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Week 2 - Small trees and shrubs for small gardens
This week, we're looking at small trees and shrubs for small gardens. You all produced some interesting lists of good choices - if you want to remind us of those here, posting them in the comments, please feel free.
Here's the handout on small trees, or large shrubs that can be grown as small trees:
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
TREES FOR SMALL GARDENS
Trees for small gardens can be chosen for a number of reasons:
1 They remain relatively small
2 They have foliage which casts dappled, rather than thick, shade
3 They can be kept small by regular pruning
4 Their ornamental qualities outweigh their problems of size – in this case, if severe pruning is unacceptable, it may be necessary to fell them when they outgrow their surroundings and replant with a younger specimen.
Some trees are never suitable for small gardens:
1 Those with particularly invasive roots that can damage drives and foundations. Poplars and willows are among the worst.
2 Trees that properly belong in a forest, and have a dense canopy of leaves. Beech, sycamore, oak and many conifers are examples.
For small gardens, trees that do not reach more than about 20 feet in height are the most suitable. There may be only space for one tree, so those that provide more than one season of interest are especially valuable. A Japanese crab apple (Malus floribunda), for example, produces masses of crimson buds, then pale pink or white flowers, and finally small red or yellow fruits on arching branches.
A deciduous tree’s appearance when leafless is very important in a small garden, since the tree may be bare for 6 months each year, and visible from every window facing the garden. Good choices include Rhus typhina (stagshorn sumach), Ficus carica (fig), and Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ (weeping pear). None has showy flowers, but all have handsome foliage and winter silhouettes with character.
Heavily thorned or prickly trees such as hawthorns (Crataegus) or hollies (Ilex) may be unsuitable in some locations if they restrict access, while those such as limes (Tilia) that drip sticky honeydew should not be sited where they will overhang an area for sitting out. If planning to underplant, choose a light-foliaged, deep-rooted tree, as it is hard for small plants to compete with shallow, greedy roots – cherries are an example of this.
Some trees for small garden are:
Acer capillipes Snake-bark maple 30ft
Acer griseum Paper-bark maple 30ft
Acer palmatum Japanese maple 25ft
Amelanchier lamarckiii June berry 30ft
Arbutus x arachniodes Strawberry tree 25ft E
Betula albo-sinensis var. septentrionalis Chinese red birch 80ft
Betula ermanii Erman’s birch 70ft
Betula pendula Silver birch 80ft
Betula utilis var jacquemontii Himalayan birch 60ft
Catalpa bignonoides ‘Aurea’ Indian bean tree 50ft
Cercidophyllum japonicum Katsura tree 70ft
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ Eastern redbud 30ft
Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ Chinese redbud 10ft
Cercis occidentalis California redbud 12ft
Cercis siliquastrum Judas tree 30ft
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood 20ft
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ 25ft
Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder 20ft
Cornus kousa var chinensis 22ft
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ Corkscrew hazel 15ft
Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Cornubia’ 20ft SE
Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Fructu Luteo’ (yellow fruit) 30ft SE
Cotoneaster 'Hybridus Pendulus' 8ft E
Cotoneaster purpurascens (syn multiflorus) 10ft
Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Rothschildianus' (creamy-yellow fruit) 20ft SE
Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Exburyensis' (yellow fruit) 25ft SE
Cotoneaster x watererii ‘John Waterer’ 15ft E
Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ Hawthorn 25ft
Crataegus x lavallei ‘Carrierei’ 22ft
Eucalyptus niphophila Snow gum 20ft E
Eucryphia x nymanensis Leatherwood 50ft E
*Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’ Beech 60ft
*Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’ Beech 70ft
Ficus carica Common Fig 10ft
Genista aetnensis Mount Etna Broom 25ft
Gleditisia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ Honey locust 40ft
Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Rubylace’ Honey locust 40ft
Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ Laburnum 25ft
Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia 20ft E
Magnolia liliiflora Magnolia 10ft
Magnolia x soulangeana Magnolia 20ft
Magnolia stellata Star magnolia 10ft
Malus Apple; crab apple c20ft
Prunus Cherry c25ft
*Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ 25ft
Prunus ‘Cheal’s Weeping’ 10ft
Prunus glandulosa 15ft
Prunus ‘Kanzan’ 30ft
Prunus mume Japanese apricot 28ft
Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ Autumn cherry 25ft
Prunus x subhirtella ‘Pendula Rosea Plena’ Weeping autumn cherry 25ft
*Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ 40ft
*Pyrus communis ‘Beech Hill’ Common pear 30ft
Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ Weeping pear 25ft
Rhus typhina Stagshorn sumach 15ft
Robinia pseudacacia ‘Frisia’ Black locust 50ft
*Robinia pseudacacia ‘Pyramidalis’ 50ft
Robinia pseudacacia ‘Tortuosa’ 50ft
Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’ Whitebeam 30ft
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan 50ft
Sorbus cashmiriana 25ft
Sorbus commixta 30ft
Sorbus vilmorinii 15ft
Vitex agnus-castus Chaste tree 6-25ft
Notes
* – trees that that are fastigiate, or columnar, in shape
E – evergreen
SE – semi-evergreen
Jo Hanslip
May 2003
Revised January 2010
And here's a list of some shrubs that would be suitable. I've marked the ones that also have good autumn colour.
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
Small Shrubs for Small Gardens
The following all grow to a maximum of 5 feet or less.
Abeliophyllum distichum
Clusters of very fragrant, creamy white flowers which in late winter or early spring
Berberis thunbergii 'Concorde'
A new introduction, this is a low growing form with relatively large, burgundy purple leaves in spring and summer which turn vivid shades of scarlet in autumn
Cistus x corbariensis
A rounded evergreen shrub with dark green glossy leaves and masses of pink flower buds which open to pure white flowers, with yellow centres throughout summer
Cornus stolonifera 'Kelsey's Dwarf'
A low growing selection, with a dense, shrubby habit and colourful red stems in the winter . Leaves turn red and yellow in autumn.
