Small Trees for Landscaping

Mother Nature has bestowed mankind with a variety of trees, shrubs and bushes. Many of these bushes, shrubs and trees can transform dull or boring spaces into a visual delight. Their beautiful foliage and vibrant-colored flowers can leave you feeling mesmerized. Landscape artists have been using such trees for the purpose of adding visual interest to places.

Trees that are most commonly used in landscaping include ornamental trees, evergreen trees and shade trees. While the ornamental trees are planted due to their colorful foliage and flowers, the evergreen trees stay green all year round. Shade trees provide shade and also serve as a habitat for birds.

These trees, are often used for designing residential, commercial or public places. While some of the trees can grow very tall and cannot be used as a part of landscape designs for small spaces, there are various trees that don't grow beyond the height of 25 or 30 feet.

If you are thinking of growing smaller-sized trees for landscaping, you can go through this information on some of the small-sized trees for landscaping.

Though people living in large houses with big gardens or lawns can think of growing trees that might grow very tall, these big trees might not work that well for those who stay in small homes. Some of the shade trees can grow up to a height of 40 to 50 feet and their spread could be in the range of 15 to 20 feet.

While these can cast shade and provide respite from scorching heat, their size might not be right for smaller-sized homes. So, if you are pressed for space, it would be better to find out more about different types of small trees that can be used for lining the driveway or beautifying your front yard, backyard or patio.

Sargent Crabapple: This is a small ornamental tree that can grow up to a height of 10 feet while the spread lies in the range of 6 to 12 feet. Its flowering season starts during the late spring. Its vibrant-colored pink buds develop into beautiful white flowers. It's definitely one of the preferred choices for those who wish to grow small trees for the purpose of landscaping.

Purpleleaf Sand Cherry: This is a deciduous shrub that can be used for adding color to the landscape. It can grow up to a height of 10 feet. The rich red-purple color of the foliage and beautiful pink and white flowers that bloom in the month of May make it visually appealing. The spread of this ornamental flowering tree is not too large and that makes it a wonderful choice for smaller spaces. In autumn, this small tree gets laden with purple-colored fruit.

Ann Magnolia: If you are looking for ornamental flowering trees for your flower garden or patio, you could plant an Ann Magnolia. This tree is known for its beautiful purple-colored flowers. This is a slow-growing deciduous tree that can attain the height between 10 to 15 feet and its spread is about 12 feet. Its beautiful flowers bloom in the spring.

Red Cloud Dogwood: You can also grow a flowering dogwood tree in your garden. This tree can grow to a height of 20 to 30 feet. It can adapt easily to various soil types. This is an ornamental flowering tree that produces brilliant red and pink colored blossoms.

While offering year round interest due to the vibrant-colored flowers, foliage with crinkled margins is also interesting to look at. It makes for a great choice for accent planting around your patio. The red berries that it produces also attract birds and squirrels.

Downy Serviceberry: Though Serviceberry is a beautiful ornamental tree that can grow anywhere between 15 to 25 feet in height, it surely scores high in terms of visual appeal. This is a deciduous shrub, but it is possible to train it into a single trunk small tree.

Though you will see beautiful white flowers during the mid spring, it is the vibrant-colored foliage of this tree that will draw your attention. Birds are also attracted to the berries produced by Serviceberry. So, you can enjoy watching birds as well.

Besides the aforementioned trees, you also have the option of growing Smoke tree, Japanese black pine, Yaupon, Redbud Forest Pansy, Persian Lilac plants, Redbud Lavender Twist, American Mountainash and Sweetbay Magnolia. These will surely brighten up your garden.