Mediterranean character, such as Arbutus andrachne with its smooth cinnamon bark and evergreen poise.
Shrubs with Impact
Alongside our specimen trees, we supply standout shrubs that hold their own in any scheme. Plants like Enkianthus campanulatus, with its lantern-like flowers and fiery autumn display, or Cotinus coggygria, whose smoky plumes and purple foliage create drama in borders.
We also stock Euonymus alatus, the famous ‘burning bush’ with its extraordinary autumn show, and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, a winter highlight with vivid red stems. Other client favourites include Hydrangea quercifolia, with its oak shaped leaves and long lasting blooms, and Rhus typhina, whose sculptural form and velvety branches are always a talking point.
Caring from Day One
Back at the nursery, our specimen trees are pruned and cared for by hand. We pay close attention to soil health, irrigation, and root development, ensuring each plant is in top condition before it leaves us. Regular monitoring, seasonal feeding, and formative pruning are all part of the process - our team is as passionate about nurturing trees as they are about sourcing them.
Working with Designers and Landscapers
We understand the pressure landscape professionals face, tight deadlines, challenging sites, and clients who expect perfection. That’s why we encourage early conversations and advance planting lists, so we can source exactly what’s needed and offer the best options ahead of time.
Our tagging trips aren’t just for us, they’re an opportunity for designers to be involved, to see what’s available and secure key specimens before peak season. We regularly share behind-the-scenes content from these trips to help clients stay inspired and informed.
Specimen Trees, Delivered with Care
At Creepers, every tree tells a story, and we’re proud to be part of it. Whether it’s a multi-stemmed Betula for a courtyard garden, a sculptural Arbutus for a modern build, or a row of Ginkgo trees for an avenue planting, we treat each specimen with the care and attention it deserves.
If you’d like to know more about our current stock or upcoming tagging trips, get in touch with the team, or follow us on social media for regular updates on what’s new in.
Click on the images in our gallery below to view them at a larger size.
About Creepers
Creepers is a specialist wholesale nursery supplying exceptional trees, shrubs, perennials, topiary, and specimen plants to leading garden designers, landscape architects, and horticultural professionals across the UK. With over 25 years of expertise, we pride ourselves on the quality of our plants, the strength of our supplier network, and our collaborative, hands-on approach.
With nursery locations in Addlestone - Surrey, Wandsworth - London and Sway - New Forest, we offer a convenient hub for trade clients sourcing plants for high-end residential and commercial projects, with expert support on hand and regular deliveries from trusted UK and European growers.
Whether you're looking for mature trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses for instant-impact planting, or something more unusual, Creepers is your trusted trade partner from consultation to delivery.
Press enquiries
marketing@creepersnursery.co.uk
Sales & plant sourcing
sales@creepersnursery.co.uk | 01932 821 626
Location
Creepers Nursery, Spinney Hill, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 1AD
Website
