On 05/28/2011 10:05 AM, kay wrote:
Something like Sorbus Joseph Rock will grow tall but not too wide, and I
have a pink berried Sorbus which is still tiny after 10 years. And there
are small cherries too, not just the ubiquitous Amanagawa.


How tall to you reckon it will get, Kay? I've got a young one and I'm a
little concerned about some electrical wires. It's 2 years in the
ground, and growing like gangbusters. Could probably just about move it
next winter, still.

Red Jade is a weeping crab - mine is 2m after 15 years. But totally
wrong for here - what it lacks in height it makes up in width. Also,
while it's stunning in blossom, the crabs are about pea sized.


Agree totally, the crabs are very disappointing, but stunning in blossom
and a bit earlier that the other crabs.

For winter interest one could look at a snake bark maple or Prunus
serrula - both on the basis that they might need to be removed later on.


You might try Acer x conspicuum 'Silver Vein.' It stays quite small,
grows slowly, has just about the best bark of all the snakebarks (which
is saying something), and is very showy with shiny new leaves, red
petioles, long fronds of samaras, pretty yellow orange fall colour.
Pretty much a great 4 season tree, ideal for a small garden.

-E