Pride of place

So, size really does matter; get it wrong and you could rue the decision for the rest of your life. Get it right, and you’ll be a happy man – or woman.

Plant Crataegus laevigata “Paul’s Scarlet” and you’ll get beautiful red flowers in May and a tree that should eventually top out at just 26ft in height. That’s still a fair size, but as long as you don’t position it a few feet from the front window, things should be fine.

The same applies to other flowering trees such as Genista aetnensis whose yellow flowers light up July. Once again, it should grow to no more than 26ft in height.

But if even that is just too high and mighty, then Malus baccata “Lady Northcliffe” with pinkish-white flowers in May and yellow/brown crab apples in autumn, is yet more accommodating, normally growing to just 20ft tall.

For autumn colour on a grand scale but from “small” trees, consider Amelanchier grandiflora “Ballerina” which has white flowers and stunning red fruits and leaves in autumn. It’s at its happiest in a neutral to acid soil and will do well to reach 20ft in height.

Want a tree with coloured foliage in spring and summer? No problem... Acer negundo “Auratum” has golden leaves, turning paler in summer as it grows its way to 26ft.

And the gorgeous weeping ornamental pear, Pyrus salicifolia “Pendula”, produces silver leaves on its way to a heady 16ft.

Autumn foliage is equally important, which is where Acer japonicum “Aconitifolium” with deeply-lobed leaves, turning ruby-crimson in autumn, can make an impact. It grows to a moderate 16ft or so.

Crataegus persimilis “Prunifolia”, a hawthorn with crimson fruits and good foliage colour, is another “small” tree (26ft) while Sorbus vilmorinii (pink-to-white fruits and autumn colour) is just as attractive but a good 10ft less in height.

And “small” evergreens to consider are Arbutus unedo (26ft), and Cotoneaster salicifolius “Rothschildianus”, which is really a semi-evergreen, but which is worthwhile growing for its yellow berries. Again, it applies the brakes at 15 or 16ft.