I would like to plant an ornamental tree that is preferably evergreen. It would be situated in partial/full sun in an open space. I did think of a dwarf Korean lilac. Any suggestions please
My preference would be an evergreen shrub or tree but I am aware that the dwarf Korean lilac is deciduous. I am looking for something that will grow no taller tha 8 to 10 feet and a spread of no more than 6 to 8 feet. The difficulty is finding something from a gardening centre in Oxfordshire or even online . Would appreciate any other suggestions.
Thank you Tetley and Poddington P for your suggestions. I will certainly look into these options. The witch hazel sounds particularly appealing. Looking for something with a scent.
..hardiness might be an issue for you in Oxfordshire, but any of these should be alright in most winters when established...
...I also go with Arbutus unedo, especially the variety 'rubra'...bit slow to start....'Atlantic' is a bit larger...more vigorous... can be trained into tree shape...
Pittosporum tenuifolium...var. 'Golden King'..is nice, or any of the silver ones, which can suffer in a bad winter...small flowers, hardly noticed, but good evening scent...May...fine foliage all year...will develop, if survives, into a large conical shape...by which time you can grow a Clematis alpina up it...
Ceanothus... esp. 'Concha'.. can be trained, after it's developed a good trunk, into a small tree shape with a wide head...
Daphne 'jacqueline postil'... my plant, 4 years old, is now about 6 foot by 3 foot wide...it will spread more with age and get taller... flowers Jan-Apr...
...I have the dwarf Korean lilac...I leave it in the greenhouse all Spring for the fine scent...then outside rest of year....to be perfectly honest...it's a bit boring after it's flowered...
Thanks Salino for your recommendations. You certainly know your plants. I am a keen gardener but trees are a bit alien to me. I am having a new lawn laid next week and am looking for something that will replace a tree that I have removed. I had a rowan tree but it was looking as though it was past it's sell by date. Would like something smaller to replace it. Can the dwarf Korean lilac be planted directly into the ground or does it have to be grown as a pot plant?
...yes you can plant it in the ground, it's perfectly hardy, although the flowers can be spoilt by hard frost outside... it might be a little bit lost as a lawn specimen... I would prefer something a bit more substantial if it was mine... but choice is yours... there are lots to choose from really... that's half the problem I find...
Thanks Tetley. To be honest I hadn't really considered the soil composition. Our soil tends to be rather clay. I have been fortunate over the years that most things I plant tend to grow. I always add growmore and bonemeal. I have found rhododendrons and hydrangeas grow very successfully.
Posts
Bumping
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't think the lilac will be evergreen.
How about a small variegated holly?
My preference would be an evergreen shrub or tree but I am aware that the dwarf Korean lilac is deciduous. I am looking for something that will grow no taller tha 8 to 10 feet and a spread of no more than 6 to 8 feet. The difficulty is finding something from a gardening centre in Oxfordshire or even online . Would appreciate any other suggestions.
Arbutus unedo. The strawberry tree
I think you can get compact varieties that will stay within your size limit, I got one from my local GC.
Or maybe a witch hazel? (Hamamelis) they aren't evergreen but have beautiful and really unusual winter flowers with a lovely scent.
Thank you Tetley and Poddington P for your suggestions. I will certainly look into these options. The witch hazel sounds particularly appealing. Looking for something with a scent.
..hardiness might be an issue for you in Oxfordshire, but any of these should be alright in most winters when established...
...I also go with Arbutus unedo, especially the variety 'rubra'...bit slow to start....'Atlantic' is a bit larger...more vigorous... can be trained into tree shape...
Pittosporum tenuifolium...var. 'Golden King'..is nice, or any of the silver ones, which can suffer in a bad winter...small flowers, hardly noticed, but good evening scent...May...fine foliage all year...will develop, if survives, into a large conical shape...by which time you can grow a Clematis alpina up it...
Ceanothus... esp. 'Concha'.. can be trained, after it's developed a good trunk, into a small tree shape with a wide head...
Daphne 'jacqueline postil'... my plant, 4 years old, is now about 6 foot by 3 foot wide...it will spread more with age and get taller... flowers Jan-Apr...
...I have the dwarf Korean lilac...I leave it in the greenhouse all Spring for the fine scent...then outside rest of year....to be perfectly honest...it's a bit boring after it's flowered...
Thanks Salino for your recommendations. You certainly know your plants. I am a keen gardener but trees are a bit alien to me. I am having a new lawn laid next week and am looking for something that will replace a tree that I have removed. I had a rowan tree but it was looking as though it was past it's sell by date. Would like something smaller to replace it. Can the dwarf Korean lilac be planted directly into the ground or does it have to be grown as a pot plant?
...yes you can plant it in the ground, it's perfectly hardy, although the flowers can be spoilt by hard frost outside... it might be a little bit lost as a lawn specimen... I would prefer something a bit more substantial if it was mine... but choice is yours... there are lots to choose from really... that's half the problem I find...
Thanks Tetley. To be honest I hadn't really considered the soil composition. Our soil tends to be rather clay. I have been fortunate over the years that most things I plant tend to grow. I always add growmore and bonemeal. I have found rhododendrons and hydrangeas grow very successfully.
Salino, I would prefer more of a tree speciman than a large shrub. So I will have a look at some of your suggestions. Many thanks.