15 Best Trees for Small Yards

Specimen trees enchant no matter the scale. They bring multiseason appeal, cooling shade, unique forms, and the ability to create the “bones” of the design framework. As the largest plants in a collection (even small collections), they carry the most visual heft. They also need the most room for mature root systems and spreading canopies. 

This is where naturally compact or dwarf cultivars become a good fit. Whether an in-ground specimen or one in a huge pot, evergreen or deciduous, the tree becomes a focal point without overtaking the yard or home. Planning for maturity means allocating enough space to ensure a long, healthy life for our selections. They offer big rewards (ecological, ornamental, and economic benefits) in a small package and become lasting landscape contributors.

From columnar to weeping and needle-leaved to flowering to fruit-bearing, there’s a suitable tree with high ornamental value and performance to sentinel a small yard. 

Redbud ‘Ruby Falls’

	botanical name Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Redbuds offer a sweet welcome to spring as one of the first to bloom. From the North American native species to its cultivars, their heart-shaped leaves in rich green to chartreuse to purple-black are ornamental post-bloom. In different forms, from broad and spreading to compact and weeping, redbuds suit a variety of garden scales.

‘Ruby Falls’ is a weeping variety with purple leaves and green midribs and veins. Deep rose blossoms line the cascading stems. Fresh leaves emerge maroon-purple and age to deep green in the summer.

Out of North Carolina State University’s breeding program, ‘Ruby Falls’ is a cross between two Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit performers, the favorite ‘Forest Pansy’ and the weeping ‘Covey.’ ‘Covey’ is sold under the name ‘Lavender Twist’ and brings abundant rosy lavender flowers to weeping stems for an umbrella of color. Leaves start with a red blush and mature to blue-green. ‘Lavender Twist’ is another prime contender for small spaces – stake them to reach 8-10 feet, or let them naturally remain at 4-5 feet.

The weeping habit and diminutive stature make ‘Ruby Falls’ and ‘Lavender Twist’ specimen trees suitable for containers, patios, and small yards. Use them as focal points and to contrast other foliage and flowers with their striking forms and colors.

Contorted Hazelnut ‘Red Dragon’

	botanical name Corylus avellana ‘Red Dragon’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-6’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Contorted hazelnuts go by many names, from Harry Lauder’s walking stick to corkscrew hazel to contorted filbert. All reference a distinct gnarled and twisted form. In late winter, pendulous yellow catkins drape from its curlicue branches, making a dramatic spectacle among the bare stems.

Contorted filberts shine in winter when the leaves drop and the tangled branches are bare. Corylus avellana ‘Red Dragon’ is a small cultivar that slowly reaches its mature height in over a decade of growth. It tolerates warm conditions and resists common European hazelnut diseases.

In addition to curled branches are burgundy foliage, particularly visible as new growth. ‘Red Dragon’ holds its purple tones throughout the summer, and light red catkins emerge in late winter and early spring.

‘Red Dragon’ is out of the University of Oregon breeding program. It prefers organically rich, moist, well-drained soils, though it is drought-tolerant once established. Situate it in a bed or container where its seasonal interest is visible.

Star Magnolia

	botanical name Magnolia stellata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Spring-flowering magnolias bring ornamental blooms as dwarf flowering trees for small yards. Magnolia stellata is among the first to show in early spring with strappy white starbursts. The milky petals open along silvery branches before the foliage emerges.

Star magnolia is one of the smallest magnolias and is a graceful, multi-trunked specimen. Fuzzy buds develop in winter and reveal the starry four-inch flowers late in the season. Pink fruit capsules emerge after flowering and open to orange-red berries. 

‘Royal Star’ is a robust bloomer with pink buds and double snowy flowers. It reaches 10 to 15 feet tall. Unlike others in the genus, M. stellata retains a densely branched, compact form. Look to other spring-flowering hybrids like ‘Ann’ and ‘Jane’ for pink saucer blooms a little later in the season. These, too, keep a lower profile than the species.

Arborvitae ‘Emerald Petite™’

	botanical name Thuja occidentalis ‘Thusid4’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-6’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Arborvitae brings numerous cultivars of the Eastern U.S. native species that are versatile across growing zones and garden scales. The evergreens have dense, flat foliar sprays on forms that range from columnar and upright to low and rounded. 

