Small tree and house tree – small trees for the garden

There are trees that round off a plant composition in the garden in a meaningful way. This applies to the large park as well as to the small garden. A house tree provides shade, attracts birds, is visited by squirrels and keeps prying eyes away. Nobody has to do without it even in a very limited area, because there is a wide range of small trees available for the garden. When making your selection, a certain amount of caution is required so that a giant disguised as a small tree does not grow over your head after a few years. Meet suitable candidates for your personal house tree here.

overview

  • Flowering small trees and large shrubs
  • Variegated woody plants
  • Hanging growth habit
  • Globular habit
  • Column silhouette
  • Conical growth
  • Broad crown
  • Evergreen house trees

Flowering small trees and large shrubs

Chinese wild pear (Pyrus calleriana “Chanticler”)
A slender beauty moves into your garden with a wild pear. In spring it pampers the eye with a lush, white blossom, and in autumn it says goodbye with a firework of orange-red colors. The ideal house tree for tight spaces or along a prestigious avenue.

  • Height: 8-10 meters
  • Blossom: white umbels in spring before a shiny green shoot
  • Location requirements: mild, sun-drenched locations, extremely heat and dry tolerant

Common Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
A wonderful bloom in spring, followed by noble, blue-green leaves in early summer. The reddish basic shoots create a playful contrast to this. In winter, the Judas tree equips it again with conspicuous, up to 10 centimeters long, unfortunately poisonous, legumes.

  • Height: 3.50 to 6 meters
  • Blossom: purple-pink butterfly blossoms from April in dense clusters
  • Location requirements: warm, protected, often calcareous, dry

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas’ Jolico)
Fantastic spring bloom, juicy-sweet cherries and a fantastic autumn color. The cornel leaves nothing to be desired. Since it does not take on bombastic proportions at the same time, it is ideal for planting in small gardens as well as a decorative addition in large parks.

  • Growth height 3-5 meters
  • Flowers from February / March in splendid, golden-yellow umbels
  • Location requirements: thrives in any soil, likes sunny, also tolerates shade

Snowdrop tree (Halesia carolina)
The small tree keeps what its name promises. If you just can’t get enough of snowdrops, this one is the best choice. In the large garden, the beauty of the flowers is recommended as a striking contrasting plant against a dark backdrop. The bees and bumblebees will thank you.

  • Height 5-8 meters
  • Flowers in April and May in snow-white, bell-shaped clusters
  • Location requirements: humus, fresh, moist garden soil, sunny, protected

Crabapple (Malus)
If you previously assumed that you would have to do without a heavenly apple blossom in the small garden, the crabapple teaches you better. You can enjoy an overwhelming display of flowers in spring and countless small fruits in autumn.

  • Height: 4-6 meters
  • Soft pink flowers in May
  • Location requirements: sunny, warm, nutrient-rich, not too dry

Variegated woody plants

Blood maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’)
With its elegant, columnar crown, this small tree undoubtedly dominates the garden scene. Especially since the large, dark red leaves attract everyone’s attention throughout the season. With increasing age, the crown takes on an oval shape, which does not detract from its ornamental value.

  • Height: 8-10 meters
  • Flowers in April and May with yellow-green corymbs
  • Location requirements: preferably nutrient-rich soil, preferably calcareous

Ball sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’)
The cultivar from England presents a breathtaking color spectacle. Its golden-yellow shoot slowly turns into light yellow, with a hint of pink. Who needs a flower there? Thanks to the refinement to the standard trunk, this sycamore maple remains significantly smaller than the natural form.

  • Height: 8-10 meters
  • Flower: inconspicuous
  • Location requirements: sunny locations with fresh, moist, well-drained soil

Hanging growth habit

Spring cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’)
Starting from an umbrella-shaped crown, the delicate shoots cascade down to the ground. Exactly where the trunk ends, the crown begins, covered with pointed leaves. Since the spring cherry is extremely easy to cut, it can be easily kept in the desired shape.

