Dave Poole writes
Though I'm normally a bit dismissive of cherries because they
invariably outgrow their welcome in smaller gardens, I must put in a
word for the Tibetan cherry - Prunus serrula. It is a magnificent,
modest sized tree, eventually getting to around 30 feet after very
many years, but with very light, airy foliage so it never develops
that ponderous bulkiness of many cherries. It starts the season with
drooping clusters of 1" wide, pure white flowers that give way to
small, bright red cherries in late summer. These are much loved by
the birds so their appearance is fleeting.

Later, the foliage turns a wonderful shade of orange yellow, but the
best is reserved for winter once the leaves have fallen. Then you
are treated to one of the finest barks possessed of any hardy tree.
Rich, glossy, warm mahogany that demands a stroke whenever you pass
and which glows in the low winter light. Utterly fabulous and each
year it gets better and better. Easy to grow, never an embarrassment
and relatively disease free, what more could you want?

Well maybe a bit less lichen on the bark? I have a Tibetan cherry near
the kitchen window, but its bark is almost covered with grey lichen, so
the shiny mahogany bark isn't as visible as I'd like. I normally wash
down the silver birch - actually himalayan (Jacmontii??) - so they have
really white bark, and it looks very good. But I haven't done the
Tibetan cherry as its an older tree and the bark already looks pretty
rough.
--
David