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Small blossoming tree ideas.

BadgerBadgerBadgerBadger Posts: 2
in Plants
Hi all,
We are looking to plant some trees at the front of our self-build, it's a replacement for a previous cherry, so we're looking to give a good seasonal blossom in spring.

My preference would be along the lines of more native species, but unfortunately we have some overhead cables in the area so wild cherry or similar is likely to be too large.  Would anyone have any suggestions for smaller blossoming trees please? Perhaps mature height around 5m would be ideal.

Thank you.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited August 2021
    Amelanchier would be a good choice.  Even the largest of the species will only grow to 5m.  Spring blossom, berries for wildlife later, and foliage which changes colour depending on time of year, especially in autumn when they can look rather spectacular. :)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Have a look at crab apples too, they come in a range of colours and sizes. Some are fastigiate, so don't take up much room, and there are cherries such as Ama-nog-awa which are the same. Useful  in the case of the cherry, as you get some blossom but the trees can be quite boring for much of the year :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd second Amelanchier, but not many trees will be smaller than 5 metres.
    Look for those which have light canopies, like Rowans, or well shaped shrubs instead. 

    The weeping ornamental pear Pyrus salicifolia pendula, makes a very compact, but broad tree. Attractive silvery/green foliage.
    You can always grow a climber up any tree too, to give further interest in summer. Just make sure they're planted well enough away to make establishment easier  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Not a tree as such but Azara serrata is an everygreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and fragrant flowers late winter /early spring. Suppose to have white berries but ours never has. Height and width 2-4 meters. The bees do love the flowers.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited August 2021
    Crab apples, and regular eating apples, are a good choice as you can get them on rootstocks that keep them to a small size. Great for wildlife and jam-making. I do like an Amelanchier though. (The blossom on Amelanchier is very fleeting but they make up for it by being generally quite attractive).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Tanty2Tanty2 Posts: 231
    I have a slow growing Prunus Snow Showers (Hillings Weeping) which is super-pretty loaded with blossom in Spring and has good Autumn colour too.  It's compact and I have mine underplanted with campanula and bulbs, and a spike light directly underneath so the structure is lit in winter :)  This pic taken last day of March this year...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Dwarf apples are fun
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    The Fuji cherry kojo no mai is not very big and has some nice blossom in spring.
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    We have wild cherry growing in a number of our hedges (it’s a farm), and they get quite big. I think the biggest is about 40 feet high, with quite wide corresponding spread.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
    Tanty, that's an absolutely stunning tree, so pretty :)
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