A hardy tree

[magpiecounter]

Hi,

I am looking for a tree we can put in our garden when we move house. I need it to have certain elements though and I'm not great at knowing what to search for:

It will need to be big enough to put fairy lights on once a year.
It will need to be hardy enough that it can do ok in a west facing back garden.
I need to hang ornaments (small ones) on it that will grow in number each year
I would like it to be quite pretty
If possible to grow well
I don't mind how tall it grows or how big it gets.

How do I go about finding one? I'd asked at the garden centre but the lad was a bit confused. We won't be moving till next year 2021 but if I start researching now I can start saving too.

Background: we lost our baby boy Cillín on the 23rd December 2020 and I won't be able to take part of him home. The hospital will cremate him and lay him in the baby garden at the cemetery. So I need something at home to have that is his. I want to put soft lights (fairy lights only) on it November 5th till December 28th each year to mark each day we carried him and loved him. I want to hang one decoration every Christmas Eve for him to eventually mark each of his Christmas days. I want to put a hanging decoration on each year on my birthday as we would have shared a birthday had he been born. Even if I tie a ribbon though that would be fine.

I need this tree to be my baby in some form I can keep. It's not fair what has happened but I need something beautiful for him.

I agree with @FoxinaScarf. My neighbour had a crab apple. It has blossom in spring, then the leaves turn red in the autumn and when they fall off it has small dark red crab apples, something every season. So pretty.

I have always wanted a monkey puzzle tree (araucaria araucana) but I think they need a reasonable amount of space.

I have always wanted a monkey puzzle tree (araucaria araucana) but I think they need a reasonable amount of space. They do if you're going to grow them to maturity but they're not that fast growing, so you could grow them for 20 years and then get rid of them.

Leeds City Council has planted lots of them on the road verges in the city centre

I'm so sorry for your loss. Trees generally establish better if planted when small, in winter as bare rooted plants. They are dug up from the field, shipped out and you plant them. Rv Rodgers mentioned above ship to most of the UK I think, and are very helpful. By now most of their trees have sold out but you will be able yo order next summer for autumn/winter delivery. Cherry, crab apple, birch all lively suggestions.

Thank you everyone. We have had a chat about what we want and what we will do. All your ideas are brilliant and lovely. We love the annual changes of the Tibetan cherry and the colour. We won't be moving till July (that's when the house is ready) so that means we can order it when we move and know where we want it and have enough time to plan the garden before we get it in the autumn winter time. We are making it the main feature of the garden and building the rest around Cillín's tree.

Thank you again. I need my baby to be special even if it's only to us xx

It’s a lovely idea op and my cousin did similar when she lost her baby twenty odd years ago. That tree is now mature and birds sing in its branches, which brings her great comfort.

I was going to suggest a witch Hazel as they flower in December, but I’m late to the thread and see you’ve already chosen a Tibetan cherry which is a great choice.

Leeds City Council has planted lots of them on the road verges in the city centre Yes! They look amazing. I was so chuffed when they did that. Monkey puzzles are my favourite tree.