Help choosing a tree
glasgowdan
Posts: 632
in Plants
I'm looking for an evergreen to help with screening and add to the feeling of a lovely soft lush back garden. I'm hoping for something that's not too wide at the base, or can be grown with a bare trunk, evergreen, growing to 8-10m or so. Can anyone think of something attractive that fits the bill? It'll be between an ornamental plum and a Pyrus Chanticleer hence I do want it to hold it's cover through winter.
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It's native to the British Isles so hardy, evergreen and there's one that makes a natural column - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95998/Taxus-baccata-Fastigiata-(f)/Details There's a golden form too if you want a lighter green.
Taxus respond well to pruning so you could shape it as you see fit and remove lower branches later on as needed once it's established and growing well.
Azara Microphylla is another tree if the garden is reasonably sheltered. It doesn't form a heavy dark canopy. In the winter time, small yellow vanilla scented flowers fill the tree. A lovely elegant tree that can be controlled and prune from early on to create the shape you want. Ideal for small spaces.
I am leaning towards either a 2.5m tree Photinia red robin, or a 12-14cm girth ligustrum japonicum aureum, both which I can get around £120-ish. Both flower well.
I do like the idea of a conifer with sweeping low branches the more I think about it though! Granted, that would take up a bit of garden space in an area the kids like to run around.