Best Small Trees for Landscaping Your Yard

By Amanda Lutz Updated October 24, 2024

Homeowners with small yards who don’t have space for big trees should consider planting small trees. Offering shade and privacy, small trees spruce up the look of a small garden without taking up too much of a small space or posing risks to a house’s roof, siding, or windows. Read our guide to learn more about small trees, the different climates and soils in which these ornamental trees thrive, and how to properly care for each.

---

Benefits of Small Trees for Landscaping

Arborists classify trees into three sized-based categories: small trees that grow to be less than 25 feet tall (including dwarf varieties), medium-size trees that can reach up to 40 feet tall, and large trees that can climb up to 100 feet tall. 

Small trees are particularly well suited for landscapes because they offer these benefits:

• Balancing your landscape: You can plant multiple small trees on your property to give your landscape a sense of symmetry and balance. Large trees might overwhelm your landscape or make it look lopsided.
• Controlled shade and debris: Shade can cool your property, but too much can also prevent grass from growing. Small trees don’t overwhelm a landscape with shade the same way larger allelopathic trees do.
• Less risk to structures on your property: Smaller trees are unlikely to have thick, heavy branches that can damage your roof, siding, or windows. Planting small trees also decreases the risk of overgrowth near your house, which can give squirrels and pests access to your structure.  
• Manageable growth: Professional landscapers can more easily trim, prune, and shape small trees throughout the years.

---

Popular Small Trees for Landscaping

There are dozens of different varieties of small trees from which you can choose. Below are some of the most popular options: 

Crape Myrtle

Crape myrtles are iconic Southern classics, featuring pink flowers, red flowers, yellow flowers, and purple flowers. The backs of these plants peel throughout the seasons, giving the tree a dappled appearance. Crape myrtle roots won’t jeopardize structures or even sidewalks, so you can plant them virtually anywhere in your landscape.

These trees need moist soil that can drain easily, and they prefer sunny areas. Crape myrtles can grow by two feet a year and up to 25 feet tall. 

Golden Chain Tree

Golden chain trees grow branches that sprout dangling yellow flowers in the late spring and deep green foliage through the growing season. These small trees can eventually stretch to 30 feet tall at a growth rate of two feet each year, with growth starting again in the early spring.

Golden chain trees thrive in full sun or partial shade as long as they have access to moderately moist soil that can easily drain, making them a low-maintenance choice.

Hawthorn

Hawthorns grow branches that rest close to the ground, making them look like large shrubs, and their white blooms are fluffy and spherical when they appear in early summer. These blooms turn bright reddish-orange in the late summer to add beautiful fall color.

Hawthorns can grow up to 20 feet tall, especially if they have access to full sunlight and moderately moist soil. 

Japanese Maple

Japanese maples grow deep, rich red leaves in sunlight and orange or green leaves in the shade. The tree’s thin branches and trunk give it an elegant appearance and allow sunlight to reach plants all around it. 

Japanese maples grow at a rate of one or two feet per year until they reach a maximum height of 20 feet. Most varieties prefer full sunlight in moist soil that drains easily, and they have good disease resistance. 

Redbud

Redbud trees have a thin trunk and branches. They grow sparse, close-knit foliage and pink or white flowers. 

Redbuds prefer moderately moist soil that drains easily and thrive in sunlight or part shade. Most redbud varieties won’t grow taller than 10 feet, and they can reach their maximum height within five years.

---

Small Trees for Different Climates

Most varieties of trees are suited to particular climates and won’t grow as successfully elsewhere. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides American regions into corresponding zones, which are based on annual minimum temperature, presence of insects, and soil conditions. If a plant is rated for your region’s hardiness zone, that means it will likely thrive there. 

