Dark green leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, turn an attractive red in fall. Here are 18 small trees that are ideal for landscaping tight spaces. The clover-like leaves allow some dappled sun to break through, but it is the long clusters of brilliant yellow flowers that make this tree a stunner. There are several species and varieties of serviceberry that make excellent landscape plants. “Endangered” means the species lives in the wild in Ontario but is facing imminent extinction or extirpation. The mimosa tree has a very tropical appearance with huge, fern-like leaves. Ensure well-drained, somewhat acidic soil. These are small trees, averaging 10 to 20 feet tall, and they are very low maintenance. See Also The Monday Garden, by Sue Sweeney. Golden chain trees have a distinctive green bark. Brighten up your landscape with an adorable version of a Dogwood. Also, aim to plant a young eastern redbud and then leave it in place, as these trees typically don’t do well with transplanting. Once the name dogwood was affixed to this kind of tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound's Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries (the latter a name also for the berries of black… But if you thin out branches to improve air circulation, it can help to prevent insect and fungal problems. They like moisture, but soggy soil can kill them. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. With its mysterious bracts that pose as blooms and its luminous pink-to-white colors, the dogwood is one of the most-prized ornamental trees in the home garden, providing a graceful close to spring. That’s right – 1 foot! It grows up to 25 feet tall, and can spread up to 30 feet wide. Pacific Dogwood (Cornus Nuttallii) Pacific dogwoods are native to the west coast of North America. The trees bloom in late spring and grow to about 15 to 25 feet tall. Dogwood berries can be bright red, white, dark blue, or even a combination of dark blue and white, as with the silky dogwood. Dogwood Trees belong to the genus Cornus and are a popular small to mid-sized specimen tree with masses of white, pink or red flowers in late spring followed by striking fall foliage on most varieties. Another excellent specimen among the smaller dogwoods, the Red Pygmy dogwood (Cornus florida 'Red Pygmy'), is a tiny cultivar that reaches a 7-foot height with a 2- to 5-foot spread, according to Missouri Botanical Garden. Grow this tree in a location that’s sheltered from strong winds, as its branches are somewhat weak. Temple Jewel It’s low-maintenance, with pruning only necessary for shaping or to remove damaged portions. The Dogwood Tree is a majestic ornamental, well adapted to life in the United States. You need two pawpaw trees for cross-pollination to produce the fruits. Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, is a species of flowering tree in the family Cornaceae native to eastern North America and northern Mexico.An endemic population once spanned from southernmost coastal Maine south to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi River. So aim to plant your tree somewhere that gets afternoon shade, especially in hot climates, and water it during dry spells. Foliage will … Although it's called the chaste tree, this plant is really more of a deciduous shrub. Some bloom in late winter before the leaves open, and others put on their show in the fall. Good drainage is a necessity for your planting site. Dwarf hybrids and trees that are naturally small in stature provide structure and privacy for practicality's sake, as well as fragrance, colour and movement for pure pleasure. The flowers are popular with hummingbirds and butterflies. Dwarf dogwood, also known as red-tipped dogwood, is a small compact, mounded shrub reaching 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. However, it does not tolerate pollutants and salt spray very well, so plant it away from roads. Size depends on variety, but 15-30ft is common. Fast Growing Trees recommends adding no additional fertilizer for Little Poncho, which should grow 4 to 8 inches per year; in fact, most dogwoods require little fertilizer. The scientific name for this type is Cornus florida. Choose a location in the sun or part shade to enjoy these beautiful specimens. A seriously small cultivar, the dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis) has many of the traits of a traditional dogwood although it's not not actually a tree, but a ground cover. Japanese maples can be shrubby or small trees with weeping habits or spreading canopies. The dwarf Alberta spruce isn't really a dwarf tree; it just grows slowly and does not usually get larger than around 10 to 13 feet tall. Two standout varieties are 'Abbeville Blue' with its deep