On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:24:11 +0100
echinosum wrote:

Chris J Dixon;866981 Wrote:
I have
room for a small tree, but wonder what is considered to provide
the greatest amount of year-round interest?

I strongly recommend a Cornus kousa of some kind. Has showy "flowers"
in late spring, then showy berries in late summer (which are actually
delicious to eat) and good autumn colour. Though nothing special in
mid-winter.


A great suggestion, even just the species is a fine small tree. The flowers
are really long lasting, great autumn colour, makes a fine shape in winter.

I'm fond of my snake-bark maple. I think the bog-standard Acer davidii
are not the best. I have Acer (grosseri var.) hersii (sometimes
considered a subspecies of Acer davidii). Hers's Maple, which does what
the previous poster says, and has showier snake markings than some. But
they do fade a bit in the winter. Acer pensylvanicum is another one
with very showy stripes. Other bark-trees that can be considered
include the paper-bark maple acer griseum, and many showier birches,
though some of those can get a bit big. Unfortunately Arbutus x
andrachnoides gets very big.


Acer davidii and A. davidii ssp. grosseri (currently accepted for Hers'
Maple, var hersii having been merged in with ssp. grosseri generally)
get pretty big, to 15 or 10 meters respectively, so that might surpass
what the OP considers "small."

A. pensylvanicum is a bit difficult to grow in our climate because it likes a hot
summer to ripen the wood, which otherwise is very susceptible to
dieback in spring frosts. 'Erythrocladum' has fantastic red and white striped
bark in winter but is notoriously difficult to grow. (A similar but easier
plant is A x conspicuum 'Phoenix.') Also for some reason deer and
hare really appreciate pensylvanicum shoots, it's always attacked first...

One of the best snakebark maples is Acer x conspicuum 'Silver Vein' which
has extremely good silver and green markings, pretty umbels of flowers, and
a very nice form. Also some of the more obscure ones like A. micranthum
and A. pectinatum ssp. forrestii (formerly A. forrestii) are lovely smaller
trees with fine brilliant red fall colour and beautifully striped bark.

Another snakebark that is very easy and full of interest is the variegated
A. rufinerve 'Albolimbatum,' a fast grower with good orange fall colour and
very good striping.

A. griseum is a wonderful tree, fantastic in winter, spring (bronze new foliage)
and fall but a bit matte in summer. A very slow grower too, of course.

I find my amelanchiers a bit disappointing. Flowers for 10 minutes,
berries not so wonderful unless you choose the variety carefully, and
does need a moist non-alkaline soil to grow well.

Agree completely, gorgeous but don't look away... I almost appreciate
the new foliage more than the flowers since the color lasts longer!

-E

--
Emery Davis
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