  • Growth height 4-6 meters
  • Delicate light pink flowers from April to May
  • Location requirements: thrives in fresh, nutrient-rich soil in a sunny spot

Kitten willow (Salix caprea ‘Pendula’)
Thanks to professional refinement, this cultivar is transformed into a small-crowned ornamental tree with bent, drooping branches. In spring, the pretty kittens gather in droves on the small tree to ring in the new gardening year. The broad, elliptical foliage with the white-gray undersides seems to flicker with every gust of wind.

  • Growth height: depending on the finishing height from 0.5 to 2.5 meters
  • Flowers: silvery catkins with golden stamens from March to April
  • Location requirements: sunny to partially shaded location in any good garden soil

Weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’)
Thanks to this cultivar, no hobby gardener with a small garden has to do without a birch. In order to achieve the pronounced hanging growth, a competent hand is required in advance to tie the small tree to the desired height. The weeping birch then automatically forms a round, roof-shaped crown, the branches of which extend elegantly to the ground.

  • Height: individual
  • Flower: inconspicuous
  • Location requirements: undemanding, also thrives in very light soils

Globular habit

Ball maple (Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’)
You can’t go wrong with this classic house tree. Refined as a high trunk, the spherical maple forms a pretty, flat-spherical crown. In the small front garden in particular, it impresses with its decorative habit without ever coming into conflict with the house.

  • Height 5-8 meters
  • Flowers appear in yellow-green clusters before budding
  • Location requirements: nutrient-rich, calcareous soil; overall undemanding

Kugelfeldahron (Acer campestre ‘Nanum’)
A cultivar that comes into its own with its harmoniously shaped crown in rows along a house entrance or garden path. The dense ball also sets a painterly accent in a solitary position.

  • Height: 3-5 meters
  • Flowers in May with greenish yellow panicles
  • Location requirements: lime-loving, shade and drought tolerant

Spherical silver linden (Tilia tomentosa ‘Silver Globe’) Raised to a spherical growth, the silver linden represents the ideal small tree in a limited area. The decorative crown starts right where the trunk ends. In this way, there is enough free space in the garden design, without being too crowded. The heart-shaped leaves, the silvery shade of which changes to a soft yellow in autumn, make a valuable contribution to the ornamental value of the small tree. The intensely fragrant bloom during the summer should be emphasized.

  • Height: 4-6 meters
  • Flowers in summery yellow from July to August
  • Location requirements: slightly acidic to alkaline soil, sandy-loamy in the sunny place

Column silhouette

Ironwood
tree (Parrotia persica Vanessa ‘) Predestined as a small tree for the garden; this is how the narrow ironwood tree from the Netherlands looks. He discreetly holds back in spring and summer in order to display all his skills in autumn with a fiery color of leaves in bronze, orange and yellow.

  • Height: 7-10 meters
  • Flowers before leaves shoot in February and March
  • Location requirements: loamy garden soil, fresh, moist, preferably sunny

Alder-leaved pillar rock pear (Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Oberlisk’)
This small, stiffly upright tree surprises with new attributes all year round. A dainty bloom in May is followed by rounded foliage. In autumn, purple-black fruits appear almost temporally with a dramatic, orange-red foliage color. The edible fruits taste sweet and juicy, so that they are not only enjoyed by the birds.

  • Height: 2-4 meters
  • Creamy white flower
  • Location requirements: sunny location; otherwise undemanding

Goldulme (Ulmus hollandica, Wredei ‘)
The schwachwüchsige small tree seeks to inherently namely a height of 10 meters; which can be kept well under control through targeted pruning. The lack of bloom is by no means missed, given the golden yellow leaves in spring. The broad, egg-shaped foliage thrives close together along the upright branches.

