Beautiful Bark:
Small: Acer palmatum – Japanese Maples are grown for their artistic form and distinctive leaf-colour but often they also have incredible bark detail. Look for cultivars such as ‘Sango Kaku’ or ‘Japanese Sunrise’ with their brilliant coral young growth or ‘Wolff’ with its blackish-red bark.
Medium: Acer griseum – The Paperbark Maple has extraordinary cinnamon-coloured bark that exfoliates in curled strips providing colour and interest all season. This mid-size beauty is a slow growing, well-behaved tidy tree, that also boasts brilliant vermillion fall colour.
Large: Betula nigra –River Birch is a native species well-known for its exceptionally beautiful bark and is available as a single stem tree or clump of several stems. The bark is a rich coppery colour with an exaggerated peeling habit which provides incredible texture to the landscape. River Birch is happy to grow in soggy soil, and in areas that are prone to flooding. This species is also less susceptible to many of the insect issues that plague the Paper Birch.

Stunning Autumn Colour:
Small: Viburnum lentago – This native shrubby tree will provide a stunning fall display despite its small stature. It is easy to grow, tolerating most soil conditions and is sure to attract a plethora of bird activity to your garden.Medium: Cercidiphyllum japonicum – The Katsura tree is an underused specimen tree with brilliant fall colour of gold, orange or red. The leaves, as they turn, have a sweet scent that is reminiscent of burnt sugar or cotton candy. This tidy tree has beautiful form and interesting bark – a superb specimen that will enhance any property!
Large: Ginkgo biloba – The enormous and stately Ginkgo tree is a slow-growing specimen with unique fan-shaped leaves. A stand-out throughout the seasons, it reaches its peak of beauty in the fall, turning a brilliant gold. It is a resilient tree with few pest/disease problems.

Ecological Value:
Small: Amelanchier canadensis – The native Serviceberry is one of the best trees to plant for ecological value. Depending on the cultivar, it can be considered a small or medium-sized tree. In addition to the tasty berries that both you and the birds will enjoy, this tree puts on a beautiful spring floral display, has a lovely broad form and displays excellent fall colour.
Medium: Cornus florida – With many cultivars to choose from, everyone should have a dogwood in their garden. The dense branching habit of these stunning, small flowering trees provides safe shelter for nesting. Following the stunning display of flowers and bracts, this tree produces berries that are a favourite of cardinals, waxwings and robins.
Large: Liriodendron tulipifera – This lovely, large native tree has remarkably fast growth, glossy leaves and tulip-shaped flowers that attract and support a variety of pollinators. It is a rich food source for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The seeds are enjoyed by many birds – cardinals, finches and chickadees to name just a few.