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Looking for a small tree.

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  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Slinky said:
    What about laurel
    That's what's growing to the right of the buddleia, as pictured, and it might be a Portuguese laurel on the other side. Of the two, I'd go for the latter, which is slightly more refined IMO and still quite quick growing. I have some taller than me (not hard!) which have only been in 3 years or so.
    Bay is also nice and has the advantage of going in spaghetti bolognese but may not be quick enough. Definitely don't muddle it up with cyanide-forming laurel, or you may not live to regret it!


  • Thanks again everyone.
    Bay is interesting and we'd overlooked it - will check that out.
    As it happens, we have, tho', pretty much decided on Portuguese Laurel - good call, Dave.
    I'm hoping it'll form a decent looking individual 'specimen' tree? Can it be shaped pretty much as you want - ie with a trunk and branches like a 'proper' tree?
    For another - less visual - area, so largely just screening needed, we are going to put a conifer, so was thinking the Castlewellan Gold for a change in leaf colour. Again, it would just be a single tree, so can this, too, be turned into a 'normal' tree?
    Cheers.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
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    Have you thought about holly?  You do get prickly shed leaves though.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,497 Forumite
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    Just dawned on me that there was a tree that would be perfect at Greencombe Gardens.
    It was a blue green and is covered in white flowers at this time of year. Can't remember for the life of me what it was called but it was an American sounding name.
    Maybe Dogwood - oh they are deciduous :(

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  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As it happens, we have, tho', pretty much decided on Portuguese Laurel - good call, Dave.
    I'm hoping it'll form a decent looking individual 'specimen' tree? Can it be shaped pretty much as you want - ie with a trunk and branches like a 'proper' tree?
    You can buy one with a trunk but it will be more expensive than a bush.

  • Can't abide Holly, I'm afraid Theo :smile:
    Ooh, they're nice, 2'penny - but, yes, decid :-(  
    Could you explain further, Moji? Can't they just be 'turned' into a tree shape by removing the lower branches? We'd be looking to get a ~6' tall example - can't this be trained into the shape we are after?
    Thanks folks.


  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
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    edited 1 July 2021 at 5:34AM
    twopenny said:
    Just dawned on me that there was a tree that would be perfect at Greencombe Gardens.
    It was a blue green and is covered in white flowers at this time of year. Can't remember for the life of me what it was called but it was an American sounding name.
    Maybe Dogwood - oh they are deciduous :(
    There is Carpentaria californica which fits that description, but it doesn't get large enough and we're drifting into esoteric territory there!
    Pittosporum have done well for me, though they might not like colder locations. Other than disliking extreme cold, and cold winds in particular, they have no special needs and few vices.

  • Jeepers_Creepers
    Jeepers_Creepers Posts: 4,339 Forumite
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    That's nice, Dave, and is definitely worth a look. Some of the photos show it to be tree-like too.
    Slightly slower growing, but still 'fast' in relative terms.

    Cheers.
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,497 Forumite
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    Pitisporum (spelling!) is a good idea. Easy care. The varigted one is grey green with touches of cream.
    Mine grew like topsy multi stemmed but the black stems against the pale leaves was good.
    Bush plants are grown for pots as ver multi stemmed to make an impact for sale. It's a real problem I've been facing. Better to go to a nursery where they will have small trees for sale.
    If you can get bare root this autumn it will grow quicker.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


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