Trees for year-round colour

In smaller gardens, every plant has to earn its keep, and that's particularly true for trees. Luckily plenty of trees look good in every season: here's our pick of the best from the range in our garden centre.

Snowy mespilus (Amelanchier lamarckii): pearly white blossom in spring with coppery young foliage, followed by little black berries and brilliant autumn colour. Reaches about 10m tall.

Willows (Salix spp): look for varieties with brilliantly coloured red, green or purple bark: also has furry pussywillow buds in winter and deep green foliage. Grows to 10m.

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp): cascades of scented spring blossom are followed by brilliant red berries and a firework display of autumn colour. Anything from 5m to 8m tall, depending on species.

Autumn-flowering cherry (Prunus x subhirtella): the pale pink flowers appear in little bursts from November throughout the winter, with leaves turning fiery orange in autumn. Grows to 9m tall.

Rowan (Sorbus spp): clusters of white flowers in spring are followed by heavy crops of berries in red, white or yellow. Leaves turn brilliant shades in autumn. Grows to 7m.

Please ask the staff in our garden centre in Enniskerry for more information and advice about choosing trees for year- round colour.