looking for small tree for chalk soil in very sunny position

Discussion in 'Trees' started by crocus, Oct 22, 2018.

  1. crocus

    crocus Gardener

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    hi all you lovely gardeners, i have been looking for a small bare rooted tree for my garden, i have a chalky soil and a sun exposed position. i dont seem to be able to find anything suitable. can you please give me some ideas please. thankyou
     
  2. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Welcome crocus. :) I don't have any experience of gardening on chalk but our friend @JWK does and I hope he will kindly help you with this.
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Hi crocus, I have the same soil/aspect as you. I have Osmanthus x burkwoodii which is lovely, overpowering fragrance in the spring. It's more of a tall shrub than a tree it can get up to 15ft but it can be pruned into shapes or kept smaller. I also have Pittosporum tenuifolium garnettii which has a beautiful pyramid shape and variegated leathery silvery leaves.

      My neighbour has Cherries and Maples which do well, there are a vast choice of these. Cherries look wonderful in the spring and have nice bark.

      Are you wanting colour, flowers fragrance at any particular time of the year. Do you want evergreen?
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Also just remembered I have Smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) these come in different colours - I have purple and green. It is again a large shrub, gets to 8ft or so.

        What size are you wanting?
         
      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

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        Pittosporum Garnettii and Cotinus Grace for me too...also go well together. Cotinus Grace and Royal Purple both cut hard back every year here but still make shrubs over 8' high
        However, eucalyptus gunnii is a stunning tree esp when coppiced or pollarded every year. Then the shrub produces powder blue foliage. :)
        Why bare rooted crocus? Neither pittosporum nor eucalyptus like that. :noidea:
         
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          Last edited: Oct 23, 2018
        • crocus

          crocus Gardener

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        • crocus

          crocus Gardener

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          thankyou for reply sheal
           
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          • crocus

            crocus Gardener

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            thankyou for reply i will take a look at your suggestions. not bothered about having a ever green as its nice to see the skeleton of the tree in winter, flowers or fragrance or colour not fussed about that either, the most important thing is i want a small tree as i have alot of shrubs. i cannot have anything much taller than 15ft as the neighbour next door will complain, despite the fact he has conifers which are well over 20 feet plus. i like the look of maples and cherries but i need to find ones that wont grow bigger than about 15ft
             
          • crocus

            crocus Gardener

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            i had a smoke bush in my last house which had a chalky soil and it grew very well, and i loved it, if i cannot find a suitable small tree i may get another one of those but i already have alot of shrubs which i have to pay someone to prune, although a smoke bush would probally be easier enough for me to prune if i keep a eye on it thankyou john
             
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            • crocus

              crocus Gardener

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              thanks for infomation, i thought that because i will have to buy my tree on line and i cannot move large pots about when they are delivered it would be the best solution, maybe i need to rethink
               
            • Mike77

              Mike77 Gardener

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              • Ned

                Ned Evaporated

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                • kindredspirit

                  kindredspirit Gardening around a big Puddle. :)

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                  Cercis canadensis. "Forest Pansy" does well on chalk.
                   
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                  • Ned

                    Ned Evaporated

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                    Good morning @crocus. Just been thinking, we forgot to mention the Amelanchia. This is a small tree with year round interest..... and more than one variety. They might be worth considering - grows very well here on chalk :)
                     
                  • crocus

                    crocus Gardener

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                    thankyou will have a look
                     
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