Japanese Maple

There are hundreds of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) options with many dwarf varieties. “Some have an upright habit, such as ‘Red Dragon,’ and others have a more weeping habit, such as ‘Waterfall,’ says Charlie Nardozzi, author of The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening. “The dwarf forms are slow growing, and all stay around 10 feet tall and wide or smaller.”

Choose an area in your yard that has full sun. If you live in a region with high temperatures, you may want to provide some afternoon shade. Japanese maples have something to admire throughout the seasons. “The structure of the branches is interesting in the garden, even in winter with no leaves,” Nardozzi says. 

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Dwarf River Birch

Looking for a dwarf tree to complement your rain garden? The dwarf river birch (Betula nigra) is an excellent option for most soil types and is ideal for shade and rain gardens. “They have great bark, great form, and are small,” says Don Eaton, founder and CEO of Bower & Branch. 

The ‘Little King’ variety has beautiful yellow leaves in the fall. This variety is “tolerant of wet clay soils [and is an] incredibly adaptable tree that will tolerate a range of conditions and can thrive in full sun to part shade,” says Rachel Sten, Community Forester at the Delaware Center for Horticulture. “With these dwarf trees, you have all the benefits of white birch, but with about 33 percent of the size,” says Eaton.

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Mature size: 8 to 10 feet tall x 9 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Fig Tree

If you’re thinking of growing a fruit tree, consider a dwarf fig tree (Ficus carica). Sten recommends the ‘Chicago Hardy’ variety, which thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. You can also plant this variety in a tall container if you’re short on space. These trees can handle colder weather but make sure to mulch in fall to protect the roots.

• Zones: 6 to 10
• Mature size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 9 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Dwarf Magnolia

Magnolia trees (Magnolia) can be much smaller than you might think. “While most gardeners think of native magnolias as large majestic trees, there are several dwarf selections that fit well in a small space garden,” says Nardozzi. He has a variety called ‘Jane’ on his property. “It has stayed below 12 feet tall after 10 years of growth with showy purple flowers that repeat bloom,” he says. Another option he recommends is the variety ‘Little Gem,’ which is a good Southern dwarf magnolia with white flowers and evergreen leaves, he says.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Mature size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 8 to 12 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry

Another fruit-bearing dwarf tree to consider in your garden is the everbearing mulberry (Morus nigra). “Dwarf mulberries are fast-growing trees that produce a long, dark fruit that tastes like a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry,” says Tucker Taylor, culinary gardener at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Sonoma, California. “They are one of the oldest cultivated fruits grown in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans.” Dwarf everbearing mulberry varieties can be grown in containers as well.

• Zones: 5 to 10
• Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 6 to 8 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Dwarf Australian Finger Lime

If you love citrus but don’t have space for a large citrus tree, try finger limes (Citrus australasica), also known as citrus caviar. They produce finger-shaped round, tart fruit. “Finger limes are one of my favorite citrus varieties to grow in temperate climates,” says Taylor. Grow in a south-facing sunny area with minimal exposure to wind or frost.

• Zones: 8 to 11
• Mature size: 10 to 15 feet tall (6 to 8 feet tall in containers) x 8 to 10 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Seven-Son Tree

With beautiful flowers in the summer and peeling bark in the winter, the seven-son tree (Heptacodium miconioides) is striking year-round. “It produces clusters of fragrant, white flowers in late summer and fall on a birch-like shaped tree,” says Eaton. “It’s a favorite of butterflies.” 

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall x 8 to 10 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun or partial shade; well-draining soil

Thuja

The cultivar Thuja Fluffy is a North American native tree and is resistant to windburn, making it an excellent choice for borders, says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins, a full-service nursery. Grow in moist, well-drained soil and choose an area that has full sun to partial shade. 

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall x up to 5 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Weeping Redbud

Weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis) produces tiny pink-hued blooms in the spring, and ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ is a dwarf cultivar of this favorite tree. “Bower & Branch introduced ‘Pink Heartbreaker’ about 15 years ago, and the original discovered plant is still only 7 feet tall and about 15 feet wide,” says Eaton. “These trees are more hardy than regular redbuds [and] are a great focal point, patio tree, or window tree!”

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall x 8 to 15 feet wide
• Care requirements: Partial shade to full sun; well-draining soil