The Perfect Plant
Dear Andrew,
I am looking for a small feature tree for the front of my garden. I want it to have winter interest if possible, as the rest of the planting is very spring and summer orientated. What would you suggest?
From Julie (Hurstpierpoint).
Dear Julie,
There are a number of small feature trees that can hold their own in winter. A popular choice is Sorbus ‘Red Admiral’. This is a crabapple where the small red fruits stay on the branches all through the winter. It dazzles even on a drab winter’s day. If you want a really stunning look, you could go for a Prunus serrula (Tibetan Cherry). The bark is a magical silky scarlet colour and in the photo below it is planted with a yellow stemmed Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera). The branches are a bright yellow and lie perfectly at the base of the cherry with their fiery hues. Make sure there is plenty of good drainage.
Andrew.
