A small tree/bush for my mum

MickKnipfler

Having recently lost my mum, we are going to build a pergola at the bottom of the garden and want to plant a tree/bush next to it. We want to scatter her ashes around it so that it becomes her tree. The requirements are:

1. Not too large, say 15' high max, 5' width
2. Can be kept smaller for smaller gardens
3. Easily propogated (so my brother and sister can take cuttings)
4. We would like it to be possible to keep it in a large pot (this isn't essential)
5. Attractive

Has anybody got any suggestions? I'm not an expert but was considering something like buddelia or syringia (spelling?......lilac anyway!).

devmcc

Hi there
What a thoughtful idea..
My Aunt has a beautiful white lilac tree in her garden - it is 5 years old and is about 10foot tall.. It is really wonderful throughout April to late Autumn.. smells divine.. and it is very easy to proprgate - I have a small one growing from a twig I pinched last year!!
Not sure if it would do well in a pot but someone on here will advise...
Good luck with your search - I am sure whatever you choose will be just right.. take care..

Leopardlady

I have just been given a twig from a small magnolia (stella star), it is sprouting nicely and is designed to stay small and live in a pot. it has small star shaped white flowers and should look fabulous when it has grown a little!

Just another idea, also Japanese Maples are colourful and can be kept small in pots, great red coloured leaves.

It is a lovely idea and i hope you find the perfect tree.

snails's_pace

when we lost our nana, my mum named a rose after her....all the family got a cutting and its now grown into the most lovely rose bush, you also get a certificate

MickKnipfler

Thanks. A few ideas....

MickKnipfler

As it's to go by a pergola, I'm also wondering about a wisteria as I know you can grow them as a standard in a pot. Can you layer them?

paddy's_mum

If I am not being intrusive here, what was your Mum's christian name and her date of birth. Did she have a favourite cut flower or particular garden plant that always pleased her?

I would hope to come up with some ideas for you. My condolences on your loss and I think your pergola idea is a lovely one.

System

Buddelia NO!, although it was once favoured because it attracted butterflies, it is now almost a weed as it grows out of every crevice.

Lilac NO! we moved into our current house three yrs ago and lilac is rampant and it has spread by suckers covering several gardens. Plus, as scented as the flowers are, they last only a short time.

Magnolia is nice, but depending on the variety, if it has large petals, they bruise easily and the flower looks very sad.

Wisteria! the word rampant comes to mind. A house four doors away is covered with it. My son planted one on his house and its a nightmare.

Clematis!, I could take you to a house where the front is covered and every year, it spreads along the telephone cable half way across the road.

So what are we left with. A couple of MY suggestions. No-one can deny the the humble forsythia looks great early in the year. It is unaffected by frost/drought/ insect of any description and once it has flowered and given a month to establish growth, it can be trimmed/shaped to suit you. It bears no thorns or staining pollen and attracts no bees to sting.

Alternatively, ignore what I've written and do a search for shrubs that flower in the month your late mother would have had a birthday, so each year on what would have been her birthday, she has flowers from you.

Whatever you decide, let us know.

janiebaby29

i lost my dad 2 weeks ago , and my best friend bought a cherry tree as they are all in blossom now , its a compact one that grows to 8 ft and bears fruit and is self fertile .
ive put it at the bottom of the garden so i can see it , and it has a butterfly charm on it .