Amelanchiers will be fine - assuming the soil is half decent. They aren't a problem near walls or paving. A photo of the area would be good if you can though @wemyssgarden The other alternative is a few shrubs which can become tree like, or can be pruned as a 'tree' shape, or just coppiced and grown as a multi stem specimen. Many of the Elders would be fine for that, or Cotinus. It would depend on the height of the wall too. Although there's decent length for a few small trees or shrubs, you'll have to bear in mind the effect the tree canopies will have on the other planting, and we don't know the general aspect of the bed either. While the delphiniums won't mind some shade, and lupins and poppies can manage some without bothering too much, the peonies, lavender and salvias won't love it.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
With A Obelisk it is slow at first then gets wider and wider. So it would need pruning. There is one at in Poet's Corner Nursery. At a guess ten feet across and the same in height.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
How about something like box, which you can trim to whatever shape and size you want really. Mine is now just bare stems with a rounded top or two on each, so it lets in light for the plants underneath. I didn't plant it, but it's been right next to the garage wall and a fence for about 13 years, (and practically on top of the soakaway 🤦♀️), but the roots are quite shallow and everything seems fine.
@Plantminded It is [or was] I am going back to 2018 in an open border. I was standing right in front of it and for a moment I couldn't believe what I saw. Amelanchiers do respond well to pruning but A Lamarkii can also get to 8m. Pruning is critical if you don't want either to get out of hand. I guess it is the same as bamboo if you know what to do it isn't so much of a problem. Walls are expensive so if one has to go it is the tree.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thank you for your reply @GardenerSuze, I think that from my experience of growing other trees and plants in my current garden which has a sandstone seam not far below the soil, the topography will restrict my Amelanchier’s growth, a bit like growing one in a large container or raised bed! A. Obelisk is described by the RHS as attaining an eventual height of 6m and spread of 1.5m, but I know that these dimensions are based on averages!
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The other alternative is a few shrubs which can become tree like, or can be pruned as a 'tree' shape, or just coppiced and grown as a multi stem specimen. Many of the Elders would be fine for that, or Cotinus.
It would depend on the height of the wall too.
Although there's decent length for a few small trees or shrubs, you'll have to bear in mind the effect the tree canopies will have on the other planting, and we don't know the general aspect of the bed either. While the delphiniums won't mind some shade, and lupins and poppies can manage some without bothering too much, the peonies, lavender and salvias won't love it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There is one at in Poet's Corner Nursery. At a guess ten feet across and the same in height.
I didn't plant it, but it's been right next to the garage wall and a fence for about 13 years, (and practically on top of the soakaway 🤦♀️), but the roots are quite shallow and everything seems fine.
Amelanchiers do respond well to pruning but A Lamarkii can also get to 8m. Pruning is critical if you don't want either to get out of hand.
I guess it is the same as bamboo if you know what to do it isn't so much of a problem.
Walls are expensive so if one has to go it is the tree.