Best trees for garden
Garden Trees: Find the Perfect Tree for Your Home Garden
From maples to magnolias, find the perfect tree for any spot in your garden
Lollipop® crabapple. Photo: Proven Winners.
Finding the right tree for your home garden can be a challenge. Whether you are looking to add a bit of shade to your property or to screen a view of a neighboring home, trees are often the solution. Ornamental trees can also be used to create a focal point in your garden. Fruit trees are also beautiful and can be grown in orchard fashion or incorporated into your garden.
ON THIS PAGE:
- TYPES OF TREES
- DESIGNING WITH TREES
When selecting a tree, you may feel a bit like a kid in a candy store. There are small trees that can be grown in pots if you don’t have a lot of room and large trees more suited for a pastoral setting. Furthermore, there are trees with weeping branches and ones that flower profusely; trees that are tall and narrow and ones that are low and wide; trees that are evergreen and ones that put on an impressive autumn show then drop their leaves. You can get a tree with a single, stout trunk or one with multiple slender trunks. And the list doesn’t stop there.
Popular trees amongst home gardeners include dogwoods, maples, cypresses, cherries, magnolias, birches, crape myrtles, and many more. Use the resources below to determine what types of trees you are attracted to and how to work them into the design of your own garden.
TYPES OF TREES
Trees for Fall Color
Nothing else signals the seasonal shift as beautifully as these native trees.
Trees for Privacy
Add some of these great trees to your landscape for screening and privacy.
Best Small Trees to Grow
Plant smaller trees in your yard that won’t outgrow their space.
Flowering Trees For Residential Gardens
Favorite flowering tree picks for bright color and reliable performance.
Evergreen Trees For Residential Gardens
Modest in size and showy in all seasons, these 12 evergreen trees provide year-round color and structure.
Arborvitae
Discover varieties to try, along with basic care and planting tips.
Birch
How to plant, care for, and use birch trees in your garden.
Conifers
Learn how evergreen trees can be used to create a beautiful backbone for a four-season garden.
Crabapple
Showy spring flowers and brightly colored fruit make these ornamental trees an attractive addition to any garden.
Crape Myrtle
Add a punch of late-summer and fall color with crape myrtle trees.
Eastern Redbuds
Celebrate the end of winter with an explosion of pink blossoms.
Flowering Cherry
Ornamental cherry trees herald the coming of spring with a profusion of pink blossoms.
Flowering Dogwood Trees
America’s most popular native flowering tree thrives in the home garden.
Hawthorn
Multi-seasonal appeal and reliability are hallmarks of this common landscape plant.
Japanese Maple
Nothing beats Japanese maples for center of attention drama and vivid fall color.
Magnolia
How to plant and care for saucer magnolia, southern magnolia, and more.
Olive
Learn the basics and get tips for pruning, harvesting, and overwintering olive trees indoors..
Purple-Leaf Plum
Add a splash of color and contrast to your yard or garden with purple-leaf plum trees.
DESIGNING WITH TREES
Add Color, Texture, & Pattern With Bark
Take a close-up look at the intricate bark of eight trees, and read four tips on how to design with bark.
Espallier Trees for Every Garden
Get recommendations for fruit-bearing and ornamental trees that work great as espaliers, plus tips and tricks for training them.
10 Design Ideas for Trees
Discover how to make the most of new and old trees alike.
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Best Trees to Plant - 15 Options for the Backyard
Put Down Some Roots
1/17
Trees add much-needed shade, privacy, color, and value to your backyard. Check out this list of longstanding favorites that you can easily incorporate into your lawn design for stunning results.
istockphoto.com
Dogwood
2/17
A dogwood tree brings beauty and interest to your backyard all year long. It flowers during spring in a profusion of white, pink, and red blossoms, and then features a lush and compact canopy of foliage in the summer. Most varieties display red foliage in the fall before dropping leaves to show off attractive branching in the winter. There’s a variety for most any zone in the United States, making it no surprise that dogwood is one of the most popular flowering trees in America.
istockphoto.com
Saucer Magnolia
3/17
Emblazoned with pinkish-purple, saucer-shaped flowers in the early spring, saucer magnolia is a backyard showstopper. Growing 20 to 30 feet tall and thriving in Zones 4 through 9, it’s an ornamental that's suitable for almost any yard.
istockphoto.com
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Sugar Maple
4/17
If you’re looking to add fall interest and color to your backyard, sugar maple is a great selection.
