Your Favourite Tree ?

Sive · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject: Your Favourite Tree ?

If you were about to plant a "feature" tree, what would you plant ?? I'm not restricted by space, and would love some ideas.
I had planted a larch....a tree I adore, but it was struggling, as if some disease was affecting it ( is there one ? ) and I've taken the decision to move it and plant something else.
I have an open mind....evergreen or deciduous, but it must be pleasing to the eye in its form. And no pink cherry-blossom type ideas please...I'm in open countryside, so I need a tree that looks at home here.....and the soil is more or less neutral.

Greengage · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject:

If I could only plant one tree and space was not a problem I would choose Liquidambar styraciflua
Interesting leaf and excellent autumn color,
Ok if i had a second choice Liriodendron tulipifera, unusual flowers interesting leaf.
Can I have a third choice paulownia tomentosa
and finally Davidia involucrata. I'll stop there. oh to have space for these.

Sive · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject:

Thank you Greengage, I've made a list of those and will start to research them. There's nothing like planting a tree to remind me of how little time ( in tree terms ) we golden oldies have left on earth !

Susie D · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject:

Just one tree - gosh where do you start? I agree with greengage, especially about the Liquidambar, a beautiful tree. But I note you said you were in open country. Perhaps a native Rowan or another variety of Sorbus aucuparia, tough as old boots, blossom, (small, hardy flowers not soggy confetti!) berries and autumn colour. Or a Birch, Betula utilis 'Jacquemontii', quite fast-growing, lovely bark and a nice outline in winter.

michael brenock · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:16 pm Post subject:

my favourite is The Judas Tree Cercis seliquistrum
michael brenock horticultural advisor(retired)

kindredspirit · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 6:28 am Post subject:

Evergreen: Drimys Lanceolata.

Deciduous: Weeping Willow.

Gautama · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:31 am Post subject:

Evergreen: Pinus sylvestris

Deciduous: Crataegus monogyna

polly · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject:

CERCIDIPHYLLUM JAPONICUM....beautiful leaves, and autumn colour.
PARROTIA PERSICA....again leaves and colour.

Sive · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject:

Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions.......I'm having great fun researching all these trees and am already thinking of other spots in the garden that could take an eye-catching specimen or two.

kindredspirit · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:28 pm Post subject:

Be careful, Sive, or you'll end up with an Arboretum! Wink

walltoall · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:35 am Post subject: favourite tree for Sive.

I have ash, hawthorn, eucalyptus, victoria plum, mulberry, turkey fig, yew, cypress, potugeuse laurel, cordyline and a silver birch and the birch wins hands down for multiple reasons.. not least what light does to it and it does to light as i think can be seen in the photo.

katana · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:00 pm Post subject:

I love oak trees.I have about four really huge old ones in the garden.They are easily fifty+ feet tall and nearly same circumference.
In evergreens its also oaks --I have Holm (or Holly) oaks that I planted when they were a foot tall(about 6 years ago) and now are reaching fifteen feet.
I love all the trees in my garden but oaks are my favourite.

Sive · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:06 pm Post subject:

I agree with you Katana, it is hard to better an oak tree...I already have planted several and they are already fine strong young trees.....after only four years. I even have three I grew from acorns !

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject:

Hi Sive,

My favourite trees are very ordinary and can be found everywhere, Silver Birch, White Beam and the Copper Beech.

When I was working with our local Residents Association, I got a gift of 12 Acers with different foliage and planted them in a grass verge in a row and it is a lovely sight to turn a corner and see the different colours.

We planted over 180 Silver Birch Trees around our little estate and they are all very well established, and they make a great rustling sound when there is a breeze.

I would love to have the space to grow lots of different specimen trees.

tippben · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject:

Hello! There is indeed a disease infecting Larches; Phytopthera ramorum. It attacks the root system. My best friend is busily clearfelling entire plantations of Larch in Wales to try to control the spread of the spores.

If I were to plant one tree as a "specimen/feature" tree, I'd go for Morus nigra. Not too many around, but they are very long lived, and there is the promise of mulberry clafoutis in the summer.

If I was more interested in flowers, or autumn colour, I'd grow Cercis siliquatrum, Liriodendron tulipfera, and Quercus coccinea.