  • Growth height up to 10 meters
  • Blossom: none
  • Location requirements: would like to stand in deep, nutrient-rich soil in a sunny location

Conical growth

Ash gray whitebeam (Sorbus incana)
The pretty small tree found its way into German gardens from Sweden. Since it does not grow higher than 7 meters even in old age, it is very popular as a house tree in small gardens. Its silvery leaves give it a sparkling aura when the summer wind plays with them. When the foliage takes on its golden-yellow autumn color, a few orange-red fruits join in.

  • Growth height up to a maximum of 7 meters
  • Flowers in subtle, white umbels
  • Location requirements: sunny to partially shaded places with normal garden soil

Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Galaxy’)
Mostly known as a large shrub, this magnolia also cuts a fine figure as a small tree. The cone-shaped crown is densely covered with up to 20 centimeters long leaves in a deep dark green that turn yellowish-brown in autumn. The highlight is of course the grandiose, tulip-shaped bloom from mid-April.

  • Growth height up to a maximum of 6 meters
  • Flowers in white to light pink
  • Location requirements: sunny to partially shaded locations with fresh, well-drained soil

Handkerchief
tree (Davidia involucrata vilmoriniana) The shrub-like, small tree ends in a conical crown and also presents conical inflorescences. The two white bracts that frame each flower make it appear as if the tree has been decorated with handkerchiefs.

  • Height: 6-8 meters
  • Flowering in May and June
  • Location requirements: fresh, moist soil, rich in nutrients and humus, in sunny to partially shaded locations

Broad crown

Refined wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Skilled breeders have succeeded in transforming the beautiful climbing shrub into a wonderfully beautiful small tree. Due to the shape of the creepers, the crown develops very broadly and expansively. Thus, the magnificent house tree causes a sensation, especially during the flowering period in solitary position.

  • Height of growth depending on cultivation
  • Flowers in purple, light pink or white grapes from May to June (poisonous pods in autumn)
  • Location requirements: sunny to partially shaded location, loose soil, permeable and not too wet

Tulip magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)
This hybrid comes as a small, broad-crowned house tree that quickly rises to the leading role in the small garden. The magnificent, tulip-shaped bloom, accompanied by rather bizarre branching with advancing age, contributes in particular to this.

  • Height: 4-6 meters
  • Flowers: pink-white tulip flowers from late April to May
  • Location requirements: nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil, full sun to partial shade

Evergreen house trees

Blue rocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’)
The imposing wood retains its blue-green needle dress even during the harshest winter. With its narrow growth habit, the rocket juniper finds a suitable place in every garden to strive towards the sky. Fortunately, the increase in height ends at the latest at 4 meters, so that it offers itself as a sleek house tree.

  • Growth height up to a maximum of 4 meters
  • Flower inconspicuous
  • Location requirements: thrives in sunny locations and in any soil

Caucasian cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Caucasica’)
The shrub-like habit of a cherry laurel is transformed into an evergreen tree crown, which provides exciting design options in every garden. The elliptical, glossy leaves with their dark green color remain on the tree all year round.

  • Height 5-6 meters
  • Flowers in May with upright, white candle blossoms
  • Location requirements: sandy or loamy soil, humic, calcareous, sunny to shady

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus’ Mano)
If the Caucasian cherry laurel still seems too big for you, choose the hybrid ‘Mano’, which stretches up to a maximum of 4 meters in height. Otherwise it impresses with the same attributes as its ‘big’ brother from the Caucasus.

  • Height: 3-4 meters
  • Flowers in May with white panicles
  • Location requirements: want to be protected from the sun in winter

Conclusion
In the small ornamental garden, narrow inner courtyard or micro-front garden there is certainly room for one or the other house tree. The only thing that matters is which type of plant you choose. Nobody has to make extreme compromises, because capable breeders have succeeded in creating a large number of decorative cultivars, the growth of which is kept within manageable limits. Whether you are looking for a flowering house tree, a variegated specimen or an evergreen wood; marvel at the wide range of offers. This also applies to the favored habitus, which ranges from hanging and spherical, through columnar, conical to the broadly spreading crown.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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