Megan Strydom

Common Name: Norway Maple Tree Latin Name: Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’ Characteristics: A perfect tree type for small to medium sized gardens. The ‘Crimson Sentry’ holds its colours of changing from dark-red to purple right through the year. Flowering: Yellow flowers with a red tinge on bare branches in Spring Height and Spread in 20 years: 12m / 5m. Broadly columnar Hardiness and Best Position: Completely hardy Soil: Dry or damp soil. Prepared free of weeds and grasses. The Crimson Sentry makes a great ornamental tree for small to medium sized gardens due to the fact that it is a columnar tree. The Norway Maple tree has dark-red foliage that covers its branches. In Spring the tree gets delicate little yellow flowers that have a slightly red tinge to them. These appear on its bare, straight branches. Crimson Sentry’s are fully hardy and will florish in most soil types as long as the soil cleared of any grasses or weeds. No composting is needed. The tree is not only enjoyed because of its narrow form, but mainly because of its changing foliage colour. The new leaves grow out in a crisp red colour and are ever so slightly sticky. The leaves then change to a dark burgundy, finally going a bright orange, brown and red. The Acer Crimson Sentry stands firmly upright and confident, living up to its name. It presents as a bold, but welcoming feature that can be placed at an entrance or gate. The tree is exceptionally resilient and can be kept in any soil, as long as the soil is prepared beforehand. For the first month or two you will need to keep the area free of any weeds and grasses. The Crimson Sentry does not often need pruning. It you do decide to prune the tree it is only to be carried out in its dormant season which is from November to March. Common Name: Crab Apple Tree Latin Name: Malus 'Sun Rival' Characteristics: Totally disease free, bright red fruits in autumn. Flowering: White flowers with a pink tint in April and May. Height and Spread in 20 years: 3m / 3m. Hardiness and Best Position: Fully hardy. Full sun or partial shade. Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil. This statement tree is unusual and most definitely eye catching. It is one of the best semi-weeping Crab Apple trees. The tree features small, daintily arching branches, which at times sweep to the ground. The umbrella shaped branches are embossed with white flowers that open from its dark pink buds. Once the Malus ‘Sun Rival’ Crab Apple tree has flowered, bright vivid red crab apples burst forth. This occurs in the Autumn months. The tree then boasts its fruitage into the Winter which hangs from the branches in a ‘cherry-like’ way. The green foliage that appears in the Spring turns to a deep yellow colour in Autumn before falling off. The tree’s yearly fruitful yield may be a bit on the small side to use in your culinary creations. The fruit however, will not go to waste. Not only do they provide an incredible display for Winter but also provides food for the indigenous wildlife in your garden. The bees find the flowers most attractive due to their rich pollen and nectar supply. This particular Crab Apple tree is a small garden tree that will grow to 3 x 3 metres in 20 years. It will do exceptionally well in all soils, preferring moist conditions. This tree has been given the RHS Award of Garden Merit and will grow perfectly in your urban garden as it can handle pollution well and will flourish as a potted plant. Common Name: Flowering Cherry Tree Latin Name: Prunus 'Fragrant Cloud' Characteristics: Large, white, fragrant, semi-double flowers which fade to pink when mature. Midgreen spring foliage turning to orange in autumn. Flowering: Large clusters of white flowers in spring. Height and Spread in 20 years: 8m / 6m. Hardiness and Best Position: Fully hardy. Full sun. Soil: Tolerant of most soil types. This exquisite flowering cherry tree’s best feature is its deep, rich scent that wafts from the full, white, semi-double pettled flowers. These blooms appear in May, slowly fading to a pale pink colour. The foliage progresses from a bronze colour, then turning to darkish green and eventually orange in the Autumn months – making a spectacular display of its plumage. The Fragrant Cloud is a fully hardy tree, medium sized tree growing to an estimated 6 x 4 metres in 20 years. The tree forms to a medium sized ornamental tree. This Flowering Cherry Tree has a strong spreading habit which is best suited for medium to large gardens. This is a low maintenance, tough and tolerant tree. It does well as a potted plant or planted into your garden. It holds up well against pollution. The tree will do well in almost any soil unless the soil is too wet, shallow or chalking. This tree is a low maintenance tree and although you can leave it to its own devices, a bit of pruning in its initial years will help it create a beautifully balanced and established framework in your garden - taking centre stage as your gardens main attraction! In addition to its blossoms and foliage, the tree’s rich scent is an unusual feature and quite rare for a flowering cherry – making it all the more an attractive feature. Common Name: Flowering Cherry Tree Latin Name: Prunus 'Chocolate Ice' Characteristics: Large blush white flowers and deep copper brown leaves in spring. Flowering: Single blush-white flowers in April. Height and Spread in 20 years: 4m / 3m. Hardiness and Best Position: Fully hardy. Full sun. Soil: Tolerant of most soil types. This beautifully flowering small feature tree gives its owner great pleasure! In the months of April and May, the tree puts on a grand display of flowers. The flowers blossom pure bright white, contrasting with its rich red and brown foliage. This new foliage then slowly fades into a dark green. Then bright bursts of oranges and reds are present in the Autumn months. The Prunus 'Chocolate Ice' or Flowering Cherry Tree is a smallish tree that has an upright growing habit when it is newly planted, slowly spreading as the tree gets older and is more established. This tree compliments an open green lawn garden and is particularly exquisite in Spring. An absolute show piece for your garden. The Flowering Cherry Tree grows to about 4 x 4 metres over a period of approximately 20 years. If you have limited space in your garden, this tree is ideal. The tree suites most positions, which include urban areas due to the fact that it can hold up against pollution. It is therefore quite hardy. It is important to note that you would however need to avoid very wet or chalky shallow soils. This tree is a low maintenance tree and although you can leave it to its own devices, a bit of pruning in its initial years will help it create a beautifully balanced and established framework in your garden - taking centre stage as your gardens main attraction!