Generally not used as shade trees, ornamental trees add variety and interest to the landscape by providing spring flowers, attractive fruit, various fall colors, and unique structure. Some of these trees will work well in a small space, others grow large to become a landscape specimen.
Beech
Dawyck Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’
Height: 40′
Spread: 12′
A purple leaf form of Columnar Beech. Tight and narrow in form, with purple leaf color that holds well in the summer.
Fernleaf Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
Height: 50′
Spread: 40′
A large growing tree with crisp, dark green, cut-leaf foliage. The branching gives the tree the appearance of closely layered, fan like sprays.
Purple Fountain Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’
Height: 25′
Spread: 12′
Pendulous branches drape from an upright leader as this unusual beech matures into a unique living sculpture.
Purple Weeping Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea Pendula’
Height: 10′
Spread: 15′
Weeping habit and the absence of a central leader form a broad purple dome. A large specimen provides a fantasy-land playground beneath cascading branches.
Red Obelisk Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’
Height: 25′
Spread: 10′
This dark purple, columnar seedling has strong, reliable growth in a refined, compact habit. Use the dramatic purple column as a striking accent plant or create a memorable tree-line along a border or drive.
Tricolor Beech
Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseomarginata’
Height: 30′
Spread: 20′
Beautiful foliage is this tree’s star attraction. Margins of its purple-bronze leaves are irregularly colored with splashes of rose, pink and cream.
Birch
Shiloh Splash Birch
Betula nigra ‘Shiloh Splash’
Height: 10′
Spread: 8′
A deciduous, variegated, flowering tree with papery, tan, and peach bark and green leaves that appear to have had their margins dunked in creamy-white paint.
Young’s Weeping Birch
Betula pendula ‘Youngii’
Height: 15′
Spread: 20′
This easily shaped tree is especially suited to small garden areas. Its characteristic, asymmetric branch structure makes it an attractive and interesting addition to n informal landscape.
Bald Cypress
Green Whisper Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum ‘JFS-SGPN’
Height: 55′
Spread: 30′
Green Whisper® Bald Cypress has the brightest green needle-like leave color in the spring and summer. It has the appearance of an evergreen tree, but it will actually lose its needle-like leaves in the fall after they turn a brilliant copper color.
Falling Waters Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum ‘Falling Waters’
Height: 15′
Spread: 15′
A weeping selection that distinguishes itself by its leader growing straight up while the branches droop. Fall color is bronze, and the reddish brown bark peels in strips. Tolerates both wet and dry conditions.
Peve Minaret
Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’
Height: 10′
Spread: 3′
An amazing bald cypress selection that grows like a miniature tree; even at 2 feet tall, its branching mimics that of a mature wild specimen. It develops a main leader with dense side branches and grows with a very narrow habit and will stay much smaller and denser than the species. The terminal branch foliage becomes smaller and tighter toward the ends, creating the effect of tiny minarets
Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum ‘Mickelson’
Height: 55′
Spread: 20′
Narrowly pyramidal deciduous conifer which has proven to be widely adaptable to city conditions, it will grow in standing water or in well drained soils. Orange-bronze fall color.
Dawn Redwood
Gold Rush Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’
Height: 50′
Spread: 20′
A fast-growing selection of dawn redwood with pleasing bright yellow feathery foliage that will turn tawny brown before being shed in the fall. This is a deciduous conifer. Creates a striking statement in the landscape with it’s golden foliage. A mature specimen will easily exceed 20 feet tall after 10 years in the landscape. It should be noted that the foliage will burn in the full sun. Young trees that do not receive adequate irrigation are highly prone to sun damage.
Jade Prince Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘JFS-PN3Legacy’
Height: 70′
Spread: 25′
Lush, feathery spring foliage matures to rich, fresh green in summer. Dense, upright branching and a strong central leader contribute to superior form over seedling grown plants and recommend it for urban and landscape use.
Hydrangea – Tree Form
Limelight Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Height: 6-8′
Spread: 6-8′
Huge, football-shaped flowers open in an elegant celadon green that looks fresh and clean in summer’s heat. The blooms age to an array of pink, red, and burgundy which persists through frost for months of irresistible flowers. It also makes an excellent cut flower, fresh or dried.
Phantom Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Phantom’
Height: 6-8′
Spread: 6-8′
The flowerheads are huge, measuring up to 15 inches with a mixture of showy but sterile flowers and smaller, fertile ones. Strong stems hold the flower clusters upright and prevent drooping. The flowers emerge white with a green tint in July, turn pink as they mature, and continue to bloom until fall. The color of the flowers is not affected by the pH of the soil. Phantom blooms on the current season’s wood so it is not susceptible to late spring frosts. It does well in morning sun. This is a hybrid of Hydrangea paniculata which is native to Japan, China and Korea where it grows at altitudes up to 4,000 ft. In 2008 Phantom received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Pinky Winky Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Height: 6-8′
Spread: 6-8′
Pinky Winky has an unusual name, and an even more unusual flower. The large white panicles open in mid to late summer, and as summer turns to fall the florets at the base of the panicles turn pink. The flower panicles continue to grow, producing new white florets at the tip. The result is spectacular two-toned flower panicles that can reach up to 16 inches in length! This is a real show-stopper that’s also very easy to grow.
Quickfire Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Height: 6-8′
Spread: 6-8′
Quick Fire® hydrangea can bloom about a month before any other panicle hydrangea. Flowers open pure white then turn pink, and will be an extremely dark rosy-pink in the fall. The flower color is not affected by soil pH. Blooms are produced on new wood, which means that you will see flowers even after even the harshest winters. Beautiful for use as a cut (fresh or dried) flower. Fall foliage color is excellent for a final hurrah before winter.
Weeping Larch
Larix decidua ‘Pendula’
Height: 8-12′ Spread: 10-12′
Fast-growing weeping tree with luminous lime-green foliage in spring followed by yellow fall color. Can be trained and staked. An excellent statement tree.
Vine Maple
Burgundy Jewel
Acer circinatum ‘Burgundy Jewel’
The unique characteristic of this vine maple cultivar is that it has purple-red leaves which hold their color well throughout summer, especially in full sun. Fall colors range from brilliant orange to scarlet red. Burgundy Jewel will grow to about 6′ tall x 4′ wide in 10 years. Hardy to -20 degrees.
Monroe Cut-leaf
Acer circinatum ‘Monroe’
Height: 10′ Spread: 12′
A unique selection of native vine maple, it has attractive, deeply divided leaves. It is well adapted to woodland situations but will tolerate a variety of conditions. Place it in a location where dappled light can play through its branches—its lacy, bright green leaves create a welcome contrast in shady evergreen woodlands. Cut-leaf vine maple can be used as an elegant specimen tree combined with shade-loving perennials and small shrubs.
Pacific Fire
Acer circinatum
Height: 15′
Spread: 10′
A Northwestern native treasured for its distinctive red bark. This selection adds fiery colored foliage to the show. New growth emerges purple and orange in the spring. Leaves mature to a bright green during the season, then turn golden in the fall. Multi-trunk shrub becomes a small tree with light pruning. Ideal for big seasonal changes in foundation planting. Thrives in the acidic soils beneath very large conifers.
Weeping Mulberry
Morus alba ‘Chaparral’
Height: 12′
Spread: 16′
‘Chaparral’ is a dwarf, deciduous tree which features weeping foliage. It is usually top-grafted to a standard white mulberry about 6′ off the ground, thus producing a 6-8′ tall tree with an equal or wider spread wherein all branches and foliage weep to the ground.