My bay tree's trunk is about 4" in diameter. It's over twenty years old. I keep it pruned. A big job every couple of months in the summer. I don't know how big it would get, but I'd say pretty big. I have to cut a good six inches around the sides and a foot or so off the top every time. They are slow to start though. So if you're thinking of moving in the next ten years, it would be someone else's problem!
I was about to say an evergreen like holly. There is always the flamingo willow mine is about 25 years old 6foot tall and about 5 foot across, these sizes are because it is cut to this size, so most smaller trees can be managed.
I've seen a bay that looks more like Viburnum Tinus in leaf. I've a frilly edged culinary one in a sheltered hot spot that I'm hoping will one day turn into a biggish shrub and then tree. At least you can use the prunings in dinner - not that I get through them that quick. It's a shame there isn't a weaker tasting variety - more like curry leaves. Are there harder variants?
Bay trees can get very big and they also sucker. We had to remove ours as it had rooted itself into the base of a wall and I didn't want any problems. I also echo the thought that some trees can get very, very big in time. We think the 1976 developers of the development at the side of our house planted two Norwegian Maples, two silver birches and a purple leaved something. The birches, although lovely are now about 40 ft high and under 3 metres from our house and cause no end of continual problems with debris, pollen and leaf fall, all of which fall onto our paved path around the house or block the gutters. The Council are supposed to maintain and inspect them every 5 years - but we've never seen this done. If only they were removed when doable and then replaced with younger ones, life would be a lot easier.
I'm a bit late to the conversation Clare - but I'd echo Obelixx's suggestions of Sorbus and Amelanchier. Both delightful. I used to have an ornamental pear in a previous garden which I was very fond of. Pyrus salicifolius is the proper name. They can eventually get fairly big - they have a weeping habit so have width as much as height - but you can also prune them to keep to a comfortable size. They'll take a fair number of years to get big though. Easy to look after - nice silvery, grey green foliage
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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They are slow to start though. So if you're thinking of moving in the next ten years, it would be someone else's problem!
I also echo the thought that some trees can get very, very big in time. We think the 1976 developers of the development at the side of our house planted two Norwegian Maples, two silver birches and a purple leaved something. The birches, although lovely are now about 40 ft high and under 3 metres from our house and cause no end of continual problems with debris, pollen and leaf fall, all of which fall onto our paved path around the house or block the gutters. The Council are supposed to maintain and inspect them every 5 years - but we've never seen this done. If only they were removed when doable and then replaced with younger ones, life would be a lot easier.
Sorry, rant over!
I used to have an ornamental pear in a previous garden which I was very fond of. Pyrus salicifolius is the proper name. They can eventually get fairly big - they have a weeping habit so have width as much as height - but you can also prune them to keep to a comfortable size. They'll take a fair number of years to get big though. Easy to look after - nice silvery, grey green foliage
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...