Best trees for a small garden

Every garden needs a tree or two, but when space is at a premium, the selection process can be tough. AB BISHOP presents her short list for trees that will earn their keep in a small garden

When space in your garden is tight and you can fit only one or two trees, choosing the one can be tricky. What you really need is a multi-tasking tree. It should look good year-round, but also provide further benefits through the seasons, such as fruit, flower or berries, shade in summer and sometimes sunlight in winter, and maybe birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.

Before planting a tree, consider its expected height and width at maturity, so you don’t end up with a tree that forever needs pruning. Keep in mind, too, possums can develop a taste for some trees and can easily access canopies from a fence (see overpage for tips on managing this). Here are seven trees I’d recommend for a small garden – of course, there are many more!

Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Available in myriad cultivars, crepe myrtle is perfect outside a north- or west-facing window. Being deciduous, it offers bright, blousy flowers on densely leafed branches in summer, and lets the winter sunlight in. Its mottled trunk and natural vase shape (or sometimes a weeping habit) are gorgeous, so plant it at least 2m away from structures so you’re not forced to prune it if you don’t want to. When the flowers drop, they’re a little messy and slippery, so this isn’t a tree for around the pool. Plant it in a sunny position in rich, well-drained soil. Crepe myrtle suits all climates, but needs the most protected position in cold areas. It’s drought tolerant once established. Cultivars include ‘Yuma’ (to 4m, pink flowers); ‘Zuni’ (to 4m, lavender flowers); ‘Natchez’ (to 6m, white flowers) and ‘Black Diamond’ (to 3m, white flowers and near-black foliage). Pictured opposite is ‘Acoma’ (to 3m, white flowers.)

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Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)

Whether you plant it in the ground or a fabulous large pot, Japanese maple is the quintessential courtyard feature tree. While its striking autumn foliage is the most-loved feature, Japanese maple is also appreciated for its broad crown and gnarly-with-age trunk. Plant one in the middle of a lawn, or as a canopy tree in a mixed bed of shade lovers such as hellebores, hostas and ferns. Autumn colour is most vibrant in cool to temperate climates, but this tree will also tolerate warmer climates, as long as it receives afternoon shade. Mulch, and water deeply during extended dry periods, as stress may encourage borer attack. Select your tree from a local supplier during autumn so you can be sure of its colour. Height and width vary (some trees are more spreading than tall), so check the label. 4–6m 4–6m

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Callistemon ‘Harkness’ or ‘Dawson River Weeper’

These beautiful weeping evergreen natives sport bright red bottlebrush flowers all year, making them attractive to humans and wildlife. Sometimes grown as street trees, they create a colourful display and attract lots of birds. Grow one as a screening shrub, or develop it into a small tree by removing its lower branches. Position the tree in a spot where its scratchy foliage or messy, senescing flowers won’t be a hindrance. It’s adaptable to most soils. 3–6m 2–4m

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Citrus (Citrus spp.)

Every garden should have at least one citrus tree! Obviously, fruit is the name of the game – and these trees are wonderfully decorative when laden – but they also have the most beautifully scented blossoms, and their dense crowns provide shade and a safe habitat for nesting birds. Citrus leaves are the main food for the larvae of the colourful dainty swallowtail butterfly – but don’t worry, they won’t decimate the plant. Although citrus trees prefer warmer climes, they will grow anywhere but in the frostiest areas. If you’re in a cold zone, grapefruit, Valencia orange and Lisbon lemon are tough, and the best at handling cold conditions. If in doubt, grow your citrus in a large container that can be moved during inclement weather. Position the tree in full sun, out of strong wind, and work in plenty of compost before planting. Grafted citrus produce fruit in 2–3 years. 1.5–5m 2–5m

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Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin)

This gorgeous, graceful tree is fast-growing, and the umbrella-shaped canopy provides shade in summer, while the bare branches let the sun shine through in winter. Pink and white, fluffy, nectar-rich flowers festoon the branches in summer, followed by bright green seed pods, both of which attract a large number of birds. When the flowers and pods drop, they do create a mess, so be prepared with the rake or broom. The tree is frost and drought tolerant once established.

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Flowering gum (Corymbia cifolia)

As long as this small, grafted, moderately fast-growing gum is flowering, you won’t be short of nectar-loving avian friends, and with cultivar names such as (below, from left) ‘Fairy Floss’, ‘Wildfire’ and ‘Calypso’, you know your garden is going to be a riot of summer colour. Its dense crown of glossy, dark green leaves makes this a useful shade tree for a hot garden. It thrives in reasonably well-drained soil, and can be grown in most climates, except tropical and cold mountain areas. The large, highly ornamental ‘gumnuts’ are a potential tripping hazard when they fall, so gather them up – they’re fun to use for craft projects.

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Forest pansy (Cercis canadensis)

This plant is a cultivar of the group of trees known as redbuds. Native to northern America, these trees prefer a cool, moist climate, but can be mollycoddled to success in a warm temperate zone. Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (right) is the well-known poster child for the group, but there are other gorgeous cultivars to try, among them ‘Lavender Twist’, a grafted weeping specimen growing to 2m high. These trees feature vibrant pink-purple flowers in spring, lush heart-shaped foliage in summer, followed by autumn colour and then winter skeletal loveliness. ‘Forest Pansy’ is a classic vase-shaped tree with bright green foliage senescing into plum, apricot and gold hues through autumn (inset below). Protect young trees from hot winds, and supply regular moisture. Prune off any dead branches, and fertilise in early spring. The special grafted specimens, such as ‘Lavender Twist’, cost more to buy because of the extensive work involved in growing and shaping them for market. 2–5m 2–5m

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