Your favourite trees

[TiddleTaddleTat]

Looking to plant one or two small to medium trees at the end of our garden. Will be clearing and landscaping first and then planting next Autumn/Winter. The space we are redoing is about 7mx6m.

I fancy one with an open shape, maybe decorative bark, flowers, possibly fruits or berries.

Would like to have dappled shade and gently screen for privacy from neighbours.

The site gets sun all day. We'd sit there in the evenings in summer. I'm keen on native and/or wildlife attracting plants.

Hit me with some suggestions please!

Catalpa?

I love a cherry blossom tree! I am getting one soon. There are loads of different varieties so you will be able to find one with a decorative bark. The other purchase will be a Rowan tree.

Whoops sorry just saw you prefer natives!

@Prufrocks definitely considering a cherry! Do you have a favourite variety?

A crab apple? Plenty of varieties to choose from with different coloured fruits, foliage and flowers.

Following as we want to plant a few more trees. We planted a disease-resistant elm about 15 years ago, it's now about 30 feet and very healthy. I love it and it sounds lovely with a breeze blowing through the leaves! Also planted a horse chestnut which is about 15 feet already (just planted it a couple of years ago). I would love a cedar of Lebanon but we're trying to plant trees that are more local.

@AlwaysLatte I'm a bit fearful of trees that'll get really big as it's taken us a couple of years to get rid of all of the inappropriately large trees and blimmin' leylandi that was here before. Definitely enjoy the sound of wind through the leaves. Movement is important. There are a few large trees in neighbouring gardens already so we get some of that.

@20DigitCombination that could be an idea . I love Malus 'Evereste' from the below

www.gardensillustrated.com/plants/trees/the-best-crab-apple-trees-for-colour-and-form/

Ok! I've got a shortlist of options so far

Silver birch
https://www.pippintrees.co.uk/trees/birch/betula-pendula-silver-birchh_
Malus red sentinel https://www.pippintrees.co.uk/trees/crab-apple-trees/malus-red-sentinell_
Malus cardinal https://www.pippintrees.co.uk/trees/crab-apple-trees/malus-cardinall_
Magnolia Copeland court https://www.pippintrees.co.uk/trees/magnolia/magnolia-copeland-courtt_
Magnolia Galaxy https://www.pippintrees.co.uk/trees/magnolia/magnolia-galaxyy_

You could have a few silver birch trees - lovely all year round, especially with spring bulbs. I have a soft spot for rowan too, either the native or there are some pretty varieties www.pippintrees.co.uk/articles/tree-advice/how-to-choose-a-rowan-tree-for-your-garden
I think I would probably go for an apple tree, and maybe a little plum/damson tree as well.

Amelanchier

A rowan? There are lots to choose from.

This is my silver birch and it is my favourite tree in the garden. Lots of swishing in the wind but stunning in its simplicity.

I second Amelanchier. Blossom and berries in spring, adored by birds, leaves go glorious colour in autumn. Doesn't grow big either.

I was looking for a small to medium tree for my garden and settled on an ornamental cherry. Others on the shortlist were:

ornamental pear
crab apple
silver birch
amelanchier
olive
magnolia
gingko (but this gets big apparently)
Judas tree
Acer
Strawberry tree

Ooh thanks for these ideas, will go off to check...
A friend has a prunus autumnalis which is a lovely spreading shape. Tempted by one of those too. Too many trees and not enough space!'

I third Amelanchier.

Magnolia!

If I had to choose my favourite tree in our garden, I'd say it would be the white cherry blossom. The flowers are just so beautiful (pictured). I think it bloomed for all of April.
It's just beginning its transition to golden leaves now, it's my last tree to lose its leaves.

I have a magnolia galaxy too. Again, beautiful flowers in late spring. I think that is unfortunately very short lived though, something like only 3 weeks of flowers?
I have a white (star) magnolia too. Lovely flowers and it's quite small.

We have a row of horse chestnut too. I like them for their autumn colour. Not very exciting otherwise though.

I have a hawthorn for pink blossom in May. It's called Paul's Scarlett. The flowers are divine, they look like little roses.
So it's nice to plan something for every month. I did Camellia (February) Magnolia (March) Cherry (April) etc ... although unfortunately the weather is too cold at that time of year to sit in the garden and enjoy them, which is one of your requirements?

Oh and someone has already suggested Rowan. Yes for red berries and stunning autumn colour

Not really sure about sizes, so do your own research

I'm not sure if it's a tree or a large shrub, but what about a Lilac?
Again, late spring flowering .

Also, I have no idea if any of my suggestions are native

@AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet good idea about planning for when they will be in bloom. Definitely something I need to consider... maybe two that flower at different times...

I think magnolia is probably out of the running too because the flowers are so short lived. Much as I love them, I want quite a lot of bang for my buck with the space I have.

@TiddleTaddleTat I looked at Evereste but went for a Laura instead!

Like lots of previous posters have suggested, crabapple is a lovely choice.

Blossoms in the spring, then, when the leaves fall, the red/orange apples sit on the branches which look beautiful against the blue sky and the birds love them.

How about a Himalayan cherry? Beautiful without leaves too!

If you're interested in wildlife, avoid double flowers - no good for pollinators and don't usually have the sexual equipment necessary for berries.