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The 12 best trees for small gardens

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Some trees, such as the Japanese maple, can be grown in containers. The limited space for the roots ensures the plant doesn’t grow too quickly. This is ideal for preventing cramped conditions on a balcony or terrace.
Some trees, such as the Japanese maple, can be grown in containers. The limited space for the roots ensures the plant doesn’t grow too quickly. This is ideal for preventing cramped conditions on a balcony or terrace.

The 12 best trees for small gardens

Trees give gardens structure; they essentially form the garden design framework. This applies to large gardens just as much as small spaces, and even on balconies and terraces, trees can grow in pots, providing visual interest. When space is limited, the most important requirement is that the trees remain small and not take up too much room. We will introduce 12 of the best trees for small gardens and share what to consider when planting and caring for them. 

Designing with trees

A tree is an asset to any garden. Blossoms, growth habit, leaf colour, and bark texture can provide attractive focal points within every season. Trees are also habitats and food sources for many garden animals, as well as offering shade on hot summer days.  

Before choosing a tree for your garden or a container on your balcony, you should ask yourself a few questions: 

  • What purpose should the tree serve? Should it act as an attractive focal point with its distinctive blossom and leaves, provide shade for a seating area under its canopy, bear fruit, or enhance the appearance of the front garden? 

  • How tall and wide will it grow? 

  • What are the site conditions in your garden? This includes the soil quality, light conditions, and climate. 

Tip
What is better: young or older?

A young tree is cost-effective and establishes itself quickly and easily. However, it requires formative and structural pruning, which must be carried out promptly and correctly.   

The older the tree, the higher the price, as it has already been transplanted several times in the nursery and, thanks to professional care and pruning, has already developed a good growth structure.

Climate trees 

Which trees suit your small garden not only depends on their height and width, but an increasingly important factor is the climate tolerance for small trees. They should not only be heat and drought-tolerant, but they should be sufficiently hardy in the winter and be late to bud to withstand the risk of late-night frosts. 

Growth forms 

You can choose from various compact growth forms, including trees with spherical or small crowns, single or multi-stemmed varieties, ornamental foliage, abundant blossoms, or slim columnar shapes. Here are the most popular forms and varieties. 

Globe trees 

These are ideal for small gardens and limited space. They are branch-free up to the base of the crown, allowing you to stand or walk beneath them easily. Additionally, they lend themselves well to attractive underplanting, which often enhances their appeal. Due to their compact size, globe trees can even be grown in containers. 

The globe locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera') has a beautifully rounded crown. It grows very slowly and reaches a maximum height of 6 metres, with a crown diameter of around 4 metres. A wind-sheltered location is important for the globe locust, but otherwise, it’s low-maintenance.
The globe locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Umbraculifera') has a beautifully rounded crown. It grows very slowly and reaches a maximum height of 6 metres, with a crown diameter of around 4 metres. A wind-sheltered location is important for the globe locust, but otherwise, it’s low-maintenance.
The low-maintenance globe field maple (Acer campestre 'Nanum') is a grafted standard tree. It grows compactly to a height of 5–7 metres, has a diameter of around 3 metres, and is also well-suited for smaller front gardens. Its intensely fragrant flowers in May provide an excellent food source for bees.
The low-maintenance globe field maple (Acer campestre 'Nanum') is a grafted standard tree. It grows compactly to a height of 5–7 metres, has a diameter of around 3 metres, and is also well-suited for smaller front gardens. Its intensely fragrant flowers in May provide an excellent food source for bees.
The decorative, heart-shaped leaves of the Indian bean tree 'Nana' (Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana') make up for the lack of flowers, as they emit a slightly sweet fragrance – something mosquitoes particularly dislike! In autumn, this tree, which grows to a height of 4 to 7 metres, displays lovely yellow foliage. The Indian bean tree 'Nana' appreciates a sheltered location and requires frost protection for both the root zone and crown during winter.
The decorative, heart-shaped leaves of the Indian bean tree 'Nana' (Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana') make up for the lack of flowers, as they emit a slightly sweet fragrance – something mosquitoes particularly dislike! In autumn, this tree, which grows to a height of 4 to 7 metres, displays lovely yellow foliage. The Indian bean tree 'Nana' appreciates a sheltered location and requires frost protection for both the root zone and crown during winter.

Small-crowned flowering trees

These trees are well-suited for small front gardens due to their modest height, but they can also serve as boundaries and provide privacy. They add structure to the garden and thrive particularly well in sunny locations. 

The handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) grows 6–8 metres tall and around 4 metres wide, flowering in May and June. A sheltered, sunny partially shaded location with moderately moist, not overly nutrient-rich soil will ensure a long life.
The handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) grows 6–8 metres tall and around 4 metres wide, flowering in May and June. A sheltered, sunny partially shaded location with moderately moist, not overly nutrient-rich soil will ensure a long life.
The English hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet') remains relatively small, reaching a height of 4–6 metres and a width of around 2.5 metres. Its deep crimson, double flowers, which appear from May to July, give this small-crowned tree its name. The soil should always be slightly moist and nutrient rich.
The English hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet') remains relatively small, reaching a height of 4–6 metres and a width of around 2.5 metres. Its deep crimson, double flowers, which appear from May to July, give this small-crowned tree its name. The soil should always be slightly moist and nutrient rich.
The cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra') is adorned with glossy, dark red leaves. In April and May, pink flowers later develop into edible plums. While it naturally grows as a large shrub, it can also be trained as a single-stemmed tree. It reaches a width of 2–5 metres and a height of just 3–4 metres. This deep-rooting tree copes well with dry periods.
The cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra') is adorned with glossy, dark red leaves. In April and May, pink flowers later develop into edible plums. While it naturally grows as a large shrub, it can also be trained as a single-stemmed tree. It reaches a width of 2–5 metres and a height of just 3–4 metres. This deep-rooting tree copes well with dry periods.

