Having a small garden doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beauty that trees offer. There are plenty of compact, fast-growing varieties that will enhance your landscape and provide shade, flowers, fruit, and support for wildlife. Whether you enjoy the solidity and depth of evergreens or the beauty of spring blooms, you can design your garden exactly how you like it, no matter the size. Ahead, our gardening experts explore some fantastic small tree varieties that can flourish in smaller gardens while making a significant impact.
Meet the Expert
Melissa Higgins, wholesale manager at Sprague’s Nursery & Gardens Center in Bangor, Maine
Cameron DePaola, landscape designer and owner of Riverside Landscaping Inc
Related: 18 Small Patio Ideas to Maximize Your Outdoor Space
01 of 06
Palibin Lilac Tree
Credit: Courtesy of Fast Growing Trees
Palibin lilac tree (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’) is the perfect densely branched tree for any small garden, says Melissa Higgins, wholesale manager at Sprague’s Nursery & Gardens Center. “It features fragrant light purple blooms covering a neat, rounded habit and showcases wonderful bronze to red fall color for multi-season interest.” A must-plant for small spaces that need a pop of character and dimension.
Size: 5 to 7 feet tall x 4 to 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
02 of 06
Pendula White Spruce
Credit: Pride’s Corner Farms
This fast-growing evergreen features blue-green needles year-round, and its slender form provides an elegant structure. Higgins notes that this white spruce (Picea glauca) is well-suited to heavy snow loads. Its height allows for a burst of dimension in smaller spaces, but its compact width takes up minimal square footage. It’s an excellent statement piece planted in a group or as a standalone.
Size: 20 feet tall x 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
03 of 06
Little Lime Panicle Hydrangea
Credit: Courtesy of Fast Growing Trees
Available in tree form, this panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) variety will be a charming addition to your garden. “This summer bloomer produces beautiful chartreuse flowers that cover the plant canopy, maturing to pink blooms in the fall,” says Higgins. It is fantastic for floral arrangements and drying. This plant offers a tidy appearance with late and long-lasting color, making it the perfect, dreamy addition to any outdoor area.
Size: 5 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
Related: How to Dry Hydrangeas to Preserve the Blooms Long After Summer
04 of 06
Japanese Maple
Credit: Getty Images
Also known as the full moon maple, Japanese maple (Acer japonicum) is a deciduous tree that produces small, purple-red flowers in the spring. In fall, its round, palmate leaves turn red and yellow, offering multiple seasons of interest. If its mature size is too big for your garden, you can prune it to maintain a smaller form, says Cameron DePaola, landscape designer and owner of Riverside Landscaping Inc.
Size: 8 to 10 feet tall x 10 to 12 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
05 of 06
Louisa Crabapple
Credit: Pride’s Corner Farms
This weeping flowering crabapple (Malus) produces abundant pale pink flowers from graceful cascading branches. In the fall, the tree looks equally stunning with its persistent golden-yellow fruit, which adds incredible texture to the landscape without mess. “It is bird-friendly and beautiful in winter when under-lit with landscape lighting,” says Higgins.
Size: 12 to 15 feet tall x 12 to 15 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
06 of 06
Chaste Tree
Credit: Getty Images
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a compact variety that produces fragrant, striking lavender-blue flowers during summer. The elongated, upward-facing blooms can also appear in shades of pink, white, or deep blue. This beautiful tree attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, making it a vibrant addition to any garden. It is well-suited for small yards and is easy to care for. While standard cultivars typically reach heights of 10 to 20 feet, dwarf varieties, such as ‘Blue Diddley,’ grow to about 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Size: 3 to 20 feet tall x 3 to 20 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loose, well-draining soil rich in organic matter
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