Gardens attached to UK properties are getting smaller. In urban areas new housing developments seem to favour postage stamp patches of lawn in an effort to cram in as many properties as possible. All of which means many of us have less space in our backyards and gardens in which to plant shrubs and trees. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to miss out on the joy of gardening. Or of planting trees. No matter how big, or small, your garden is you can still experience the joy of planting and nurturing ornamental trees.

5 of the best ornamental trees for small gardens

The average size of a British garden is 40 square feet. But it’s amazing what you can fit into such a space. Ornamental trees are no exception. Try one or more of the trees we’ve listed below to create a beautiful and unusual focal point for your garden.

1 Malus Red Jade

This is an absolutely stunning tree. It’s a weeping variety of flowering crap apple and will look wonderful in any garden. If you’re looking to add a bit of structure and a focal point to your garden the malus red jade will provide it. The tree produces pink white flowers in spring and has glossy green leaves. Those leaves turn orange in autumn. A bonus of course is the crop of crab apples you’ll be able to harvest every year. Malus red jade is very hardy and will flourish in full sun or semi shade. Only growing to around eight feet when fully mature this is an ideal ornamental tree for a small garden though it will suit any setting.

2 Prunus Yedoensis

Another weeping tree. And equally as stunning as the malus red jade. The prunus yedoensis Japanese flowering cherry tree is hugely popular. And understandably so. A beautiful tree in spring with its pink and white flowers it’s just as remarkable when the seasons change and its leaves take on a shade of orange in autumn. A very hardy tree which will prosper in most conditions it will only grow to a height of around ten feet.

3 Korean Spruce Tree

Here’s something different. Picea koraiensis is a slow growing spruce. It’s an evergreen so it looks great all year round and has small red cones. This tree can be grown in a pot if you wish so it can be housed on the patio. Spruce trees are a nice way to add interest to any garden and this is an unusual and interesting variety.

4 Little Princess Japanese Maple

A personal favourite and one which is very popular with our customers. Little princess is a very hardy variety of Japanese maple. It’s perfectly suited to the British climate and is the ideal choice for anyone with a small garden. It’ll only grow to around five feet in height but is so beautiful and delicate. Lush green leaves in summer turn to wonderful orange or red in autumn. This is another on our list of the best ornamental trees for small gardens that can be grown in a pot on the patio.

5 Chamaecyparis Pisifera Boulevard

A conifer may not be the obvious choice for a small garden. But the chamaecyparis boulevard is a dwarfing variety which makes it ideal for restricted spaces. But that’s not all. It’s also one of the most attractive evergreen trees you can find. It has soft silver blue coloured needles which can even turn bronze in winter. As you’d expect from a conifer it’s fully hardy but is suited to shaded spots. It’ll only grow to six feet or so and is ideal for small gardens.

Of course when it comes to gardens ‘small’ is open to interpretation. What one gardener may consider to be a small space will be a huge planting area to another gardener. But whatever the space you have available you’ll find the ideal tree to plant on our list.

If you have any questions or need advice on which ornamental trees are best suited for your garden don’t hesitate to contact us on 01485 601143 or email sales@directplants.co.uk and we’ll be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Meanwhile, you can check out or full range of over 200 ornamental trees by clicking here. 

Bonus Tip: If you're looking for a tree thats a little different - have you consider a walnut tree? We've got a handy little guideto growing walnut trees in pots here.