15 Small Trees Ideal for Growing in Pots and Containers

If you are someone who has a small space for the garden and wants to fit trees into it, then small trees in pots are the best solution for you. Small trees for pots are easy to grow in comparison to bigger trees, and you can have all the benefits of trees by having small tree pots. You can grow two types of trees in pots: one is slow-growing, and the other is dwarfing. Dwarfing means keeping the size of the tree smaller than its actual size. This can be done with the help of limited food feeding, root expansion, and careful pruning. Another method you can use for dwarfing is grafting, where you grow the tree on a rootstock of a smaller species.

Small trees for pots are capable of giving the best decoration to your garden, patio, or whatever space you keep them in. These trees keep the atmosphere cool and relaxed. So let us expand our knowledge about the trees that we can grow in pots.

Small Trees for Pots to Upgrade the Look of Your Space

We will explore the best 15 species of small trees for pots that we can grow into containers and decorate our verandah or lawn.

1. Japanese Maple Tree

The Japanese maple tree is one of the most likely tree plants to grow in a pot in a small space. This plant is also known as Acer Palmatum. The growth goes from fast to slow when the plant matures. This plant needs well-drained, moist, but faintly acidic soil. The Japanese maple tree is capable of tolerating full to partial sunlight.

There are wide varieties, like Abigail Rose, Geisha Gone Wild, Jubilee, Orangeola, and many more, available on the market. Some of the maple tree leaves change their colours to purple, bronze, or red during the fall, which creates a mesmerising look in your garden. Due to their slow growth, they require less pruning.

2. Peach Tree

By selecting a peach tree for pot planting, you can have dual benefits, like enhancing the beauty of your spot and having home-harvested fruit to enjoy. Peach trees are also called ‘natural dwarfs’ as some of the plants have naturally small growth. The plants bear full-sized fruit, while the size of the plant remains small.

The region with -6 degrees Celsius can grow the plant successfully, as it requires at least 500 hours in cold or chill weather. Make sure that the tree plant receives full sunlight or more than 6 hours of direct sunlight. For better drainage, add a few pebbles at the bottom of the container or pot. They require proper watering and fertiliser for better growth. You need to change the pot after certain years for better growth.

3. Lemon Tree

If you are someone who wants to squeeze the lemon grown in a house garden and is worried about the limited space, then go for a lemon tree pot. You can go for varieties like dwarf eureka, improved Meyer, or Lisbon lemon. Place the tree plant in such a way that it receives sunlight for 7 to 8 hours.

The tree plant requires well-drained soil, either neutral or slightly acidic, with a pH level of 5 to 7. The plant requires regular and consistent watering for healthy growth. You need to take extra care and provide frequent watering during hot and windy days. You need to change the pot every few years.

4. Bay Tree

A bay tree plant provides a welcoming entrance or is perfect for a patio. The common name for bay trees is sweet bay or bay laurel, and the botanical name is Laurus Nobilis. It is an evergreen shrub that flowers in the spring. The leaves of this plant are used for adding fragrance and flavours to soups, stews, and other dishes in cooking.

You can experiment with the appearance of the tree plant by cutting it into various shapes. The tree plant requires regular soil-based composting and an adequate amount of watering. The tree plant requires regular soil-based composting and an adequate amount of watering. You need to repot plants every 2 years for better growth and care. A tree plant can be the best choice for adding a beautiful look to your small space.

5. Olive Tree

If you wish to create an experience of old-world charm but do not have enough space for a fully-grown tree, then the olive tree plant is one of the best choices for you. Some species bear fruit, while others do not. Olive trees require immensely well-drained, rocky soil; for that, wood or clay pots are better options, as plastic pots can damage plants.

Make the arrangement of the plant in such a way that it gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. The less watering, the better for the plant. Olive tree plants are winter sensitive and not able to tolerate excessive cold, so take extra care of them on extremely cold days.

6. Conifer Tree

Conifer trees are evergreen shrubs to have in your house. Its qualities, like being easily movable and combining with other plants smoothly, make it ideal for pot planting. You must select a bigger pot than the size of the plant, as it grows into a comparatively bigger plant. The conifer tree plants require low maintenance.

The well-drained, moist, acidic, and loamy soil with pea gravel or perlite is ideal for the proper growth of the plant. Make sure to provide the required amount of water to the plant, as overwatering can damage it. It is advisable to re-pot them after certain years and change their soil. From the available varieties, slow-growing and miniature conifers are advisable to grow in pots.

7. Magnolia Tree

Magnolia trees are available in shapes like a star or tulip and have a variety of colours like white, pink, yellow, and deep magenta. This tree plant has a beautiful aroma. Some magnolia trees plant flowers in the spring, while others do so in the summer. They require acidic or neutral soil for proper growth. This plant requires sheltered space and takes extra care in frost, as it can damage the plant.

Place the plant in such a way that it gets good exposure to the sun. During the summer, take care to give trees enough water, as they can dry easily. Regular pruning is important for the healthy growth of the plant. Opt for the slightly acidic and fertile soil, as it is ideal for the growth of the plant. Make sure that the plant receives enough sunlight.

