Top 5... tiered trees and shrubs
Try these architectural varieties that will make an eye-catching focal point in your garden
1 Aralia elata ‘Aureovariegata’
Slow-growing, spiny-stemmed, sparsely-branched deciduous shrub. Huge, multi-leafleted leaves, each boldly splashed yellow-cream. Sprays of small, white flowers from late summer. Foliage turns pink and red before falling. Expensive, but very impressive. Any moist, well-drained soil in a sunny or semi-shaded, sheltered position.
Tip Remove green basal suckers from grafted plants if they appear. H/S: 4.6m (15ft).
From www.burncoose.co.uk; tel: 01209 860316.
2 Styrax japoniccus ‘Pink Chimes’
Graceful, spreading, deciduous small tree to large shrub. Neat elliptical leaves turn red in autumn. Blush-pink, bell-shaped, mildly fragrant flowers hang below branches from late spring. H: 10m (33ft), S: 8m (26ft). Moist, but well-drained, acid to neutral soil, in a sunny to semi-shaded, sheltered position.
Tip Mix well-rotted organic matter into sandy soils.
From www.larchcottage.co.uk; tel: 01931 712404.
3 Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
Slow-growing classic wedding cake tree, with wide-spreading branches clothed in narrow, white, deciduous, variegated foliage. Flat heads of small, creamy white flowers in May and June, followed by black berries. Red-purple autumn tints. Any moist, well-drained soil in a sheltered, semi-shaded position. Hates drought. H: 4.6m (15ft).
Tip Do not prune, allowing the tiered habit to form naturally.
From www.charellagardens.co.uk; tel: 01386 859004.
4 Trochodendron aralioides
Unusual and distinctive, fairly slow-growing, evergreen shrub, producing whorls of elliptical, apple-green leaves on upright stems. Dense heads of green flowers as new foliage appears in spring. Moist, well-drained. neutral to acid soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 5m (16½ft); S: 3m (10ft).
Tip This is an imposing plant for growing in a large container.
From www.larchcottage.co.uk; tel: 01931 712404.
5 Viburnum plicatum ‘Kilimanjaro’
Upright, narrowly branched, deciduous shrub with oval leaves, which have good autumn colour. Heads of white, lace-cap flowers sit over the branches from late spring. Ideal for narrow borders or where space is limited. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 3m (10ft); S: 1.5m (5ft).
Tip Maintain a strong lead shoot to keep the plant growing upward.
From www.crocus.co.uk; tel: 01344 578111.