I am doing some landscaping and I need a small tree.?

Question

A tree that is fairly small good for placing in the corners of fencing. That reaches the maxium of 15 ft high and 10 ft spread. I would rather a 10 ft tree. I need something that will not attract pest and doesn't need much maintainence if any. Also there will be four of these along the front of the yard with a good distance spread but I don't want the front of the house to be hidden. I don't want it to attract alot of bees or wasp as that is a high risk I must avoid. If you can help me choose this, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for at least viewing if you couldn't help. :)

Also if there is any concern about weather conditions or build of the land, this is in south of Pittsburgh PA.

Answer 1

Small and elegant trees are Stewartias, Amelanchiers, or Parrotias. The Amelanchiers and the Parrotias bloom early enough that insect pollinators shouldn't trouble you. there are winter blooming trees like Witch Hazel to be completely sure of no bee being drawn to near you. 'Arnold's Promise' is yellow and shorter ( at least mine is about 8-9' at 7 years) while 'Diane' is taller and orange red in flower.
http://www.monrovia.com/plantinf.nsf/0/6AC309C5ABD3FCC58825684D00714DBD
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/65693/
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/154591/

The Stewartia ovata are native trees of delicate stature reaching 10' but with more presence than Japanese maples. They are renown for distinctive shedding bark adding winter interest following their bright yellow and red fall foliage display. In summer they bloom with their sweetly fragrant 'camellia' blossoms. See the pdf file next to see flower variations between cultivars. "Red Rose', Royal Purple', 'White Satin' or 'Grandiflora', which is most available.
www.pollyhillarboretum.org/StewartiaIntroductions.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewartia_ovata
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/s/steova/steova1.html
http://www.treetrail.net/stewartia_ovata.html

If colored foliage is more interesting look at Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', 'Nordine' (cold hardiest), or 'Golden Spirit'. These trees can be kept as shrubs by cutting or allowed to become a little tree to ~12'
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/cotcog/cotcog1.html
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Cotinus_coggygriaRoyalPurple.html

Parrotia persica like full sun with well drained soil. It flowers in March with red on white flowers. I think the bark though is the best feature but others say the fall color is. It sheds in puzzle patches to reveal a mosaic of green, white, gray, & brown tones. ‘Vanessa’ is said to 10-15’ in 10 years but it is more columnar than the species. 'Pendula' is ~5' so is probably too small.
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/parper/parper1.html
http://www.greenbeam.com/features/plant082001.stm
http://www.greatplantpicks.org/index.php?page=display&id=7904&searchterm=all
Vanessa is for sale at ForestFarm
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1780/
http://davesgarden.com/ps/go/1780/

A favorite tree of mine is the native Service Berry. It has fine foliage that colors yellow, orange or red in fall. By spring it is covered in small white flowers before full leaf so it appears white and copper. Then in June it feeds the thrushes or ceder wax wings with hundreds of dark berries. I have a table under one and never clean more than two or three berries the birds miss. The bark is smooth, pale gray that shows clearly planted against dark evergreen foliage like a rhododendron. The branches are thin and open so they do not create dense shade. Amelanchier x grandifolia 'Autumn Brilliance'
http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?ID=12225
http://www.hort.net/profile/ros/amear/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serviceberry
http://www.oikostreecrops.com
http://www.raretrees.org/amel77.html Pink-budded serviceberry ‘Robin Hill’
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Applause'
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Ballerina'
Amelanchier laevis 'Silver Fountain' weeping form
The royal names include 'Forest Prince', 'Fergie', 'Princess Diana' with the best red fall color, 'Prince William' and 'Prince Charles'
http://www.naplants.com/amelanchier.htm

Redbud (Cercis canadensis) likes average to moist soil just like the serviceberry. They would contrast well especially if you used 'Forest Pansy' a dark red leaved cultivar.
Redbud makes an effective companion for flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), as it blooms at the same time and enjoys the same growing conditions. Cornus florida 'Autumn Gold', 'Hohman's Gold', ‘Rainbow’, Cornus florida ssp. Urbiniana the Urbiniana dogwood.
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=R400


There is the Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica to 10' (the most common) or L. fauriei to 15'. They offer different fall colors. These can be multitrunked or single depending on what you prefer. Bark can be cinnamon in either and very showy. http://www.lagerstroemia.com/colors.htm
http://dallas.tamu.edu/woody/cmyrtle/
If you have acid soil and are going for a woodland setting try a Witch-alder, or large fothergilla, a shrub that gets 6-10 ft and is famous for its honey sweet fragrance.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/f/foth_maj.cfm

Answer 2

I always like this sort of question, because it's a 'what is your favorite plant' question. With a grain of salt, take your answers to your local independent garden center to review the list. Some of the trees might not be hardy in your USDA hardiness zone, or might be rare, or otherwise unavailable.

I'd strongly suggest P.G. Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea paniculata). The "flowers" are just showy sepals, and many lack any reproductive parts, thus, nothing for the bees to eat or pollinate, so nothing to hang around for. Definitely in your size category, and should be available in your area.

Otherwise maybe Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) or perhaps lace bark pine (Pinus bungeana 'compacta'), maybe even Harry Lauders walking stick, grafted onto a standard (Corylus avellana 'contorta')... oh and consider cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas).

I hope that this helps, and thanks for referencing your location, it makes answering so much easier!

Answer 3

Bradford pears are pretty, but are pretty full and will block the house if you aren't careful. That is about the max size that they get. Only problem with them is that they are softwood and susceptible to splitting during high winds or ice storms. One good thing about them is they grow fast (but that's also what causes them to get damaged easily).

Another option would be Japanese maples. They are very pretty, easy to maintain, but they grow slowly - I would say no more than 6" a year.

Crepe myrtles offer great color in the summer, have beautiful bark, don't get much taller than 10', and can be pruned as either a full tree (almost bush appearance) or shaped up into more of a tree shape. They are also not overly full, so won't block the house. They do attract bees for a few weeks each year, though, since they do bloom.

Cherry trees are pretty, but, they too attract bees for about 2 weeks each spring when they bloom. They are easy to maintain and won't block the house too bad.

Dogwoods would be my choice. They bloom in the spring, but don't attract bees. Good shape to them and are easy to maintain. Mine grow about 10" each year and they seldom get taller than about 10 feet. They are susceptible to blight and other diseases, though, so you have to be careful not to nick them when weedeating.

Answer 4

I would plant a Crab Apple tree. In the spring there are white flowers that become cherry sized fruit for birds. When they fall you can collect them... in the fall. There shouldn't be many if you have plenty of birds. There shouldn't be many bees/wasps because they tend to go to bigger fruit. The size of the tree is also good for what you need. In the winter the branches can go from Grey to red.

Answer 5

Forsythia Tree - don't know what zone you live in

http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/13067

Answer 6

"B-O-N-Z-A-I"