Tell me about your favourite tree

[SarfEasticated]

if you could only have one kind of tree in your garden what would it be?

I think we have space for one tree and I am hoping you'll suggest one that gives fruit, has beautiful blossom and is good for wildlife...

My favourite tree in my garden is a magnolia Grandiflora. No fruit but the most delicious smelling <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=magnolia+grandiflora&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1T4DSGK_en___GB423&tbm=isch&tbnid=mZebkkb0TmwLnM:&imgrefurl=www.treesdirect.co.uk/shop/ornamentals/magnolia-grandiflora&docid=YijXAuTxe1crjM&w=1091&h=882&ei=1zhfTrH2GMmr-Qbmhc2PAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=172&vpy=124&dur=2423&hovh=202&hovw=250&tx=129&ty=102&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&biw=1366&bih=641" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">flowers

most useful would be an apple.

Gorgeous seepage - two words I have never used together before!

mine has loads of flowers this year - you can smell them coming down the path, mixed with the lavender.

oooh, GREENGAGE. they look nothing special, just generically fruity, but the fruit is absolutely gorgeous (I gorged, then made jam to gorge later)

we are renting our house and I know that I will have to plant a greengage in the house we buy.

I have 4 favourites:

Magnolia soulageana - white flower - needs a sheltered spot or the flowers fall off - also funny about soil type
Weeping Japanese Maple (can be kept in a pot)
Weeping Cherry Tree - no fruit
Buddleia - loved by butterflies and bees - purple is the most common colour but think you can get white and pink too

I think they are all spectacular and wouldn't be able to choose between them.

I love apple trees and have recently planted 2 to replace the last one which we lost due to a combination of disease and a mini-digger.

I planted a Robinia Pseudoaccacia last year and I absolutely love it! It has been just beautiful all year around and lights up my small garden no end. A bit brittle in the wind and no fruit but otherwise, perfect.

Would love a Magnolia but we have very alkaline soil so is a no no is our garden..

Mine is a lemon-scented gum, a metre-high baby right now. It'll be 60+ feet high eventually, with most delicious lemon smell in the heat.

It's not near the house or any neighbours', unless they knock down the lovely old houses and build monstrosities which cover every square foot of the plot, in which they will not be pleased.

Labernum is the only tree I have planted but would love a magnolia.

Flowering dogwoods are a real thing of beauty. The white bracts are feature for months.

I do love our quetsche plum though. It is quite tall and elegant (unlike our sprawling apple trees) self-fertile and it is having its first real crop this year. It is absolutely laden! I shall be jam making soon.

Victoria plum or a greengage.

Bramley apple most useful and fruitful.

mmmmm - plums :) i have a vic plum, apple, quince and crab apple, and the plum is my absolute fave. is it good for wildlife though? was wondering about a may tree... meant to be good for birds and insects...

Weeping cotoneaster. Grows to about 7or 8ft, covered in shiny red berries from autumn to late winter, blackbirds love it, loses it's leaves in Feb (the new ones coming in push the old ones out), white blossom in May (flowers aren't that great, but lots of them and attract LOADS of hoverflies, bumble bees, etc etc). It's not exciting in the height of summer - but is a nice green background to everything else.
Or hawthorn - one called Pauls Scarlet. Pink blossom, then lots of haws.
Or crab apples - lots of blossom, then lots of crab apples.
Or....
These are all pretty small so should fit. I would loove a flowering dogwood, but I think they get quite big? Or do they grow slowly /not mind being pruned?