Tried & True Small Trees

Choice Picks for the Northwest Garden

By Christina Pfeiffer

Acer circinatum ‘Monroe’ in the Cascadia Entry Garden at the Arboretum. (Photo by Christina Pfeiffer)

Tree species and cultivars with heights

ranging between 15 and 28 feet tall are gener-
ally considered appropriate for growing beneath
utility lines. One local grower I know tells me that
municipalities are often looking for more options
closer to 15 feet tall, which—in terms of size
at least—sounds more like a large shrub. (See
“Small Trees or Large Shrubs” below.)
Foliage close-up of ‘Monroe’. (Photo by Richie Steffen)
And, indeed, many larger shrubs qualify
very well as small trees—further increasing
the palette of plants we can use. Single-trunk

H ow do I prune my tree to keep it

small? This is a recurring question I
hear at my pruning lectures, and my
recurring answer is: “You need to plant a small-
growing tree to begin with.” Short of doing
specimens of ninebark (Physocarpos opulifolius)
and red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum),
trained to tree form, are becoming more common
in regional nurseries. I’ve seen burning bush
euonymus (Euonymus alatus) take on a form and
actual bonsai training, keeping trees substan- position in older gardens akin to some Japanese
tially smaller than their genetics dictate isn’t maples. Often planted as a dense screen-
usually very successful in the long run. Besides, ing shrub, evergreen Burkwood sweet olive
there are so many options for great small trees, (Osmanthus × burkwoodii) can be very determined
and new dwarf tree cultivars seem to appear in to reach its potential as a 20-plus-foot small tree
nursery inventories every year. with a broad canopy.

18 v Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin

 The plant collections at Washington Park add interest and texture to the summer garden
Arboretum offer a great opportunity to view and offer bold yellow fall color. Recommended
the long-term potential of many species, giving for our region by the Miller Garden’s “Great
gardeners a better idea of which trees might meet Plant Picks” program (greatplantpicks.org),
their expectations for “staying small”—and which ‘Monroe’ grows to about 12 feet tall with a broad
large shrubs might adequately perform the role of spread and is generally more compact than the
a small tree. It is well worth doing this homework straight species. You’ll find two nice specimens
before planting trees in size-restricted locations. (one dating to 2007, the other to 2013) in the
The pursuit of small-garden trees must also Cascadia Entry Garden in Pacific Connections,
come with some patience, as some of the best right at the beginning of the path leading into
small tree species develop at fairly modest growth Cascadia Forest. Another Arboretum connection
rates. But believe me, the delayed gratification is is that ‘Monroe’ was originally described in 1974
truly worth it! by former director Brian Mulligan, two years
Following is a selection of some of my favor- after his retirement; he named it for Dr. Warner
ite easy-care small trees for the Northwest Monroe, who discovered the variant in the wilds
garden. Good examples of most of these can be of the Oregon Cascades in 1960. To grow the tree
found growing around the Arboretum. Check in your garden, give it woodland edge conditions
out the UW Botanic Gardens’ digital map for with light shade and coarse woody mulch.
precise locations: depts.washington.edu/uwbg/ Spectacular orange to fiery-red fall color is
gardens/map.shtml. the calling card of American smoke tree, Cotinus
Mountain hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana, obovatus. Native to the eastern United States,
is native to subalpine elevations of the Cascade it is less conspicuous in flower and leaf size
and Olympic mountains but is very adapt-
able to cultivation at sea level. Its petite size
and fine-textured foliage make it an ideal
native conifer for smaller gardens. Plant it
in lean, well-drained soil to match the preferred
conditions in the tree’s native habitat. The
species has a relatively
narrow habit and,
in lowland cultiva-
tion, can be expected
to reach about 35
feet in height.
Beautiful as a single
specimen, mountain than the Eurasian common smoke tree, Cotinus
hemlock also works coggygria, but—in my opinion—is greatly under-
well in groups as an utilized. In terms of growth habit, American
evergreen backdrop or smoke tree is truly more tree-like than shrub-
for screening. like and typically grows to about 20 feet tall with
Acer circinatum a uniformly rounded crown. In its native range, it
‘Monroe’, a lovely is an understory tree found on rocky hills. It will
selection of our native grow best and produce optimal fall color when
vine maple, has finely
dissected foliage
LEFT: Mountain hemlock along the east service road, just
reminiscent of that south of Crabapple Meadow. (Photo by Niall Dunne)
of a cutleaf Japanese ABOVE: American smoke tree in fall color, just south of the
maple. The leaves Graham Visitors Center. (Photo by Niall Dunne)

