Tree of the Week

Week 18; Prunus cerasifera var. atropurpurea

Its a bit of a mouthful, but this is a great tree as a dark backdrop for shrubs with bright foliage or flowers. I've chosen it this week because I spotted it in a local garden with a lime-green leaved Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' in front of it, and the contrast was eye-catching to say the least. Its deciduous, flowers in March and is quite small and slow-growing, which is often useful. In time it could reach 12m high, but you rarely see them that big in these parts. Its compact and well-behaved, needing a reasonable amount of sun. The wild species is green.

Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'  

Tree of the Week

Week 17 - Tilia cordata; Small-leaved Lime

The tricky thing with identifying Limes is that unless you have a small-leaved one growing right next to a large-leaved one (Tilia platyphyllos) for comparison, then how can you be sure how big the leaves are? Then there is the Common Lime (Tilia x vulgaris), which is a hybrid between the two and, well, common. My chosen one this week, though, is distinct because it has downward-arching branches rather than upward, and upward-angled flowers rather than drooping ones like the other two (see below). Often found in woodland on limestone and also as a street tree because it is pollution tolerant. In this context aphids usually attack the tree and suck its sap, excreting sticky 'honeydew' (nice word for aphid poo) all over the cars below.
It is in flower right now, but they are very subtle blooms, so you will have to keep a sharp eye out.

Tilia cordata flower - not-so-downwards...

Tilia platyphyllos flower - definitely downwards

Tilia cordata leaf

Tilia cordata form