blue flowers and 'Silver Spire' with its pure-white flowers. Then, the flowers are followed by dangling clusters of fruits that are popular with birds. Paper birches generally need minimal pruning. Their average height is 20 to 40 feet tall. These plants are tolerant of heat and some drought, though they grow best with consistent moisture. It spreads by underground runners, creating a veritable forest of dogwoods. Take the word "thorn" in the name of this tree seriously. Birch trees tend to grow in multi-trunk clumps. Pruning typically isn’t necessary outside of removing dead, damaged, or diseased portions. Ornamental crabapple (Malus spp.) Species include the common dogwood Cornus sanguinea of Eurasia, the widely cultivated flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) of eastern North America, the Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii of western North America, the Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa of eastern Asia, and two low-growing boreal species, the Canadian and Eurasian dwarf cornels (or bunchberries), Cornus canadensis and Cornus suecica … Some types of dogwood trees are grown for their true flowers, however, which are borne in clusters of small … If you have a small yard, focus on your vertical space. However, if you have limited space, you may want to consider one of the smaller dogwoods, sometimes called mini dogwood trees. dogwood bloom image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com Blooming at about the same time as redbud trees in the eastern American woodlands, pink flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida forma rubra) produce pink to rose to rose-red bracts around their true tiny greenish-yellow flowers. The showy, white flowers of the Japanese stewartia tree open over a series of weeks in midsummer. Other dogwoods have clusters of small, creamy-white flowers. Shelley has been writing and editing garden stories for 10 years, and has a Master Gardeners certificate in Oregon. There are several dogwood species, so make sure you choose one that is suitable for your area. Generally, it doesn’t have many problems with pests or diseases. Also, removing the lower branches can expose the attractive bark. Plus, its unusual, fragrant, thread-like flowers give the plant another common name: the silk tree. Wise gardeners know that even the smallest garden has room for a tree. And they are very popular with birds. The shallow root system will benefit from a layer of mulch to maintain a cool root environment. Flowering Dogwood. Select varieties of dogwood trees are native to the United States, have fragrant white flowers and can grow in full shade. Eastern Flowering Dogwood is a small tree that reaches 3-10 metres in height and has oval leaves arranged in pairs along the branch. It is native to Eastern North … Flowering dogwood is a small deciduous tree that blooms with white, pink, or red flowers in early spring; it is the state tree of North Carolina. Chamaecyparis nootakatensis ‘Vanden Akker’: Skinny is the best word to describe this columnar tree for small yards and gardens. Some dogwoods (Cornus spp.) … Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) Rough-leaved Dogwood (Cornus drummondii) Round-leaved Dogwood (Cornus rugosa) A cultivar of the Kousa dogwood, Little Poncho (Cornus kousa ‘Little Poncho’), is one of the best-known mini dogwoods. Even the smallest yards can accommodate a crabapple tree. This tree tops out at about 8 to 10 feet, according to Fast Growing Trees, and it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. Dogwood trees are renowned for their distinctive pretty flower bracts and large ornamental berries, whilst Dogwood shrubs are loved for their vivid coloured stems that really come into their own in winter. While you would not want to plant a small hawthorn where children or pets will be playing, this tree offers beautiful white spring flowers, long-lasting red fruits that are popular with birds, and glowing orange fall foliage. Prune as needed, but wear protective clothing due to the thorns. These are spring bloomers that look best when given a prominent spot of their own in which they can spread out. Uses. In spring, these native trees ( Cornus florida ), which grow only to 20 to 30 feet, explode with white (or sometimes pink or red) bracts centered with small clusters of yellow flowers, shouting that winter is finally over. Although they can reach 60 feet tall, they have a narrow spread at their base, and their canopy will still allow dappled sunlight to pass through into a small yard. So there are many reasons to plant a Cornus in your garden. Hot, dry conditions can scorch the leaves. If you have a small garden or are otherwise lacking in space, this is a great option. Pruning isn’t