Pink flowering tree/bush

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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

I was going to suggest a cherry, but I am worried it wouldn't flower until later than March.

One option is a magnolia, as a PP has suggested. There are brand new ones that are coming on the market that have been specifically bred for the quality of pink flowers they produce between March and May. Check out "fairy blush", which has flowers all along the stem and not just at the ends. The flowers are scented too. This plant has rave reviews all over the place if you google it.

Oops, posted too soon! Another option might be the magnolia stellata, which is an absolutely classic town garden plant because it is small and has a good form and can be kept small with pruning. Plus, the flowers really are stunning. There are white and pink forms: check out "rosea" and "Jane platt". If you contact Junker's nursery, they are real experts in these plants and will be able to give you detailed advice about growing them in a pot. I have a neighbour who has done this with a white one, so it is possible! They are quite tough: I moved a young soil-planted stellata from one garden to another, during which process I dropped it on its head and snapped the main stem. Amazingly, it was absolutely fine and doesn't even look bad now!

The fairy blush looks lovely and I like that it has a scent and flowers in March. That might well be a contender,although I still prefer the look of the cherry trees but they won't flower in March?
To narrow it down (after much googling of your suggestions!)I think I would like:

• hardy
• flowers in march if possible
• deeper or brighter pink flowers
• tree rather than bush
• maybe some scent.

Thank you all lovely people

I do think a flowering cherry sounds the most 'like' your grandmother. They are truly beautiful. However, I often associate the darker pink ones with later flowering. However, I've been googling and it seems I'm wrong about this. There are several with deeper pink flowers that are supposed to be out in March, check out Prunus 'Kursar' which is a really vivid pink and early flowering AND has a gorgeous shape.

Another idea would be a flowering quince - some of these are almost so bright you need shades! However, they often don't have such a nice form - they work best when trained up a wall really.

Google images of Judas Tree (the sort I linked to)

It's early flowering and has blooms on the branches and trunk too.

I came on to say Prunus "Kursar' too- the other alternative is the weeping one I have seen - it has an RHS award of merit, which is a good thing Prunus Pendula Rubra - the pictures on google are lovely!

M Fairy Blush is truly a stunning plant but I would advise caution. It is not as hardy or vigorous as one would hope. I work in a nursery in the south west and we find it necessary to keep these under polythene for the duration of their flowering period. They deteriorate visibly in even mild wind and rain, and the blooms are spoiled. I don't know what sort of site you are proposing to plant in, but I suggest it would need to be a very sheltered and favourable site for Fairy Blush to do well.

Star Wars is a much better bet. It is strong, vigorous and impressive and frequently has a second flush of flowers later in the year.

That's interesting - thanks trethew. I'm knocking it off my list of plants for my Sheffield garden - if you struggle in the south west, there's no way it would be OK here!

Judas Tree, beautiful, really underused.

This is Judas, I love the blooms on the branches and the leaves deliver too.

If I had a volunteer to dig the hole I'd be happy.
I'm in Syorks too with a sunny spot that gets the wind so I'm looking to avoid early blossom drop.

I've never see one quite so covered in blossom, I must say.

I was driving home from work last year Char and had to stop and turn back to view one like that in someone's garden.

I was so taken by it iknocked the house but no one was home.

I think I would prefer it with fewer blossoms, nonetheless, it's spectacular.

Great autumn foliage too.

I do like the Judus- very unusual!
I think it's going to be a cherry tree - Prunas Kursar is the one , 'feels' right
Thank you so much everyone I didn't have a clue before posting this thread! Going to go and have a look around the local garden Center next weekend,hopefully they will have one!
I'll come back and post a photo during it's first flower

Garden centers always have the best advice so the extra expense can be worth it.

Having said that I have two cherry trees (planted in big pots) that were £3.99 reduced to £1 each from Aldi.

I only bought them because they looked sad outside on their own and now I need to find a decent spot in the ground for them.
No idea what species they are but they thrived.

Hi CountryFeedback Sorry for your loss .
I think a spring flowering shrub such as a pink rhododendron would be a beautiful reminder. Easy to grow as long as the soil is acidic - they can be grown in pots which could be taken with you if you ever move.

pimmsy is that bougainvillea yours in the UK? I've recently bought one and was worried it might not survive here....how old is yours, do you do anything special to it in the winter (sorry to hijack thread!)