ID on my tree please

[Jericha]

Hello knowledgeable MNers. Please can anyone suggest what this tree may be?

I've attached photos of it from late summer when we viewed, it lost its leaves over winter and is starting to bud again now.

We're having our garden done and have been asked whether we want to remove it (landscaper not sure what it is). It has about four main stems, 1 of which the previous occupiers have cut right back and has some buds on, 1 cut back that is dead, an upright stem and one at an angle.

If it turns out to be a nice, normal tree that wildlife likes and won't spurt to 50ft suddenly I'd like to keep the main, upright trunk. I'm worried cutting it may kill it off though!

Any advice for this tree novice gratefully received. Thank you

Are the leaves waxy?

@ihatethecold unfortunately I'm not sure. It's bare apart from some buds at the moment. We didn't move in until it started losing most of its leaves.

I wondered if it was a Bay Tree but then you said it’s lost all its leaves and Bay trees are evergreen although they can drop leaves in winter so that’s put brain into a ponder!

It looks Camellia to me, particularly with buds at the moment?

Wait and see what it does, I’d say. It doesn’t look like it’ll be anything too fast growing.

@Whitney168 I thought that too but aren’t Camellia leaves normally a lot glossier? It would be lovely if it was as they have amazing flowers.

Op take a picture of the buds as that might help us

Are those purple bits in the first photo flowers? In which case it looks like a magnolia of some sort. Camellias are also evergreen so would have leaves on still.

can you take a photo of the buds, or of what it looks like now?

I woudl say camellia, especially as it is budding, but as pp says, camellias are evergreen.

Is that flower above from a different plant?

I've used an app on android before called Picture This which allows you to take pictures of plants/ trees and it will identify them. You could try that?

Thanks all! I've just taken some photos of it now. Unfortunately I did try an ID app but it came up with really random stuff as it couldn't pin point it. That suggested bay as well, the leaves are similar, but definitely not an evergreen as you've already noticed.

@DreamingOfTheSouthOfFrance yes I think you're right, the purple is somehow involved in this mysterious tree.

Ah now I’m thinking a deciduous Magnolia like another poster suggested!

Those are magnolia buds, I’d stake my hat on it!

It looks a bit like a magnolia in the later pics but not in the first ones. Very strange!

It's a magnolia.

Thank you! I've just googled magnolia. Sounds like getting rid of that sticky out branch towards the fence may kill it off anyone chopped into what appears to be a quite mature magnolia and not do it a mischief?

I think it's a magnolia, those purple buds have decided me. Doesn't help with overall size though OP, they can vary massively. They can be beautiful when they are in bloom..

I've seen a really badly pruned tree that carried on regardless. Pruning can make them look misshapen Burt it shouldn't kill them, unless it's been done badly.

Tried to post a screenshot but I can't, so:
Avoid pruning unless essential. Only prune from midsummer to before midwinter to avoid bleeding from cuts. Many magnolia respond well to hard pruning where necessary but recovery is slow.
For light pruning - if plant flowers before or with new leaves, prune in midsummer. If it flowers after New leaves are produced, prune in spring as new growth begins.

Thank you @pickingdaisies that's really helpful. I think we'll keep it and prune off that wonky stem later in the year in that case. How exciting didn't expect it to be something so pretty

There's a similar one on my dog walk and the flowers are fabulous and long lasting. I'm a bit jealous!

Oh magnolias ar e glorious in the spring.
Bit boring in the summer, but they make up for it in the spring.

Ah that's lovely, I'm looking forward to seeing it in bloom.

Perhaps just get the gardener people to prune off the obviously dead branch (and get them to do it neatly - some of them can be a bit chainsaw-happy).