8. Apple Tree

If you are a believer in ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” it will be the cherry on the cake if apples are grown in the home garden. However, if you do not possess enough space for a fully-grown tree, you can cultivate it in the pot. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that if you really have a very small space, then go for the self-fertile type of dwarf plant. It will give you better results if any other variety of the same plant is kept near for cross-pollination.

Regular garden soil and compost or potting soil will work best for the tree plant. Opt for the pot with a drainage hole, which helps you avoid any watering issues and helps you save the plant from any damage. Regular watering and proper care are needed for the growth of the plant.

9. Amelanchier Tree

Amelanchier has many general names, like juneberry trees, serviceberry trees, and shadbush trees. This deciduous tree plant is ideal for cultivation in pots. The plant flowers with white flowers during the spring. This plant will bear red and purple berries throughout the summer and fall. The plant will bloom perfectly in either full or partial sunlight.

The Amelanchier tree demands well-drained, moderately dry to moist soil with a pH level of 5 to 7. You need to water them properly in the initial stage of growth and during the drought phase. Once they reach their maturity stage, less watering will work for them. This plant is very low-maintenance. You need to give fertiliser once a year only. The fruits of some species are edible, while others are not.

10. Kumquat Tree

The kumquat tree is a small, evergreen, fruit-bearing plant that enhances the attraction of the place. The leaves of this plant are broad and glossy. This plant produces fruits that are the size of olives and resemble oranges. The fruits are edible, including the skin, and possess a sour taste. The tree plant demands high sunlight and proper drainage in the soil for cultivation.

Make sure that trees do not come into the shadow of any other taller tree, as it may affect the growth of the plant negatively. Kumquat demands neither waterlogged nor completely dry soil. Kumquat trees consider themselves self-pollinators, as they do not depend on insects for pollination. There are various types of kumquat tree plant options available on the market.

11. Birch Tree

Though birch trees do not have a longer life compared to other tree plants like oak, maple, or any other forest tree plant, they are considered to be an ideal tree plant for small spaces due to their quick growth. The birch tree has different bark colours, mostly white and sometimes pink or copper. You need to give them regular care when growing them in pots.

The soil must be moist, and fertilisers must be applied consistently in adequate amounts. The mobility of this tree is not easy, so proper planning is required beforehand. Birch tree plants require slightly acidic, well-drained, moist soil. The tree plant bears yellow-coloured flowers in the early spring. The foliage turns bright yellow during the fall. For pot planting, opt for the small-sized variety of the plant.

12. Fig Tree

Figs are one of the most tasty and easy-growing tree plants. The botanical name of the plant is Ficus Carica. They offer the fruit within 1 or 2 years of planting. Brown turkey fig and Chicago hardy fig varieties are most suitable for planting in pots. Cold and frost are threats to the plant, so choose the location for the potted tree wisely.

This plant needs well-drained and moist soil. Add the layer of mulch after watering the plant, which helps the soil prevent getting dry easily. Daily watering is required in the summer. You can prune the plant according to the space available. Fig plants can tolerate high sunlight, so position them accordingly. Fiddle leaf figs can also be grown in pots.

13. Rhododendron Tree

Rhododendrons appear with attractive flowers during spring. There are many small-growing rhododendron tree plants available for pot planting to change the complete look of your space. As excessive water can damage the roots of tree plants, it is important to have a proper drainage arrangement for the plant. The plant requires moist but well-drained soil for growth.

Place the plant in such a position that it receives partial sunlight. If proper care is provided, then they will bloom with beautiful bell-shaped flowers in a variety of colours like purple, red, yellow, white, and pink. Feed them with good-quality compost regularly.

14. Crab Apple Tree

If you wish to grow crab apples in pots, then it is advisable to select a smaller variety of tree plants. It is extremely important to opt for a larger pot that is able to justify the size of the plant. Regular pruning can help you maintain the plant’s size. Growing crab apples in pots will open up the possibility of planting multiple other plants that require the same maintenance.

You need to provide a spacious palace for the proper growth of the plant. Place it in a way that it can bloom fully and get enough sunlight. It is difficult to move once a tree plant reaches maturity. Weekly watering and a layer of mulch work for the plant perfectly. They are easy to grow and require low maintenance.

15. Wedding Cake Tree

The botanical name of the wedding cake tree is Cornus Controversa ‘Variegata.’ A wedding cake tree plant provides a mesmerising look to your space. The tree grows in a horizontal layer, creating a look that resembles a layered cake, and so the name is taken from it. White and cream flowers create a beautiful look in late spring.

The red stems of the plants hold beautiful green leaves. The wedding cake tree plant bears blackberry fruit, which is edible to birds. The medium-moisture, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil will work the best. The plant requires full or partial sunlight for growth. This is a slow-growing tree plant. Regular pruning is not required.

Final Words

If you are a garden lover and want to stay surrounded by trees but have limited space, then there are multiple options available for small trees for pots. These will help you add charm and make your space lively.

You must consider space availability and weather before opting for any plant. Some of these plants will not only help you to enhance the look but also provide fruits, flowers, and leaves that can be used in multiple ways.

Above- mentioned  15 small trees for pots are good options to provide greenery to your small garden, patio, or verandah and make it look more attractive.