What shall I plant as a special tree?

I'm in the process of converting several patches in my tree field to little gardens, with Aronia and other shrubs as productive plnatings. I'm making raised beds to improve the drainage and the results are quite scuptural. Some of the patches are linear and I have a couple that will be circular, or semicircular. One of the circular gardens now has a memorial walnut tree at the centre, but I have another area which lends itself to a circular pattern and I'm wondering what to plant at it's centre.

One of the 'gardens' with a central Walnut tree

I live in a cool maritime climate at about 57 degrees North - wet all year with temperatures rarely above 20 degrees Celsius or below -5 degrees Celsius. I've heard that the whole of Scotland is like growing in the shade. We have salt laden storms, mostly in winter, which can cause dieback and we are likely to have fungal diseases such as canker and scab on orchard fruit trees. The area I'm thinking of already has shelter of alder trees growing around it. I'd like a useful tree of some kind, but I'm open to beauty or other amenity as a 'use'. The soil is shallow (2ft max) and is silty and acidic, although hopefully improved by site preparation at time of planting. I like to push the possibilities slightly, but I'm never going to grow a Peach tree outside here for example!
Any ideas?

Look into your ancient local folk lore and see if there is a tree of special meaning to the ancients. Use the tree and circular area Ceremonially, or for other gatherings.

is ‘specialness’ enough reason for a particular tree , or do you want some sort of harvest, too? a couple ideas that occur to me: service tree/sorbus, ginkgo (pretty tolerant of rough situations)…

Perhaps Japanese plum-yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia var.drupacea, which Agroforestry Research Trust claim to list from August?

greg mosser wrote:is ‘specialness’ enough reason for a particular tree , or do you want some sort of harvest, too? a couple ideas that occur to me: service tree/sorbus, ginkgo (pretty tolerant of rough situations)…

A harvest would be good, but as I said it doesn't have to be a physical thing. Like the Gingko could have great Autumn colour for example (not just the fruit/nuts/leaves - however I already planted some Ginkgo this year :)

Service tree is an interesting thought, thank you Greg.

service tree fruit

source - about service tree or chequers
There seem to be 2 different service trees, the wild service tree as above and true service tree The wild service tree is likely to be hardier, but has slightly smaller fruit. Both seem to prefer a slightly warmer or drier summer, doing better in the East side of the UK.

Ac Baker wrote:Perhaps Japanese plum-yew Cephalotaxus harringtonia var.drupacea, which Agroforestry Research Trust claim to list from August?

I'm interested in all of the plum yews - both the Japanese plum yew and the Chilean plum yew. I also got some seedling Torreya nucifera this year which    are still in their pots - you remind me they need potting on. Some of these need male and female plants, so I'd need to select something self fertile for fruit formation.

I was going to suggest the Torreya, but yeah. Dioecious... A tree hazel maybe? But they are self-incompatible. Hmm... American persimmon? Or chestnut maybe (although now I realize that's also self-incompatible, arrgh)

Linden comes to mind for me, as it has several beautiful subspecies, edible leaves and is a pollinator favorite. I had a very happy and verdant one near Crescent City, California, which has similar temperature range to what you describe, despite being at just 42N Lat.

Hi Eino, Thanks! I'm pretty sure that persimmon will need hotter summers, ditto pawpaw - although Andrew did plant some up in Caithness, I wonder how they got on.....? I have some sweet chestnut - not any particular cultivar but they are not very happy here - the tallest is only about 7 feet tall after 14 years. Admittedly they had no shelter for the first few years, but I also had one or two just die suddenly, so I think I would be wasting money if I tried a cultivar.

Ben Zumeta wrote:Linden comes to mind for me, as it has several beautiful subspecies, edible leaves and is a pollinator favorite. I had a very happy and verdant one near Crescent City, California, which has similar temperature range to what you describe, despite being at just 42N Lat.

