Japanese maples can be shrubby or small trees with weeping habits or spreading canopies. Flowering Dogwoods are best planted in full sun and cool, moist, acidic soils. Dogwoods can benefit from a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch to help maintain moisture around the roots in warm summers. In late spring, abundant clusters of slightly fragrant flowers attract butterflies. Enhancing the flowers is the peeling bark in mottled shades of orange, red, brown, and gray. Prune as needed, but wear protective clothing due to the thorns. The mature black fruit are a favorite of birds. A seriously small cultivar, the dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis) has many of the traits of a traditional dogwood although it's not not actually a tree, but a ground cover. Flowering Dogwood sometimes grows to the size of a small tree. The flowers can be 10 inches across, giving them their common name of "saucer." Dogwood Tree Planting, Care, Varieties and Facts Tags english garden trees garden trees decorations garden trees front yards large garden trees tall garden trees The scientific name for this type is Cornus florida. This is a very ornamental specimen tree that grows slowly but can eventually reach heights of over 30 feet. Dwarf dogwood, also known as red-tipped dogwood, is a small compact, mounded shrub reaching 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. A cultivar of the Kousa dogwood, Little Poncho (Cornus kousa ‘Little Poncho’), is one of the best-known mini dogwoods. Although beautiful and popular with wildlife, it can be invasive in certain areas, so check with your local cooperative extension office before planting one in your yard. This white flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) can grow up to 33 ft tall and like moist soil that is slightly acidic. These species vary wildly, from shrubs to deciduous temperate trees and evergreens. Two standout varieties are 'Abbeville Blue' with its deep blue flowers and 'Silver Spire' with its pure-white flowers. Place a 2-inch layer of mulch underneath the plant to conserve moisture and keep down weeds. A seriously small cultivar, the dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis) has many of the traits of a traditional dogwood although it's not not actually a tree, but a ground cover. Select plants with an upright growing habit, and use hanging baskets and other vertical planters to maximize your ground space. That’s right – 1 foot! Plant your tree in a spot that gets enough sun, as pawpaws can get leggy in the shade. In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. … Eastern Flowering Dogwood is a small tree that reaches 3-10 metres in height and has oval leaves arranged in pairs along the branch. Once the name dogwood was affixed to this kind of tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound's Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries (the latter a name also for the berries of black… Crepe myrtles require a long, warm growing season, but they reward you with stunning flowers throughout the summer and showy fall foliage. Ornamental crabapple (Malus spp.) This adorable dogwood makes the perfect addition to pathways, outdoor seating areas and smaller landscapes. This 4- to 8-inch tall diminutive member of the Cornus genus is also known as "bunchberry, "bunchberry dogwood" and "Canadian dwarf cornel.". Cornus florida 'Barton', with its lovely white blooms, would make a nice addition to a woodland garden in zones 5b-8a. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. After establishment, dwarf dogwoods require about 1 inch of water per week during dry periods. The plant has an attractive spreading habit that opens into a vase-like shape. Pacific dogwoods have tiny purple-green flower clusters surrounded by large white bracts. See Also The Monday Garden, by Sue Sweeney. These are spring bloomers that look best when given a prominent spot of their own in which they can spread out. Ensure well-drained, somewhat acidic soil. There are dwarf varieties that only grow around 8 to 10 feet tall, as well as larger varieties that can reach 40 feet over time. Pacific or mountain dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) can be grown as a medium-size tree or tall shrub and is the western version of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Golden chain trees have a distinctive green bark. The shallow root system will benefit from a layer of mulch to maintain a cool root environment. Paper birches generally need minimal pruning. The trees bloom in late spring and grow to about 15 to 25 feet tall. The tight branches weep while the central trunk grows straight up. Like crabapples and rose hips, the fruits are edible but tart. Once the name dogwood was affixed to this kind of tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound's Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries (the latter a name also for the berries of black… Some dogwoods (Cornus spp.) dogwood bloom image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com Blooming at about the same time as redbud trees in the eastern American woodlands, pink flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida forma rubra) produce pink to rose to rose-red bracts around their true tiny greenish-yellow flowers. Flowering dogwood has a low-branching habit with a flattish crown. There are several dogwood species, so make sure you choose one that is suitable for your area. Chamaecyparis nootakatensis ‘Vanden Akker’: Skinny is the best word to describe this columnar tree for small yards and gardens. They like moisture, but soggy soil can kill them. Whether you are looking for a little shade or a bit of color to brighten your property, these trees mature at under 30 feet tall and generally require minimal maintenance to look great. February 18, 2009. Both Little Poncho and Red Pygmy don't require a shady spot; these trees thrive in sun. Here are 18 small trees that are ideal for landscaping tight spaces. Wise gardeners know that even the smallest garden has room for a tree. The branches of weeping cherry trees can be covered in flowers from their crown to the tips brushing the ground. Serviceberry trees are in the rose family, and you will notice the similarities in both their white spring flowers and the fruits. These are smallish trees, reaching a height of around 15 to 30 feet. New leaves emerge purplish-red leaf and leaf tips remain red as the rest of leaf matures to green. Garden Photo World/Georgianna Lane/Getty Images. Size depends on variety, but 15-30ft is common. Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, is a species of flowering tree in the family Cornaceae native to eastern North America and northern Mexico.An endemic population once spanned from southernmost coastal Maine south to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi River. Also, aim to plant a young eastern redbud and then leave it in place, as these trees typically don’t do well with transplanting. It is the long clusters of flowers that make this tree so enticing for both people and butterflies. but blooms later and will bloom again if you deadhead it (remove spent blooms). Its needles are very dense, and it retains its pyramidal shape without pruning. According to Missouri Botanical Garden, it grows in USDA zones 2 to 6, thriving in these cool-to-cold climates in the shade of trees or nearby structures. Other common names: Eastern Flowering Dogwood Other scientific names: Cynoxylon floridum French names: Cornouiller fleuri Family: Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) Group: Dogwoods Distinctive features: Shrub; This dogwood is distinguished by its showy large white flowers that bloom in early spring. Most dogwood varieties also develop very decorative fruit in late summer and autumn. These are small trees, averaging 10 to 20 feet tall, and they are very low maintenance. Flowering dogwood is a small deciduous tree that blooms with white, pink, or red flowers in early spring; it is the state tree of North Carolina. Regular pruning typically isn’t necessary, though you can remove lower branches to create more of a tree-like canopy. If you want to plant these trees in containers, be aware that container-grown trees are more susceptible to cold. Dwarf hybrids and trees that are naturally small in stature provide structure and privacy for practicality's sake, as well as fragrance, colour and movement for pure pleasure. It produces pink flowers and boasts white margins on its leaves. You can easily control its size with pruning. Dogwood trees are fast growers that can handle a partially shaded site. Their average mature height is 15 to 25 feet tall. Foliage will … Types of Kousa Dogwood. Although the seed pods on this tree are ornamental, they’re also poisonous and should be kept away from children and pets. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia Pseudocamellia), 11 Great Fragrant Trees for Your Landscape, 17 Types of Flowering Trees for Home Landscaping, 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden, 15 Recommended Flowering Shrubs for Your Home, 20 Best Tall Plants for Container Gardens, 18 Yellow-Flowering Plants for Your Garden, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 12 Trees With Brilliant Fall Color Plus Other Advantages. Japan, Asia and other parts of the world/Getty Images. The dwarf Alberta spruce isn't really a dwarf tree; it just grows slowly and does not usually get larger than around 10 to 13 feet tall. The thinnest of all the weeping Alaska cedars, it reaches 20 feet tall but is only 1 foot wide! This tree tops out at about 8 to 10 feet, according to Fast Growing Trees, and it thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. Little Poncho produces a profuse display of flowers in late spring, with bracts that can maintain their warm white and pink color for more than six weeks, according to Fine Gardening. Also, the trunks of young trees are often floppy and can benefit from staking. This tree may be considered invasive in some areas, so check to see if it's problematic in your area before planting it. They are beloved for their delicate leaves, which can be deeply lobed, sometimes to the point of being fringed. Another excellent specimen among the smaller dogwoods, the Red Pygmy dogwood (Cornus florida 'Red Pygmy'), is a tiny cultivar that reaches a 7-foot height with a 2- to 5-foot spread, according to Missouri Botanical Garden. Apr 29, 2015 - The name "dog-tree" entered the English vocabulary before 1548, becoming "dogwood" by 1614. Like other dogwoods, 'Barton' appreciates well-drained soil. Kousa dogwood is an excellent small specimen tree. Flowering Dogwood Trees | Cornus Trees Cornus offer plenty of interest from spring to autumn, with varieties falling into one of two distinct groups. Select varieties of dogwood trees are native to the United States, have fragrant white flowers and can grow in full shade. They cover the tree's canopy. In a very small yard or even just a patio or balcony, these small dogwoods happily grow in containers, depending on the climate. Generally, it doesn’t have many problems with pests or diseases. Good drainage is a necessity for your planting site. The showy, white flowers of the Japanese stewartia tree open over a series of weeks in midsummer. Some grow only 8 to 10 feet tall while others will mature at around 20 feet. While you would not want to plant a small hawthorn where children or pets will be playing, this tree offers beautiful white spring flowers, long-lasting red fruits that are popular with birds, and glowing orange fall foliage. Once it matures to 15 to 25 feet in height, the thorns should not be a problem. But there are many small trees that should suit your space. Although it's called the chaste tree, this plant is really more of a deciduous shrub. Crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and should be pruned in late winter. As long as you offer the tree plenty of water and sunshine, like most plants, the Dogwood will do just fine. Just be sure to keep the soil moist, especially if you go through stretches without rain. Be sure to plant them in well-draining soil. The clover-like leaves allow some dappled sun to break through, but it is the long clusters of brilliant yellow flowers that make this tree a stunner. With its mysterious bracts that pose as blooms and its luminous pink-to-white colors, the dogwood is one of the most-prized ornamental trees in the home garden, providing a graceful close to spring. It is often compared to the butterfly bush (Buddleja spp.) Fast Growing Trees recommends adding no additional fertilizer for Little Poncho, which should grow 4 to 8 inches per year; in fact, most dogwoods require little fertilizer. Some types of dogwood trees are grown for their true flowers, however, which are borne in clusters of small … Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus Crus-Galli) Take the word "thorn" in the name of this tree seriously. They provide a month of spring flowers that attract native pollinators, including honeybees. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Similar species: • Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) - has alternate leaves. 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