This selection includes some of the most reliable and popular small trees. Many are chosen for
their ornamental features, from the elegant flowers of the star magnolia to the fireworklike leaves
of the Japanese maple. This guide will help you choose the right tree for the right spot.
JAPANESE MAPLE
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Japanese maples are small trees or large
shrubs with intricate or pretty leaves,
and often fine fall color. ‘Sango-kaku’
(also called ‘Senkaki’) is known as the
coral bark maple due to its orange-red
branches and trunk, a beautiful winter
feature. Its leaves open pinkish-yellow,
becoming green in summer and yellow
in fall. It reaches 20 ft (6 m).
REDBUD
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’
This striking, multi-stemmed tree
has heart-shaped, deep red-purple
foliage that turns to orange and bronze
in fall. Reaching up to 26 ft (8 m), ‘Forest
Pansy’ bears clusters of small, pink
flowers in spring before the leaves
appear. It prefers fertile, moisture-
retentive, well-drained soil in a sunny
or partially shady position.
CHOOSING TREES
FOR SMALL GARDENS
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TREES // CHOOSING TREES 170 –171
CORNELIAN CHERRY
Cornus mas
A small, spreading tree or shrub,
Cornelian cherry has green oval leaves
that turn purple in autumn. It produces
clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers in
winter, followed by red, cherrylike fruit.
Growing up to 13 ft (4 m), this tree is best
planted in well-drained soil in sun or
partial shade at the back of a border or
as part of an informal hedge.
CRAB APPLE
Malus ‘John Downie’
A vigorous, ornamental crab apple tree,
‘John Downie’ produces an abundance
of bright red to orange-yellow crab
apples in fall. Reaching up to 30 ft (10 m),
it has showy white spring blossoms that
are ideal for pollinating other apple trees
nearby. Plant in a sunny position,
although it tolerates partial shade, and
in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
CHINESE TUPELO
Nyssa sinensis
A tree or large shrub that reaches
26–39 ft (8–12 m), the Chinese tupelo
has deciduous leaves that display a
wide array of fall colors from mellow
yellows to fiery oranges and reds. The
green-gray bark takes on an interesting
flaky texture as it matures. Plant in full
sun or partial shade, in fertile, well-
drained, acidic soil.
STAR MAGNOLIA
Magnolia stellata
This small tree, which grows up to
10 ft (3 m) tall, produces beautiful white,
star-shaped flowers, which emerge
before the dark-green, narrow, oval
leaves, and can be vulnerable to spring
frost. ‘Rosea’ has flowers with a rosy
pink center. It tolerates most soils that
are moist but well drained, and prefers
a sunny or partially shady spot.
WHITE CEDAR
Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’
This slow-growing evergreen conifer
reaches up to 3–5 ft (1–1.5 m). Its bushy,
bronze-tinged, amber-yellow foliage
makes a lovely centerpiece in beds and
borders. ‘Rheingold’ prefers moist,
well-drained soil in full sun. The foliage
becomes richer in color in winter, but
may need some protection from
damaging, drying winds.
KILMARNOCK WILLOW
Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’
Forming a distinctive mushroom shape,
this small willow has long, trailing
branches. In late winter, silver-colored
“pussy willow” catkins appear. Thin out
select stems and prune away dead wood
to keep the head airy and maintain the
shape of the tree. It can grow to about
6 ft (2 m) in height and spread and prefers
well-drained soil in a sunny spot.
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