I have some pretty happy small leaved lime - Tillia cordata. I use the leaves in a green salad. When they are young they are tender and don't taste of anything much, so are a useful bulking ingredient. I had a look in pfaf and the uses of Tilia platyphyllos and T. Europaea are similar, although I hadn't realised the sap could be used as a syrup....Hmmm, giving me ideas! Anyway - thanks Ben! Useful, but not special enough.

I'm in a different climate, but I would choose an olive tree because it could live 1,000 years.

Andy Ze wrote:I'm in a different climate, but I would choose an olive tree because it could live 1,000 years.

That's not as off beat as you might expect Andy! I have an olive tree that was in my polytunnel, but has been unprotected for the last two winters. The area down the hill however is less well drained, so I don't think I would risk it. I do have holm oak doing well, I wonder whether cork oak might be a possibility?
Hmm. According to the Eden project

The cork oak favours acidic soils, requires a hot dry summer season and a cold and moist winter,

Well two out of three ain't bad!

source

While not native to where I am, I have a dawn redwood that is growing on my property that I just love.

It grows quickly, roots are not invasive like sequoia, and it drops its needles with the winter allowing sun through.

It is fun.

They believe that there are now more giant redwoods in the UK than the Sierra Nevada (ref). I'd be worried about the anchorage of a big tree like that here - although it would probably grow just fine. There are several big ones in the North West of Scotland.

I was not aware! How incredible.

I am fortunate enough to have visited the West Coast with the specific goal of seeing the red woods. I stayed for a night in fact in/near the Sequoia National Park.

I did not realize to get to the park, you started in flat fruit growing land that goes on forever to suddenly having to traverse upwards on switchbacks with practically no guard rail!

Great trip. Got to see the General Sherman Tree. They look almost fake until you walk up and touch them. An incredible experience.

Any who, I can't wait to see what tree you decide on.

Timothy Norton wrote:I was not aware! How incredible.
.....
Great trip. Got to see the General Sherman Tree. They look almost fake until you walk up and touch them. An incredible experience.

That must be some experience. I do hope they survive the current droughts.
Of course the ones in the UK are a maximum of 150 years old or so, so much much smaller than the mature ones in the US.

If you like basket weaving or could use help soaking up water then, I recommend a willow. They are pretty hardy, great wood for baskets and crafts and will love all the water. I love the Corkscrew Willow for rods for my macrame wall hangings. It has a beautiful golden bark. Also, there are different color bark on different willow trees. You could choose your favorite color and go with that willow.

I love all trees, and of course “special enough” is in the eye of the beholder,  but a lot of cultures have long revered the linden. Here are some results from a quick search pf “linden tree in legends and literature”:

- “The symbolism of the linden tree”

https://journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro/romana/2015/Lucrari%20PDF/Lucrari%20PDF%2019(2)/41Tenche%20Alina%202.pdf

From Abstract “This paper presents in a synthetic manner aspects regarding the importance of the trees in the cultural and spiritual life of the civilizations during the history. The organic link between humans and wood, as a linden trees, symbol, primordial material can be found in the oral creation and beliefs of the legends, traditions, culture traditional craftsmen, in different symbols and rituals during the centuries. Linden trees have a special place in symbolism (sacred tree, the tree that is a symbol of love, fertility, prosperity, fidelity, friendship, peace, justice, altruism, good luck) and also in the popular traditions due to the positive aspects (healing trees, protective trees, trees that are keeping away the diseases and the evil spirits). Their numerous usage as universal and renewable raw material, (wood, bark, fiber), medicinal plant, one that is important in beekeeping and also as ornamental trees, are well known. In this respect the symbolism of the linden tree is detailed in the traditional religious doctrines, astrology, legends and folklore. The linden tree is presented as a Romanian cultural and literary symbol in various situations. There are also described some linden trees with an important local symbolic value.”