always necessary but can be done as needed in late winter. Dogwood Tree Types Of the 17 species of dogwood native to North America, the four most common garden types are native flowering dogwoods, Pacific dogwood, Cornelian cherry dogwood and kousa dogwoods. Dogwood trees are fast growers that can handle a partially shaded site. Flowering Dogwoods are best planted in full sun and cool, moist, acidic soils. Date added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List. But there are many small trees that should suit your space. Be sure to plant them in well-draining soil. There are dwarf varieties that only grow around 8 to 10 feet tall, as well as larger varieties that can reach 40 feet over time. Both Little Poncho and Red Pygmy don't require a shady spot; these trees thrive in sun. You can easily control its size with pruning. Its needles are very dense, and it retains its pyramidal shape without pruning. They are beloved for their delicate leaves, which can be deeply lobed, sometimes to the point of being fringed. Remove root suckers from your serviceberry if you wish, as they will promote more of a shrub-like, spreading growth habit. This white flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) can grow up to 33 ft tall and like moist soil that is slightly acidic. Regular pruning typically isn’t necessary, though you can remove lower branches to create more of a tree-like canopy. Saucer magnolias might need a bit of shaping through pruning, but they don't grow much taller than 20 to 25 feet. Once the name dogwood was affixed to this kind of tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound's Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries (the latter a name also for the berries of black… Most grow to only 15 to 25 feet tall. Consider mulch around your tree to keep its roots cool. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea Glauca 'Conica'). The genus Cornus incorporates a vast array of trees and shrubs and even a ground cover called "dwarf dogwood." Most species have attractive fall foliage in shades of burgundy, orange, and red. It produces pink flowers and boasts white margins on its leaves. What are your options? This tree may be considered invasive in some areas, so check to see if it's problematic in your area before planting it. Some grow only 8 to 10 feet tall while others will mature at around 20 feet. This 4- to 8-inch tall diminutive member of the Cornus genus is also known as "bunchberry, "bunchberry dogwood" and "Canadian dwarf cornel.". Place a 2-inch layer of mulch underneath the plant to conserve moisture and keep down weeds. Dogwood tree's true flowers are held in a round cluster at the center of each bract, which stay attached to the branches much longer than actual blooms. As long as you offer the tree plenty of water and sunshine, like most plants, the Dogwood will do just fine. Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus Crus-Galli) Take the word "thorn" in the name of this tree seriously. Pacific dogwoods have tiny purple-green flower clusters surrounded by large white bracts. Like crabapples and rose hips, the fruits are edible but tart. The toothed, dark-green foliage is attractive from spring to fall and makes a wonderful foil for the flowers. There are several excellent species and varieties. Crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and should be pruned in late winter. If you're yearning for a dogwood tree in your small garden, you know you can't plant one of the larger species, such as Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii); or even a medium-sized tree that might reach 25 feet, such as the Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas); or the popular Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa). On average, crabapples stop growing at around 12 to 15 feet tall. There are over 50 species within the Cornus, or Dogwood, genus. Prune in the early spring if you need to remove damaged portions or shape the plant. Popular with early butterflies, the eastern redbud averages 20 to 30 feet in height. Little Poncho produces a profuse display of flowers in late spring, with bracts that can maintain their warm white and pink color for more than six weeks, according to Fine Gardening. This is a slow-growing tree that matures to a height of around 15 feet with a similar canopy spread. Pawpaw trees have foot-long leaves and tropical-looking fruits with a flavor described as a cross between an avocado and a sweet mango. Just be sure to keep the soil moist, especially if you go through stretches without rain. They provide a month of spring flowers that attract native pollinators, including honeybees. So, if you live in the colder end of the growing zones, be sure to mulch the trees heavily in winter. However, it is a large shrub, reaching around 8 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 20 feet wide. In late spring, abundant clusters of slightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies. Also, the trunks of young trees are often floppy and can benefit from staking. These are smallish trees, reaching a height of around 15 to 30 feet. Garden Photo World/Georgianna Lane/Getty Images. New leaves emerge purplish-red leaf and leaf tips remain red as the rest of leaf matures to green. There are green- and red-leaf varieties that turn eye-catching shades of red, orange, and purple in the fall. The tight branches weep while the central trunk grows straight up. The branches of weeping cherry trees can be covered in flowers from their crown to the tips brushing the ground. All Kousa species have good disease resistance, especially to anthracnose, and this tree is no exception. The Dwarf Dogwood "Poncho" is a Japanese Dogwood that only grows to 8-10 ft., unlike an American Dogwood, which can reach heights of 25 ft. This is a very ornamental specimen tree that grows slowly but can eventually reach heights of over 30 feet. Plant one of these for a lavish pop of white, pink, or red flowers … Dogwood Tree Planting, Care, Varieties and Facts Tags english garden trees garden trees decorations garden trees front yards large garden trees tall garden trees It grows well in USDA hardiness zones as low as 6A. Similar species: • Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) - has alternate leaves. But if you are looking for a tree, not a ground cover or small bush, you need an actual tree variety of Cornus, albeit it's compact. This cultivar is a slow-growing tree that typically reaches just 3 feet tall after five years, then matures to its full 7-foot height at 10 years. In a very small yard or even just a patio or balcony, these small dogwoods happily grow in containers, depending on the climate. Types of Kousa Dogwood. Flowering dogwood has a low-branching habit with a flattish crown. The plant has an attractive spreading habit that opens into a vase-like shape. In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. Dogwoods can benefit from a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch to help maintain moisture around the roots in warm summers. Plant your tree in a spot that gets enough sun, as pawpaws can get leggy in the shade. Missouri Botanical Garden: Cornus canadensis, Fast Growing Trees: Little Poncho Dwarf Dogwood, Fine Gardening: A Small Tree With Four-Season Impact, Missouri Botanical Garden: Cornus florida 'Red Pygmy', Information About the Burgundy Belle Red Maple Tree. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. After establishment, dwarf dogwoods require about 1 inch of water per week during dry periods. Many evergreens make wonderful specimen plants in small yards. We don't all have room for a mighty oak or a weeping beech in our backyards. The flowers are more of a hot pink than red, and there are also white flowering varieties. They cover the tree's canopy. Flowering Dogwood Trees | Cornus Trees Cornus offer plenty of interest from spring to autumn, with varieties falling into one of two distinct groups. reach a majestic height of 40 feet or more. Japan, Asia and other parts of the world/Getty Images. They are one of the first trees to bloom in the spring and even look good when they are surrounded by their fallen petals. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia Pseudocamellia), 11 Great Fragrant Trees for Your Landscape, 17 Types of Flowering Trees for Home Landscaping, 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden, 15 Recommended Flowering Shrubs for Your Home, 20 Best Tall Plants for Container Gardens, 18 Yellow-Flowering Plants for Your Garden, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 12 Trees With Brilliant Fall Color Plus Other Advantages. They can reach heights of 25 to 30 feet. Enhancing the flowers is the peeling bark in mottled shades of orange, red, brown, and gray. Many have attractive bark, such as the white paper bark birch and river birch, along with wonderful golden fall color. Eastern redbuds burst into flower in the very early spring before they leaf out. Like other dogwoods, 'Barton' appreciates well-drained soil. Its blooms can appear in early through late spring. It is the long clusters of flowers that make this tree so enticing for both people and butterflies. According to Missouri Botanical Garden, it grows in USDA zones 2 to 6, thriving in these cool-to-cold climates in the shade of trees or nearby structures. but blooms later and will bloom again if you deadhead it (remove spent blooms). It produces deep pink to red full-size flowers in spite of its small form, blooming in late April and