On 2009-10-16 19:00:28 +0100, "someone" said:


"Chris J Dixon" wrote in message
...
Whilst at Grand Designs Live, I heard a talk by James
Alexander-Sinclair, who I have to say was a most engaging and
informative speaker.

He encouraged us not to keep plants simply because they have been
there for a long time, saying that he often finds an overgrown
forsythia in a corner of a garden, boring for most of the year,
and constantly in need of cutting back.

This prompted me to think about replacements for mine. I have
room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide
the greatest amount of year-round interest?


Clerodendrum (or Clerodendron) trichotomum - frost hardy small tree or
shrub. Can be seen growing in the garden of the Hop Pole, Limpley Stoke,
near Bath. A very beautiful tree.

s.

We have one here in our garden, a very mature one. It is indeed a most
lovely thing which, IMO, should be planted much more widely. But it
appears stone dead for most of the year, coming into flower in late
summer. This is not a tree for all year round interest, unfortunately
and certainly not in a prominent place in a smallish space, IMO.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon