3/9
Dwarf Blue Spruce
It’s tough and hardy like its parent, but Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ has a much more modest size — three to five feet tall compared to 50 feet or more for the larger. It’s also slow growing, putting on only a few inches a year, so it’s suitable for containers as well as small entryway gardens. While some ‘Globosa’ are sold as rounded shrubs, there is a topiary version that looks particularly stunning in a pot. This variety has blue-gray foliage that looks nice against a base of neon-pink petunias. It is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 8.
4/9
Japanese Maple
Breeders have made sure that anyone, no matter how small their yard, can enjoy a tree like the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). While some cultivars reach 25 feet over many years, others grow just two or three feet tall. These trees feature attractive mounded, vaselike or cascading shapes. There’s also a variety of foliage selections, including green, variegated and burgundy — in a choice of palm-shaped or highly dissected leaves. Most Japanese maples are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 but some accept zone 5. Where winter temperatures are a concern, shelter from cold wind helps. Also, potted trees can be taken inside in winter.
5/9
Full Moon Maple
Full Moon maple (Acer shirasawanum) is a Japanese native grown for its attractive palm-shaped leaves and beautiful fall color. The slow-growing species can eventually reach 15 to 20 feet tall, but cultivars such as ‘Autumn Moon’ are smaller and better suited to container growing. ‘Autumn Moon’ slowly reaches eight to 12 feet. The tree features colorful chartreuse foliage with orange and salmon undertones that eventually turn hues of gold or red in fall. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7.
