Colourful trees for small gardens
Colourful trees for small gardens. Whatever size your growing space, there is a tree to suit. From bonsai trees grown in small, shallow containers to towering cypress and mighty oaks. When your garden is small, choosing the right plants for your situation and taste is especially important. But there is no need to go without a tree. In fact, careful placement of a tree in your small garden can provide some privacy from neighbours and give it the feeling of a larger space.
You could grow a tree in a sturdy container, like a large, half barrel, which will help to restrict the growth. But be careful of where you position the container as there is a potential, as the tree grows taller, for it to tip over in strong winds.
I like trees that provide interest over a long period and preferably, year-round interest. There are so many colourful trees that fit the bill and I’ve chosen some of my favourite deciduous trees for smaller gardens.
Spring colour
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’
My parents planted one of these acers in their small cottage garden about 45 years ago and it still looks superb. My father cut back the lower portions of the growth so that the head appeared more like an umbrella. It allowed my children to run around beneath its beautiful shrimp pink leaves in spring. Leaves then become yellow-green and then dark green with cream mottling. Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ eventually grows 4m-8m height and spread. Although after 45 years, the one at my parents’ former home has yet to reach much more than 5m. Apart from needing well-drained soil and a relatively sheltered site, they are unfussy about soil or situation.
Prunus ‘Snow Goose’
For an upright ornamental, flowering cherry tree, I would choose Snow Goose every time! The single, pure white flowers face downwards, which allows us to look up into them to enjoy their delicate structure. Although it is happiest in full sun, I’m growing it in a slightly shady spot on our north-facing hillside garden and it produces masses of flowers and good growth.
In autumn, the leaves turn bronze and red. Height 6m-8m and spread 2.5m-4m. It will tolerate most soils and aspects.
Magnolia
There is a wide choice of magnolias, from ‘Columnar Pink’ to deep cerise flowers and delicate whites. The old magnolia tree in my back garden is gnarly, it leans heavily to one side and is laden with lichens, and yet it still puts on superb display of large white and pink flowers each spring. Whichever variety you choose, they prefer slightly acidic, consistently moist soils that drain well. Grow in full sun or partial shade and if possible, a sheltered site.
Summer interest
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Lace Lady’
For small gardens and patios, try a dwarf variety of Robinia that has twisty stems and leaves. In June it produces small, white, fragrant flowers and during winter, the bare twisted stems provide plenty of interest. It prefers acid soil, in full sun or dappled shade and benefits being sheltered from cold winds. Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Lace Lady’ reaches about 4m height and spread in 10 years, but can be pruned hard to keep it within the space you have available.
Ulmus × hollandica ‘Wredei’
An upright golden Elm will brighten a corner with its crinkled yellow leaves. It forms a pillar when young, but spreads more as it ages. After around 10 years, it will reach 5m height and 2m spread. Ulmus × hollandica ‘Wredei’ tolerates both urban conditions and a coastal climate, but prefers moist soil that drains freely and full sun. It has won an RHS Award of Garden Merit, indicating that it is excellent for ordinary growing conditions and performs well.
Betula pendula ‘Golden Beauty’
The upright growth habit of many birch trees makes them suitable for a smaller garden, but they can grow tall. Careful pruning during spring or autumn to reduce the height is possible, although avoid pruning in the height of summer or during winter. For colourful trees for small gardens, try ‘Golden Beauty’ has gold-green leaves that also provide good autumn colour and attractive bark throughout winter. Tolerant of most situations, but they prefer an acid soil.
Albizia julibrissin ‘Ombrella’
A small tree with mimosa-like, ferny leaves that produces pink flowers near the top of the crown during summer. It can start flowering in its third year. The green foliage becomes colourful in autumn and the seed pods change from green to brown and may remain on the tree throughout winter.
Albizia julibrissin ‘Ombrella’ is not hardy during cold winters and may suffer die back during a very cold spell in an exposed area. Height and spread 2.5m-4m. Grow in any well-drained soil except clay, choose a sheltered spot in full sun in a south or west facing situation.
Autumn colour
Ginkgo Biloba ‘Menhir’
This is a columnar variety of Ginkgo, which has an interesting fan-shaped leaf and vibrant golden autumn colour. Reaching 5m in height, but only 1m spread, it is ideal for smaller gardens or in a spot where you want vertical interest without casting too much shade across the garden. Ginkgo is known as the oldest tree on earth, thought to have been around for over 200 million years.
Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’
This beech is upright in growth habit and although it will eventually reach over 15m height and 3m spread, it is slow growing and therefore is usually suitable for smaller gardens. New growth has yellow tones which turn green. In autumn, the foliage of Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’ becomes golden yellow and red, and the bark is grey throughout winter. Easy to please as long as it is not in waterlogged soil, but may struggle in coastal conditions.
Winter interest
Acer Palmatum ‘Winter Flame’
Most acers will provide year-round interest with attractive bark, colourful leaves and leaf shape. It is worth exploring Acer palmatum varieties to find the one you find most attractive. Choose a coral bark maple for added winter interest. Try Acer Palmatum ‘Winter Flame’ for a year-round display. In spring, the new foliage appears with red or pink tones, changing to a fresh green through the summer. In autumn, the leaves turn gold, giving a spectacular display before falling. The cold of late autumn and early winter promote the branches and stems to become a striking red which provides a focal point in the winter garden.
Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’
The purple leaved hazelnut or filbert is a large shrub with broad dark purple leaves, that works well as a multi-stemmed tree in a small garden. Height 400cm – 800cm and spread 250cm – 400cm. They can be kept in check through pruning and coppicing. They are easy to grow from seed (plant a nut) and are unfussy plants. During the late winter, pink-purple catkins appear on bare branches which are followed by edible nuts in the autumn.
Cornus mas
The Cornelian cherry can reach 3m-6m height and 2.5m-4m spread. During late winter, small yellow flowers appear on the leafless branches. If pollinated by visiting insects, they produce dark edible berries during summer and autumn. The green leaves turn purple during autumn. The fruits of Cornus mas aren’t particularly sweet, so are best used in jams, wines and sauces. It is unfussy about soil, as long as it isn’t compacted or waterlogged.
Fruit trees for small gardens
Many fruit trees are grown as cordons or column. A single trunk will have short spurs that carry the fruit. Alternatively, if you have a wall or fence, you can obtain a harvest from a fan-trained or espalier fruit tree, like this one that I spotted at Margam Park in South Wales. They take up very little space in the garden and soften the look of structure.
Thrifty tip
Use grass cuttings, fallen leaves or homemade compost to feed the trees in your garden. Place them on the soil under the tips of the branches, as this is a good indication of where young roots will be. Over the coming weeks and months, the grass cuttings or leaves will break down naturally to feed the tree.
More information
The article ‘Colourful trees for small gardens’ was written for Amateur Gardening magazine in autumn 2024. I may have updated some of the specific varieties and images. Links are included to help you find the suggested plants that have flowers producing a scent in the spring months.
If you know of other colourful trees that are great in small gardens, please leave a comment, especially if you live in a climate that is different to the oceanic temperature climate of the UK. It would be great to build a resource for gardeners across the globe.
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