By Simons2543
Lincolnshire,
United Kingdom 
I live in an old house divided into flat;we have a large communal garden,neutral soil, surrounded by trees but open enough to have a huge lawn, borders and beds of annualsand open to the public once a year- so it really is wonderful! One of our residents would like to plant a tree in memory of his late father- could you suggest something suitable, please? The trees around the garden are very mature-100 years old. The beds have all got statuary in them. What can you suggest that will not be over-shadowed if placed on the edge of the garden and would have colour to set against the oaks, elms and birch. We already have a robinia.
9 Aug, 2010
Answers
Yes, i was going to suggest purple/dark leaves things too :-))
Sambucus nigra too perhaps ?
9 Aug, 2010
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy?
10 Aug, 2010
How about a red leafed Acer palmatum or a Smoke Bush, Cotinus coggygria, which is available with purple or with yellow leaves. All will stand out against the dark leaves of the existing trees.
9 Aug, 2010