Best small trees for garden

barker77

Im looking for some inspiration around best small trees. Id like it to be climate hardy if possible, good for bees / birds if possible and non fruit (apples etc too messy). 

ive seen this recommended in a few places but very interested in what I should consider!

https://www.frankpmatthews.com/catalogue/ornamental-trees/crataegus/crataegus-x-lav-carrierei/

https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/crataegus-persimilis-prunifolia/classid.1048/sku.TR30000722/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQiAm9fLBhCQARIsAJoNOcu_ff_TVOLGuCJ_wzZy-5sZjU6jpYOJqywmSgMRjCkv1ztjf88TnnkaAppuEALw_wcB&wickedid=&wcid=15800828825&wv=4&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=15800828825&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15793456071&gbraid=0AAAAADohxry_i-47YVqruDQTiorzbJMWQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm9fLBhCQARIsAJoNOcu_ff_TVOLGuCJ_wzZy-5sZjU6jpYOJqywmSgMRjCkv1ztjf88TnnkaAppuEALw_wcB

Emmia

barker77 said:

Im looking for some inspiration around best small trees. Id like it to be climate hardy if possible, good for bees / birds if possible and non fruit (apples etc too messy). 

ive seen this recommended in a few places but very interested in what I should consider!

https://www.frankpmatthews.com/catalogue/ornamental-trees/crataegus/crataegus-x-lav-carrierei/

https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/crataegus-persimilis-prunifolia/classid.1048/sku.TR30000722/?wickedsource=google&wickedid=Cj0KCQiAm9fLBhCQARIsAJoNOcu_ff_TVOLGuCJ_wzZy-5sZjU6jpYOJqywmSgMRjCkv1ztjf88TnnkaAppuEALw_wcB&wickedid=&wcid=15800828825&wv=4&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=15800828825&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15793456071&gbraid=0AAAAADohxry_i-47YVqruDQTiorzbJMWQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm9fLBhCQARIsAJoNOcu_ff_TVOLGuCJ_wzZy-5sZjU6jpYOJqywmSgMRjCkv1ztjf88TnnkaAppuEALw_wcB

I've got a bottle brush tree in a pot in my garden - the bees love it, and I love the red flowerhead things - evergreen too

Dustyevsky

We have C prunifolia in a few places round our smallholding. They weren't bought from Frank Matthews, but grown from berries picked up on the grass at RHS Rosemoor some years ago. Very MSE, but slow!

They make attractive small trees, bloom early, and the berries are appreciated by birds, but they are extremely thorny. That could be a consideration if grown near a path, or where someone might brush against them when mowing grass. They're certainly tough, and sheep won't eat them.

When you say 'climate hardy' that needs context. Someone on a croft in Sutherland will view that differently from another person in Stevenage! Most trees sold by F P Matthews will be OK in the ordinary British climate, so if your location's 'average, consider Malus as an alternative to Crataegus. I know some of them have quite large fruits you might consider 'messy,' but there are others with fruit not much larger than the trees you link to. Here's just one which my friend planted a year or two ago, Very suitable for a modest sized garden:

https://www.frankpmatthews.com/catalogue/ornamental-trees/malus/malus-scarlett/

barker77

Thanks! I live in south england so no Scottish winters for me! 

Doesn’t have to be from those websites of course but they were first links I found. 

The Malus looks nice thanks

Farway

barker77 said:

Thanks! I live in south england so no Scottish winters for me! 

Doesn’t have to be from those websites of course but they were first links I found. 

The Malus looks nice thanks

Agree with Dusty, a crab apple with small fruits. Some have lovely autumn leaves as well, and the fruit colour can vary as well, red, yellow, orange

If you type, as I did, the following into Chat GPT it will give a good selection, and you can take it from there, it will provide links if asked

"suggest a small crab apple [malus] with small fruits and has good autumn colours. Ideally three alternative fruit colours, red, yellow, orange"

🧭 Summary Table
Cultivar      Fruit Colour           Autumn Leaf Colour    Size
Evereste      Orange-yellow    Yellow/orange            Small/medium
‘Fimbriata’    Dark red               Yellow                     Small
Rudolph       Orange-red          Yellow/bronze          Small/medium

Coralburst    Bronze                    Yellow                 Very small

You could also put the names into You Tube and maybe there's a video showing size & colours

fatbelly

Cretagus is hawthorn. Any hawthorn is likely to be bombproof and wildlife friendly

Similar would be Sambucus (elder). Modern varieties have interesting leaves, like an acer, and you still get flowers and berries for elderflower champagne and elderberry wine

Acer (maple family) could be a good choice as long as you realise they are slow growing and some varieties don't like full sun.

Rowen (mountain ash) could also work and is one of the few trees to give colour in August, as the berries appear early. A compact version is Beisneri and you do have to be careful with choice if you want it to stay <4m

Cornus is a lovely small tree. Always wanted a Cornus Mas but my garden doesn't like them. Very jealous of sister's Cornus Controversa Variegata (wedding cake tree) which is the most beautiful small tree in my opinion

Sapindus

I had a Crataegus schraderiana which was not thorny and had excellent blossom and big dark red berries.  My main reason for having it was wine, jam, ketchup etc but it was very pretty too.

Myci85

I have an ornamental weeping cherry tree in my front garden. Planted last winter as a bare roots tree, so have yet to see its full effect, but the few leaves it had last year were a vibrant red/orange in autumn, and photos of these trees look beautiful when in blossom too. I'm excited to watch it grow this next year. 

Brisfit

Have a look at Amelanchier also called Juneberry. My tree is 15 years old and fully grown at about 10ft. Beautiful all year round. Small berries which the birds take.