Kitchen Garden Forum

Can anyone help with this please? My boss wants a tree that will fit with the following specifications:

Small, town, walled garden.
Tree to be planted 28 feet from the house.
Not an evergreen.
No berries or fruit.
Must look nice in autumn (very important)
Needs to provide a screen to hide houses/factory.
Max height to be 15-20 feet.

He's horticulturally challenged and just wants to be given the name of a couple of sorts of tree that he can find a picture of on Google.

Ideas anyone?

Dear Chantal, i was thinking about one of the smaller Liquidambars, some of the smaller ones still grow to about 25 to 30 feet but take many years to get there.
Apart from the height, i think it ticks most of the boxes.

What about an Acer palmatum (Japanese maple)? I think that, too, would fulfill the requirements, particularly the autumn colour. There are lots of different varieties which vary slightly in height and spread. The only thing they don't like is a very draughty or exposed spot.

Euonymous give great Autumn colour and a pretty solid screen for the rest of the year. They do eventually start bearing fruit - what is the objection to that by the way?

Thanks guys, I knew you'd be able to help.

I've never heard of a Liquidambar OH, I'll have to look that one up. I'd already thought of an Acer but confirmation is good.

The objection to fruit is that there is already an apple tree (in a very small garden) and no wish for anything else that needs clearing off the beds and lawn. He admits it's laziness but as I said, horticulturally challenged.

Chantal
Having met your boss i would suggest he is more than just horticulturally challenged
Seedling

Dear Chantal, i think Liquidambar is such a silly name for a tree, but there you go.

no argument there.

Having given Richard the link to this page he has a reply for Seedling

"Thanks for that, but he has no need to come on here to be insulted, he can get that at home"

Thanks also for the suggestions.

Apparently he's enquired about Acers and been told they are incredibly difficult to grow I agree that in pots they can be a problem in very hot or very cold weather, but I've seen plenty around the place growing as trees and growing very well. Any comments?

Maybe he could move, is that the sort of comment you were after.

Prunus Serrula?
Not evergreen.
Not too huge.
It will look good (beautiful bark) not only in Autumn but right through the winter (and rest of year)
28 feet should be far enough away from the buildings.
I don't think they fruit???? If they do I imagine the birds would take it.

Thanks OH, as helpful as ever

Thanks for the other suggestion GS, I'll get him to take a look.

Thought a piccie might help. Of the bark. Its one of my favourites.

Hi Chantal

This from BBc is a useful tool for search/ideas. You can specify your requirements.

Chantal, coming back to the acers: one of my daughters has four different acers in her garden which is not in an ideal situation and she is not really a gardener, but they look marvellous in their autumn colour every year. I must admit, I have never grown one myself!