Ornamental Trees

Ornamental trees personalize your landscape by creating focal points and defining spaces. By choosing trees with eye-catching ornamental features such as unusual form, showy flowers or distinctive foliage you can create a more interesting and inviting garden. Listed here are deciduous trees typically less than 30’ tall. Crabapple, Dogwood, Japanese maple and Magnolia are covered in depth on separate handouts.

Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Aspen, Quaking Populus tremuloides	Pyramidal	45’x25’	¡	Fast growing tree with striking greenish white bark and fluttery leaves that turn yellow in fall. Tolerant of wet or dry soil, but tends to be short-lived in our area.
Baldcypress, Peve Minaret Taxodium distichum	Weeping	20’x10’	¡	Soft, ferny bright green foliage on downward arching branches. This selection tends to have a central trunk from which the branches cascade. Russet fall color.
Beech, Dawyck Purple, Gold Fagus sylvatica	Columnar	50’x15’	¡	Narrow and columnar in habit with deep purple and golden yellow leaves, respectively. Upright and narrow growth habit. Purple is a bit more open than Gold.
Beech, Tricolor Fagus sylvatica	Oval	30’x20’	¡	Simply stunning foliage emerges burgundy becoming green with creamy white and soft pink variegation. Smooth gray bark and attractive branch character for winter interest.
Beech, Weeping Purple Fountain Fagus sylvatica	Weeping	15’x5’	¡	Impressive weeping form with a strong central leader and cascading branches. Purple-green summer foliage. Great specimen. Best in loose, well-drained soil.
Birch, Dakota Pinnacle Betulua platyphylla	Columnar	40’x12’	¡	Very hardy selection from North Dakota. Spire-like columnar form with smooth white bark and yellow fall color. Good heat and drought tolerance.
Birch, Parkland Pillar Betula platyphylla	Columnar	30’x6’	¡	Dense, tightly columnar form with striking white bark and lustrous green leaves turning golden in fall.
Birch, River Shiloh Splash Betula nigra	Oval	12’x10’	¡	Unusual dwarf river birch with green and white variegated foliage and cinnamon brown exfoliating bark. Excellent choice for a smaller garden. Prefers moist soil.
Birch, Royal Frost Betula hybrid	Oval	25'x15'	¡	Cross between Whitespire and Crimson Frost birch. Burgundy colored foliage contrasts beautifully with clean white trunks. Prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Birch, Whitespire Betula populifolia	Oval	25’x15’	¡	Showy, flaking white bark. Green leaves turn yellow in fall. Resistant to bronze birch borer. Best in well-drained soil.
Box Elder, Flamingo Acer negundo	Rounded	15’x12’		New leaves emerge pink, then mature to soft green with a creamy white margin. This small maple is perfect along a partly shaded woodland edge or as a patio tree.
Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Buckeye, Red Aesculus parvia	Rounded	15’x15’	¡	Bold, dark green palmate leaves. Upright panicles of crimson red flowers in spring attract hummingbirds. Ideal as a small patio tree. Keep soil evenly moist.
Cherry, Hally Jolivette Prunus	Rounded	15’x12’	¡	Pink buds open to large double, pink-tinged white flowers in April that last longer than on other cherries. Best in well-drained soil.
Cherry, Kwanzan Prunus serrulata	Rounded	25’x25’	¡	One of the hardiest of the double-flowered cherries. Large, deep pink flowers in April. New leaves emerge bronzy, turning orange-bronze in fall. Best in well-drained soil.
Cherry, Okame Prunus	Upright Oval	15'x10'	¡	Long-lasting, semi-double, clear pink flowers in spring. Dark green foliage turns yellow-orange in fall. Handsome bark. Best in well-drained soil.
Cherry, Pink Flair Prunus sargentii	Vase Shaped	25'x15'	¡	Excellent narrow cherry for northern gardens. Shiny dark green leaves emerge reddish in spring and turn orange-red in fall. Single, bright pink flowers in late April and early May. Stunning rich reddish brown bark. Well-drained soil.
Cherry, Weeping Prunus	Weeping	12'x12'	¡	Single white or double pink flowers in spring on slender, pendulous branches. Shiny green leaves turn golden-orange in the fall. Best in well-drained soil.
Crabapple, Gladiator Malus	Upright	20’x9’	¡	Bronzy purple, glossy leaves. Bright pink flowers. 3/8” red-purple fruit. Narrow form great for space-challenged sites, under power lines or as a tall flowering hedge! Excellent disease resistance.
Crabapple, Indian Summer Malus	Rounded	15’x20’	¡	Purple leaves becoming green in summer. Deep rose red flowers. ¾” red fruit is persistent and will attract birds. Orange-red fall foliage. Good disease resistance.
Crabapple, Pink Spires Malus	Oval	15’x12’	¡	Bronze-green leaves. Early, long-lasting bright pink flowers. Persistent ½” purple-red fruit. Dense, upright branching forming a symmetrical oval crown. Fair scab resistance, excellent cedar-apple rust resistance.
Crabapple, Royal Raindrops Malus	Upright Vase	18’x12’	¡	Deeply cut purple foliage, aging to reddish green. Bright pinkish red flowers. 1/2” red fruit is persistent. Orange-red fall foliage. Excellent disease resistance.
Dogwood, Chinese Champion’s Gold Cornus kousa	Vase shaped	20’x20’	¡	Multi-hued foliage is green in spring, with summer leaves turning bright yellow if exposed to sun, then changing to bright orange-red in fall. White flowers in late spring.
Dogwood, Chinese Pink Cornus kousa	Rounded	15’x12’	¡	Large, rose red flowers in late spring are followed by red raspberry-like fruit in summer. Long-lasting reddish purplish purple fall color.
Dogwood, Chinese White Cornus kousa var. chinensis	Rounded	20'x15'	¡	Tiered branching. Showy white flowers in June followed by raspberry-like fruit in late summer. Best in acidic, well-drained soil.
Dogwood, Cornelian Cherry Golden Glory Cornus mas	Upright	20'x10'	¡l	Yellow flowers in early spring. Large, oblong cherry-red berries in summer. Purple fall color. Very hardy and adaptable tree.
Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Dogwood, Giant Gray Lemon Drop Cornus drummondii	Rounded	20’x15’		Selected from a Midwest-native dogwood. Clusters of soft saffron yellow flowers in late spring are followed by clear yellow berries that contrast beautifully with the burgundy, red and orange fall leaves. Tolerates wet soil and part shade. Great for woodland settings.
Dogwood, Pagoda Cornus alternifolia	Spreading	15'x15'	¡	Strong horizontal branching. White flowers in spring.  Purple berries on red fruit stalks in fall. Reddish-purple fall color. Best in moist, well-drained soil.
Dogwood, Stellar Pink Cornus xrutgersensis	Vase Shaped	20'x20'	¡	Tiered branching. Soft pink flowers in late spring. Red fall color. Best in acidic, well-drained soil.
Elm, Jacqueline Hillier              Ulmus elegantissima	Rounded	8’x8’	¡	Adorable dwarf elm with tiny elm-like leaves set in an interesting herringbone pattern on dense branches. Leaves turn orange in fall. Grows slowly into a picturesque form. Great for the bonsai enthusiast or used as a focal point.
Fringetree, White Chionanthus virginicus	Rounded	12’x15’	¡	Eastern US native is one of our prettiest small trees. Fragrant, frilly white flowers at the branch tips cover the plant in early summer. Glossy, bright green leaves turn yellow in fall. May produce clusters of blue-black fruit that birds relish. Quite adaptable, but best in moist soil.
Ginkgo, Mariken Ginkgo biloba	Rounded	3’x6’	¡	Rare, very slow growing dwarf ginkgo with a low, spreading, almost weeping habit. Unique fan-shaped leaves turn a buttery yellow color in fall. Makes a gorgeous small specimen and can also be used for bonsai.
Goldenraintree Koelreuteria paniculata	Rounded	30’x20’	¡	Lovely 12” yellow flower panicles in July. One of the very few cold-hardy, yellow-flowering trees. Excellent as a small lawn tree or for shading a patio.
Hazelnut, Gold Corylus avellana	Rounded	12’x10’	¡	Brightly colored leaves emerge golden yellow gradually turning green in summer then shades of yellow, orange and burgundy in fall. Yellow catkins dangle like earrings in spring. Edible nuts in fall. Unique small specimen tree.
Hornbeam, American Native Flame Carpinus caroliniana	Oval	30’x20’	¡	A selection of native hornbeam with improved fall color. Clean dark green leaves turn shades of red in the fall. Nice dense branching; smooth gray bark develops sinewy ridges with age. Lovely tree for partly shaded locations.
Hornbeam, European Columnar Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’	Upright	30’x15’	¡	Elegant, dense, upright teardrop form when unpruned. Dark green leaves turn yellow-orange in fall. Can be tightly sheared into narrower hedge.
Hornbeam, Frans Fontaine Carpinus betulus	Columnar	30’x10’	¡	When unpruned mature form is narrower, more columnar and less of a fat teardrop shape than Fastigiata, above.
Katsuratree, Red Fox Cercidiphyllum japonicum	Oval	30’x15’	¡	A colorful, narrow tree with heart-shaped new leaves emerging deep purple with green veins, turning bronze green in summer then golden yellow with hints of apricot in fall. Keep mulched, evenly moist. Intolerant of dry soil.
Lilac, Pekin Great Wall S. reticulata subsp. pekinensis	Upright Oval	20’x12’	¡	Dark green glossy leaves are smaller than Japanese tree lilac’s. White flower clusters in early June. Shiny reddish brown exfoliating bark. Upward sweeping branches create a neat and attractive oval form.
Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Magnolia, Alexandrina Magnolia xsoulangeana	Spreading	20’x20’	¡	Saucer-type magnolia with large, tulip-shaped flowers in April. Flowers are rose purple on the outside and white on the inside. Bold, medium green foliage.
Magnolia, Butterflies Magnolia acuminata	Oval	20’x15’	¡	Sterile and produces no fruits! Graceful, spreading habit with abundant flowers.
Magnolia, Genie Magnolia xsoulangeana	Oval	12’x5’	¡	Dwarf form. Sensational black-red buds open to cup-shaped flowers of deep maroon purple in April.
Maple, Arctic Jade/North Wind Acer xpseudosieboldianum	Upright	20’x15’	¡	Hybrid maple combines the hardiness of Korean maple with the beauty of Japanese maple. Large deeply cut leaves turn an array of orange and red tones in the fall. A hardier zone 4 alternative to regular Japanese maple.
Maple, Carnival Acer campestre	Rounded	12’x10’	l	Variegated white and green leaves are flushed with pink as they emerge in spring. Choose a location protected from hot afternoon sun. Great small specimen for shady spots.
Maple, Fullmoon Gold Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'	Rounded	8’x8’	¡	Distinctly lobed leaves are golden yellow in summer turning orange in fall. Stunning as a color accent.
Maple, Ice Dragon Acer xpseudosieboldianum	Weeping	8’x10’	¡	Korean-Japanese maple hybrid. Finely dissected leaves unfurl orange-red maturing to green in summer then a kaleidoscope of yellow, orange and red in fall. Undulating and cascading branches create a lovely winter silhouette.
Maple, Japanese Bloodgood Acer palmatum	Vase Shaped	15’x12’	¡	Burgundy red foliage in summer turns brilliant orange-scarlet in fall. Layered, tiered branching. Plant in an area sheltered from strong winter wind.
