Chinese dogwood

This is a stunning small tree that makes a lovely focal point in a garden, having something to admire throughout the year. Broad and open in shape, the tree produces masses of tiny green flowers in early summer, which are surrounded by creamy-white flower bracts that look like scraps of paper. 'Milky Way' is a particularly profuse-flowering variety that has an abundance of flowers. In autumn the dark green leaves turn bright shades of red, purple and gold, and mature trees can produce strawberry-like ornamental fruits that are very attractive to birds. When the leaves fall from the tree, the green-white mottled bark gives it interest even in the winter months. The tree grows best in fertile, well-drained, neutral to acid soil where there is no chance of water stagnating around its roots.