Escallonia 'Red Dream'
A fetching, small evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves and masses of pretty, pinkish-red, tubular flowers from mid to late summer
Euonymus alatus var. ciliatodentatus
A very rare cultivar, In the autumn, the dainty leaves turns a beautiful, rich pinkish-red and it can also have heavy crops of bright reddish-purple fruits with orange seeds.
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus'
An attractive, tough evergreen plant with very dark green leaves and grows with a densely rounded habit. Good for shade.
Hedera helix 'Erecta' Upright English Ivy.
A curious, eye-catching and upright ivy with very small leaves that are close together on stiffly upright stems. Very slow growing to 3 feet. Good for shade.
Ilex crenata 'Mariesii' Dwarf Japanese Holly
An unusual, evergreen and very slow growing selection. The leaves are small and without prickles. Female.
Ilex dimorphophylla Okinawan Holly
An unusual, slow-growing lush green holly which can be found growing in the wild on the Ryukyu Islands, south of Japan. It has red berries.
Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina Dwarf Myrtle
A dwarf cultivar, with masses of pretty, lightly scented white flowers in late summer followed by attractive white berries.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb'
A dense, dwarf evergreen shrub, to 3ft, with lovely, wavy young leaves which start a pale green colour and turn a deep, rich-purple as they mature in early summer.
Prunus laurocerasus 'Mount Vernon'
An interesting and unusual, dwarf form of evergreen Laurel. A compact, dense, low-growing shrub with large, glossy, dark green leaves. The low growing habit makes it good for ground cover its small size, to 2ft, makes it a popular choice for use in rock gardens and low borders. Good for a shady area.
Rhaphiolepis umbellate Yeddo hawthorn
A dense, slow growing, evergreen shrub which is native to Central and Southern Japan with clusters of slightly fragrant, white flowers in late spring and early summer which stand out well against the dark green leaves. Will grow well in heavy shade.
Ribes laurifolium Evergreen Flowering Currant
An unusual native to parts of Western China, Ribes laurifolium is an evergreen shrub with lovely, sweetly scented flowers in late winter or early spring. To 3ft.
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Deben Blue' Trailing Rosemary
A low, spreading rosemary with narrow, aromatic, grey-green leaves all year round and sporadic violet blue flowers in early summer
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Sissinghurst Blue' Rosemary
An upright evergreen cultivar,
Ruscus aculeatus Knee Holly / Butchers Broom
An interesting, low growing shrub which belongs to the Lily family and has small prickly leaves and red berries
Salix hastata 'Wehrhahnianii' Halberd-Leaved Willow
First discovered in Switzerland, this has masses of silvery catkins in spring with attractive golden anthers The leaves are oval and sea-green, with a finely toothed edge. A slow growing willow which is grown mainly for its display of catkins in spring.
Salix helvetica Swiss Willow
Native to the Alps, Salix helvetica is a dwarf willow, to 3 ft, with soft, silvery leaves and greyish-white catkins in early spring. A very hardy plant, good for a rockery or scree garden.
Salix lanata 'Glanspean' Woolly Willow
A rare willow which can be found growing in the wild in sub-arctic parts of Europe and Asia It has golden-yellow catkins in early summer and makes a very ornamental foliage plant, ideal for a low border or a wet area next to a stream or pond.
Salix subopposita Hime-yanagi / Japanese Willow
A dwarf species of willow has pretty honey coloured catkins in spring and fine greyish-green, narrow leaves. Very low growing, to 2 ft, with a mound-like habit, this is suitable for even the smallest of gardens as an unusual ground cover plant.
Skimmia japonica 'Rubella'
A reliable male selection, this has glossy green leaves and spikes of dark red flower buds in autumn lasting until they open into white flowers spring.
Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa'
A graceful, deciduous shrub with prettily cut, green leaves which turn soft-yellow and orange in autumn. Masses of greenish-white flowers in mid to late summer. A low growing, ground cover shrub, especially useful for planting under trees.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Berkeley' Blueberry
Introduced in 1949, Vaccinium corymbosum 'Berkeley' has numerous open clusters of large, tasty, pale blue fruit. Leaves turn fiery red and orange in autumn.
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop' Blueberry
A blueberry cultivar which is popular with both commercial growers and gardeners. Leaves turn bright red and orange in autumn.
Weigela florida 'Cappuccino'
A new introduction, Weigela florida 'Cappuccino' has chartreuse new leaves in spring which turn an attractive bronze yellow later in summer. Clusters of pink, showy flowers in early summer and contrast with the darker foliage. The compact habit makes this a neat garden plant. To 3ft.
Weigela 'Jean's Gold'
A new introduction, Weigela 'Jean's Gold' is a deciduous shrub with lime green leaves when they first emerge, turning to gold later in the summer In autumn these leaves show good red and orange tints before falling. Masses of deep red buds open into scarlet flowers in early summer.
Yucca flaccida 'Ivory'
A handsome species of Yucca which can be found growing in the wild throughout the Appalachian Mountains of North America from North Carolina to Alabama.
Indicates good autumn colour.
Other small shrubs are found among genera such as hebe, fuchsia, rosa, azalea, rhododendron, hypericum, spiraea, caryopteris, abelia, ceanothus, syringa, and hydrangea
Sources include http://www.bluebellnursery.com/
Jo Hanslip
January 2010
So, what were your choices?
Jo