In the December issue of Fine Gardening, David Leckey writes about trees suitable for small spaces. Here are David’s suggestions:
- ‘Diana’ Weeping Larch
- ‘Tamukeyama’ Japanese Maple
- ‘Twisted Growth’ Deodar Cedar
- ‘Cesarini Blue’ Limber Pine
- ‘Cumulus’ Allegany Serviceberry
- ‘Hillside Upright’ Spruce
- Lavender Twist Redbud
- ‘Viridis’ Japanese Maple
- ‘Green Prince’ Cedar
If you’re growing a tree in a pot, remember, you need a big container! Don’t plant them in a pot only slightly bigger than the nursery pot/root ball. Also, you’re probably not going to be able to bring them inside in the winter (too big and heavy), so make sure you pick a pot that can handle repeated thawing and freezing if you live in a climate with real winters.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Those are all great suggestions. Sometimes a small tree is just the thing to give some vertical interest in a small garden as well.
I’ve been thinking about planting a japanese maple tree in a pot next year. Thanks for posting these suggestions I will definitely keep it in mind.
I love trees and would also like to be entered for a copy of Bountiful gardens. Thanks!
I am going to check out the Cercis, I adore the redbud, Cercis Canadensis, but it is really not the right tree for my deck. Maybe, just maybe this one will be a little bit better fit. After having to get rid of the 2.5 storey tree, that kept falling over in the wind……
Jen
Great ideas, Fern. I’ve thought many times of putting a small evergreen in a pot and keeping it pruned, and now may just do that. Thanks for the list of recommended do-wellers.
That’s a great list – I love the Lavendar Twist Redbud, but it’s not good in my zone.
Is it ok to put trees in bigger pots?
I’ve always heard that you should move them up slowly, and not increase the pot size drastically.
Cindy — I think so! I have a peach tree and I have been lovingly pruning it in the hopes that it will give my garden some height and substance/age
Louise — Japanese Maples work really well in pots (bonzai are often created from the smaller leafed maples!).
Jen — Pictures I saw of that redbud were really beautiful. I can only imagine the photos you’ll be able to take of it when its in bloom.
Nancy — In addition to the ones listed in the article I mentioned, I know I have seen an influx of slow growing evergreens into the market that would work great in a container.
Sarah — I have read that too, and I was just talking to a horticulturist via email and asked her about that. When she responds, I’ll update this post.
My opinion/experience is that it is really hard to transplant trees and most don’t respond well to having their roots constantly disturbed. Also, if you were putting them in the ground, they would have a HUGE “pot.” I always plant trees in the final pot and don’t gradually upgrade them. I have yet to kill a tree, so even if I would have gotten better results from slowly upgrading the pot, it is worth it to me to not have the hassle of transplanting an unwieldy, heavy tree.
Oh thanks!
Now I want a tree!!! lol
Julie — What’s stopping you?
That’s a nice selection of possibilites. Like others, I’m partial to that beautiful redbud, but I also really like the layered look of the Cedrus libani. I can see it paired with a small water feature.
Tim — I like the idea of introducing a water feature. Besides being beautiful to look at, they can help diminish street noise.
Fern, do you have any tips for protecting pots and rootballs in non-temperate zones? I’ve always wanted to pot some small trees on patios but haven’t known how to keep them safe in our dark, cold winters. (Fort Collins, CO – Zone 4/5)
I’ve had good luck with the Viridis Maple in pots. Tamukeyama is a nice variety, too, though I’d choose a taller pot to start with to let it weep down – you don’t want those elegant branches sitting on the ground.
invisible.bees — gardening in extreme cold isn’t something I have a lot of experience with, but I did find this article on Colorado State’s website that might be helpful to you.
Gen — That’s a really good idea to use a tall pot with weeping trees. I’d love to have a Japanese Maple, but I just don’t have the right light for them. My gardening space is right in front of my front room window. During the summer, it gets intense direct sunlight and also reflected light from the window. All the Japanese Maples I’ve had haven’t been happy on my patio.
You have a amazing & truely wonderful container garden. I never had a real success with container gardening, but now I guess I got your website as a knowledge source to venture into it
Thanks Sarada! I definitely hope you’ll give container gardening another go. If you do, shoot me an email, I’d love to see pics and hear about what you ended up planting.
Sure, I will definitely email you. 2008 summer I had herbs (basil, sweet basil, spearmint, Fenugreek and coriander) and couple of flowing plants in containers. They did very well all summer but slowly they all died as I couldn’t take proper care after the frost (anyways some of herbs are annuals). Right now I have jasmine and curry leaf (which I got very late summer) root suckers in containers, they look promising. Trying to take proper care few more months before they see nice spring/summer sun.
Sarada — Well, don’t feel bad, all my plants would probably be gonners right now if I lived in an area with cold weather. Curry leaf eh? That sounds interesting. How do you use it?
Curry leaf is used as one of the seasonings in most of the South Indian curries. Please check
http://lordofthegardens.blogspot.com/2008/11/saving-curry-leaf-tree.html
This plant grows into a tree.
Sarada — I didn’t know curry spice came from tree leaves. Ya learn something new every day!
Fern, To give you correct information curry leaf is one among the various ingredients which go with curry and it is aromatic and flavorful and it is also good on the digestive system
Sarada — Okay, you’re banned from ever talking about curry again, you’re making me so hungry!