Winter 2021 v 19
grown in lean soils with modest moisture levels, a uniform rounded crown. It shines in June
and in full sun to partial shade. with showy, creamy-white flowers that have a
Franklin tree, Franklinia alatamaha is strong, sweet fragrance similar to that of privet.
another eastern United States native tree that is The blooms are attractive to hummingbirds and
well suited to this region. Named for Benjamin pollinator insects. The cultivar ‘Ivory Silk’ offers
Franklin, the species tree is famous for having even more profuse flowering plus attractive,
slightly peeling reddish bark lined with horizon-
tal lenticels.
Crabapples are familiar small trees, but it
takes the right disease-resistant cultivar to look
decent all summer in the Pacific Northwest.
Among the U.S. National Arboretum’s scab-
resistant introductions tested at Washington
Park Arboretum, Malus ‘Adirondack’ is one of
those right ones. This selection has an upright
branch structure and matures at less than 20 feet
tall. In spring, copious white flowers open from

disappeared in the wild not long after its discov-

ery in the late 1700s. We have the famous early
plant explorer John Bartram to thank for the
specimens grown in gardens today. Franklinia
is closely related to Camellia and Stewartia,
and boasts late-summer blooms that linger to
accompany its brilliant-red fall foliage. Another
understory denizen, it is best grown where
there is high canopy with good morning sun,
and in well-drained soil protected by a coarse
organic mulch, such as leaf mold or wood chips.
Franklinia can be delicate to transplant, so pay
special attention to proper planting techniques deep-pink buds. The small, orange-red fruits
and avoid any drought persist through autumn. Watching the specimen
stress during the first on the east side of the Graham Visitors Center
years of establishment. over the past 27 years has reminded me that even a
How about a seemingly narrow, short tree can widen consider-
drought-tolerant tree ably with age. ‘Adirondack’ crabapple grows best in
that can perform well full sun and is another good street-tree option.
under power lines on In the category of woody landscape plants
urban streets? Or a described as “large shrub to small tree,” there are
small tree that will many small trees just waiting for us to recognize
be happy in full sun? them as such. A walk through the older collec-
Japanese tree lilac, tions in Loderi Valley and Rhododendron Glen
Syringa reticulata , at the Arboretum provides an apt reminder
grows between 25 of the capacity for many rhododendrons to
and 30 feet tall with become trees. A long-time favorite of mine is the

20 v Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin

magnificent open-grown arboreal specimen of
Rhododendron auriculatum at the bottom of the
slope beneath the Arboretum lookout. Planted
around 1938, it has now reached nearly 30
feet in height and spread. Native to China, it
bears delicately fragrant white blooms from
late June into July.
Red-vein enkianthus, Enkianthus
campanulatus ; Japanese andromeda, Pieris
japonica; and strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo
are three other species in the heath family
(Ericaceae) that merit cultivation as small trees.
Most red-vein enkianthus will grow to about 12 deciduous viburnum is generally about 6 to 8
feet tall with a somewhat narrow form. With its feet tall, and has deliciously fragrant pink-
preference for light shade and reliably stunning to-white blooms in spring.
fall color, it’s a good replacement for any How do I prune my tree to keep it small? The
Japanese maple that may have been eliminated best way to prune for a small tree is to choose
due to verticillium wilt. Evergreen Japanese one that won’t need much pruning. Start with a
andromeda will slowly reach 8 to 12 feet tall, species that matures close to the desired size
with a tree-like form, and the wait is well worth and prune while it is young for good future
it. The plantings of strawberry tree around structure and form.
the Graham Visitors Center terrace and in the There’s a world of great small trees for Pacific
Arboretum’s Mediterranean Collection along Northwest gardens, and I’ve just scratched the
Arboretum Drive are testament to this plant surface here...
being more tree than shrub in structure and
height. With the right pruning, strawberry tree Christina Pfeiffer is a horticulture consul-
can take on a similar (though smaller) character as tant, educator and ISA Certified Arborist with
its relative the Pacific madrone, Arbutus menziesii. over 35 years of experience. She is author, with
Perhaps the smallest “small tree” I’ve Mary Robson, of “Pacific Northwest Month-by-
seen is a Korean spice viburnum, Viburnum Month Gardening” (Cool Springs Press, 2017)
carlesii , trained with a single trunk. This and also serves on the “Bulletin” Editorial Board.

PRUNING SHRUBS FOR TREE FORM “SMALL TREES” OR “LARGE SHRUBS”

When establishing new shrubs, consider their future In general, a shrub is defined as a woody plant that’s
potential for an arboreal or almost arboreal stature. distinguishable from a tree by its multiple stems and
I rue the day when I allowed my new enkianthus to smaller height. However, the definition is somewhat
keep the dense clusters of stems they came with in arbitrary because some very large trees can have
their one-gallon containers. They are now a good 12 multiple stems, while some single-stemmed trees can
feet tall, and I am daunted by the prospect of how to be pretty small. Where does a large shrub end and
prune effectively the overcrowded trunks. My plants a small tree begin? Opinions vary on this matter.
would be much nicer today had they grown up with Since ecology textbooks typically define the “shrub
three rather than seven trunks! A good approach layer” of a forest as being between 3 and 15 feet
when establishing new shrubs that have tree potential tall, that’s the number I use. Of course, it’s just a
is to prune them for natural form, thin out excess rough number: If you’ve seen the towering (25-foot
multiple trunks when it can easily be done with hand tall), multi-stemmed crape myrtles at the north end
pruners, and remove lower lateral branches that are of Azalea Way, you’ll know why Lagerstroemia are
within six to eight inches of the ground. usually qualified as “small trees or large shrubs.” m

FACING PAGE, TOP: Franklin tree at the Arboretum. (Photos by Niall Dunne)
LEFT: Japanese lilac tree. (Photo by Gregory Hohs/Wikimedia Commons)
RIGHT: Malus ‘Adirondack’ at the Graham Visitors Center. (Photo by Niall Dunne)
THIS PAGE: Korean spice viburnum. (Photo by Christina Pfeiffer). Winter 2021 v 21