What Are the Best Small Trees for a Garden?

How to Choose a Tree for a Small Garden

Trees provide shade, attract wildlife, add height and create a vibrant focal point in the garden. But how do you choose the best tree for a small garden? Here are some key points to consider:

How Big Will It Grow?

When choosing trees for small gardens, space and final size are the main factors. It's not just because your favorite tree fits now - it doesn't mean it won't become too big in 5, 10 or even 20 years. Research the height and width of your favorite tree before purchasing.

Evergreen or Deciduous?

Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year round, which is why they're called 'evergreens'. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn, leaving bare branches during winter until spring.

Both types have their advantages, and the choice depends on your preferences. Deciduous trees can add vibrant autumn colors and spring blossoms, while evergreens look the same all year.

In a Pot or Planted?

When people think of trees, they usually picture one planted in the ground. However, some trees grow well in pots, and growing a tree in a container is an excellent way to limit its size. This also allows you to move the tree around your garden or patio, making it more versatile.

Consider whether you want to plant a new tree in the garden or are willing to provide extra watering for a potted tree.

Best Small Trees for Autumn Color

Who doesn't love seeing leaves change from green to stunning orange-red hues in autumn? Some of the best trees for fall color also work well in pots and don't take up much space in a garden.

Japanese Maple

Also known as Acer, Japanese maples are compact and slow-growing, making them perfect for small gardens. They're easy to grow with elegant form and striking foliage that becomes especially vibrant in autumn. Available in shades of green, gold, red, and purple. Japanese maple is a deciduous tree that can reach up to 8 meters in about 50 years. Leaves change color with the seasons, maintaining their brightest hues in autumn.

Different varieties of Acer require different light conditions. For instance, trees with red or purple leaves need plenty of sunlight to highlight their rich tones. On the other hand, trees with light green foliage and variegated coloring prefer dappled light to avoid leaf burn.

Acers grow well on most soil types but prefer well-drained and moist. Japanese maples grown in the ground are fully hardy in harsh winter temperatures. However, they need a sheltered spot from strong winds. Container-grown Acer needs additional winter protection.

Mountain Ash

Also known as rowan, mountain ash has rich green pinnate leaves that appear in spring and mature by summer. Flat clusters of white flowers bloom in April and May. But it's autumn when people really notice this slow-growing small tree. Orange-red berries replace white flowers at the beginning of autumn, perfectly complementing new yellow leaves and creating a fiery display.

Rowan attracts wildlife. Nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. Small mammals and birds love autumn berries. Rowan is low-maintenance and slightly tolerant of air pollution, making it ideal for urban gardens.

Amelanchier

Amelanchier trees come in various types but generally don't exceed 10 meters, making them perfect for small gardens. In spring, beautiful flowers appear on bare branches, followed by green leaves with bronze tones that turn green by early summer. In late autumn, the foliage changes to magnificent orange and red hues, with clusters of small black berries completing the look.

These low-maintenance trees don't require pruning (except removing dead or damaged branches) and create a big impact throughout the season. They tolerate partial shade but amelanchiers have the most vibrant colors in full sun.

Best Flowering Small Trees

Flowering trees are ideal for small gardens. If you don't have enough space for both trees and flowering plants, flowering trees offer the best of both worlds.

magnolia

Some magnolia varieties grow quite large, but small magnolias are perfect for gardens with limited space. They create a striking effect in spring and summer when they bloom with large, vibrant flowers in various shades. These fragrant blooms are a great way to welcome guests at home, making magnolia popular for planting in courtyards.

Magnolias grow best in sun or partial shade, in moist and well-drained soil. They prefer a sheltered spot from strong winds.

Japanese Wild Cherry

Japanese wild cherry is a medium-fast growing tree that can reach up to 8 meters in 20-50 years. This small deciduous tree has a bushy form. In summer, it is covered with clusters of small white flowers surrounded by cream-colored sepals. These flowers are replaced by pinkish-red fruits in autumn, when the leaves acquire a beautiful red-purple hue.

Also known as 'kusa', Japanese wild cherry is hardy in British winter temperatures and grows well on most soil types, unless the soil stays waterlogged. Prefers sunny spots but also does well in light shade.

Mini Apple Tree

Blooms from April to May, the mini apple tree is a compact round tree ideal for small gardens. It has large, rich green leaves and blooms with pinkish-white flowers in early spring. Fruits appear in autumn - mini apple trees are edible when cooked into sauces, but not recommended to eat raw.

