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Crab Apple and Prunus recommendation for very small garden

KeithsterKeithster Posts: 29
in Plants
I would like to get two trees for a very small front and back garden, preferably giving interest most of the year (blossom in the spring and autumn colour). 

The Prunus needs to be single flowering and will be in an exposed seaside location.  The crab apple will be in partial shade. 

Any recommendations will be appreciated.  Alternatively, if somebody has any recommendations (other than prunus and crab apple) which have worked well for them, I'd be grateful to hear of them. 

Thank you in advance. 

Posts

  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Crab apple  Sentinel. It has good autumn colour in the leaves and the birds do not take the bright red fruit. They are pushed off in the Spring by the new growth. It does not grow into a very large specimen. 

    There is a dwarf prunus, slow growing. Masses of single white flowers. Looks rather like a large bonsai, unfortunately I cannot remember its name. Hopefully someone will know what it is called.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What do you mean by 'very small' ?  :)
    I think my garden is small, but other people think it's big. It's all relative.

    There is the columnar Prunus 'Amanogowa', but they do get tall eventually, so that might be a problem. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Even ‘very small’ trees will get up to 3-4 metres, especially if planted in the ground in the right conditions. Dwarf, weeping varieties of malus and prunus tend to keep fairly compact though. I have 3 lovely weeping prunus that keep very compact, but inherited them so don’t know the variety. My malus Evereste would get too big, I think, but there are smaller varieties. I have no connection to this company, but find it a great site to narrow down your options as it has excellent filters. I tried searching for very small trees for pots thinking that would help, size-wise: https://www.ornamental-trees.co.uk/trees-to-grow-in-pots-c55#t15
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • peteSpeteS Posts: 966
    I was recommended 'Admiration' by a contributor on the forum, and 'Laura' by the very excellent website 'Pippin Trees'. Both seem ideal for growing in a very small space (6m x 6m) which is what I was after.
  • KeithsterKeithster Posts: 29
    Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions and for replying so quickly. 
  • AstraeusAstraeus Posts: 336
    Just to jump on this, I am after a crab apple to grow to a height of around 4/5m and have been recommended to Evereste as opposed to Red Sentinel. @peteS, @Nollie, would your experiences of these suggest either would do? I am quite keen for it to be one which the birds do take the fruit from.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    @Astraeus I looked at both and chose Evereste. Sentinel is more upright, I recall, so I think it’s just a matter of personal preference. Also whether you go for a standard or a multi-stem form. @Papi Jo has a particularly fine example of the standard form and may have better advice for you..
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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