When you think of trees you probably think of large soaring ones that are great for shade and tire swings, or of the evergreen Christmas tree variety. Trees come in all shapes and sizes and with all kinds of leaf shapes, colours and varieties. Some flower, some give us fruit, but all of them serve a purpose. If you love trees but have a lot in your yard already, perhaps you’d like a smaller one (or three) to add texture and colour. Here are just a few of the great little trees out there.
The Paperback Maple is an interesting tree as the cinnamon coloured bark peels off during the year. It adds dimension and texture as well as a talking point for your yard and this tree does great in all types of soil although it does like well drained soil, thanks all the same. It’s mature height is anywhere from 20-35′ but it is still considered a small tree and since its so undemanding, what are you waiting for? This tree is great for folks living in zones 4-8 across the country.
Ah, the Japanese Maple. What can we say about this beautiful tree? It’s graceful, it’s colourful and it’s a wonderful addition to any yard. It even comes in different varieties like weeping and upright so it can go almost anywhere. It is a great small shade tree and at it’s most mature it won’t grow more than 30 feet tall and wide, and the pretty leaves! Such pretty leaves. The Japanese Maple does best in zones 5-8.
If you are looking for a tree that has something to offer year round then you’ve found it in the Washington Hawthorne. In late spring you will get lovely white flowers. In the summer you get the texture and colour of dark green leaves and once fall hits, you can expect red and orange leaves to grace its branches. It’s not done then though, as deep into winter you will still see clusters of red berries against the graying sky. The one downfall is that yes, it has thorns, but that’s a small price to pay for all that interest. This tree does best in zones 4-8.
The Eastern Redbud opens spring with an explosion of pink flowers and it is adaptable to a wide range of soils. It’s great for yards within zones 4-9 and at full height it will only be around 30 feet. What a great way to decorate your yard!