Please recommend a tree

[Mossball]

I have am looking for a tree that I buy now that will already be at least 150cm-2m height or even taller without costing £££ and is relatively quick growing but won't grow too big. I wanted a hawthorn but have found out they can affect houses foundations. It needs to be tough because the garden is at the top of a hill so it gets windy and cold. Any suggestions?

Morning, where in the country are you, where is the tree going, border,lawn, aspect NSEW, type of soil?

How big is too big? Would you consider pleached so it’s pretty much a fixed size? Variegated holly grows pretty slowly but isn’t cheap.

I live in an exposed site, with extreme windspeeds, but have found that most trees are much more robust than I originally thought. My garden isn’t that high though (200 meters) and close to the sea, so cold is less of an issue.

Amelanchier sounds like it could work for you? I paid £35 for a 2 meter one a few years ago. It was pretty wispy, but has grown fast. It’s fully hardy too.

Other trees that do well in my garden are fruit trees, ornamental cherry and holly, but the last one is a slow grower, so not what you’re after.

Crab apple is tough and comes in a variety of sizes depending on the variety.

Some of the cotoneaster varieties would be the right size - Cotoneaster Cornubia or Coral beauty. Or Cotoneaster lacteus. They would have a similar look to hawthorn.

As a cheap option - If you bought a taller variety of buddleia and pruned and restricted it to a single stem, it would grow to be tree-like with a single trunk which would thicken and it’s very robust.

Rowan. There are several interesting varieties, Pink Pagoda is especially gorgeous, but won’t be as cheap as a bog standard one.

A rowan or a hazel would be my picks - native varieties, good for wildlife, hardy, don't get too big so stay manageable.

Rowan for me. I've got a Joseph Sorbus Rock that has kept in size and is lovely in spring summer and autumn.

We've got an amelanchier that I like - but I'm not in love with - bought it as it was so often recommended as a small tree. It's only been in a year though so I should probably give it a bit longer even though it was a decent size when I bought it.

I've got a acer sango kaku in a sheltered bit of the garden that is gorgeous beautiful red stems and limey leaves.

Also can't you get smaller type hawthorns that wouldn't harm foundations? laevigata 'Punicea' AGM (syn. 'Crimson Cloud'):

And I've also got a red sentinel crab apple doing really well in an exposed position.

I'm about to put in a Cherry Monarch for the blossom and in the hope of getting some eating cherries.