Choose the Best Small Trees

Well-behaved trees that won't take over your yard -- or your neighbor's.

By Marie HoferMore in Outdoors

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Photo 2 of 9

Photo 2 of 9If you want a modest-sized maple, choose the Amur maple.

- Threadleaf Japanese Maple
- Amur Maple
- Japanese Stewartia
- Japanese Maple
- American Yellowwood

Amur Maple(2 of 9)

(Acer ginnala)
15-20 feet high, 15-25 feet wide
Zones 3-8
An exquisite little spreading shade tree to loll beneath on a summer's day, the amur maple has a full, broad crown atop a multi-stemmed trunk. One of the first trees to leaf out in the spring, it has lightly fragrant but subtle yellow-white flowers. Winged fruits (called samara) develop in abundance, turning red in mid- to late summer. This choice patio tree produces variable fall color in tones of yellow, orange and red, the best occurring in full-sun locations. Adapts well to almost any soil and is exceptionally cold hardy.

Next Photo: Japanese Stewartia