Small Trees
Shorter trees are required when planted underneath wires or other obstructions. These trees should reach a mature height around 25 feet. The table below lists various trees that should do well in these special circumstances.
Crabapples are a popular choice of tree. Most are planted for the two week show of flowers in May. They can be a problem the rest of the year, especially from disease issues that make the leaves fall all summer and from fruit drop, causing messes underneath them. Listed are various crabapple varieties that should be disease resistant and that hold their apples into winter, where the fruit becomes forage for birds.
Recommended Small Tree Species
| Scientific Name | Comments | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| Centurian Crab | Malus 'Centzam' Rose | pink flowers with 5/8" fruit |
| Donald Wyman Crab | Malus 'Donald Wyman' | 'Pink/white flowers with ½" persistent fruit |
| Indian Summer Crabapple | Malus x 'Indian Summer | Rose-pink flowersSimilar to Centurion crab in many respects |
| Indian Magic Crab | Malus 'Indian Magic' | Rose pink flowers with ½" fruits May have attractive fall color |
| Red Splendor Crab | Malus 'Red Splendor' | Pink flowers with ½" fruits |
| Spring Snow Crab | Malus 'Spring Snow' | White flowers and no fruit |
| Cardinal Crab | Malus x 'Cardinal' | 'Cardinal' Purple foliageFlowers red fading to pink Good fall color |
| Thunderchild Crab | Malus 'Thunderchild' | Rose pink flowers with ½" fruits Purple summer foliage Very winter hardy |
| Hot Wings Tatarian Maple |
Acer tataricum 'GarAnn' | Better than Amur Maple for alkaline soils |
| Pattern Perfect Tatarian Maple | Maple Acer tataricum 'Patdell' | |
| Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn | Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis | White flowers Good fall color Prone to chlorosis in alkaline soils |
| Crusader Hawthorn | Crataegus crus-galli var. 'Cruzam' | Very similar to Cockspur Hawthorn |
| Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry | Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance' | Reddish fall color |
| Princess Kay Plum | Prunus nigra 'Princess Kay' | Double white flowers in May Pink Flair Sargent Cherry Prunus sargentii |
| Pink Flair Sargent Cherry | Prunus sargentii | |
| Prairie Gem Pear | Pyrus ussuriensis 'Mordak' | White flowers No fruit Very nice tree |
| Mountain Frost Pear | Pyrus ussuriensis 'Bailfrost' | Ornamental tree White flowers |
| Korean Sun Pear | Pyrus faurei 'Westwood' | Ornamental tree Red fall color |
| Autumn Blaze Callery Pear | Pyrus calleryana 'Autumn Blaze' | Trial plant for hardiness. Copper Curls Lilac Tree Syringa pekinensis 'SunDak' NDSU introduction White flowers Exfoliating bark |
| Ivory Silk Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk | Showy white flowers |
| Nannyberry (Tree Form) | Viburnum lentago | Red fall color |