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A love of trees is at the heart of Fulham Cemetery Friends' formation. Fulham Cemetery is a precious urban forest, although it has lost many great trees over recent years. Fortunately, a new programme of tree planting started in 2024.
Find out about our most interesting trees: Tree highlights 👉
Learn when trees were planted in the cemetery: Tree history 👉
Read our article: The history of Fulham Cemetery’s cherry trees 👉
Read our article: Restoring Fulham Cemetery’s crabapple tree avenues 👉
On this page
On this page
Tree highlights
Species and numbers
Tree maps
Blossom calendar
Lost trees
In the past
Tree database
Tree identification
Tree identification
"Kanzan" Japanese cherry
"Kanzan" Japanese cherry
The southwest avenue of pink cherry blossoms is one of the cemetery's most distinctive features. Planted in the 1950s, only 6 trees remain, approaching the end of their natural life.
Shirotae "Mt Fuji" Japanese cherry
Shirotae "Mt Fuji" Japanese cherry
A magnificent wide-spreading tree, the last remnant of an avenue of 3 planted in the 1950s. (Previously incorrectly identified as Tai Haku.)
"Ukon" Japanese cherry
"Ukon" Japanese cherry
There is only a single specimen of this tree with its unusual creamy-white, almost greenish blossoms. It grows right behind the large Cross of Sacrifice war memorial.
Purple maple "Schwedleri"
Purple maple "Schwedleri"
This large purple leaved maple tree grows right in the centre of the cemetery on the main avenue. In spring it's covered by yellow-green catkin-like flowers.
Scarlet crabapple
Scarlet crabapple
Malus x purpurea (previously identified as toringo) – Several of these showy trees grew along the southeastern path. Only two remain, one just a stump.
Medlar
Medlar
Just one old medlar fruit tree remains on the southeastern path, but there used to be more. There are not many medlar trees in London!
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba
A single large ginkgo tree grows in the northeast of the cemetery, a golden beacon in November.
Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata
Also called Japanese elm or keyaki, this large tree with its distinctive saw-toothed leaves is in the north of the cemetery, with a mysterious plaque dedicated to one Spider Baker.
Learn more about these trees: Tree highlights 👉
Tree Register champions
Tree Register champions
6 of our trees were listed as Greater London champions in the Tree Register in 2019 (although 1 hawthorn has since died).
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna 'Pendula'
Height (8m) and girth (138cm) champion
Hawthorn (dead)
Same type – the stump in the foreground
(Was) girth champion
Zelkova serrata
(Next to magnolia)
Remarkable tree of Greater London
Zelkova serrata
(Next to war plot)
Remarkable tree of Greater London
Medlar
Mespilus germanica
Remarkable tree of Greater London
Scarlet crabapple
Malus x purpurea
Remarkable tree of Greater London
How many trees in the cemetery?
How many trees in the cemetery?
According to the 2024 biodiversity audit, there are 184 trees in the cemetery. This is a great underestimate; the Friends have counted over 430 trees, of the types listed below. (🇬🇧 = native)
112 trees
112 trees
Lime🇬🇧
26-50 trees
26-50 trees
Japanese cherry
Maple / Sycamore
Yew*🇬🇧
11-25 trees
11-25 trees
Crabapple
Wild cherry🇬🇧
English oak🇬🇧
London plane
Cypress
Cedar
Birch🇬🇧
Ash🇬🇧
6-10 trees
6-10 trees
Holm oak
Hornbeam🇬🇧
Holly🇬🇧
Poplar
Pine
Plum
Elder
3-5 trees
3-5 trees
Magnolia
Rowan🇬🇧
Pear
2 trees
2 trees
Hawthorn🇬🇧
Horse chestnut
Tree of heaven
Zelkova serrata
Winter cherry
Juniper
Medlar
1 tree
1 tree
Beech🇬🇧
Japanese cedar
Sweetgum
Box elder
Ginkgo
Hazel🇬🇧
Spruce
Robinia
Walnut
Willow🇬🇧
Laburnum
This is an oversimplification as it lumps together different species and cultivars. For example, there are several species of maple, poplar, cedar, cypress, and pine, some of them native. There are both native and oriental crabapples. There are 2 types of horse chestnut. Some trees, like London plane, horse chestnut, and poplar are not native, but have been naturalised in Britain for centuries. *The yew count includes one lone tree by the lodge and the yew hedges around the war plot and war memorial.
