I'm looking for something for the front of my house, under a front window. What I want is something I can easily keep under four feet tall, with an interesting sculptural shape, preferably either edible or useful in some other way. I want it to be the focal point for the planting, and so I want it to be really "wow." Oh, and it needs to be a friendly tree--nothing that will poison the ground around it or suck up all the nutrients in the soil, as I'm a fan of close plantings (cottage garden style).

I'm considering tea camelia (camelia sinensis). It's pretty, evergreen (not necessary but nice), and can be harvested for tea.

I would actually prefer something with edible fruit, but it's not necessary. The most important aspect is that it be attractive and easily maintained (I don't mind pruning a couple times a year).

Ideas? Thoughts?

Thanks!!

Heather

Here's a thought; 'Panachee' fig,

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/aug02/figs0802.htm

Another description of this that I ran across described it as a small to medium fig--not sure of the exact height taht it'll reach. Heard of someone espaliering a fig tree against a wall, so they must not mind trimming.

I'm in 6...tried ordering figs last year, but they don't seem to have made it thru' the winter (they're 7b-9, so I was hoping...). Hopefully you can grow them there.

Edible Landscaping has a purple leaf bush plum, easy to maintain at 3-6', red stems, tart fruit for jelly.

EL also has Crandall black currant, which has yellow flowers and quarter-sized fruit (they had a real nice photo of both--with a quarter next to the fruit)

Patio peach is a genetic dwarf--to 5'. I'm pretty sure peaches can be espaliered to whatever shape you like.

Hope this gives you a few ideas. Let us know whatever you do decide to put in.

That is a gorgeous fig!! Wow, now I'm sorry I bought a brown turkey

I like the idea of a patio peach. I saw some for sale at Lowe's (bad place to buy, though, right?), and craved them. They looked so beautiful. But I didn't have a place for one. But I guess I do now.

The location is against the West wall of my house--is that enough light for a peach tree? I'll take a look at the others you mentioned as well.

Thanks for the ideas!!

Heather

On the edible landscaping site they have something called a che fruit. Anyone tried this before? I could have both a male and female, because, as I forgot to mention, I also need something for the Southwest corner of the house, only about five feet from the location for the other specimen plant. I'd like both plants to be distinctive and attractive, preferably something that can be pruned into an interesting tree shape.

From what I've read, it looks like I could put the female che on the corner, where she would get lots of light and could grow quite tall (I'd probably keep her to about six or eight feet), and the male plant in the middle under the window, where I'd keep him three to four feet tall.

Anyone have experience with this plant? What do you all think?

What I don't want, by the way, is something that will sprawl.

Heather

Or how about a weeping mulberry for the corner and something else for under the window?

I've been surfing the Net all night looking at possibilities...

Okay... so after much deliberation, I think I've made a decision. I'm going to put a patio peach at the corner of the house, where it can reach it's full, towering height of 6' without interfering with anything. And as the smaller, under-the-window "specimen" I'm using an old stand-by, an azalea.

I know it's neither edible nor especially a "specimen," but I have always loved azaleas, and it will go well with the others things I have there.

I decided on those two things as opposed to something more exotic because I can buy them locally, which means I can choose larger, more established specimens, and know that they will do well in my area. Since it is the front of my house, I want it to look nice right from the start.

Anyone know what to look for in a good patio peach? I'm thinking I want the Bonzai variety, because it has green leaves (I'm not a fan of red leaves, except on smaller plants). Most of those I've seen have a lopsided shape, like they've had the middle branch lopped off, and had to grow out the side. Is this the norm? I've seen it this way two different places though neither, I'll admit, were nurseries (I do plan to buy at a nursery, I was just looking).

Thanks so much for the help!

Heather

To be honest, I really don't know why, but all my trees came that way--the lopsided look you mentioned. That's a couple apples, 3 pears, 3 cherries, and 4 plums.

I mail ordered all mine--all shipped while dormant--so I'm not sure what to look for at a nursery. Proportional, with a fair amount of branching, I suppose, and that it's not badly rootbound.