From AI search results:
The linden tree (Tilia) has inspired literature, poetry, and mythology since ancient times. It is a symbol of love, appeasement, and nature's abundance, and has been celebrated by many writers, including Ovid, Proust, Rimbaud, La Fontaine, Stendhal, and Colette.
Here are some examples of the linden tree in literature and legends:
Greek mythology
Homer, Horace, Virgil, and Pliny all mention the linden tree and its virtues. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the gods turn two (fate crossed lovers Baucis and Philemon), Baucis into a linden tree and Philemon into an oak so they can die at the same time. (These trees grew fused together in the legend)
Germanic and Norse lore
The linden tree is favored by the goddesses of love and the hearth, Freya and Frigga. The Celts and Germans believed that truth emerged under a linden tree's shade, and that its fragrance favored judges' clemency. In German lyric poetry from the 12th and 13th centuries, the linden tree is a symbol of nature's goodness, sweetness, and gentleness, and a place for lovers to meet.
Slavic mythology
The linden tree is considered sacred in Slavic mythology, and in many Eastern European countries it is considered "holy".
The linden tree is a large, graceful, deciduous tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant cream-colored flowers. In the summer, bees fill the tree with music when it blooms.”

Biblically: The linden tree (also known as the lime tree) a beautiful and ancient species of tree, which has acquired a sacred and symbolic status. At first, it was worshipped in early pre-Christian European cultures, before being embraced by Christianity as a symbol of peace, hope, and love.

As I remember, Tolkien’s silver and gold sacred elven forests had ancient lindens as the silver component.

A large, healthy linden can also produce 600lbs of honey’s worth of nectar per year!

Arbutus menziesii love the coastline in the far north of Washington State, by Bellingham. They are lovely, lovely trees. Related to strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, which is used in landscaping, but much grander. Great climbing trees, not terribly slow growing, food for critters, evergreen leaves and beautiful bark, nice scent to the bark.

Madrones (arbutus menziesii) are awesome. They are the also the northernmost evergreen broadleaf tree.

How about a twisted hazel (Corylus avellana contorta). I love the look of them and if you're lucky there may be nuts. They are supposed to be hardy throughout the UK. I've never harvested any nuts from hazels as the squirrels have always got there first although they did plant some for me and I moved the saplings to where I wanted them. I don't know what the squirrel population is like where you are. I've just given myself an idea for another tree here.

Kris Winter wrote:Arbutus menziesii love the coastline in the far north of Washington State, by Bellingham. They are lovely, lovely trees. Related to strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, which is used in landscaping, but much grander. Great climbing trees, not terribly slow growing, food for critters, evergreen leaves and beautiful bark, nice scent to the bark.

Hmmm. I have tried growing Arbutus unedo once but it died.
from plantlust:

Spring brings masses of showy, fragrant, white bell-shaped flowers which become interesting red fruits much loved by the birds. The berries are edible and were used by the Native Americans for food, medicine and cider. The very hard wood can be used as flooring and is also used for firewood

and

If you have hot, humid summers, you are really pushing your luck growing this plant. But it is known to thrive in coastal areas of the UK that receive significant summer rainfall but are quite cool year-round. Hardy to -5°F.

Sounds like it may be OK if I can give it good enough drainage and get it westablished. I was watching a video on Youtube recently about madrone growing in Portugal making liqueur. They were probably one of the mediterranean ones rather than the Pacific ones though.

That is definitely a maybe!

Ara Murray wrote:How about a twisted hazel (Corylus avellana contorta). I love the look of them and if you're lucky there may be nuts. They are supposed to be hardy throughout the UK. I've never harvested any nuts from hazels as the squirrels have always got there first although they did plant some for me and I moved the saplings to where I wanted them. I don't know what the squirrel population is like where you are. I've just given myself an idea for another tree here.

I'm not sure about the contorted hazel - beauty being in the eye of the beholder! Useful for flower arrangers though, so my Mum would like it.
We actually don't have squirrels (yet) on Skye - neither grey nor red. This leaves more nuts for the birds and mice! I could get another nutting cultivar of hazel....I have  two that were selected varieties, although another one didn't establish. I have lots of wild and hedging hazels, so plenty of pollinators. It would be nice to have more nuts in the medium term if the wildlife leave me any :)