Species and cultivars
Species and cultivars
When all species and cultivars are counted separately, there are approximately 67. See this spreadsheet for more details.
Multiple species and cultivars of their type
Multiple species and cultivars of their type
Acer (maples & sycamores): Acer negundo, Acer platanoides, Acer platanoides 'Globosum', Acer platanoides 'Schwedleri', Acer saccharinum, Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer pseudoplatanus 'Atropurpurea'
Ash: Fraxinus excelsior, Fraxinus excelsior 'Pendula'
Cedar: True cedars: Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', Cedrus deodara. Other: Cryptomeria japonica, Thuja plicata
Cherry: Prunus avium, Prunus avium 'Plena', Prunus 'Beni-yutaka', Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra', Prunus 'Kanzan', Prunus ‘Shirotae’, Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis', Prunus 'Tai Haku', Prunus 'Ukon', Prunus x hillieri 'Spire', Prunus x yedoensis
Crabapple: Malus sylvestris, Malus x purpurea, Malus hupehensis, Eriolobus trilobatus (was Malus trilobata)
Cypress: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Elwoodii', Cupressus sempervirens, Hesperocyparis lusitanica, x Hesperotropsis leylandii, Callitropsis nootkatensis
Hawthorn: Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet', Crataegus monogyna 'Pendula'
Horse chestnut: Aesculus hippocastanum, Aesculus indica
Lime Tilia x europaea, Tilia platyphyllos
Magnolia: Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia kobus, Magnolia x soulangeana
Oak: Quercus ilex, Quercus robur
Pine: Pinus muricata, Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus wallichiana
Plum: Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra', Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii', Prunus domestica (TBC)
Poplar: Populus nigra 'Plantierensis', Populus x canadensis 'Serotina Aurea' (both TBC)
Only ones of their type
Only ones of their type
Beech Fagus
Birch Betula pendula
Elder Sambucus nigra
False acacia Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia'
Ginkgo biloba
Hazel Corylus avellana
Holly Ilex aquifolium
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus
Japanese elm Zelkova serrata
Juniper Juniperus squamata
London plane Platanus x hispanica
Medlar Mespilus germanica
Norway spruce Picea abies
Pear Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima
Walnut Juglans regia
Yew Taxus baccata
Tree maps
Tree maps
Fulham Cemetery tree map
Fulham Cemetery tree map
The tree map shows all trees we recorded in Fulham Cemetery, with photos, and is regularly updated. You can filter trees by species or other properties, and it works on desktop or mobile devices.
Council tree layout
Council tree layout
This is H&F Council's map of all trees in Fulham Cemetery and neighbouring Lillie Rec and Purcell Crescent. It's out of date and there are some errors, but still a useful resource.
View the interactive aerial photo for a quick overview of the trees in the cemetery ↗️ (Incomplete and with errors)
How well do you know your trees?
How well do you know your trees?
Download our tree bingo card from the nature trails & activities page.
New trees
New trees
New trees 2024
New trees 2024
Over Dec 2023 – Jan 2024, 36 new trees have been planted:
23 Japanese cherry trees
5 Tai Haku, 6 Shirotae, 3 Yoshino / x yedoensis (all with white blossoms) and 9 Kanzan (pink blossoms)4 crabapples
2 Malus trilobata, 2 Malus sylvestris2 magnolias Kobus
2 cedars
Atlantica, Deodara1 Scots pine
2 silver birches
1 Norway maple
1 Indian horse chestnut
New trees 2025
New trees 2025
In January 2025:
1 English oak
Behind the war memorial
In December 2025, donated by the Sakura Project:
16 Japanese cherry trees
14 Tai Haku, 2 Beni-yutaka (pink blossoms)
New trees 2026
New trees 2026
In March 2026:
1 Medlar
4 European crabapples
Blossom calendar
Blossom calendar
When is the best time to view spring blossoms in the cemetery?
