Celebration Trees and Other Plants, January - April |
|
Choose a plant for the month of: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | Winter interest |
|
|
For an unusual way to celebrate a special event - wedding, birth, anniversary etc. or even as a memorial, little really beats a tree or shrub planted especially for the event.
To go one step further, choose a plant that does its "thing" at the time of the event. Here's a list of suggested trees, shrubs and climbers that should be looking their best (or the best in the garden at that time in the case of the winter months) for each of the months of the year. Those suggested are chosen also because they are reasonably undemanding and grow to a reasonable size for the average or small garden. Many fine larger trees are available of course, but I am deliberately confining myself to smaller specimens here.
Please bear in mind that the given months are approximate and vary a little between different parts of the country and from year to year depending on the climatic conditions.
This is one of the occasions where it may be an advantage to go plant shopping in precisely the month you want the plant for, so that you can see what it's doing.
|
If you only have room for a single tree, fruit trees are an excellent choice for shape, size, blossom and fruit. more |
T - Tree C - Climber S - Shrub
Little active growth. Features that are most prominent at this time of year are evergreens, and plants grown for their bark coloration. Try winter interest
|
|
|
Large deciduous shrub with fragrant frost-resistant spidery flowers in winter that are yellow or shades of orange depending on variety. Produces brilliant golden yellow autumn foliage as well, which looks good if underplanted with purple autumn crocuses, Colchicum speciosum (only available in late summer and need to planted immediately). Best in full sun, not keen on an exposed site. To 12ft high and wide, 5ft high and wide for Hamemelis x intermedia pallida. |
Chaenomeles - Ornamental or Japanese quince. S
Little active growth. Features that are most prominent at this time of year are evergreens, and plants grown for their bark coloration. winter interest
|
A small weeping willow tree that grows no higher than the graft union, usually at around 5 or 6ft and then falls down from this spreading the same amount. Covered in decorative catkins in February and much safer than the other drain-cracking giants of the Genus. |
|
Ornamental flowering trees (Genus Prunus) are unfussy about soil, but prefer a sunny position. To 30ft by 30ft eventually.
|
||||||
|
Grown for its spring blossom of large white or pink flowers each about 2" (5cm) across. To 25ft x 25ft. |
||||||
|
Evergreen hardy and resilient shrub that produces domed heads about 3-4" across of small tubular fragrant white flowers, to 8ft x 8ft. "Anne Russell" is a named variety that is more compact at about 5ft x 5ft and deciduous. Unfussy about position. |
|
  Large shrub or small tree. Deciduous, leaves open bronze
against which there are masses of small white star shaped flowers. The leaves
turn darker green as the season progresses ending in an autumn show of fiery
reds and oranges. To 30ft x 30ft but easily kept in check and frequently seen in
small gardens. Unfussy about position.
|
|
These can be planted for spring or autumn interest as they have spring blossom that rivals ornamental cherries followed ornamental fruit later in the year. Whether you see this fruit as an advantage or disadvantage depends on your perspective, but I think they are one of the best small trees available for any garden. The flowers are usually single and large and frequently beautifully scented. Recommended; "Golden Hornet", "John Downie", "Red Jade", "Evereste", Malus x robusta "Red Sentinel". To 30ft x 30ft, they don't cast a deep shade and so can easily be underplanted. M. toringo ssp. sargentii is another excellent variety that only grows 12ft tall, spring blossom and then cherry-like scarlet fruits in the autumn. |
|
Masses of blossom in spring and some have good autumn color too. If only planting one tree, I'd go for a Malus (crabapple) instead, but there are those who see the lack of autumn fruit an advantage of the ornamental cherry. Tend to be a bit hardier than Malus - the crab-apples, but rather short lived, 20 or 30 years. Recommended; "Pandora", shell pink flowers, "snowgoose" and "umineko", white flowers. P. sargentii |
|
Choose a plant for the month of: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | Winter interest |
|
