8 of the Best Small Trees for Spring Blossom in Tasmanian Gardens (plus a whole list of extras thrown in….)
Tasmania is home to a unique climate, making it a wonderful place for gardeners who want to enjoy the beauty of spring blossoms and four seasons. If you’re looking to add some seasonal flair to your garden with small trees that put on a stunning springtime display, you’re in luck! Here’s a guide to eight of the best small trees for spring blossom that will thrive in a temperate cool climate garden.
(At the end I couldn’t resist adding a whole bonus list of special spring flowering smaller trees. There are just so many to choose from - how can the list just be 8?!)
1. Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)
Why It’s Great :: The Japanese flowering cherry is iconic for its breathtaking display of pink or white blossoms in early spring. It's well-suited to a temperate cooler climate, with its cool winters and mild summers.
Growth Habit: A relatively small tree, with a good shape, it grows to around 4-6 meters in height, making it perfect for small gardens or as a focal point.
Key Features: Elegant branches covered in clouds of blossoms and attractive autumn foliage make this tree a year-round beauty.
2. Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Why It’s Great: Dogwoods produce beautiful white or pink blossoms in spring, followed by reddish berries in the autumn. They have the most beautiful green foliage.
Growth Habit: Typically grows 4-6 meters high, with a spreading canopy that provides a delicate and graceful shape in the garden.
Key Features: The large, showy bracts around the small flowers create a striking spring display, while the red berries and autumn foliage add seasonal interest.
3. Crabapple (Malus ‘Gorgeous’, Malus ionensis ‘Plena’ )
Why It’s Great: Crabapples are hardy trees that produce a stunning array of spring blossoms, followed by small fruits that add autumn interest. Some have larger fruit than others, but all have small fruit. Fruit colour ranges from red to orange to yellow. A few like Malus ionensis ‘Plena’ have almost unseen inconspicuous fruit but amazing blossom.
Growth Habit: This small tree usually reaches about 4-5 meters, making it a versatile option for coller gardens. It’s also a good tree for espalier. Malus ionensis ‘Plena’ has a distinct shape & habit and is a smaller tree of about 2-2.5 metres.
Key Features: Beautiful pink or white spring blossoms and small, decorative red or yellow fruits make crabapples a standout choice. They need some shaping to look good but are a good smaller garden tree.
4. Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Why It’s Great: The Star Magnolia is an early-blooming variety that shows off stunning star-shaped white or pale pink flowers.
Growth Habit: Growing to about 3-4 meters, this compact tree is ideal for smaller spaces.
Key Features: The early-spring blossoms open before the leaves emerge, creating a breathtaking contrast against the bare branches.
5. Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’
Why It’s Great: Its pink blossoms appearing in spring against its plum coloured leaves, add amazing colour to a garden.
Growth Habit: This is a small tree that grows to about 4-6 meters, often forming a dense and rounded shape. It can be pruned to keep it compact.
Key Features: It adds great interest being a burgundy leaved small tree against the many greens of a garden. Good performing small tree.
6. Lilac Tree (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’)
Why It’s Great: If you're after fragrance as well as beauty, this dwarf lilac is a great choice. It’s hardy and blooms profusely in late spring with stunning purple flowers.
Growth Habit: Growing to around 1.5-2 meters, it’s more of a large shrub or small tree, perfect for compact spaces.
Key Features: The highly fragrant flowers make this a wonderful choice for areas close to patios or seating areas where you can enjoy the scent. Flowering last for a short period of time but is a good cut flower also.
7. Weeping Cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’)
Why It’s Great: Weeping cherry trees are a fantastic ornamental choice, with graceful branches that droop elegantly while being covered in pale pink blossoms during spring.
Growth Habit: This tree typically reaches around 3-4 meters in height, with a cascading, weeping habit that makes it an eye-catching focal point in a garden.
Key Features: Its compact size, graceful form, and show-stopping blossoms make it a standout.
8. Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’)
Why It’s Great: The ornamental pear is a hardy tree that thrives in a range of climates, producing masses of white blossoms in early spring.
Growth Habit: This tree grows to around 6 meters but remains narrower, making it ideal for narrow spaces or to line pathways.
Key Features: Aside from the spring flowers, this tree also offers beautiful red and orange foliage in autumn, fresh green foliage in spring and summer, making it a great all rounder across all seasons. It can be pruned well for control of height in some situations.
Tips for Growing Small Trees
Soil Preparation: Most spring-flowering trees prefer well-drained soil. Be sure to prepare the soil with plenty of organic matter to help retain moisture and nutrients.
Positioning: Choose a spot that receives full sun or partial shade, depending on the tree’s needs. Good air circulation helps prevent fungal diseases, particularly in wetter conditions.
Watering: Regular watering, especially during dry spells, will keep your trees healthy and promote strong blooms. However, avoid waterlogging, as this can damage roots.
Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your trees to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Bark chips are not a good mulch to use.
Bonus List
More beautiful blossom trees to consider - there are just so many worth mentioning….
There are numerous trees that give wonderful spring blossom. Here is a list of just a few.
Magnolia - a few deciduous magnolia are listed - there are lots of beautiful ones.
Evergreen magnolias are different again and mainly Magnolia grandiflora and it’s varieties.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Magnolia denudata
Magnolia x Genie
Magnolia ‘Serene’
Cornus
Cornus florida
Cornus controversa ‘June Snow’
Cornus sericea f. baileyi Red Twig
Crabapple:
Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’
Malus ‘Strawberry Parfait’
Malus ‘Rejoice’
Malus ionensis ‘Plena’
Malus florabunda
Ornamental cherry: not always Prunus - strictly speaking, it’s a subgenus of Prunus called Cerasus. If you see a Prunus named it could be a flowering plum, not a flowering cherry. So double check
Prunus ‘Ukon’
Prunus ‘Magnifica’
Prunus ‘Mt Fuji’
Prunus ‘Snow Fountains’
Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnus’
Prunus ‘Kanzan’
Prunus × yedoensis Yoshino Cherry
Cercis:
Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'
Cercis canadensis 'Covey' Lavender Twist™ Enchanted Forest®
Flowering Quince:
Chaenomeles speciosa nivalis
Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Apple Blossom’
Chaenomeles japonica ‘Winter Cheer’
Ornamental Pear: there are many - here’s just a few favourites
Pyrus 'Bursnozam' Burgundy Snow
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer®
Pyrus fauriei 'Westwood' Korean Sun
Pyrus nivalis Snow Pear
By planting these small but mighty trees, you’ll enjoy a stunning display of blossoms every spring. Whether you’re drawn to the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms or the rich fragrance of lilacs, these trees will add both color and charm to your garden for years to come!