Growing 60 to 75 feet tall, the sugar maple boasts a spreading canopy that puts on a vibrant show in autumn. Considered both a shade and an ornamental tree, it’s no wonder this is an American favorite for the yard.
istockphoto.com
Silver Maple
5/17
In as little as five years, the silver maple tree will transform your backyard into a shady retreat. The silver undersides of its leaves not only give the silver maple its name, but also lend the tree a shimmering silver appearance in the breeze. It has a vast root system and large trunk, so be mindful to plant it away from sewer lines and walkways.
istockphoto.com
'Green Giant' Arborvitae
6/17
Backyard privacy is important in so many places, but it's especially crucial between houses and yards in housing subdivisions. 'Green Giant' arborvitae has become a popular privacy screen for plenty of reasons: A fast-growing evergreen, it is exceptionally hardy, tolerates almost any soil, and has a beautiful conical shape.
It’s great for a hedge, a screen, or as a single specimen in the backyard.
istockphoto.com
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Weeping Cherry
7/17
Few trees are as romantic and elegant as the weeping cherry. With cascading branches festooned with white or pink blossoms in spring, this graceful tree will quickly become the highlight of any backyard. Growing 20 to 30 feet tall, with a 20- to 25-foot spread, it’s small enough to fit almost anywhere.
istockphoto.com
Red Oak
8/17
The red oak gets its name from the brilliant leaf color it shows off in the fall. Popular for both its hardiness and beauty, it’s also a fast grower—reaching up to 75 feet tall in maturity—with a rounded canopy. For larger backyards requiring shade, red oak is an excellent choice.
istockphoto.com
American Holly
9/17
Whether you’re looking to provide evergreen privacy for your yard or enhance your property with a singular ornamental stunner, American holly delivers.
Small, white springtime blooms give way to red berries (actually drupes) in the fall, which remain throughout winter. Holly offers both visual interest and food for wildlife, attracting birds and other small creatures to your yard.
istockphoto.com
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Eastern Redbud
10/17
One of the first signs of spring is the brilliant purplish-pink flowering of the eastern redbud, but its branching pattern makes this tree just as beautiful in winter as it is the rest of the year. Growing 20 to 30 feet high, with a 30-foot spread, the eastern redbud will make a dramatic display in any backyard.
istockphoto.com
Tulip Tree
11/17
The tulip tree, liriodendron tulipifera, does double duty as a shade tree and an ornamental. It is bursting with tulip-shaped flowers in springtime and flaunts brilliant yellow leaves in the fall. A fast-growing hardwood, the tulip tree can grow more than two feet in a year.
It is has few pest problems and can be grown in Zones 4 through 9, making it an ideal choice for backyards throughout the country, providing they can handle its height.
istockphoto.com
Paper Birch
12/17
If you are looking for a tree that will quickly make an impression, consider the paper birch. The tall and lean tree is a fast grower that can reach up to 60-feet tall. Its green leaves turn golden yellow in the fall, which creates a contrast with its white peeling bark. Native to northern North America, the paper birch can be grown in zones 2 through 7.
istockphoto.com
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Crabapple
13/17
You can enjoy the colors of a crabapple tree practically year round. In spring, flowers bloom in shades of white, pink, or red depending on the variety. At the end of summer you will notice the small apples fruiting, which last into winter even after the vibrant red and orange leaves fall off the tree.
Grow it in Zones 4 through 8 in full sun with well-drained soil for a dense tree.
istockphoto.com
Fringe Tree
14/17
Suitable in hardiness zones 3 through 9, the fringe tree can grow in most of the United States. It makes a showy appearance in early spring with its feathery white flowers, hence its name. While delicate looking, the fringe tree is tolerant to pollution which makes it a great pick if you live in a city or high-traffic area. You can expect the tree to grow 12 to 20 feet tall and wide.
istockphoto.com
Washington Hawthorn
15/17
If you want to attract birds and butterflies to your yard, consider planting a Washington hawthorn. This smaller deciduous tree—it grows no taller or wider than 30 feet—has fragrant flowers in the spring and small red fruit from summer through winter that draw in the wildlife. It also offers gorgeous foliage in the fall.
istockphoto.com
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Serviceberry
16/17
Serviceberry, or shadbush, is a small native tree that looks great in a landscape for every season.
