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Stay in Your Lane! Compact Plants for Small Spaces: Tree & Shrub Edition
- Tracy W.
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
For years and years I've lived in sweet tiny homes with loads of mature trees. The yards were not always small, but the amount of growing space was. And choosing one favorite might mean sacrificing creative garden space for another. I had to plant smart. The treasures I took home had to fit in and play well with others.
I would go to the garden center and swoon over a draping pink wandflower... the plant tag says 3 feet tall and wide, but you can't even TELL how tall or wide that plant is! It's all over the place! I had to pass over those lovely plants with traveling habits that keep going and going--no rhizome spreading bee balm or heliopsis for me. And I'd cover my eyes for the biggies. The big beauties like native buttonbush and native ninebark. The fantastic hardy hibiscus. And Joe Pye Weed. Aint nobody's gon' stop them! And unless it's the only thing I get to grow, I needed smaller plants.
I think I'm not alone. Perhaps you have a similar yard. Or maybe you are renting and the landlord will allow for one corner garden. Maybe you own a condo with a small back patio for planters. Maybe you are looking at a narrow margin to create a garden vignette. There are so many ways that many of us find ourselves looking for small plants. Luckily, we've got you covered at Painters!
Painters is known for our vast selection and each year we try to outdo ourselves. We love growing all kinds of plants (except invasive ones of course!) and we continue to expand our selection of natives. We love this! But sometimes these straight species natives are going to take some space. This is phenomenal for those trying to fill in a new yard, but no fear—those of us needing to economize are not left out. There are lots of great nativars and also cultivars of favorite ornamentals that are smaller than the straight species. Let's look at a few we are excited about this year from our Tree and Shrub Department. (Annuals, edibles, and perennials coming in later blogs).
First off, look for anything labeled Dwarf or Compact as a quick start to your search. (Duh. You knew this with your own good brain.)
Dwarf Alberta Spruce: Moderately sized dense conical evergreen tree at 10-13' tall, 7-10' wide. It's slow-growing (2-4'' per year) and a highly popular choice for containers and topiary.
Japanese Holly 'Compacta': An evergreen shrub 4-5' tall and wide. It's low, compact, with a globose habit and a great substitute for boxwood! (Japanese Holly 'Soft Touch' is even smaller at 2-3' tall and wide and just as it says, soft to the touch).
Dwarf Japanese Cedar 'Globosa Nana': 2-4' tall and wide. An extremely old cultivar with a slow growth rate and an attractive rounded habit. Its finely textured, blue-green foliage takes on yellow hues in summer, red tones in winter. A beautiful choice!
Dwarf Redtwig Dogwood 'Kelseyi' Cornus sericea: The smallest and most compact redtwig we carry at 2-3' tall and wide. Its vivid red twigs make for a spectacular winter display, stunning when planted en masse. Nativar.
And at Painters, we label all of our plants with mature growth size to make it easier for you... but also, because plant folks are super punny kids, it's pretty simple to identify by the name:
'Legend of the Small' Fothergilla: 2-3' tall and wide. This compact nativar is as notable as its name! With copious amounts of fragrant white bottlebrush blooms in spring and fantastic fall foliage. We love it.
'Velveteeny' Smokebush: (I'm giggling at this pun!) It's ideal for small gardens and containers and the soft, wispy flower plumes bloom like puffs of smoke late spring to summer. 3-4' tall and wide and pretty cool!
'Little Henry' Itea virginica: 2-3' tall and wide instead of the native 6' sweetspire. Plus this dwarf cultivar has more flower power and brighter fall color than the straight species!
'Blue Muffin' Viburnum: Who says you need 10' to have yourself an Arrowwood Viburnum? This nativar is 3-5' tall and wide. It's deer resistant, low maintenance, and adaptable. With the same great beautiful and beneficial hedging, just more compact!
'Sweet & Lo' Sweetbox Sarcococca hookeriana: Just the sweetest little evergreen shrub you ever did see! And smell! It has a jasmine-like fragrance late winter to early spring and is adored by pollinators. Growing to 2' tall and 2-3' wide it's durable, versatile, and attractive year round—makes an excellent groundcover for shady spots!
Arborvitae 'Mr. Bowling Ball' and 'Golden Globe':Â Would be easy to tuck into a smaller landscape. 'Golden Globe' is 2-4' tall and wide that is naturally tidy and attractive, with soft yellow foliage that holds color well through winter. 'Mr. Bowling Ball' is even smaller at 2-3' tall and wide. Useful for low hedging or foundation plantings, this dwarf variety with dense foliage maintains its compact globose form (and is pretty cute to boot!).
'Nanum' European Cranberry Bush Viburnum opulus: Now, 'Nanum' is not a word I know, but it sure sounds like a diminutive word to my ears. And when I look it up, sure as sunshine, it's derived from the Latin nanus, meaning small or dwarf! At 2' tall, 2-3' wide, this dwarf non-flowering cultivar prized for its dense, mounded habit and lush, textural foliage. A great smaller addition!
Outside of silly, Lilliputian-ish names there are smaller cultivars of favorite shrubs that can get you as much bang for your buck as any bigger-sized plant!
'Fiber Optics' Buttonbush: A deciduous nativar that grows 5-6' tall and wide (vs. the straight species buttonbush at 5-12' tall, 4-8' wide). It's a compact, fast-growing cultivar, smothered in fragrant, fuzzy white blooms in summer and exceptional for wildlife value. Plus it's ideal for wetlands restoration or rain gardens.
Arabian Nights Weigela: This little one is a stunner. Growing up to just 2' tall, 2-3' wide, it's deep, dark foliage creates a dramatic backdrop for vibrant, crimson flowers late spring through summer, attracting pollinators and adding depth and elegance to the garden.
Flipside Chaste Tree:Â While not exactly small, it's smaller than the species and suitable for containers. This deer resistant, drought tolerant, easy to grow deciduous shrub will grow to 6-8' tall and 8-10' wide. Its distinct foliage with dusky purple undersides and panicles of fragrant purple flowers summer to fall is beloved by pollinators!
Find smaller ninebarks in many color, habit, and size options. Most cultivars are certainly smaller than the straight species size--coming in at 5-8' tall, 6-10' wide--but these in particular:
'Raspberry Lemonade': This attractive nativar grows 3-4' tall and wide. Its abundant white summer flowers are followed by bright red berries making a lovely contrast to the golden-green foliage and a stunning overall display.
'Little Devil': This tiny nativar provides year-round interest and stays at 3-4' tall and wide. Its burgundy foliage is complemented by pink spring blooms and the leaves hold their dark color spring through fall.
And while we all love the large native oakleaf hydrangeas or the big smooth and panicle varieties, sometimes you just need something a bit tidier. Check out these options:
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee': A deciduous nativar growing to 3-4' tall, 2-3' wide. This compact cultivar is an ideal beauty for smaller spaces. The profuse white summer blooms gradually mature to pink, and the foliage turns burgundy in fall.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers': A bit bigger nativar than the other but still diminutive in comparison to the straight species. Measuring 3-4' tall, 4-5' wide, the large panicle blooms open white, maturing through pink to red; and the foliage takes on burgundy tones in fall. Plus exfoliating bark provides winter interest.
Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo': 3' tall and 3-4' wide. Fun-sized (like it's name!) and entirely engulfed with sturdy, upright blooms throughout summer.