Viewing post #2237748 by Arico

jathton said:Before I posted any recommendations I wanted to know what kind of climate you live in. Judging from Google's info I gather it doesn't get obscenely hot or cold in Bilzen and that you have almost regularly scheduled rainfall throughout the year. If your soil doesn't stay wet year-round... if it drains well after the rain... you seem to be in a position to grow quite a few trees that will meet, but not exceed, the mature sizes you are looking for.

Frillylily made an excellent suggestion when she mentioned Amur Maple. This is a beautiful tree. Matures around 20 feet with a crown that is wider than tall. Good, green tri-lobed leaves in spring and summer... turning fiery red in fall. Branches fairly close to the ground... thus assuming a multi-trunk look. Creamy white flowers in April and May... followed by bright red samaras [seedpods] later in summer. Smooth gray bark. Visually and horticulturally this is an excellent small tree.





You might also consider flowering crabapples... particularly a species named Sargent's Crabapple [Malus sargentii.] This small tree usually will not exceed 8-12 feet in height... but it's crown can spread to 15-18 feet. It has a decidedly oriental, windswept look that is very attractive. Bright pink flower buds are followed by snow white flowers... in turn followed by dark red 1/2 inch fruit that stays on the tree to be consumed by birds in fall. Good yellow fall color.




Other crabapples worthy of consideration are:
'Prairifire'': red-budded with dark pinkish red flowers. Highly resistant to disease. Grows 20 feet high and wide.



'Weeping Candied Apple': Red buds and white flowers. Persistent [stays on tree] cherry-red fruit. Broad, pendulous branches. Grows 10-15 feet.



This last one is a tree I have only seen in pictures... but I have wanted one every time I've seen those pictures… one in particular stands out.
Michael Dirr, in Dirr's Hardy Trees & Shrubs, explains why: "…over most of the United States the flowering performance of this hybrid species does not measure up to that of specimens growing in cooler, more even climates, like that of England, where there is greater bud set and flowering."

Because you live in a climate that sounds conducive to this tree's success I want you to see what Rosemary Verey did with this tree at her home. She created a walkway over which she created a pergola… on which she planted lots of these trees. The last picture is a poor copy of one in a book… you should look up "Laburnum Walk" on Google and tap images to see better photos of this walk.




I'll stop here. I have a few more ideas if you're interested

Thank you for all that troubles you've went through.

I live in a temperate oceanic climate (zone 8a) indeed with regular rainfall throughout the year, although the past few have been less stable and more extreme on both ends: last summer was hot and dry for weeks putting groundwater levels at critical. This past winter has been wet with 6 weeks of non-stop rain for the end of Januari and whole of February. April has been extremely warm - regularly above 20°C - and practically no rain; now it's the middle of May and we've had a few nights with frost which is unusual though not impossible, but still unwelcome (my beans fried )

Anyway, I'm very particular about what I do and don't like.

Don't: exaggerated, over the top flowering like Malus, Morus, Pyrus, Prunus, Crataeus, Viburnum etc so that rules out alot of possibilities Als don't like big flowers like Magnolia or Liriodendron.
No evergreens and conifers either

Do: subtle/inconspicuous flowering and deciduousness: Fagus, Quercus, Betula, Acer, Ostrya, Carpinus, Ostryopsis, Alnus...

We'll see