Below are some of our favorite trees that grow in different regions:

Zones 3–5 (Northern Midwest and Northern East Coast)

Homeowners in Zones 3–5 can choose from these popular small trees:

• Fringe trees, which are native to eastern North America
• Hawthorns, which are deciduous trees that grow well in full sunlight conditions
• Pagoda dogwoods, which develop brightly colored berries and flowers and can attract birds

Zones 5–7 (Mid-Regions of the Continental United States)

Some of the most popular small tree varieties for Zones 5–7 include the following:

• Crabapple trees, a flowering fruit tree that requires full sunlight 
• Kousa dogwoods, which thrive in either full sunlight or partial shade and make great shade trees
• Redbuds, which should receive full sunlight in colder climates

Zones 8–9 (Southern United States and Mid-Southern West Coast)

Some of the most popular small trees for this region include the following:

• Crape myrtles, which prefer full sunlight
• Harlequin glorybower, a compact flowering tree that prefers warm climates 
• Redbuds, which can handle partial shade conditions in warm climates

You can plant your favorite small trees in pots and containers if they aren’t a perfect match for your home’s hardiness zone. This allows you to move your plants into shade or sunlight as necessary. You can even bring potted plants inside during the coldest parts of winter or the hottest parts of summer. 

Meyer lemon trees are a popular choice for planting in pots, as they can thrive indoors and outdoors. 

---

Small Trees for Different Soil Types

The type of soil in which you plant a tree is just as important as the plant hardiness zone in which you live, and most trees prefer well-draining soil. You can test your soil’s drainage conditions by digging a hole that’s approximately one foot deep and one foot across and then filling it with water. Well-draining soil will drain away the water in approximately ten minutes, while poorly-draining soil may take an hour.

Trees will not be able to grow long roots in soil that is thick and compact. Slow-draining soil can also trap water against tree roots, leading to rot, mold, or fungus infections.

You can improve your landscape’s soil by adding compost, manure, or bark, which will lighten it. We recommend looking for trees that are suited to growing in clay or other slow-draining soils if you don’t want to change your soil’s composition.

Popular types of small trees that prefer slow-draining clay soil include the following:

• Certain hawthorn varieties, such as Paul’s Scarlet, a tree that thrives in clay soil and has deep red flowers and dark green leaves
• Snowy Mespilus, a small tree with white, star-shaped flowers and variegated pinkish or red leaves
• Strawberry trees, which grow berries that look like strawberries but don’t taste like them 

Popular small tree varieties that grow in dry soil include the following:

• California buckeye, a tree with a short trunk, pointy leaves, and brightly colored flower clusters
• Utah juniper, a drought-tolerant tree that can grow in rocky soil or dry, clay soil

---

Planting and Maintenance Tips

Start the process of choosing small or dwarf trees by determining your home’s plant hardiness zone and the drainage condition of your landscape’s soil. These factors will determine which types of trees can take root in your yard and thrive.

Next, consider where you want to place your trees. Most trees can grow to be as wide as they are tall, so space them at least one to one-and-a-half times their height apart. 

Consider any tree’s proximity to your foundation. Tree roots can be destructive to your foundation, pipes, and underground power lines. If you want to plant trees near your foundation, seek out foundation plants such as small cypress trees or emerald green arborvitae. These varieties have soft roots and can grow safely near your home.

Small trees require less maintenance than larger trees and don’t pose the same risk of overgrowth. You must water small trees precisely. Most small trees prefer deep watering whenever the soil is dry instead of shallow watering.

Inspect your trees for fungus infestations, signs of invasive beetles or pests, and other traces of damage every six months. You can also reach out to your local county extension office to learn more about pests and tree diseases that are unique to your region.

---

Our Recommendation

Research your area’s plant hardiness zone and take stock of the soil condition in your yard before choosing which small trees to make a focal point of your landscape. Ensure your soil drains well, and consider how much sunlight your landscape gets. Plant trees far enough away from other trees, plants, and elements of your home’s foundation. Water small trees regularly and prune them so they grow into elegant, pleasing shapes.

---

Small Trees for Landscaping FAQ