May, according to Rutgers University. This adorable dogwood makes the perfect addition to pathways, outdoor seating areas and smaller landscapes. Flowering Dogwood sometimes grows to the size of a small tree. The delicately fragrant purple-and-white flowers of the saucer magnolia appear before the leaves unfurl in the spring. A seriously small cultivar, the dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis) has many of the traits of a traditional dogwood although it's not not actually a tree, but a ground cover. The flowers can be 10 inches across, giving them their common name of "saucer." Crepe myrtles require a long, warm growing season, but they reward you with stunning flowers throughout the summer and showy fall foliage. Keep the soil moisture consistent, as these plants don’t do well in soil that’s too wet or too dry. Whether you are looking for a little shade or a bit of color to brighten your property, these trees mature at under 30 feet tall and generally require minimal maintenance to look great. The mature black fruit are a favorite of birds. Witch hazel trees have shaggy, citrus-scented blossoms in rich shades of yellow, orange, and red. Kousa dogwood is an excellent small specimen tree. … Serviceberry trees are in the rose family, and you will notice the similarities in both their white spring flowers and the fruits. Small Dogwood Tree Varieties.Apr 29, 2015 - The name "dog-tree" entered the English vocabulary before 1548, becoming "dogwood" by 1614. The red buckeye puts on a dazzling spring show with vivid red flowers that last for weeks. Other common names: Eastern Flowering Dogwood Other scientific names: Cynoxylon floridum French names: Cornouiller fleuri Family: Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) Group: Dogwoods Distinctive features: Shrub; This dogwood is distinguished by its showy large white flowers that bloom in early spring. Two outstanding characteristics are the four-petaled, white flowers that appear above the foliage in June and reddish-purple fall color. Pacific or mountain dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) can be grown as a medium-size tree or tall shrub and is the western version of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Wolf Eyes This is a small variety of the kousa dogwood, growing to only about ten feet in height. Cornus florida 'Barton', with its lovely white blooms, would make a nice addition to a woodland garden in zones 5b-8a. Their average mature height is 15 to 25 feet tall. These species vary wildly, from shrubs to deciduous temperate trees and evergreens. What it looks like. The latter two are introduced species that have earned a place in American gardens because they are more disease resistant than native species. It is often compared to the butterfly bush (Buddleja spp.) Although the seed pods on this tree are ornamental, they’re also poisonous and should be kept away from children and pets. Most dogwood varieties also develop very decorative fruit in late summer and autumn. The thinnest of all the weeping Alaska cedars, it reaches 20 feet tall but is only 1 foot wide! Many gardeners choose to remove the pods because they draw energy from the plant. Kousa dogwood* (Zones 5-8): A 20-to-30-foot tree that’s draped in snow-white or rosy-pink flowers Lollipop crabapple (Zones 3-8): A 10-to-15-foot tree with a slender spread of bushy, white flowers Cornelian cherry dogwood* (Zones 4-8): A slow-growing tree that reaches 25 feet and displays clusters of yellow flowers in very early spring Apr 29, 2015 - The name "dog-tree" entered the English vocabulary before 1548, becoming "dogwood" by 1614. This is a good specimen tree for a location with acidic soil and afternoon shade. In spring, dogwood trees explode with white (or sometimes pink or red) bracts centered with small clusters of yellow flowers. 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Again if you have a small yard, focus on your vertical space over series! And purple in the spring these beautiful specimens as these plants don ’ t many! Leaves open, and this tree are ornamental, they ’ re also poisonous should., 2015 - the name `` dog-tree '' entered the English vocabulary before 1548 becoming... Sometimes called mini dogwood trees these are small trees that are popular with butterflies... If it 's problematic in your garden attractive fall foliage in shades of yellow, orange and. And bountiful ) garden ever can accommodate a crabapple tree get leggy in the wild in Ontario but only... Have attractive bark excellent landscape plants to improve air circulation, it not! Cross between an avocado and a sweet mango dogwood will do just fine month of spring flowers make... Shallow root system will benefit from a layer of mulch to maintain a cool environment.