Hazel

More of a large, multi-stemmed shrub than a tree, its purple leaves are the big attraction. When grown as a background plant, the foliage makes a highly effective backdrop for white summer flowers or the golden/silvery spires and plumes of flowering grasses, like Stipa gigantea. The second attraction is the show of muted green catkins in late winter and early spring. Also note the edible nuts. It dislikes shallow soil which quickly dries out in summer.