‘Emerald Petite™’ is a smaller variety than the popular ‘Emerald Green,’ which quickly reaches 10 to 15 feet. Both form narrow pyramids and are vigorous and durable performers with low maintenance requirements.

Let arborvitae punctuate the display as a year-round anchor. Let them be with their natural, structural habit, or prune them into spirals for formal focal points. They take topiary and shaping wel,l but need little pruning.

Holly ‘Christmas Jewel®’

	botanical name Ilex x ‘HL10-90’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-10’
	hardiness zones 6-9

For an evergreen anchor with lustrous leaves and bright red berries, explore ‘Christmas Jewel®.’ It brings year-round interest and is especially showy with vibrant winter berries. The birds appreciate them, too.

‘Christmas Jewel®’ is a pyramidal variety with a compact habit. It doesn’t need cross-pollination to fruit and produce clusters of large red berries. So you only need one specimen (and not a male and female tree) to achieve the display.

For a North American native holly with wildlife and pollinator value, look to weeping yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria f. pendula. It has a unique weeping habit that grows taller—usually 15 to 30 feet.

Japanese Flowering Apricot

	botanical name Prunus mume
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Japanese flowering apricot is an ideal specimen tree for small yards for its spring delight. Its early pink blossoms announce warming temperatures and appear as early as January and February. Like flowering cherries, the petite blooms emerge in clusters before the foliage. They have a sweet fragrance and, with over 300 cultivars, range from white and pale pink to deep red.

‘Peggy Clarke’ is a classic with double, deep rose flowers. ‘W.B. Clarke’ has double pinks on weeping branches. ‘Dawn’ has large, ruffly double pink blooms. After flowering, the trees produce fuzzy greenish-yellow fruits in the summer, but unlike apricots, they’re small and sour.

Flowering apricots prefer rich, acidic, loamy soils. Situate them in a protected area to preserve the early blooms against winter winds and cold damage.

Juniper ‘Blue Point’

	botanical name Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Blue Point’ juniper is a conifer with a columnar shape. Its blue needles and small stature are the draw, where the cool tones provide contrast among leafy greens and dark foliage plants. ‘Blue Point’ is tidy and uniform. It produces waxy blue-green berries that extend seasonal interest into fall. 

Juniper varieties include stately natives and also include low-growing, mounding, and spreading forms. Like arborvitae, they take topiary and shaping well, but ‘Blue Point’ won’t need regular pruning.

Flowering Cherry ‘Little Twist®’

	botanical name Prunus incisa ‘CarltonLT’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Flowering cherries are graceful, elegant trees for small yards. Dwarf varieties like ‘Little Twist®’ have a petite stature but big buds and flowers. Pink buds open to white blossoms with pinky-rose centers and cover the zigzagging stems. Silvery stems twist with silky bark.

Smaller than full-sized ornamental cherries, ‘Little Twist®’ makes a pretty container or bed specimen with multi-season appeal. Autumn leaves are deep purple. ‘Snow FountainsⓇ’ is another small grower with a pendulous frame. Branches cascade from the trunk and touch the ground in a spray of spring color.

Ornamental cherries do best in humusy soils with good drainage. Regular water during the first growing season helps roots establish. Water when the soil is dry to two inches below the surface.

Magnolia ‘Teddy Bear®’

	botanical name Magnolia grandiflora ‘Southern Charm’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 16-20’
	hardiness zones 7-9

Compact Magnolia grandiflora cultivars bring evergreen leaves and creamy blooms with a space-saving habit. The straight species, native to southeastern North America, grows large with broad leaves and creamy, lemon-scented flowers.

‘Teddy Bear®’ is smaller than its parent with the classic six to eight-inch white flowers. After flowering, seed cones with bright red berries develop. Leaves become brown and velvety underneath as the weather cools in fall and winter.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is another dwarf selection with a compact, upright habit. Both cultivars are smaller and slower-growing than the giant Southern magnolia species.

Witch Hazel

	botanical name Hamamelis virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hamamelis virginiana is a woodland shrub or small tree native to the Eastern U.S. It blooms in October and November and sometimes into winter. H. vernalis is another U.S. native, smaller in stature and with fragrant January blooms.