Small-crowned trees

Offer attractive foliage and a spectacular display of colours in autumn. Whilst they do flower, their true strength lies in the colour and texture of their leaves. 

The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) grows to about 6 metres tall and 4 metres wide. In autumn, it glows with vibrant shades of orange and red. A wind-sheltered, sunny partially shaded location with loose garden soil is essential for healthy growth.
The Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) grows to about 6 metres tall and 4 metres wide. In autumn, it glows with vibrant shades of orange and red. A wind-sheltered, sunny partially shaded location with loose garden soil is essential for healthy growth.
The Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) lives up to its name: its wood is exceptionally hard. It grows to a modest height of 7 metres but can spread up to 4 metres wide. Sandy loam soils and light shade are ideal conditions for this tree. It does not tolerate waterlogging. In autumn, it impresses with foliage in shades of yellow, purple, and red.
The Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) lives up to its name: its wood is exceptionally hard. It grows to a modest height of 7 metres but can spread up to 4 metres wide. Sandy loam soils and light shade are ideal conditions for this tree. It does not tolerate waterlogging. In autumn, it impresses with foliage in shades of yellow, purple, and red.

Multi-stemmed, small-crowned trees

These trees have a decorative growth habit and abundant blossoms. While they remain low at 4–6 metres tall, they can spread out to around 4 metres in width.

The juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii), shown here, thrives best in a moderately moist location. Other juneberry species, such as the Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), are also well-suited to drier conditions. It grows to a height of 4–6 metres and spreads to around 5 metres wide.
The juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii), shown here, thrives best in a moderately moist location. Other juneberry species, such as the Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia), are also well-suited to drier conditions. It grows to a height of 4–6 metres and spreads to around 5 metres wide.
With a width of 2–4 metres and a height of 4–6 metres, the Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is well-suited to smaller gardens. Not only are its small, light purple flower clusters decorative, but also its long green pods, which turn brown in autumn and remain on the tree through winter. The Judas tree prefers calcareous, nutrient-poor soils in a sunny location and copes well with drought.
With a width of 2–4 metres and a height of 4–6 metres, the Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is well-suited to smaller gardens. Not only are its small, light purple flower clusters decorative, but also its long green pods, which turn brown in autumn and remain on the tree through winter. The Judas tree prefers calcareous, nutrient-poor soils in a sunny location and copes well with drought.

Low-growing fruit trees

Offering multiple benefits: these low-growing fruit trees impress with beautiful blossoms in spring and provide delicious fruit in summer and autumn. Newer varieties, such as the columnar apples from the Ballerina series, grow vertically and take up very little space. You can find out which other columnar fruit varieties are suitable for gardens and containers, as well as tips for their care, here. 

The so-called miniature fruit, which includes small apple trees, features the variety ‘Red James Grieve’ (also sold under the name ‘Rubin’). The tree does not grow taller than 4 metres. Its medium-sized, sweet, and tangy fruits are ready for harvest from August to October and can be picked in several rounds due to their staggered ripening.
The so-called miniature fruit, which includes small apple trees, features the variety ‘Red James Grieve’ (also sold under the name ‘Rubin’). The tree does not grow taller than 4 metres. Its medium-sized, sweet, and tangy fruits are ready for harvest from August to October and can be picked in several rounds due to their staggered ripening.
With a maximum height of 3 metres, the columnar sweet cherry remains low and compact, making it ideal for small gardens, balconies, and terraces, as it also thrives well in containers. The soft-fleshed, sweet fruits can be harvested in July. For larger yields, it’s worth planting at least one additional cherry tree. This improves pollination, even though the tree is self-fertile.
With a maximum height of 3 metres, the columnar sweet cherry remains low and compact, making it ideal for small gardens, balconies, and terraces, as it also thrives well in containers. The soft-fleshed, sweet fruits can be harvested in July. For larger yields, it’s worth planting at least one additional cherry tree. This improves pollination, even though the tree is self-fertile.
Tip
The final size
Small-crowned trees reach a height of 5–8 metres after about 15–20 years, with a crown width typically ranging from 3–5 metres.

How to care for small trees

The care of small trees is no different from that of large trees, except that small trees are easier to prune, saving you the need for a long ladder and reducing the risk of accidents. 

Let’s start with planting: 
The best time to plant your small tree is in autumn. Spring is also suitable, especially for frost-sensitive species. However, due to climate change, March can already be quite dry and warm, which places additional stress on newly planted trees. Ensuring a good water supply in the first two years after planting is essential. This helps your tree establish itself and get off to a perfect start in your garden. 

Pruning your small tree depends on the tree species. If you want to learn more about tree pruning, take a look here. 

If you'd like to know more about when to carry out specific gardening tasks, you can find the right times to do the important activities in our garden calendar.  

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