Amelanchier

More of a giant deciduous shrub than a typical tree, its grown for its terrific leaves and flowers. The new leaves are a big attraction because they open bronze, but they give another very good show in the autumn when they turn reddish-purple before falling. In mid-spring the shrubby growth is liberally covered by a mass of large white flowers, which stand out even more because they appear before the leaves. 'Ballerina' is typically placed in the centre of an island bed, with an under-planting of spring bulbs, where it can be seen from all sides. It has been given the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society.