Plant in sun or partial shade, in moist and well-drained soil. Mini apple trees grow well on most soil types and pH levels, and are also cold-hardy.

Best Evergreen Trees for Small Gardens

Evergreen trees add interest and color all year round, making them an excellent way to maximize space.

Snow Tree

Also known as Eucalyptus niphophila, the snow tree is an attractive tree that provides interest all year in small spaces. The trunk is covered with cream-spotted bark with grey and green tones. White flowers bloom in spring, while the grey-green foliage remains all year.

Grow snow tree in a protected spot with lots of sun. Well-moisturized and well-drained soil is best, and the tree grows on most soil types including clay, limestone and sand.

Lavender Tree

This is one of the best trees for small gardens because it grows well in pots or in the ground. It can be left to grow naturally, creating a large bush or small tree. Alternatively, it grows well into formal shapes, creating topiary pyramids or tree-lolipops for patios or entrance gardens.

Dark green foliage is complemented by inconspicuous green-yellow flowers in spring, but the main attractive element of the tree is its aromatic leaves. In addition to an appealing appearance, laurel leaves have great culinary potential and can be used fresh or dried to add flavor to various dishes, including soups and stews.

Lavender trees are quite versatile. While they grow best in the sun, they tolerate partial and even full shade. Prefer a sheltered spot from strong winds and grow in moist but well-drained soil.

Loquat

If you're looking for the best evergreen tree for a small space, loquat is an excellent choice. Also known as Eriobotrya japonica, the loquat produces more than just greenery in autumn and winter. Its fragrant white flowers appear from October to December, producing fruits resembling peaches in spring. However, due to the tendency of flowers to freeze in Britain, ripe fruits are rarely seen. The characteristic leaves are large and naturally attractive with glossy foliage that adds a touch of exoticism.

These small trees grow best in sunny, sheltered spots. They prefer well-drained soil and don't like competition from other plants for nutrients in the soil.

Best Trees to Grow in Pots

Growing trees in pots not only allows you to move them around, but also helps limit the tree's size and spread, making maintenance easier.

Flowering Cherry

There's nothing better than seeing a tree covered in cherry blossoms. Several varieties of flowering cherries are perfect for small gardens, filling the space with beautiful flowers in spring.

Pinkish-pink flowers of Prunus Kurser precede a bright autumn display of red and gold leaves. Or choose Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis for a second bloom in late autumn. If you like fragrant flowers, you'll love Prunus Fragrant Cloud with large white flowers that fade to pink as they mature.

Many trees from the flowering cherry family are suitable for pot cultivation and make excellent trees even for very small gardens. Choose a sunny spot where the tree is protected from strong winds that might knock off spring flowers before you fully appreciate them.

Olive Tree

This slow-growing specimen is one of the best trees for small gardens. It has evergreen foliage, and the leaves with a leathery coating have silver undersides that shimmer in the sun. Clusters of cream-colored white flowers bloom early summer, followed by green fruits that ripen into black olives in autumn. However, due to less sunshine compared to Mediterranean countries, fruits rarely ripen in Britain.

Even without fruit, early summer blooms and silver foliage create a striking focal point in any small garden. Olive trees can reach up to 8 meters in 50 years, growing best in a protected sunny spot with well-drained soil. Dwarf varieties are ideal for very small gardens, reaching only 3 meters in height.

Silver Birch

Best known for its silver-white bark on trunks and branches, the silver birch attracts birds, pollinators and other wildlife to small gardens. Toothed dark green leaves turn yellow in autumn before falling, revealing interesting bark in winter. Small brown-yellow flowers appear in clusters in March. Spring flowers are enhanced after pollination, producing masses of small seeds that are dispersed by wind and fed upon by birds and small mammals.

Silver birch grows well on most moist but well-drained soils. It likes to be planted in full sun or partial shade and is cold-hardy.

Whether you want to add a bright accent on a patio with a pot or add height and interest to your courtyard, there are many trees for small gardens. The best trees for small spaces maximize vertical space through vibrant foliage, beautiful flowers or evergreen nature without overcrowding the garden.

When choosing a suitable tree, select one that fits your space but won't grow too quickly. Think about other garden elements and when they bloom, choosing a small tree that complements your other plants and adds value to your space.