Witch hazel lends a naturalistic aesthetic and has a spicy fragrance, strappy flowers, and golden fall color. Fringed yellow blooms line the bare branches before leaves flush.

Witch hazels bring their fountain of blooms on mostly upright stems with a vase-shaped canopy. Its multi-stems are ornamental in the dormant winter landscape.

Colorado Blue Spruce ‘Fat Albert’

	botanical name Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-15’
	hardiness zones 3-7

A classic pyramidal conifer, spruce makes a stately evergreen addition. Dwarf and weeping cultivars are well-suited to small yards, and ‘Fat Albert’ Colorado blue spruce is a favorite. It has thick, broad blue needles on stout stems. The full-bodied conical trees are slow-growing, gaining only a couple of inches each year.

Dwarf Alberta (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) is another beloved spruce with fine, tightly packed needles and a hazy look. Its habit is narrow, tidy, and uniform, with upright stems that reach eight feet tall. As slow growers, dwarf spruce have a long life as specimen trees for small yards.

Serviceberry

	botanical name Amelanchier spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 10-25’
	hardiness zones 4-9

This tree for small yards brings edible ornament on a multi-trunked form. Serviceberry trees flower and fruit with all-season appeal. Showy white flower clusters appear in spring before the leaves emerge. Small, edible berries follow, ripening to purple-black over the summer with a blueberry flavor.

In the fall, green leaves with pale undersides turn shades of gold and burgundy. In the winter, the bare form shows the attractive soft gray bark. Several species and naturally occurring hybrids are native to North America, with strong cultivars available. The multitasking specimen bridges the ornamental and edible landscape. The blossoms are a valuable early food resource for pollinators, and birds and wildlife enjoy the berries.

For a very small, cold-hardy tree, look to A. alnifolia ‘Regent,’ an award-winning compact selection with good fall color. It reaches four to six feet with early flowering and a rounded form. Masses of crisp white flowers bring a light fragrance as temperatures warm. Sweet berries follow.

Smoketree ‘Royal Purple’

	botanical name Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Smoketree offers a waterwise selection with loosely arranged multi-stems. It forms a tree or small shrub with dramatic foliage. Deep plum leaves turn red in the fall. In addition to the foliar interest are delicate and hairy stems with flower clusters that turn dusky pink. They persist all summer and create a soft, hazy cloud.

‘Royal Purple’ is a compact variety and a standout for holding its plum-maroon color throughout the growing season. It adapts to various soil types and is drought-tolerant once established. Prune to form a single trunk, or allow multi-trunks to develop. Cut back stems each year to retain a shrubby form.

Japanese Maple ‘Crimson Queen’

	botanical name Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Crimson Queen’ has a weeping form with low branching, perfect for a container or small bed to contrast a green backdrop. Foliage is handsome, with deep red palmate leaves that turn scarlet in the fall.

The trees have a delicate texture and slowly reach their mature height. In cool climates, they tolerate more sun, given ample moisture. In warmer growing areas, dappled shade is best. Try morning sun to bring out the bright crimson color of this RHS Award of Garden Merit recipient.

Japanese maples, with their varied forms from upright and spreading to dwarf and weeping, make excellent trees for small yards. Look to ‘Garnet,’ another award-winner and slightly smaller variety with lacy, dissected leaves. ‘Garnet’ slowly reaches eight feet with a rounded canopy. New leaves emerge red-orange and retain their rich tones before turning red in the fall. ‘Pixie’ is a pretty hybrid that grows upright with new pink leaves that transition to purple-red and bright red in the fall. 

Fringetree

	botanical name Chionanthus virginicus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-20’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Fringetree is a North American native that shines in spring and early summer with masses of creamy white, strappy flowers. Airy, fluffy, and fringey, clusters droop from the tips of stems for a spectacular show. Lightly fragrant, the flowers draw pollinators, while their small, dark fruits are forage for birds.

In addition to its flowers, it develops a leafy, spreading canopy that transitions to deep gold in autumn before the leaf drop. Fringetrree is easy-care, adapts to urban settings, and seldom needs pruning. It does best with supplemental moisture during prolonged drought situations.