Memorial tree ideas please

I meant to add crab apple.

I would go for one of our native trees or shrubs. Wild cherry, hazel, or a holly tree.
If you'd like a shrub, what about dogwood.

Rowan trees are lovely but they can get very tall..

These are pretty and can be grown in a large pot or pruned to keep them small.
Flamingo Willow Salix Integra Hakuro Nishiki

I’d go for a malus, variety Sun Rival I think, because it has everything - beautiful blossom, autumn colour, and crab apples that stay on the tree all year.

I agree that a Himalayan cherry, preferably multi-stemmed, would be very attractive. The red bark is beautiful.

The TV gardeners often choose to use Amelanchier which has attractive new foliage, early blossom, berries and autumn colour so interest for most of the year.

How about an olive tree in a big terracotta pot? It is the tree of peace

I chose the quince because Philip enjoyed the jelly. For my mother, I chose a tree which is pretty in the spring and autumn, an auronia.
Another successful tree is the Liquidamber. It has the most glorious scarlet maple shaped leaves in autumn. It doesn’t grow too big, has interesting bark and would look lovely with your lavender.

If you would like a conifer, how about a picea glauca conica: does not grow higher than 2.5m. You can decorate it at Christmas as an outdoor Christmas tree.

Many thanks so far! When I said dull, I meant there was nothing in it apart from some lavender at one side (adjoining a small driveway). I love the idea of the rowan being a mothering tree. Don’t want anything that gets too big though.

Have a look at prunus serrula. It's got THE most beautiful bark.

I would always go for a native tree so would pick a Rowan which in folklore is known as The Mothering Tree, said to protect those who plant it and have it close to their homes.

If your site got any sun at all I would suggest a Himalayan cherry; when the bark peels and the sun catches it, it’s beautiful. Flowers too, mid to late spring.