Maple, Japanese Laceleaf Acer palmatum dissectum	Mounded	8’x8’	¡	Depending on type, lacy finely dissected burgundy or green foliage and fall color in varying shades of red, orange and yellow. Long cascading branches. Provide a sheltered spot, especially from hot sun and winter wind.
Maple, Norway Globe Acer platinoides ‘Globosum’	Rounded	15’x15’	¡	Globe-shaped form of Norway maple can be used under power lines or as a formal specimen. Dark green leaves turn yellow in fall. Maintains lollipop look without pruning.
Maple, Paperbark Acer griseum	Rounded	20’x15’	¡	Very showy, flaking orange-copper bark. Trifoliate leaves turn shades of red in fall.
Maple, Snakebark Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’	Oval	15’x8’	¡	This unusual maple features green and white striped bark along with whitish stems1. Foliage turns a buttery yellow in the fall. Best in location sheltered from winter wind.
Maple, Sycamore Eskimo Sunset Acer pseudoplatanus	Pyramidal	20’x15’	¡	Extraordinarily colorful leaves emerge orange pink maturing to green splashed with pink and white. Prefers moist, well-drained soil and protection from hot afternoon sun. Amazing in front of larger evergreens.
Maple, Tatarian Hot Wings Acer tataricum	Upright Rounded	25’x20’	¡	Rugged, multi-stemmed small tree has creamy green flowers in May followed by bright red samaras (winged fruit) that remain colorful for weeks in mid to late summer. Dark green leaves turn yellow and red in fall. Gray striped bark. Drought tolerant once established.
Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Maple, Three-flowered Acer triflorum	Rounded	20’x15’	¡	Shaggy bark peels to reveal golden brown inner bark while green leaves change to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow in fall. Little known but lovely small maple.
Mountain Ash, Showy Sorbus decora	Rounded	20’x15’	¡	Fine-textured foliage resembles that of Honeylocust. Large, showy white flowers in May are followed by equally showy clusters of red fruit in late summer that birds enjoy. Best in full sun and loose, well-drained soil.
Mulberry, Weeping Morus alba ‘Chaparral’	Weeping	12’x18’	¡	Fruitless mulberry with large, shiny leaves on cascading branches. Grows quickly into a wide-spreading specimen.
Parrotia, Persian Parrotia persica	Rounded	30’x25’	¡	Beautiful specimen tree develops mottled bark in patches of gray, green, white and brown. Red tassel-like flowers in spring. Purple-tinged new leaves turn brilliant scarlet, orange and yellow in fall. Needs well-drained soil and protection from harsh winter sun and wind.
Parrotia, Persian Spire Parrotia persica	Pyramidal	20’x10’	¡	Smaller, slender form of the above.
Paw Paw Asimina triloba	Upright Spreading	15’x10’	¡	Midwest native understory tree suitable for woodland margins or streamside. Spreading, suckering habit - forms thickets in ideal conditions. Purple flowers may be followed by brown, banana-like fruit prized by wildlife.
Pear, Cleveland Select Pyrus calleryana	Upright Pyramidal	35’x15’	¡	Dense, upright form. Abundant white spring flowers. Fall leaves may be reddish purple, red, orange or yellow.
Pear, Javelin Pyrus calleryana	Columnar	35’x10’	¡	Tight, columnar form of ornamental pear stays narrow as it matures. White flowers in spring. Uniquely colored leaves emerge purple, changing to glossy green, then a combination of orange-red in fall.
Pear, Redspire Pyrus calleryana	Pyramidal	35’x25’	¡	White flowers in spring. Glossy leaves turn red to purple in fall. This pear has a symmetrical shape and tight branching.
Pussywillow, Weeping Salix caprea	Weeping	8’x10’	¡	Fuzzy catkins appear in spring, opening to subtle yellow flowers. Blue-green summer leaves. Attractive cascading form makes a nice focal point. Wet soil is just fine!
