Many of the most beautiful trees grow immensely large over the years - sometimes reaching a crown diameter of five or more meters. Of course, such a specimen does not fit into a classic terraced house garden. However, there is a tall and narrow alternative: the columnar tree.
Which tall and narrow trees are suitable for small gardens?
Columnar trees are narrow and tall trees that are ideal for small gardens. Some examples include columnar rowan, golden elm, columnar hornbeam, pyramidal oak, columnar hawthorn, rocket juniper, columnar tulip tree and columnar cherry, all of which are hardy and come in a variety of sizes.
Column shapes are ideal for small gardens
There are columnar varieties of almost every tree species. Some of these grow very tall, but remain very narrow and do not form a wide crown even without any pruning measures. These shapes fit wonderfully into any garden or front yard, no matter how small, and can even serve as a privacy screen - for example if you don't want the nosy neighbor to look into the bedroom window. However, columnar trees also change their growth form: with age, most become egg or cone-shaped.
The most beautiful columnar trees
In the following list we present to you – in our opinion – the most beautiful columnar trees.
Columnar rowan (Sorbus aucuparia 'Fastigiata')
Growth height: up to 8000 centimeters
Growth width: up to 1500 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 25 centimeters per year
Flowering and flowering period: white, May to June Special features: summer green, hardy, fruit-bearing
Golden elm (Ulmus carpinifolia ‘Wredei’)
Growth height: up to 1000 centimeters
Growth width: up to 500 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 40 centimeters per yearSpecial features: hardy, deciduous, bright yellow foliage
Columnar hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Monumentalis')
Growth height: up to 600 centimetersSpecial features: hardy, deciduous
Pyramid oak (Quercus robur 'Fastigiata')
Growth height: up to 2000 centimeters
Growth width: up to 400 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 30 centimetersSpecial features: hardy, deciduous, yellow autumn color
Columnar hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna 'Stricta')
Growth height: up to 800 centimeters
Growth width: up to 350 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 40 centimeters per year
Flowering and flowering period: white, May to June Special features: hardy, deciduous
Rocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow')
Growth height: up to 550 centimeters
Growth width: up to 100 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 20 centimeters per yearSpecial features: hardy, evergreen, blue-gray needles
Columnar tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera 'Fastigiata')
Growth height: up to 1800 centimeters
Growth width: up to 600 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 40 centimeters per year
Flowering and flowering period: yellow, tulip-like, May to June Special features: hardy, deciduous
Columnar cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Amonogawa')
Growth height: up to 500 centimeters
Growth width: up to 150 centimeters
Growth speed: up to 50 centimeters per year
Flowering and flowering period: light pink, semi-double, April to May Special features: hardy, deciduous
Tip
Spherical trees are also suitable for small gardens, with one limitation: there are species that develop very wide crowns when they get older.
