Trees are part of nature and complete your garden. Trees come in all shapes and sizes. Do you now have a small (er) garden? Even then it is quite possible to plant a tree in your garden. A small tree. In this article we’ll help you choose which tree is right for you.

Small trees are categorized into:

  • trees on stem
  • evergreen trees
  • multi-stemmed trees
  • bulb trees
  • fruit trees

A small tree

The description of a tree is “a perennial plant with one (or more) woody trunk and a crown.” The smallest tree is a bonsai tree, which is only a few inches high. The most famous large tree is the giant redwood which is over 83 meters high and has a diameter of 7.7 meters. Trees can live up to 1000 years old. Exceptions dating back over 5000 years are the oldest ever.

When choosing your tree, take into account where you want to plant it. Find out what type of soil type you have. See the article What type of soil type do I have in my garden.

Small trees with single trunks

These trees are about 4 to 6 meters high. Pay attention to the variety.

Amelanchier Lamarckii, the currant tree

The currant tree blooms in April with delicate flowers in white color. After blossoming the oval leaf appears, which changes color in autumn in true autumn colors, yellow, red, brown. At the end of the summer, the trees will receive edible blue-black berries. In winter, the fine branching of the gray-colored bark is striking. A tree for every season.

Cercis Siliquastrum, the Judas tree

Judas tree is a bright pink flowering tree in May. The tree has a Mediterranean appearance, this is because it originates from the Mediterranean area. The legumes that grow on the tree in the autumn remain on it throughout the winter.

​Acer Palmatum, the Japanese maple

Acer Palmatum, the Japanese maple

Japanese maple is a species that is available in many varieties, more than 1000 species. They can be recognized by their whimsical green and palate leaves with often pronounced autumn colors. This small tree can be of the same size in width as well as in height. There are also many dwarf varieties available.

Fraxinus Ornus “Meczek”, the plumes

These plumes get their name from the mountain range in Hungary where the species originated. The trunk has a smooth gray bark, which turns dark gray. The leaves turn yellow to purple-brown in autumn.

Small evergreen trees

Rhododendron, a small tree

For example, Rhododendron “English Roseum” is a broad upright tree with warm pink flowers. The “English Roseum” is very hardy. I could also have placed this evergreen plant under the category multi-stemmed trees. A nice tree to use as a solitary in your garden.

Prunus Lusitanica Angustifolia

The crown of this Prunus has a very dense branching, which gives it a round, dense growth habit. The dark green leathery, shiny leaves are narrower and smaller than that of Prunus Lusitanica. The Prunus Lusitanica Angustifolia is hardy and wind-resistant.

Photinia Red Robin

Also known as Photinia x Fraseri “Red Robin” has a bushy crown shape. The young leaves that emerge in spring are red-brown. Later it turns dark green. In the spring, the tree blooms with large white umbels, later red berries appear that turn black.

Tsuga Canadensis “Pendula”, weeping coniferous tree

A weeping conifer is a special appearance. The tree must be led to a trunk shape during cultivation, otherwise, a creeping shape will arise. The shiny green needles provide a fresh color in your garden. After an inconspicuous flowering, hanging cones appear in the Tsuga Canadensis “Pendula”.

Multi-stemmed small trees for small gardens

Cornus Controversa “Variegata”, a dogwood

A multi-stemmed dogwood with a beautiful irregular leaf in a pinkish-green leaf with a silver edge adorns your garden. The “Variegata” flowers in May and June with umbel-like umbels.

Lagerstroemia Indica

A striking flowering tree, which is also available in multiple stems. The flaky bark with various brown and brown-pink tones has a decorative pattern. The flowers appear from July to September in white, pink, or purple-red.

Euonymus Alatus, the cardinal's cap

Euonymus Alatus, the cardinal’s cap

Cardinal’s cap is a tree with a very striking red autumn color. Even when the leaves emerge, the young twigs fall through the corky wings. The foliage is bright green in summer. Cardinal’s hat is known for the characteristic fruits in the shape of a cap.

Magnolia Stellata, the star magnolia

Beautiful white star-shaped flowers form the star magnolia, which owes its name to its fragrant inflorescence. The particularly slow-flowering small tree is hardy and has glossy green leaves.

Bulb trees for small gardens

Catalpa Bignoides “Nana”

Catalpa is a slow-growing spherical tree with large, bright green heart-shaped leaves. In autumn the leaves turn yellow and fall off relatively early. The Bolcatalpa is a commonly used tree in the garden landscape.

Morus alba “Nana”, the Mulberry

A convex mulberry with a somewhat tousled but dense branching. The young twigs have a fresh green leaf, so there is a difference in color in the leaf. Mulberry prefers a sunny, sheltered place.

Quercus Palustris “Green Dwarf”

A densely branched bulbous tree with green leaves that turn red and reddish-brown in autumn. It is well suited for various environments and not choosy concerning the location and type of soil.

Small tree Robinia Umbraculifera

Also called a false Acacia, this Robinia is a deciduous small tree with gray-brown rough bark. The fine foliage is decorative and the flowers are attractive to bees because of their specific scent. The flowers hang in racemes of purple, pink and white and are visible in May and June.

Vitis Vinifera, druif

Fruit trees small garden

Malus Domestica “Reine de reinettes”, apple tree

An apple tree that bears an oval crown. In the spring it blooms with white to light pink flowers. The apples taste sweet and sour and can be harvested in late September or early October.

Pyrus Communis “Triomphe de Vienne”, pear tree

Pear trees are decorative because of their distinctive branches and trunks, in addition, it has an ornamental value in the fresh green leaf, the yellow to orange autumn color and, of course, the fruits. Pears can be planted in a border, but also against the facade of your home or house.

Prunus armeniaca “Cluster Orange”, apricot tree

An apricot tree produces yellow fruits with a red blush. In spring, light pink flowers bloom on the small tree. The apricots appear at the end of the summer.

Vitis Vinifera, grape

A grape is a vigorous, fast-growing climbing plant that can also be grown as a tree. For this, you need some years of patience. But it is certainly worth it. In the fall you can eat the large green or blue grapes. The tree likes a sunny and sheltered place.