Pink flowering tree/bush

[CountryFeedback]

Hi all,
I'm a gardening novice looking for some advice!
My lovely grandmother passed away in the spring and I'd like to plant a tree in the garden to remember her by. She loved pink and gardening! I've not got any experience in looking after trees so something fairly hardy/or with tips to look after would be welcome

I have a large south facing garden,so am not bothered how big it would grow. I don't plan on moving for many many years but obviously one day I would probably move maybe in twenty years or so when DC are grown. Can you move trees?
Thank you all

[bookbook]

Oh what a lovely idea!
Some of my favourites, all easy to look after once planted.
Japanese Flowering Cherry - there are absolutely loads to chose from, from very subtle to over the top , so check varieties
Kolkwizia amabilis -a shrub up to about 3 metres, but a favourite of mine.
Camellia - again more a large shrub/small tree, but flowers in winter/spring and evergreen too ( though be sure to check you have acidic soil for these)- again check variety for colour of flower and final size.

[NanTheWiser]

Cheal's Weeping Cherry is a small growing tree: www.chewvalleytrees.co.uk/products/detail/prunus-kiku-shidare-sakura/1 - very pretty in flower, and attractive foliage too.

[CountryFeedback]

Thank you I appreciate it. This means a lot to me ,it's taken me this long to be able to think about it and I want to get it right!
I will take a look at those! Is it best to buy them at garden Center or is online ok?
I had no idea about alkaline /acidic soil will have to look into that. I live in the South Lincolnshire if anyone knows? It's the Fens so hopefully good growing soil!

[QueenOfTheNaps]

Please look at a magnolia soulangeana. They are the most beautiful plant, and as a magnolia is pretty hardy and needs zero attention. Flowers every year and it just breathtaking (imo)

[QueenOfTheNaps]

Whatever you decide, buy from a garden centre. Find someone who works there and explain why you want it and they will help you choose the best from their stock, don't be afraid to show you don't know what you're talking about and let them wow you with their green fingered expertise. They will be happy to help

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Crab apple?
Pink flowers in spring and lovely crab apples in autumn?

[CountryFeedback]

They're all beautiful! Maybe it would be good to have a look around a garden centre for some ideas,is now a bad time to look for trees? I really don't have a clue and I feel upset whenever I think of her not being here anymore. Sounds silly but I hope a tree will help give me some happiness again when I think of her.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Autumn is a good time to plant. Do ask for advice in a local garden centre, they will know what's best, because of the local conditions and soil quality and all that.

It's not silly at all.

[thatsn0tmyname]

Something that flowers in the spring would be nice. A magnolia or camelia?

[thatsn0tmyname]

Camellia

[shovetheholly]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Grandmothers can be really important people in our lives. I think having a tree to remember her by is lovely.

I'd like to recommend something that flowers at roughly the time when she passed away and that reflects her personality a bit, because it's really important that memorial trees are just 'right' for the person. There are loads and loads of gorgeous pink-flowering cherries, for instance, but it would be nice to recommend one that has a personal connection for you.

What was she like? When you say she liked pink and gardening - was she quite girly and delicate? And are we looking for something that flowers March? April?

[Minniemagoo]

Camellias can be a pain as they arw not the hardiest. They need to be out of the morning sun and are very susceptible to frost.
A magnolia or flowering cherry would be a better bet long term. We have a lovely small magnolia, about 5ft thats very hardy and a flowering cherry thats huge.
What size were you thinking?

[CountryFeedback]

Thanks everyone
march flowering would be perfect. She was full of life,was a good laugh- liked a naughty joke! She wasn't 'old fashioned', and was very modern in her dress and home decor. She liked pinks, light and bright. She was always dressed up,with her hair done and make up and perfume on. Her house and garden were always immaculate with lovely things in although she didn't mind the grandchildren making a mess!
I miss her so much,thanks for all the input I feel I've made a start !

[CountryFeedback]

I like big trees,but equally a smaller one would be fine if it looked right and was relatively hardy.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

You know what's really pretty, and quite a big tree, it's the pink mimosa.
Not sure your location will be good for it, but you can ask your local garden centre.

[CountryFeedback]

The mimosa is beautiful!made me laugh pics of cocktails came up in google images- she loved a drink!

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Not sure how hardy it is, there's lots of them in London, but that's quite a bit south.

[CountryFeedback]

I'll ask in the garden centre. I do like the cherry trees too if that's not an option. I know they grow here as there's loads of them about!

[Kr1stina]

I'd go for something very easy like Malus Red Sentinal. It's a crab apple with red leaves and pink flowers . You will also get small red crab apples in the autumn, which can be used to make jelly .

www.google.co.uk/search?q=malus+red+sentinel&safe=active&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=isvn&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&fir=2usTqyVvJJLJvM%253A%252CJghrXAN8KlNleM%252C_%253BwpGb25nJlMhVSM%253A%252C9pVP04qIph6U0M%252C_%253BEcA-Pswjto9UUM%253A%252CJghrXAN8KlNleM%252C_%253Bq9SwfWlwjdr-AM%253A%252C_PoWsrdHyLKUvM%252C_%253BPSpkTRGfzZGEaM%253A%252CxrjA6HR7VCYnDM%252C_%253BszEMQDZtiOYA-M%253A%252C2BF2P8fBp53PcM%252C_%253BWr8jT-cD5JZ7ZM%253A%252CGphvrhaQ9zaVkM%252C_%253B-9k7p5TbiAndrM%253A%252CYIG0EtaHtSu2PM%252C_%253B4-KkHGb1EsoywM%253A%252CDc3C9PNDXvZjjM%252C_%253B_DUxoxhb33cLuM%253A%252C-Wp8FofVrZCuOM%252C_&usg=__aRsDxpnHKcMvw3L8JE9nhKN9yig%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinh6281pLQAhVLCcAKHWUQAsEQsAQIKg&biw=1024&bih=672

I'm sorry but you can't take a 20 year old tree when you move house. But you can plant another one in your new garden . And it will give years of pleasure to the new owners (and your neighbours of course ) .

If you want a cherry I'd go for Prunus serrulata Kanzan, which has pink flowers and a lovely bark, which extends the season of interest.

[Kr1stina]

There are lots of beautiful easy pink flowering shrubs too.

Or You could plant a pink climbing rose to grow up your house wall- there are many which repeat flower and have a beautiful scent . The modern ones are much more disease resistant so don't need sprayed . You woudl have to train it into the wall and give a light prune once a year, so it's not trouble free .

I thought of roses when you mentioned how she always wore perfume .

[CountryFeedback]

I thought that would be the case about relocating a tree!
She did love roses.. that's an interesting idea , I hadn't considered a climbing plant. Will give that some thought..

[legotits]

www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/cercis-siliquastrum/classid.765/

I saw one of these flowering last year and promised myself I would buy one.

It was so pretty.

[pimmsy]

If you have a south facing garden or wall could you try a bougainvillea ?

[Undersmile]

There are some lovely viburnums that flower through winter, and are pink-blossomed.
What a lovely idea to keep her memory alive

[Flumplet]

Magnolia 'Star Wars' would be my suggestion. I have one and adore it (although we are moving soon and in may have to leave it as it has really taken to its new spot). It took a while to start flowering but is really spectacular in the spring now.