Trees for Rose Gardens

We are planning the renovations of a section of the garden and we think we need a small tree or two to give some vertical form to the area.

Anyone have any suggestions?

We are in Queensland but anyone who suggests a palm tree will be in serious trouble.

hello balibear

i used to live in bribane years ago and in the garden we planted leopard trees , trunks can be multiple , they have a habit of growing straight up, bark is mottled as the name represents, flowers are yellow

Caesalpinia ferrea

Yes we have a couple of Leopard trees in the garden already and are on the list as maybes

What kind of shape do you want? Are native trees like tree waratah out (I'm thinking they might be if they are in a rose garden that may receive periodic fertilising)?

Just wondering what kind of tree you decided on. I have planted a Crepe Mrytle, hoping for the mottled bark and some deciduous characteristics in the cooler months. I desperately want some kind of blossom tree but don't think they would do well in my area.

Sally

We still have not decided.

We had some crepe mrytles and they looked great but the roots took over the garden and we have removed them. Unfortunately the roots sucker something bad and we are now continuously removing bits that shoot up.

Balinbear I was wondering if you have decided what kind of trees to plant. I am fretting about the Crepe Myrtle now. I'm going home in winter so I am thinking something else. Leopard trees will get too big for my spot. What do you think about a Gordonia?

Balinbear, not sure if you are still watching this thread, but I have decided to pull out the Crepe Mrytle when I get home and I am going to plant a Gordonia tree. Still wondering what option you went with? I love Leopard trees but they get so big. Sally

Hi,
be very careful which trees you put in near your roses. We have just pulled out two desert ashes, a golden ash, a claret ash (sob, sob) and a Japanese maple. They weren't very close but their roots had found the rose garden and starved them of food and water.
It's left a hole in the garden but we'll think of something to fill it - maybe a small rotunda.
Barbara B

I have a NSW Christmas Bush a Japanese Maple. Also around the edges various Buddleja, Dwarf Mulberry and Silver Birch. I'd Like a Golden Elm in there somewhere but am out of room... will have to start encroaching on the paddock.

Simon wrote:... will have to start encroaching on the paddock.

Hehe If I could figure out how to water and weed them then my paddocks would definitely be in danger from a stack of roses!
(If I called them "drought fodder reserve" could I claim it on tax? )

But back on topic.... our garden was just paddock when we started so the only trees we have around are young and not really near the roses. A lot of buddleja though. The butterflies were AMAZING this year. And a few more silver birch would be nice.

ally

We dicided that a couple of retiticlata camilleas would do us.

Thanks Balinbear,
I think Camellias are a good choice. I'll try the Gordonia and see how it goes. This is my attempt to have something like a spring blossom tree (not in spring I know) that is why I originally went with the Crepe Mrytle. We'll compare notes in a couple of years.

Do Crab Apples grow up in Queensland, or is it too warm up there ?

Rosemeadow

Its too warm where we are. We have tried without too much success. Up in the mountains would proabably be ok.

Just love those Crab Apple Floribunda's here in Sydney