New year, new garden tweak

Thanks again @Plantminded

That is very tempting because I love some Sorbus, and my other one has been fantastic. I actually considered getting another Sorbus "Apricot Queen" and positioning it so that it mirrors the other. But I think that a tree with different foliage, that would create a bit of contrast, would be better.

I do like the idea of the Portuguese Laurel. If you are not buying small hedging plants, they can be quite pricey based on a look online, especially when you factor in delivery (most are saying £80+ just for the delivery). I will have to go round the garden centres in my area when I am back in the UK and see what I can find.

I am still not opposed to the idea of the Amelanchier, as a backup option. It won't be as good for privacy as an evergreen option of course, but the multistem structure is still better than nothing, even without leaves, and as a tree it is a little better for wildlife than Portuguese Laurel. If I go for that one, I can rely on evergreen climbers along the fence a bit more. I already have a baby Star Jasmine and I am not opposed to adding a Honeysuckle Henryi.

 

I think Amelanchier is a good choice. I have an Amelanchier Canadensis and I love it. Pretty flowers, lovely young foliage, edible berries and good autumn colours. A good tree for a small garden. Not too dense for other plants to grow under.

You could plant another Sorbus with different coloured berries, as @Plantminded suggested, where the Amelanchier was.

 

If its any help to you I've seen Griselinia well over 12 ft tall I am sure it were a variegated variety, I'll be able to confirm if it were variegated are not soon.

What about a common Myrtle ? They are not suppose to be the hardiest plants but they is another species I tend to Chilean myrtle - Luma Apiculata - where its is it shouldn't be there by the book ( 800ft+ up extremely exposed ) but its happy with beautiful bark and evergreen .

Another evergreen shrub / small tree which should be a bit hardier with variegated foliage Rhamus Argenteovarigata . I wouldn't mind one myself.

They are some small Eucalyptus species now they may be worth a look.
Mahonia ? Some get quite tall

 

@Perki I think I had that rhamnus alaternus argentovariegata in my previous garden. To my recollection it was not a very tall shrub but pretty foliage.

 

I like the look of that Chilean myrtle @Perki, have you grown it where you are? I grow both the plain green and variegated Griselinia here, either as hedging or clipped specimen plants although they can make good trees. They are comparatively fast growing too but not much wildlife appeal as the flowers are insignificant and don't last for long. The variegated Griselinia is slower growing but good to light up shady spaces.

 

Thank you @Perki You have made some really interesting suggestions, some of which I hadn't come across during my online search. I love the Luma Apiculata. While the max size is too big for my garden, apparently it can be kept small. Based on a quick look, I don't see many options for a reasonably sized specimen. If I do find one, it can be a contender instead of the Portuguese Laurel, which is currently in the lead

Speaking of which, I have found a couple of options online I am considering - though I will also have a look around garden centres. One is £68 including delivery at Ornamental Trees (after applying a discount code) for a 150-200 cm tree which doesn't look very bushy in the photo. Another is £130 from Hedges Direct (including £50 for delivery) for a much bushier 200-225 cm 7 year old rootball plant.

 

I Don't have the luma in my garden it's in another on the opposite hill. It's crown lifted to show off its cinamon bark and trimmed like a umbrella to keep the size down, flowering takes a hit doing this though.

I were just going off the advertise size on the rhamas @CarolineL. 16ft last time I looked ethier on burncoose or bluebell arboretum both sites worth a look @CostasK

I am having a bit of a move around with my own small trees, unfortunately my acer winter flame is showing signs of a bacteria disease psdemonas sygrinia ( something like that) so I'll be potting that up and to try and control the conditions better, I'll be planting a ekianthus in its place probably and train that as a tree. Also bring my parrotia persian spire from the front garden into the back, it's a great around small tree foliage is excellent , I am planting a cercis eternal flame in its place.

 

Oh yes @Perki I also rate bluebell arboretum. I visited them in Ashby and it's pretty cold there, so they'll have hardy stuff. @CostasK you're "up north" so I assume you'll have to choose hardier stuff?
Burncoose are a bit optimistic about hardiness because of where they are

 

Thanks for the information @CarolineL

I am up North, so that's true for the most part regarding the cold! I am in a seaside town, so temperatures are a bit milder (but the winds aren't). I don't really recall temperatures dropping below - 7C, so H4 should be OK, but the fact that Portuguese Laurel is hardy to H5 would give me that extra bit of reassurance that I wouldn't have to try to protect a tree during a particularly bad Winter.