Amelanchier (Snowy Mespilis)

Graceful, upright, deciduous shrub with spectacular star-shaped white blossom in spring, often preceeded with pinkish buds. Young foliage is coppery in colour when it first emerges in spring (alongside or shortly after the flowers), turning mid-green. When planted in a sunny position, Amelanchier produces fiery scarlet autumn foliage colours - one of the best for autumn colour.

Growing to about 5m (15ft) tall, this is a graceful shrub for the back of the border or grown as a specimen as a multi-stemmed small tree.

Regular pruning (just after flowering) also makes this an attractive and unusual option for hedging.

Happy on clay soils (but not waterlogged), Amelanchier prefers neutral to acid soils. Not suitable for chalk.