Help choosing a tree

[MamaMiaOhDear]

We're currently looking at some ideas for landscaping our garden (new home, very basic plain garden currently).

We have one small apple tree at the moment and would really love to plant another tree in the back corner of our garden for a little privacy and to begin helping our garden mature.

I think I've whittled it down to either a Magnolia Grandiflora or a Strawberry Tree - I'm hoping some of you in this topic can help me decide which to go for!

Any thoughts?

Wot about a hypehensis November pink. They won’t get massive, nice blossom in spring with green leaves but in October/ November have bluey reddy leaves with pink berries turning white over December/ January. So lots of seasonal interest for your money!
or a multi stemmed silver birch. White stems in winter, so look good all year round

Personally I love camellias. They are slow growing, but ever green, and the flowers are beautiful.

I love magnolias but they take a long time to mature and can grow very tall so I'd buy a different variety if you go for one of them. They are beautiful and worth the wait. www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/plants-we-love/magnolias-for-small-gardens

Thank you all for the ideas! I'm going to check them out they sound beautiful

What height / width / growth habit / other features are you looking for?

I've recently planted a couple of trees in my garden which I love - malus (crab apple) Evereste and Amelanchier lamarckii. Both chosen as they're small-ish trees that have great year round interest - spring blossom, summer foliage, fruits, autumn colour. I love them both.

I love magnolias but the flowers are short lived (so so beautiful for that short period though... worth the wait)

@MunsteadWood we actually have a crab apple tree too! I'm really excited to see it grow. Its currently around 8ft but still very young in terms of its branches etc.

We're looking for something that will grow maybe 5 metres high, with a compact spread perhaps around 3 metres? I'd like an evergreen of some sort as it's primary aim is for privacy as we have another house backing onto ours.

Sorry I should add that the variety of Magnolia we are considering is the Grandiflora Little Gem

If privacy is the main issue, would a pleached tree suit you? Pleached hornbeam or beech are keep their leaves in winter, so year round privacy and some autumns/winter colour. They take up less space too if that's an issue.

Could is also make a vote for pieris japonica? Not sure which one we inherited with the house, but it's 3-4m tall, evergreen, compact and has stunning flowers at this time of year

I was going to say "We're looking for something that will grow maybe 5 metres high, with a compact spread perhaps around 3 metres?" doesn't describe Magnolia grandiflora, but is Little Gem a smaller version?

Yes! ☺ from what I've read up online it's essentially a baby version of the grandiflora. Well I hope so anyway 🤣

@helly29 the pieris japonica looks beautiful 😍