The Best Small Trees for Your Yard

 

Chaste Tree

 

 

One of our favorite trees! Who wouldn’t want a tree covered in beautiful blue-purple flowers throughout the summer?

Also known as Vitex, Chaste Tree is a fast-growing, heat-loving plant that performs beautifully in Texas landscapes. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is drought tolerant once established.

Chaste Tree is also generally considered deer resistant, although no plant is completely deer-proof. Removing spent flower clusters before they develop mature seed can encourage additional blooms later in the summer.

 
 

Crape Myrtle

 

 

It’s hard to imagine an East Texas summer without Crape Myrtles! These summer-blooming favorites are available in shades of white, pink, red, and purple and come in a wide range of mature sizes.

Depending on the variety, Crape Myrtles can range from compact shrubs and small patio trees to large trees reaching 20 feet or more. Choosing the right variety for your space is one of the best ways to avoid excessive pruning later.

Plant Crape Myrtles in full sun for their best flowering and growth. They can be used as individual specimen trees, planted in groupings, or used to line a driveway or large landscape area.

 
 

Japanese Maple

 

 

If you have a spot with some shade, consider planting a Japanese Maple. Whether you choose an upright variety or a graceful weeping form, these beautiful ornamental trees add incredible foliage, texture, and seasonal color to the landscape.

Japanese Maples are generally slower growing and prefer rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Here in East Texas, morning sun with protection from our intense afternoon sun is usually ideal.

Give them a protected location and they can become a beautiful focal point in the landscape for years to come.

 
 

‘Teddy Bear’ or ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia

 

 

Love the classic Southern Magnolia but don’t have room for a massive tree? ‘Teddy Bear’ and ‘Little Gem’ Magnolias give you that beautiful Southern look in a more compact package.

Both varieties feature glossy evergreen foliage and wonderfully fragrant white flowers. ‘Teddy Bear’ has an especially compact, dense growth habit, while ‘Little Gem’ develops into a somewhat larger tree.

They perform best with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. Because they’re evergreen, they keep their foliage throughout the year, although they will naturally shed older leaves periodically.

 
 

Rose of Sharon

 

 

Rose of Sharon is an old-fashioned favorite that has gotten a fresh new look thanks to the many beautiful varieties available today.

Depending on the variety, flowers may be white, pink, lavender, purple, or other combinations of color, providing plenty of interest throughout the summer months.

Many Rose of Sharon varieties mature around 8 to 12 feet tall, although mature size varies by selection. Plant in full sun to part sun, with plenty of sunlight encouraging the best flowering.

 
 

Saucer Magnolia

 

 

Often called a “Tulip Tree” or “Tulip Magnolia,” Saucer Magnolia is actually a type of Magnolia prized for its gorgeous tulip-shaped flowers.

The large blooms appear on bare branches in late winter to early spring and can range from pale pink to deep rosy-purple, depending on the variety.

Saucer Magnolias typically develop into multi-trunked small trees or large shrubs. They are moderate growers and can eventually reach around 15 to 25 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Give them plenty of room to develop their naturally beautiful shape and enjoy one of the earliest flowering displays of the season!