Tolerant to most conditions, this can be grown in zones 2 through 9. This will be one of the first trees in your yard to flower in early spring, and then fruit berries in summer. In the fall you'll get to enjoy bright red and orange leaves.
istockphoto.com
A Tree Grows Indoors
17/17
Love the look of these stunning trees? While they’re obviously too large to bring inside, there are plenty of trees that are small and easy to grow in your house.
bobvila.com
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15 Beautiful Garden Trees: Fast Growing Ornamental Trees
The backyard is not always the garden where you grow vegetables. Many homeowners prefer a shady garden to vegetable beds.
Trees add much-needed shade, privacy, and beauty to your yard. Here is a list of the most beautiful yard trees that can be grown quickly and without hassle.
Content
- Dogwood
- Magnolia Sulange
- Himalayan Cedar
- Winged Euonymus
- Hibiscus
- Hydrangea
- Norway Maple
- Magnolia
Sulange Magnolia
Sulange magnolia, with pinkish-purple flowers in the form of cups in early spring, leaves no one indifferent. Growing from 5 to 8 meters tall and thriving in the temperate and southern regions, this decoration is suitable for almost any yard.
Sugar Maple
If you want to add color and vibrancy to your backyard, sugar maple is a great choice. At 20 meters high, the sugar maple boasts a sprawling canopy that becomes a spectacular sight in autumn. It is considered both a shade tree and an ornamental tree, so it is not surprising that in some countries it is a top favorite with gardeners. nine0003
Silver Maple
In just five years, Silver Maple will turn your backyard into a shady retreat.
The silver side of its leaves not only gives this species of maple its name, but also gives the tree a shimmering appearance in the wind. It has an extensive root system and a large trunk, so be sure to plant it away from sewers and paths.
Backyard privacy is especially important between nearby houses and yards. Thuja has become a popular privacy protector for a variety of reasons: a fast growing evergreen, exceptionally hardy, tolerates almost any soil, and has a beautiful conical shape. Thuja is great for hedges, screens, or as the only specimen in the backyard. nine0003
Few trees can be as romantic and elegant as cherry blossoms. These graceful trees with cascading branches adorned in spring with white or pink flowers will quickly become the highlight of any yard. Growing from 7 to 9 meters in height and up to 8 meters in width, the tree will easily fit in almost any yard. Most types of sakura survive wintering only in the southern regions of the country.
Red Oak
Red Oak takes its name from the bright color of its leaves in autumn. Popular for both its hardiness and beauty, it also grows quickly, reaching up to 20-22 meters in height at maturity. For large yards that require shade, red oak is a great choice. It feels best in the southern regions of the country, although it also grows successfully in the middle lane. nine0003
Whether you want to provide evergreen privacy to your backyard or decorate your property with an unusual ornamental plant, holly is here to help. Small white spring flowers in autumn give way to red berries that remain on the tree through the winter.
One of the first signs of spring is the brilliant purplish-pink bloom of the Cercis, but the branching pattern makes this tree as beautiful in winter as it is the rest of the year. Growing up from 6 to 9meters in height and a width of 7-9 meters, Canadian scarlet will look spectacular in any backyard.
Tulip tree
Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipus, has a double function: both as a shade tree and as an ornament.
In spring, it blooms with flowers in the form of tulips, and in autumn it flaunts bright yellow leaves. This fast growing deciduous tree can grow over half a meter per year. It has few pest problems and can be grown in the southern regions, but it is worth remembering that the tree can reach a height of 35-36 meters. nine0003
If you're looking for a tree that will grow quickly and brighten up your backyard, consider birches. The tall and slender tree grows quickly and can reach 30 meters in height. Its green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, contrasting with its white, flaky bark.
Apple trees
You can enjoy apple blossoms almost all year round. In spring, the flowers bloom in shades of white, pink or red depending on the variety. At the end of summer, you will notice small apples growing, which persist in winter even after the bright red and orange leaves fall from the tree. Grow apple trees in full sun with well-drained soil. nine0003
Snowflower (Chionanthus virginus)
This fringed tree feels good, blooms and bears fruit in central Russia.
It looks spectacular in early spring with its feathery white flowers, hence its name. Snowflower is resistant to pollution, making it a great choice if you live in a city or a high-traffic area. The tree will grow up to 6 meters in height and width.
