Gardens: Summer-flowering trees

Magnolia grandiflora is usually grown against a warm wall, where it can become enormous (15m), but can be successfully pruned after flowering. ‘Exmouth’ is often recommended, but ‘Victoria’ is hardier. More subtle in its beauties is M. sieboldii – a slow-growing deciduous tree (6m x 6m) that produces white anemone flowers with a boss of deep pink stamens from late May into August. This magnolia needs an acid soil, which the evergreen does not. Buy from Burncoose Nurseries. Photograph: Alamy

Eucryphias prefer a neutral to acid soil, but the lovely E. x nymansensis ‘Nymansay’ will tolerate some lime if mollified with plenty of organic matter. In a sheltered spot it quickly makes a graceful, upright, evergreen tree (10-12m), bearing papery, cupped white flowers (each some 7cm across) in late summer. Smaller and more delicate in looks and constitution is E. x intermedia ‘Rostrevor’, with a halo of fine pink-tipped -stamens floating above each fragrant white bloom. Buy from Binny Plants. Photograph: Alamy

Pterostyrax hispida’s creamy blooms dangling in 23cm clusters bear little resemblance to epaulettes, but smell lovely and flutter in the breeze, as do the large, apple-green leaves. It’s hardy, soil-tolerant and grows to 7m in any sunny spot with zero attention. Buy from Bluebell Nursery. Photograph: Alamy

Catalpa bignonioides or Indian bean trees grow well in cities – they seem untroubled by poor soils and pollution, and the heart-shaped leaves need protection from wind. They make large trees (10-15m) but respond well to pruning. Excellent as this tree is, I urge you to seek out its cousin, C. fargesii f. duclouxii, pictured here, discovered in China and dubbed the Chinese bean tree. It looks like a diva, but is easy to grow in any sunny, well-drained spot, protected from harsh winds. Buy from The Place for Plants. Photograph: Alamy

Stewartia pseudocamellia Koreana Group requires an acid soil, moist but well drained, sheltered from wind and in partial shade. But if you have room (it can spread 6-10m), and can satisfy its imperious wants, grow it. In summer the branches are laden with large (7cm) camellia flowers, the delicately crimped white petals encircling a boss of tousled golden stamens. Buy from Crocus. Photograph: Alamy

Koelreuteria paniculata is easier to grow than to pronounce, thriving on all kinds of soil, tolerating wind and drought, and giving its best in a hot summer. The species makes a spreading tree, reaching 5-10m high and across, but there is also a fastigiate version (K.p. ‘Fastigiata’) which (very slowly) makes a similar-height golden column 1m wide. Buy from Beeches Nursery. Photograph: Gap Photos