Q I need some choices for a small, interesting tree for a courtyard garden. It will be seen up close.
A There are hundreds of choices within the typical smaller-size Japanese maple group, but there’s a world of choices beyond those too. You can find pompom top, lacy and leafy, flowering, scented, unscented, evergreen and variegated small trees and tree-shaped shrubs.
First, you must make up a complete list of your conditions and your requirements. Start with an inventory of sun exposure (how many hours and how hot) then soil type (light and loamy, heavy clay or hard cherty soil), water conditions and summer and winter wind conditions. These are your base, unalterable limitations.
Decide on the shape of the plant you desire, whether you need tall and narrow, wide and spreading, shade producing, round or oval. Do you want a single trunk or a multitrunked choice? Do you want a blooming tree? If so, in what season: spring, summer or fall? When will you most enjoy your choice?
I would encourage you to look at the new colorful smoke trees (Cotinus sp.) with deep purple or pale gold foliage. Check out Vitex agnus-castus Shoal Creek, called Chaste tree, and the green- and white-leafed upright Japanese maple Butterfly.
Also consider many of the viburnums, trimmed to a tree form as well as the snowball bushes and Hydrangea Tardivas, like Limelight. These grow tall enough to be small trees and can be pruned to a tree shape.
Newer hybrids of crape myrtles have a smaller growth habit and bloom all summer, while tall shrubs like lilacs bloom in spring with a lovely scent.
Take your detailed site analysis to a garden center on a slow day and peruse the choices. You can find exactly what you want.
E-mail Pat Lea at lea.pat@gmail.com.