More Thorny Problems by Helen Yemm

Author:Helen Yemm [Yemm, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471136719
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

A SMALL, PRETTY GARDEN TREE

I am looking for a pretty tree that will have blossom and/or fruit and autumn colour, and which does not grow much higher than 13–16ft (4–5m). I would like a tree that has a straight stem for approx 6½ft (2m) and then a canopy. This is with a view to hiding my neighbour’s roof (which is pretty ugly). My fence is 6½ft (2m) high. Am I looking for the holy grail?

Daphne, by email

No, I don’t think you are looking for the holy grail: I instantly thought of an amelanchier, possibly the best small-garden tree. It has white-ish early spring blossom followed by fluttery leaves that are translucent pink but quickly turn green and then colour fabulously in the autumn, at which time, if the birds leave them alone, you become aware of small maroon fruits. The leaves, being quite small, form a canopy that is not too dense, nor does the tree get too large, probably growing to 13–16ft (4–5m) or so in 10–15 years. Otherwise, have you considered a winter-flowering prunus ( P. × subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’), which has a lovely, airy, lightweight summer canopy after flushes of winter flowers? Neither of these is a particularly fast grower, so you should start with as decent a sized tree as you can manhandle and afford. Elsewhere in your letter you mentioned a birch (also a good choice, but they do get quite tall), and there are some lovely hawthorns ( Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ has particularly good autumn colour) and crab apple trees (such as Malus floribunda ) that have intense blossom and fruit.

Now is the time to visit a tree nursery, while everything is at least in leaf, to make a shortlist or even a decision, and reserve a tree to plant in the autumn.

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