If you want to attract birds and butterflies to your yard, consider planting a hawthorn tree. This small deciduous tree - no taller or wider than 10 meters - has fragrant flowers in spring and small red fruits from summer to winter that attract insects and birds. It also has gorgeous colorful fall foliage. nine0003
Irga is a small tree that looks great in the landscape at any time of the year. Resistant to most conditions, it can be grown in central Russia. This will be one of the first trees in your yard to flower in early spring and bear fruit in summer. In autumn, you can enjoy its bright red and orange leaves.
What shade trees do you grow in your garden? Share names and experiences in the comments! If you liked the article, share it with your friends on social networks! nine0003
Daniil Cherkasov.
Freelance writer
The most beautiful trees for the garden. Overview of the best garden trees. Information building site |
Fruit trees and flowers in the modern garden are no longer so popular, as the landscaping of the territory has become of great importance. For the original design of the adjoining area, ornamental vegetation is increasingly being used, the variety of varieties of which is amazing. Among the existing types of trees and shrubs, you can choose exactly those that best fit into the concept of the garden, regardless of the size and type of terrain. nine0012
Selection of trees according to the style of the garden
Determining the type of vegetation that can decorate a garden plot is much easier if you know in what style the planting of green spaces is planned. Today, there are two main concepts for the design of the territory:
- regular garden;
- landscape garden.
Regular garden plants
This variant of the design of the adjoining area involves planting vegetation along clear geometric lines, where thorough care of the plantings is required: shrubs and trees for the garden are carefully trimmed to get the correct shape. Such a garden is characterized by a hedge of any type, so plant varieties that tolerate shearing are often used. nine0003
Suitable for low green fencing:
- golden currant;
- small-leaved lime;
- boxwood evergreen;
- Potentilla shrub;
- yew berry;
- Norway spruce.
If the goal is to create a high molded hedge, then you should pay attention to plants such as:
- small-leaved elm;
- turn; nine0012
- virginian juniper;
- barberry;
- western thuja.
Landscape garden vegetation
This type of personal plot is an untouched corner of nature, where trees and shrubs for the garden grow in their original form, without strict order and forms.
The choice of green vegetation is quite wide, since the only criterion is the susceptibility of the tree to the conditions of a particular area. Otherwise, it's up to the imagination of the landscape designer. nine0003
Both deciduous and coniferous plants are suitable for a landscape garden. Among the favorites can be identified such species as:
- spireas;
- snowberry;
- lilac;
- maple;
- cotoneaster;
- birch;
- mock orange;
- vesicle.
Many of them bloom beautifully, and some varieties even bear edible fruits in autumn.
Exotic trees and shrubs in the garden
Modern gardeners are trying to transfer the riot of greenery and multi-color of the original plants to their territory, since traditional trees and shrubs are somewhat inferior in aesthetics. In addition, many varieties of plantations quickly take root in domestic open spaces, pleasing the eyes with originality and beauty. Consider the most popular types of trees used in landscape design.
Nedzwiecki apple tree
Fruit trees in the garden have always been valued above all others. But this variety is famous not only for its fruitful qualities, but also for its decorative qualities. Nedzwiecki's apple tree is a short plant growing up to 8 m long with purple leaves. The moment of flowering of the tree is the most valuable, since the entire crown is covered with bright pink and lilac flowers. This apple variety has gained popularity due to such qualities as:
- frost resistance;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- unpretentiousness;
- high aesthetic value;
- planting versatility in group, alley and single compositions;
- fertility.
Sakura
Ornamental trees for the garden are hard to imagine without sakura, the flowering of which is known all over the world. This type of tree includes short-bristle and finely serrated cherries.
Its unusual purple color gives the plant high decorative qualities. However, it is quite susceptible and needs care:
- it is recommended to tie a cane layer around the grafting sites and crowns to ensure frost resistance conditions;
- prophylaxis against stone disease is required;
- is desirable to plant in moderately warm climates.
Bignoniform catalpa
Catalpa brought from America today has become a popular plant that adorns domestic gardens. At the end of spring, the tree is covered with a cloud of snow-white blooms, which even in their form look quite exotic. The plant has gained wide popularity due to such features:
- white flowers exude intense fragrance;
- the tree is photophilous, due to which it can grow in any part of the garden;
- unpretentious care;
- tolerates dry weather well, does not require frequent watering.
Horse chestnut
When deciding which trees to buy for the garden, the Baumanii chestnut attracts attention, which is distinguished by lush double inflorescences in white or red. This type of tree is common among gardeners due to such characteristics as:
- intensity of growth;
- unpretentious care;
- disease and insect resistance;
- decorative inflorescences.