Feb 20 - Mar 20
Plum
March 1-21
Magnolia
Mar 7-31
Yoshino, Tai Haku, Shirotae cherries
Pear trees
Mar 21 - Apr 14
Ukon cherry
Wild cherry
Scarlet crabapple
Apr 1-21
Kanzan cherry
Apr 7-30
White crabapples
Laburnum
May
Hawthorn
Medlar
Video by Fulham Cemetery Friends member Harriet Lewis, 31 March 2025
Lost trees
Lost trees
Here are some of the trees lost over the past 20 years.
Weeping cherries
Weeping cherries
There was a line of these small umbrella-shaped cherry trees along the path from Munster Road. All are gone now, but new cherries have been planted in 2024.
Crabapple trees
Crabapple trees
This beautiful lone crabapple grew in the northwest corner of the cemetery. It blew down in early 2024. Along the south path many more crabapples have also been lost.
Cherry tree avenues
Cherry tree avenues
These pictures were taken 19 years apart, 2007 and 2026, at the same spot looking north on the south-western path, with the lodge at the end of the path on the left. Only 4 of the 10 "Kanzan" pink cherry trees in the first picture remain.
Note: this area is currently affected by a fungus, which is why there have been no new trees planted here.
More cherry trees planted!
More cherry trees planted!
Fulham Cemetery Friends would like to restore these cherry tree avenues with new plantings. 23 new cherry trees were planted in 2024, but there are still many gaps in the erstwhile avenues.
In March 2024 we successfully applied for a donation from the Sakura Project for an additional 16 cherry trees. The trees were planted on 10 December 2025 at the locations shown.
We are also hoping to restore the historic crabapple tree avenues 👉
At risk of disappearance
At risk of disappearance
The following trees are likely to die by 2030, leaving none remaining of their species:
Medlar* • Scarlet crabapple • Hall crabapple • European crabapple* • Pissard's cherry plum • Winter flowering cherry
Elm tree avenues
Elm tree avenues
In an aerial photo taken in 1966 you can see neat lines of trees along the principal avenue and the north-south avenue. In an aerial photo from 1981 these trees are all gone. If you look at Margravine Cemetery in the same photos, you can also see the disappearance of their elm tree avenue. It seems very likely that these two cases had the same cause.
Since the late 1960s a new aggressive strain of Dutch elm disease has spread very rapidly in Britain, killing many millions of elms and causing great changes in the appearance of many landscapes. Today, most people born after the mid-1970s have never seen a mature elm tree.
Read more:
Since ancient times, the elm has held associations with death and the supernatural — perhaps because of the tree’s ability to resurrect itself from a stump. Coffins were commonly made from elm wood, as was the notorious ‘Tyburn Tree’ gallows in London.
Margravine Cemetery's elm tree avenue in July 1966. Photo: NCAP
NCAP 000-000-472-003 Sortie FSL/6641/05 Frame 0996, West Kensington; Greater London Authority; England © HES • 23 July 1966You can see a photo of them in 1976 on the London Picture Archive.
In the past
In the past
In Victorian times, mention was made of the cemetery's beautiful trees. C. J. Fèret wrote in 1900 of "the principal avenue, which is prettily overarched with trees through a portion of its course".
We have some photos of the trees from 1897. See more in Historic photos 👉
The Principal Avenue and Entrance, 1897.
These look like lime trees, which still border Fulham Palace Road today.
In April 1949, almost no trees can be seen. The trees in the cemetery today are nearly all younger than this.
The earliest other photos we have are aerial photos from the 1930s to 1990s. See Tree history 👉
Here is an album of photos from 2005-2013. If you have old photos of the cemetery to share, please contact us.
Tree database
Tree database
Fulham Cemetery Friends maintains a database of all new trees planted in the cemetery.
We are also adding information labels to trees in the cemetery, with QR codes linking to the tree database, to make it easy for visitors to learn more about them. We have done over 30 trees so far.
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