Improved shrub/tree suggestions

[Isurus]

Since its around the time of year people are buying (and garden centres are selling) bare root trees and shrubs I thought I'd share some of my favourite wildlife trees/shrubs as inspiration. Most of these are selected forms/cultivars of European natives, all are beloved of wildlife and all the pics come from our arboretum. Since many selected forms are selected for superior fruiting it often makes sense to pay a bit more for them (although most are available pretty cheaply). Also these are often long-lived plants (or at least are intended to be) so since you'll be living with it for a while why not get something that offers a bit extra.

This is a sucker on one of our purple filberts/hazels (corylus maxima purpurea). Essentially the same as the normal hazel but purple - it will fruit and at least for us all manner of bugs and beasties eat it. Good for adding a splash of colour to a wildlife hedge.

http://static.flickr.com/136/325450478_e9fb4c69b8.jpg

[Isurus]

Euronymus europaeus "red cascade" - a weeping, massively heavily fruiting form of the european spindle (this individual keeps fruiting so heavily its snapping branches of with us)

http://static.flickr.com/135/325450030_008499d9cc.jpg

I believe this is toxic to some mammals (I'm sure someone will confirm/correct me on this) so may not be suitable for everyone. This illustrates the weeping form.

http://static.flickr.com/144/325463290_9cad055efc.jpg

[Isurus]

Cornus sanguinea midwinter fire. There are a number of nice forms of our native dogwood which I think is a much more attractive and delicate form than the more widely planted Cornus alba-sibirica (the big red one). You can just see the stunning coral stem colour here. The leaves turn butter yellow and those white flowers are followed by berries that something is tucking into.

http://static.flickr.com/138/325448337_fcfcd2d572.jpg

I picked up 3 of these at £3 each from a large garden centre and put them under an english oak which is about 12 years old. They look awesome now.

Seedlings of the species have been an absolute revelation in our long mixed hedge and I see no reason why this wouldn't do just as well next to the filbert above in that uber colourful wildlife hedge your (hopefully now planning)

Stem colour sans leaves:
http://static.flickr.com/144/325492031_b9104f1be2.jpg

[Isurus]

Malus golden hornet - good fruiting yellow crab apple. Birds apparently prefer red (but then when they've eaten everyone elses red ones they might all come to visit you! ;) ).

http://static.flickr.com/142/325447236_ac4c1b9b3a.jpg

But if you must have red, then this one Malus robusta seems to do rather well for us.

http://static.flickr.com/139/325449228_06c3a7ee17.jpg

as you can see it fruits rather heavily......

http://static.flickr.com/138/325449620_5593445e4e.jpg

[Isurus]

Thats it for now but I'll drop in a few more in a while as I continue my attempt to beautify and make wildlife friendly the nation's gardens. Now for a beer.

[Isurus]

A few more for your consideration:
Tilia cordata "winter orange" - bright orange twigged form of our native small leaved lime;
Acer campestre postelense/carnival - two quirky colour vairants of the english field maple;
corylus avellana aurea - a bright yellow leaved hazel, will fruit and do all the other normal hazel things.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

[joannec]

Nice to see your list and nice pictures, Isurus. I have one to add and that is silver birch. I've got two in my garden and there are nearly always birds in it. I read somewhere that it is second only to the oak for having the most number of insect species living in/on it.

Joanne

[Moonshake]

Any suggestions for good wildlife-attracting shrubs or small trees that would be happy in a tub in a shady area?

[Isurus]

I agree Joanne. We have a lot of non-native birches but I think the best native is B. pendula dalicarlica - a slightly weeping form with holly shaped spike edged leaves

Any suggestions for good wildlife-attracting shrubs or small trees that would be happy in a tub in a shady area?

It depends on how shady is shady and how big the tub is but I'd consider something like maybe Viburnum opulus "nottcutt" a heavy fruiting large flowered guelder rose or rhamnus frangula (alder buckthorn - beloved of brimstone butterflies where we are) both of which will take semi shade. The cornus sanguinea cultivar above is another option.

[Moonshake]

Yes, alder buckthorn is a food plant for brimstone caterpillars isn't it? Not a bad idea that. Do like guelder roses too - have actually planted some wild seeds in a pot that I collected this autumn. Have no idea whether they'll be successful or not though. Anyhow, the spot I was thinking of is not a massively shady location, it just doesn't get very much direct sunlight. It's all concrete though, so it's tubs or nothing. Thanks for the suggestions!