Arrangement of trees in the garden
For the design of a neat garden area, it is necessary to be guided by the principles of the correct arrangement of vegetation, since the shape of the composition, the growth rate of plantings and their compatibility depend on this. Consider the main requirements for the placement of trees on the site:
- For a small area, you need to select low-growing or dwarf trees - cherry, dwarf apple, etc.
- Tall vegetation with a lush crown looks good in lowlands or lawns.
- Trees should be planted as far away from power lines as possible.
- When planting trees, try not to allow massive branches to grow above the roof of the building. Since this raises the risk of damage to the roof in case of breaking off.
nine0012 - When choosing a variety and type of tree, consider the conditions of its growth. Do not plant plants with a powerful root system near the house. It is also recommended to decorate the garden depending on the photosensitivity of each tree.
Traditional trees in the garden
The beauty of exotic trees is beyond doubt. However, in many climatic zones, these plants will not be able to take root, no matter how careful care is taken. In addition, among the traditional types of plantations there are no less decorative representatives, which are discussed in detail below. nine0003
Palm Maple
Many of the trees in the garden in the photos of designer publications are exactly a kind of maple. This plant has a high decorative value, because the unusual color and shape of the leaves creates an original look of the tree. In addition, this type of vegetation is famous for the beauty of the inflorescences, the texture of the base bark and the color of the shoots.
This maple has gained popularity due to the following features:
- presence of melliferous characteristics; nine0012
- intensity of growth of seedlings;
- the possibility of using both for group and single compositions;
- combination with coniferous trees.
Himalayan cedar
This plant is a long-lived and fast-growing tree with decorative forms of crown, trunk and needle ends. This is a fairly common variety of coniferous plantation, which is used for a single planting and well protects the site from the penetration of prying eyes, noise and dust. Cedar has the following characteristics:
- attractive crown contours;
- good cutting endurance;
- is used to create a hedge;
- frost resistance of the breed;
- unpretentious care.
Winged euonymus
This dense shrub has a dense, rounded crown that spreads up to 1 meter high.
It grows vigorously and also turns its foliage a rich red hue with the onset of autumn. In addition, the euonymus blooms beautifully in May and decorates the garden with yellow-green umbrella inflorescences. The plant has such features as:
- winter hardiness;
- the ability to create a form;
- high temperature resistance;
- planting versatility: grows well in any soil.
Hibiscus
An uncommon plant shaped like a small tree or shrub. Reaches a height of no more than 3 meters. Hibiscus has gained particular popularity in gardening due to funnel-shaped blooms with an elegant proboscis, as well as petals of various shades. In addition, this tree has such characteristics as:
- abundant flowering;
- unpretentiousness to living conditions;
- length of flowering period;
- aesthetic appeal.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea is an unusual ornamental shrub, characterized by dense caps of bright blooms.
Due to this feature, it has become quite popular among landscape designers and gardeners. Its crown has variable shades and wide large leaves, and the plant reaches a height of up to 3 meters. The beauty of the shrub is revealed in the summer months when the hydrangea is in full bloom. nine0003
Norway Maple
Globozum or Norway maple is an ornamental tree with a rounded crown. Its dimensions reach 6 meters in diameter and are distinguished by a rich yellow-orange hue. This tree gained its popularity due to such features as:
- aesthetic appeal of glossy, palmate leaves in a dense crown;
- compatibility with other types of vegetation on the site; nine0012
- the possibility of forming a single landscape composition, as well as landing in alleys;
- frost resistance;
- low watering requirement.
Magnolia
This tree-like shrub is characterized by the beauty of the flowers that appear on the branches before the leaves come out.
Dense petals of inflorescences have a variability in color - from purple to yellow, due to which the plant can be planted in any composition. Among other advantages, magnolia has a rich aroma and is unpretentious to growing conditions. nine0003
Garden layout
Many owners of the local area strive to create a cozy garden corner where you can spend your leisure time. In order for the site to be as comfortable, tidy as possible and meet the requirements of landscape style, several rules should be followed in its design:
- The first task is to design a garden. Draw a schematic image on paper, where you designate the desired zones for fruit trees, deciduous and coniferous vegetation. At the same time, consider the characteristics of the growth of each variety, since some types of plants will need a sunny side, while others will need a shady one. nine0012
- Calculate the area of the garden. To do this, you need to find out the criteria for each planned planting variety, namely its dimensions in a mature state.
