Small Trees to Grow in Your Garden: 13 Types of Small Trees

Small trees grow less than twenty-five feet tall and wide, making them a perfect option for yards, gardens, and landscapes with limited space. There are many benefits to growing trees in your yard: Trees provide shade and oxygen, reduce soil erosion, purify the air, and help maintain soil moisture.

Home gardeners with minimal yard space may consider planting a dwarf tree variety, typically growing between seven and ten feet tall.

If you are a homeowner in search of size-appropriate trees for your small front yard or garden, check out the following list of ornamental trees and dwarf varieties:

1. 1. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus): This fast-growing tree produces lavender blooms with a distinct fragrance of sage. Chaste trees grow best in warmer climates and can thrive in a variety of soil types.
2. 2. Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera): Native to South Europe and Asia, the cherry plum tree is notable for its red or purple leaves and white and pink flowers.
3. 3. Crabapple tree (Malus): Crabapple trees are a type of fruit tree that produce dense blooms of white and pink flowers and red fruits called crabapples, which attract birds and other beneficial pollinators.
4. 4. Crape myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia): These deciduous trees and shrubs have a dense growth habit and are native to the Eastern United States. Crape myrtle trees have white, pink, or red summer flowers and foliage that turns red and orange in the fall.
5. 5. Dogwood tree (Cornus florida): These popular flowering trees are notable for their white or pink flowers and pyramidal growth habit. Kousa dogwood, a popular variety, produces star-shaped blooms and is tolerant to cold climates.
6. 6. Eastern redbud tree (Cercis canadensis): The Eastern redbud tree has pink and purple early spring flowers and dark-green, heart-shaped leaves.
7. 7. Fringe tree (Chionanthus): Fringe trees produce white and fragrant flowers with fruits that attract birds and other pollinators. The fringe tree grows foliage that gives it a rounded shape and is resistant to fire.
8. 8. Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum): Japanese maple trees grow slowly and are notable for their showy, deep red and purple foliage and bonsai shape.
9. 9. Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata): The Japanese tree lilac is a deciduous tree with creamy white flowers and green leaves that produces brown fruits.
10. 10. Magnolia trees (Magnoliaceae): Magnolia trees have fragrant flowers and waxy or glossy leaves. Many varieties have a wide range of flower colors and foliage types, such as the star magnolia with purple flowers or the sweet bay magnolia evergreen tree with sizable white flowers.
11. 11. Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata): The panicle hydrangea produces small pinkish flowers that change color based on the season. This tree is hardy with a consistent annual bloom and can grow in full sun or shade.
12. 12. Serviceberry tree (Amelanchier): This dwarf variety is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making it one of the best trees to plant in a small space. The tree has blooms of white flowers and produces edible berries from late spring into late summer.
13. 13. ‘Winter King’ green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis): This popular deciduous tree has green foliage that grows in a wide spread. The ‘Winter King’ is one of the best trees to grow because of its disease resistance.

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