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Minnesota Gardening

Small tree for Shady back yard

beckye_gardener

13 years ago

I am looking for a small tree or a shrub I can train to a small tree to give some height in my back yard. I would ideally like something that is 10-15 tall and about the same width. My yard is small with a 5' privacy fence around the perimeter. The yard is fairly shady little direct sun but not dark due to a neighbors elm.

I like Japanese Maple however the folks at Bachmann's and Gerten's have dissuaded me from this beautiful zone 5 tree. I wonder if I could train an elderberry to a tree form or if there is some other tree or shrub that would work.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

leaveswave
13 years ago
If your height requirement is a strict one, you'll probably need to be prepared to prune.

There are Korean maples that are more hardy and almost as beautiful as the J. ones.

One suggestion, depending on just how much sun you get: pagoda dogwood

Also, check on the online plant selector, linked below... (don't forget to pick 'woody' not 'herbaceous')

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Elements of Design
kaptainkr
13 years ago
In my yard I've planted a few smaller trees. A Japanese Tree Lilac, an Amur Maackia and I also have Tiger Eyes sumac which will get 6-8 feet tall. I am not sure how they will perform in shade. Have you looked into some of the Magnolia's? The link below is from the U of M extension and cites a few of their recommended trees.

Here is a link that might be useful: Small Trees
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Tsuga - our Serviceberry is planted in an east facing location, with only morning sun. Wondering if yours has a more open habit? That's what I expect with mine in these conditions. How are the spring blooms and fall color for you? By any chance do you have any pictures you can share? I'd love to see a mature one in the landscape. We just planted ours earlier this year. I'd love to see pics of your Satomi as well. Milwaukeean, when I think of crabapples I think of a messy tree with lots of maintenance, maybe I'm wrong. I also think of a low branching tree, not ideal for the placement. Gardener, I'm on my second year with the heptacodium, can't wait for it to mature. My narrowed choices, though I'm leaning more towards the latter two: 1. Fringe tree - lacks four season interest, late to wake up in spring 2. Serviceberry Autumn Brilliance - seasonal interest, I have this already in my front yard 3. Kousa Dogwood - other than the flower color, what are the primary differences between white flowered and Satomi? I'm planting this next to a purple leaf sandcherry, which of these do you think would compliment it more? Kousa Dogwood - are the berries messy? I read they prefer shade, my placement would be full sun, how will it fare in this condition?
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tudorrose Arizona Ash (as well as Fantex, Shamel, Modesto) need lots and lots of water and grow naturally along waterways. Although they will grow in our urban landscapes they often struggle here. If you try to control growth by withholding water, you are likely to send the tree into stress which will affect its health and make it prone to attach by insects. You can't fight genetics. If a tree has the genes to become a 60 foot tall tree, you will never be able to keep it at a height of 20 feet without constant pruning. This can also be a source of stress for the tree. Each pruning cut is a wound that the tree spends its energy reserves on trying to heal. This can result in a weakened tree that is more vulnerable to pathogens. My suggestion would be to purchase a tree with a mature size that will be within the limits of the space you have.
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paul_in_mn
13 years ago
MN Redbud - an understory tree so will handle the shade, may get a bit bigger but talk to your nursery people and see what they think. Also Pagoda Dogwood.

Paul
rubybaby43
13 years ago
We have a Pagoda Dogwood that didn't fare so well in our sunny front yard (not because of the sun, I'm sure). But we had to cut one side of it back and it didn't look good. So we moved it to our very shady backyard. It's slow growing back there but blooms and has regained a beautiful shape. It's been there for about four years and is about 5 feet tall.

Kristy :)
leaveswave
13 years ago
Pagoda dogwood prefers part shade to full sun; it's more of an understory tree. In more sun it is susceptible to golden canker, which can destroy the tree, if not addressed. You can read about it at the U of MN Extension website or do a general search on .edu sites.
tom_mn
13 years ago
Bachmans and Gertens are conservative stores. I have the Japanese maple Emperor 1, planted in 2004, and it is now 12' tall. And I live in the suburbs, not as protected as in the city. I also have some healthy blue hollies.

Go to Highland Nursery on W 7th in St Paul where they have a more exciting selection of plants than the stodgy nurseries.

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