Thanks everyone. They are two completely different plants, in different streets. I think the Prunus cirasefera could be right for number one. However we have two very large ones right outside our house, which are full size trees. I had never considered that they might be the same at the plant in our neighbours garden (photo one), but maybe that's because they keep theirs trimmed as a medium sized standard. I'll try to take some closer photos of it. We were looking for something which could be trimmed to about 1.5 metres maximum, so perhaps that wouldn't be a suitable plant to be kept at that size.
Cotinus Coggygria Royal Purple could be easily kept to that size and benefits from a good annual prune. Berberis Helmand’s Pillar is also about that height, but you need to keep a beady eye out for the sawfly larvae. Both stay purple in my alkaline clay. Sambucus Nigra Black Lace is another possibility. My Loropetalum Chinensis Black Pearl is long-flowering and one of the hardier loros to -10c, but is just under a metre in height and needs a neutral to acidic soil to keep purple. Lots of suitable options out there..
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I think I remember you mentioning that you had a Sambucus Nigra Black Lace in your garden @KeenOnGreen. Have you considered S. Black Tower as an option? The leaves are different in shape so it may provide you with a suitable contrast. It's columnar so easy to control.
I'd agree re Prunus for the first, but can't tell what the 2nd one is. I'd also agree with Cotinus as a good choice of shrub. They benefit from a prune to keep the colour, and overall size but you may not need to do it every year. There's some dark Weigelas too which might suit, although they don't tend to be as purple as something like Cotinus - there's a bit of variation with them, and some are more bronze tinted.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Plantminded I have in mind something we can prune to a dome shape, which limits what we buy. We do a Sambucus Black Lane, but that couldn't be shaped in the way we want. We already have a Cotinus, but again, they can't really be shaped finely.
We may have to compromise on the purple, and get something else that can be finely shaped.
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I'd also agree with Cotinus as a good choice of shrub. They benefit from a prune to keep the colour, and overall size but you may not need to do it every year.
There's some dark Weigelas too which might suit, although they don't tend to be as purple as something like Cotinus - there's a bit of variation with them, and some are more bronze tinted.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
2. Might be Prunus cerasifera nigra or maybe a red leaved Malus.
Fruit would be most helpful.
Cherry plum will have a single stone in the centre.
Malus will have mini apples...cut one on half to check
We may have to compromise on the purple, and get something else that can be finely shaped.