Redbud Cercis canadensis	Vase Shaped	20'x15'	¡	Fuchsia pink flowers cover bare, spreading branches in April. Large, heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall. Best in loose, moist, but well-drained soil. Intolerant of heavy, wet, poorly draining clay.
Redbud, Forest Pansy Cercis canadensis	Broadly Oval	15'x15'	¡	Purple-green leaf color form of Redbud. Flowers are darker lavender-pink. New leaves emerge shiny red-purple then mature to purple-green.
Redbud, The Rising Sun Cercis canadensis	Rounded	12’x12’	¡	New leaves are golden orange turning to gold then finally green. Lavender-pink flowers in spring. Nice compact form is ideal for smaller spaces.
Redbud, Weeping  Cercis canadensis	Weeping	10’x8’	¡	Weeping form with green or burgundy-flushed leaves, according to type. Dark lavender-pink or white flowers on bare stems in early spring. Unique umbrella-shaped crown.
Name	Form	HxW	Light	Description
Serviceberry, Autumn Brilliance Amelanchier grandiflora	Round	20’x15’	¡	Profuse white spring flowers, edible fruit and pretty gray bark. Fall color tends to be a good orange-red.  Good resistance to leaf spot.
Seven-son Flower Heptacodium miconioides	Upright Arching	12’x8’	¡	Fast grower with fragrant white flowers in Sept. followed by an even showier display of fruit. Wine-red fruits are crowned with greenish calyces that turn deep pink. Rugged, tan exfoliating bark is stunning in winter.
Smoketree, American Cotinus obovatus	Rounded	20’x20’	¡	Perhaps the best of all American trees for intensity of fall color - a magnificent, consistent array of yellow, orange, amber, red and reddish purple. Fluffy greenish flower panicles with a red-purple blush at the branch tips in late May. Tolerant of alkaline soil. Avoid soggy areas.
Stewartia, Japanese Stewartia pseudocamellia	Oval	25’x20’	¡	2 ½” camellia-like white flowers in July. Yellow, red or reddish purple fall color. Rich, flaky bark in soft grays to brown to reddish brown. Prefers well-drained soil.
Willow, Golden Sunshine Salix sachalinensis	Rounded	18’x15’	¡	Small tree or very large shrub with fine-textured golden foliage throughout the growing season.  1” silky gray catkins adorn the reddish purple stems in early spring.
Tree-form Shrubs Shrubs joined (grafted) onto a trunk (standard) or trained to grow naturally into a tree form. Height does not include trunk.
Crabapple, Tina Malus	Spreading	5’x6’	¡	Green foliage. Dwarf form. Bright red buds open to single white flowers. 1/4” bright red fruit.
Hydrangea Tree, Panicle-type Hydrangea paniculata	Rounded	8’x8’	¡	Large cone-shaped white flowers in summer maturing to pink, then tan.
Lilac Tree, Dwarf Korean Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'	Rounded	5'x5'	¡	Fragrant pinkish-purple flowers in spring. Glossy foliage. Great accent plant.
Lilac Tree, Miss Kim Syringa patula	Rounded	6'x6'	¡	Fragrant ice-blue flowers in spring. Burgundy-purple fall color.  Mildew resistant. Great accent plant.
Rose of Sharon Tree Hibiscus syriacus	Vase Shaped	8'x6'	¡	Single or double flowers in a multitude of colors in late summer.
Smokebush Tree Cotinus coggyria	Rounded	10’x10’	¡	Golden or burgundy leaves with airy buff colored flowers resembling puffs of smoke.
Viburnum Tree Viburnum	Rounded	8'x8'	¡ l	White flowers in spring. Nice orange-red fall color on most varieties.
Willow, Variegated Japanese Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'	Rounded	6'x6'	¡	Lovely pink, white and green foliage. Cut back in spring to encourage new growth with the best color.