Trees for smaller gardens

Top 5 smaller trees

From the hundreds of smaller trees available, here is our short list. There are further suggestions in the list below

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Acer griseum AGM. ‘Paperbark maple’ is commonly called this thanks to the rich curls of bark that roll off the branches. 10m (33ft) tall.

Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ AGM. White flowers in late March or April. Height: 6m (20ft)

Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ AGM has crimson fruits and good foliage colour. Height 8m (26ft)

Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’ AGM has amber yellow fruits and good foliage colour. Height 10m (33ft)

Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ AGM is columnar with erect branches. Pale pink pom-pom flowers appear in April. Height: 8m (26ft)

Practical considerations

There are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a tree for a small garden. Here are some of the more important ones:

• Height and spread: This is probably the most important factor. Even small ornamental trees may, over time, reach a height of 6-7m (20-23ft) or more. If this is too much, consider a weeping form, as these rarely increase much in height or even a large shrub. Spread is not normally such a problem, unless in a very restricted area, in this case consider a columnar tree, as these do not spread appreciably
• Season of interest: Consider when you want your tree to look good, thinking about flowering time, foliage, fruit and bark. If you only have room for one tree ideally look for one with more than one season of interest such as fruit or autumn colour following on from flowers
• Deciduous or evergreen: Both types of trees have their advantages, the obvious one for evergreens being that they keep their leaves. But you don’t get the lovely autumn colours with evergreen trees
• Trees for specific locations: we have also provided the following profiles to help with growing trees in containers and trees for wet soils
• Trees and buildings: many people worry about planting a tree close to a property, and there can be risks in doing so. For more information see our trees near buildings profile

To help you choose, you may find it useful to visit gardens where a good range of well-established and mature ornamental trees can be seen and evaluated.

Suitable plants

If you would prefer to view a full list of small trees (up to 8m or 26ft), try the RHS Plant Selector.

Flowering Trees

• Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ AGM – red flowers in May. Height 8m (26ft)
• Genista aetnensis AGM – yellow flowers in July. Height 8m (26ft)
• Magnolia × loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ AGM – pink flowers in April. Height 8m (26ft)
• Malus baccata ‘Lady Northcliffe’ – pinkish-white flowers in May, with yellow/brown crab apple in autumn. Height 6m (20ft)

With particularly attractive fruits:

• Malus ‘Evereste’ AGM – white flowers in April; then yellow fruits. Height 7m (23ft)
• Prunus ‘Accolade’ AGM – pink flowers in May. Height 8m (26ft)
• Prunus ‘Pink Perfection’ AGM – double, pink flowers in April. Height 8m (26ft)

Flowering trees with autumn colour

Small for neutral to acid soil:

• Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Ballerina’ AGM – white flowers, red fruits and leaves in autumn. Height: 6m (20ft)
• Cornus kousa – white bracts in June. Height 7m (23ft)
• Cornus kousa var. chinensis AGM – white bracts in June, but taller than the one mentioned above. Height: 7.5m (25ft)

Small for any soil pH:

• Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ AGM – double pink flowers in April. Height 8m (26ft)
• Prunus ‘Shogetsu’ AGM – double white flowers in April. Height 5m (16ft)
• Prunus × subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ AGM – blush-pink flowers from November to March. Height 8m (26ft)
  

Medium for any soil pH

• Cercis siliquastrum AGM – rose-purple flowers in April to May. Height: 10m (33ft)
• Koelreuteria paniculata AGM – yellow flowers in July and August. Height 10m (33ft)
• Malus floribunda AGM – red in bud, opening pink then white, and red/yellow fruits. Height 10m (33ft)

Trees with coloured foliage in spring and summer

Small:

• Acer negundo ‘Auratum’ – golden leaves, turning paler in summer. Height 8m (26ft)
• Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ AGM – pink leaves in spring that turn yellow by summer. Height 6m (20ft)
• Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ AGM – silver leaves; weeping habit. Height 5m (16ft)

Medium:

• Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’ AGM –  silver-grey foliage, and yellow autumn colour and fruits. Height 10m (33ft)

Trees with autumn colour for neutral to acid soils

Small:

• Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ AGM – deeply-lobed leaves, turning ruby-crimson in autumn. Height 5m (16ft)
• Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ AGM – crimson fruits and good foliage colour. Height 8m (26ft)
• Sorbus vilmorinii AGM – pink-to-white fruits and autumn colour. Height 5m (16ft)
• For a full list, see the RHS Plant Selector

Medium:

• Amelanchier lamarckii AGM – white flowers in April. Height 10m (33ft)
• Styrax japonicus AGM – white flowers in June. Height 10m (33ft)
• Acer griseum AGM –  peeling bark; scarlet foliage in autumn. Height: 10m (33ft)

Medium trees with autumn colour for any soil pH

• Malus × zumi ‘Golden Hornet’ AGM – yellow fruits of 2.5cm (1in). Height 10m (33ft)
• Prunus ‘Pandora’ AGM – shell pink flowers 3cm (1¼in) across in March or April. The young leaves are bronze-red, colouring richly in autumn. Height 10m (33ft)
• Malus moerlandsii ‘Profusion’ – pink flowers in April; red/orange fruits in autumn. Height 10m (33ft)
• For a full list, see the RHS Plant Selector

Autumn colour and fruits

Small:

• Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ – bronzy-crimson leaves. Height 8m (26ft)
• Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ AGM  –  crimson fruits and good colour. Height 8m (26ft)

Medium:

• Sorbus commixta ‘Embley’ AGM – orange fruits and autumn colour. Height 10m (33ft)
• Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’ AGM – amber yellow fruits and good foliage colour. Height 10m (33ft)
• Sorbus sargentiana AGM – scarlet fruits and good foliage colour. Height 10m (33ft)
• Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ AGM – dark purple leaves. Height 10m (33ft)

Coloured stems and bark plus autumn colour 

Small for neutral to acid soil:

• Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ AGM – coral-red young branches. Height 6m (20ft)

Medium for neutral to acid soils:

• Acer capillipes AGM – bright red young growth, and branches streaked green and white. Height 10m (33ft)

Coloured stems and bark

Small:

• Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila AGM – mottled green, grey, cream bark. Height 6m (20ft)
• Acer griseum AGM – dark, flaking bark. Height 10m (33ft)

Evergreen

Small:

• Arbutus unedo AGM – flowers white in spring and fruits red in October and November. Height 8m (26ft)
• Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Rothschildianus’ AGM – a semi-evergreen with yellow berries. Height 5m (16ft)
• Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila AGM – grey-green leaves and a patchwork bark. Height 6m (20ft)

Medium:

• Ligustrum lucidum AGM – white flowers in late summer. Height 10m (33ft)

Tall and Narrow (fastigiate or columnar)

Small:

• Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ AGM – columnar, with erect branches. Pink blossom in spring. Height 8m (26ft)
• Sorbus aucuparia ‘Fastigiata’ – a slow growing, columnar small tree with closely erect stems. Height 8m (26ft)
• For a full list, see the RHS Plant Selector

Medium:

• Prunus ‘Spire’ AGM – a vase-shaped tree with autumn colour. Height 10m (33ft)

Weeping

• Malus ‘Royal Beauty’ AGM – red flowers and dark red fruits. Height 2m (6½ft)
• Prunus ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ AGM – pink flowers in April. Height 3m (10ft)
• Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’ – a compact tree with small leaves. Height 8m (26ft)
• For a full list, see the RHS Plant Selector

Links

RHS Plant Finder