Saturday, June 24th, 2023
Disclaimer: Product stock, prices, and information is subject to change after blog publish date.
Those of us who love gardening know that we can always find room for a new plant, even in the smallest of garden spaces! If you have a small space in your garden to fill, you may think that planting a tree or shrub is out of the question, but that is not the case. Dwarf forms of trees and shrubs can be added to small gardens to provide structure, privacy, colour, flowers, fragrance, fruit, movement, multi-season interest, etc. There are tree and shrub options available, even if you’re limited on space.
When choosing a tree or shrub for a small garden, it is important to consider the size at maturity of the tree or shrub you are interested in planting. The appropriate tree or shrub will not outgrow its site, will need less maintenance in terms of pruning and will be in scale with its surroundings. You must also take into consideration the cultural requirements (soil, sun exposure, etc.) for the tree or shrub to thrive. Then you can take into account aesthetics, such as whether you like the look of something that is upright, horizontal, or has a weeping form, if you prefer flowers, colourful and/or interesting leaves, etc.
Here are some of our tree and shrub suggestions for small spaces:
Bobo Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘ILVOBO’)
2-gallon pot for $35.99
Quite possibly the best sun loving hydrangea ever bred! Loaded with conical white flowers from top to bottom. Blooms turn pink and last until the fall. 3’ tall and wide.
Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder
Early Evolution Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘AJ14’)
1-gallon pot for $19.99
A very unique panicle hydrangea! Flowers start lime-white before turning pure white, then blush as they age, ending up dark pink in the fall. 2’ tall and wide. Full sun/part shade.
Red Dragon Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Red Dragon’)
3-gallon pot for $149.99
There are many Japanese maple varieties to choose from and they make small spaces feel big. ‘Red Dragon’ is a beautiful weeping cutleaf variety with red foliage. 5’ tall and wide. Full sun/part shade.
Frans Fontaine Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’)
30-gallon pot for $618.99
This hornbeam will be 25’ tall and 6’ wide in 10 years or so. The columnar habit makes it great for smaller landscapes. The pointy, textured leaves turn an outstanding gold colour in the fall. Full sun.
Mariken Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba ‘Mariken’)
7-gallon pot for $123.99
Globe-shaped with distinctive blue-green foliage that turns buttery yellow in the fall. 2-3’ tall and wide. Full sun.
Straight Talk Privet (Ligustrum vulgare ‘Swift’)
2-gallon pot for $39.99
Adds columnar form to the landscape as a vertical accent or can be grouped for hedging. It has lightly-scented white flowers from late spring to early summer. Grows to be 12’ tall and 2-4’ wide, but can be pruned to desired height and width. Full sun/part shade.
Velveteeny Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Cotsidh5’)
2-gallon pot for $37.99
Deep burgundy foliage turns brilliant shades of orange and red in the fall. Billowy puffs of grey to pink ‘smoke’ cover this small, dwarf variety in the summer. 3-4’ tall and wide. Full sun.
Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder
Tiny Wine Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘SMPOTW’)
1-gallon pot for $17.99
A significantly more compact variety of ninebark. The foliage emerges a wine-red and matures to a deep red-purple, contrasting the showy white and light pink flowers that appear in the spring. 3-5’ tall and 3-4’ wide. Full sun.
Little Gem Spruce Standard (Picea abies ‘Little Gem’ Std)
3-gallon pot for $159.00
This slow-growing, lollipop-like tree is great along a walkway or beside a door. An adaptable and hardy evergreen. 3’ tall and 2’ wide. Full sun.
Fire Chief Globe Cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’)
2-gallon pot for $39.99
A globe-shaped shrub with fine, reddish foliage at the tips when grown in full sun. Foliage tends to be more green-orange when placed in the shade. 4’ tall and wide.
Trautman Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Trautman’)
5-gallon pot for $129.00
A narrow columnar evergreen with blue-green needle-like foliage and silver-blue berries. 18’ tall and 3’ wide. Full sun.
Please contact us for latest availability of the trees and shrubs featured in this blog as limited stock may be available.