Choosing trees for your garden can be a difficult task. Not all trees adapt to all environments, and your garden size must also be considered. Learning how to add color to your garden with trees is a fun task for any homeowner. And these are just a few low-maintenance landscaping ideas for your front lawn.
Plenty of beautiful trees can add color to your garden throughout all seasons through their leaves, blooms, and fruits. They also bring birds, bees, and small creatures to your backyard, thus bringing a piece of nature into a busy urban landscape.
We have compiled some colorful options to make your backyard your favorite spot in your home.
Best Colorful Trees
Be it the blooms or the leaves, these best colorful trees will surely bring shade and beauty to your garden.
Saucer Magnolia
So-called because of the saucer-shaped, pinkish-purple flowers that grace the tree in early spring. This ornamental backyard tree grows about 20-30 feet in height and requires little effort and care.
Dogwood
Its year-long beauty has made dogwood one of the most popular flowering trees in the US. White, pink, and red blossoms decorate the trees in spring, and summer sees a lush canopy followed by red foliage in the fall. Even in winter, the barren branches look aesthetically pleasing after falling leaves.
Silver Maple
These trees owe their name to the silver underside of their leaves, which cause the tree to shimmer in the breeze. The shaded canopy can be provided by the tree within five years only.
However, due to the large trunk and the vast root system, you should be careful to plant them away from pavements and underground pipes.
Weeping Cherry
These romantic trees will be the star of any backyard or garden. Spring brings the beauty of this elegant tree in full bloom with cascading branches of white or pink blossoms resembling a waterfall of flowers.
These trees grow up to 20 to 30 feet in height, but if you have a small backyard, you can opt for the miniature weeping cherry tree, which grows up to 12 feet.
Tulip Tree
Doubling both as a shade tree and an ornamental, this majestic hardwood tree can grow up to two feet per year. The spring boasts its tulip-shaped flowers, whereas fall displays its brilliant yellow leaves to full view. It is also quite resistant to pests and requires little upkeep and care.
Paper Birch
This fast-growing tree can grow to an impressive height of 60 feet with white peeling bark and leaves that turn a beautiful golden yellow in the fall. This beautiful contrast of white and gold will make a stellar addition to your garden during the fall.
Serviceberry
Enjoy a different color every season with the serviceberry or shadbush. White flowers bloom in early spring, colorful fruit berries call in the birds in summer, followed by bright red and orange leaves in the fall.
Wisteria
The iconic tree is a showstopper and a source of pride in any backyard. With fragrant flowers blooming in shades of white, purple, pink, and blue, wisteria trees are a sight to behold in spring. These perennial beauties are aggressive growers and grow up to 30 feet tall.
Best Trees for Autumn Color
Let your trees signal the change in the seasons with brilliant red, orange, and russet hues. Not only do the colors look spectacular in your backyard, but they also make for great aesthetic photos for the ‘gram. Here are our choices for the best trees for autumn color.
Sugar Maple
This American yard favorite doubles both as a shade and an ornamental tree. This 75-foot tall tree boasts a bursting canopy of orange, red, and golden leaves, bringing all fall and autumn colors to your backyard.
Red Oak
If you have a large backyard, this tree is the perfect tree for shade. The red leaves, after which it is named, make for a spectacular sight in the fall. This 75-foot tall tree grows with a rounded canopy and is as hardy as it is beautiful.
Japanese Maples
Even with a small garden, you don’t need to miss out on fall colors to brighten your personal nature retreat. These slow-growing trees are best placed in the shade. Choose the “orange dream” variety for the best results.
How to Add Color to Your Garden? – Use Small Fruit Trees
Fruit trees bring as much color as blooms to the garden. In addition, they also attract small creatures and birds to provide food and breathe life into your garden. Here are our top picks for small or mini fruit trees
Cherries
Bright red cherries in your garden are a treat for the eyes and the taste buds. The fruit is delicious, and the spring blossoms are a sight to behold. A dwarfing rootstock is ideal if you wish to grow the tree in a small space.
Figs
Originating from the Gulf in Syria and Persia, this ancient fruit has been grown in the West since Roman times. The lobed foliage is unique to the tree, and the fruit with numerous health benefits is an added bonus. Remember to select a warm wall to provide shelter for the tree.
Peaches
Small peach trees can significantly enhance the beauty of the garden. Besides the plump, delicious fruits of these trees, the beautiful pink foliage of the flowers is something to be admired.
Strawberry Tree
This evergreen has beautiful bell-shaped flowers in autumn along with the famous red fruit. The tree can grow as tall as 30 feet and even thrive in coastal areas.
American Holly
This ornamental stunner doubles as a privacy hedge for your yard. The small, white blooms in spring and the bright red berries in the fall and winter add to its remarkable beauty. The berries bring in birds and other small herbivores to your garden, whereas the foliage is a visual treat for any visitor.
Hawthorn
This wildlife-friendly plant is native to the UK and grows up to 30 feet tall. Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves, and birds feed on the nutritious berries in autumn. Spring calls in the bees, making this tree an excellent choice for your backyard garden.
Rowans
This tree attracts a lot of garden birds, including thrushes, robins, and blackbirds, because of the calorie-rich berries. The spring flowers are greatly complemented by the pinnate leaves. They can grow up to 4m or 8m, depending on the variety so you can accommodate one depending on your garden size.
Final Thoughts on How To Add Color to Your Garden
A colorful garden is as soothing to the mind as it is to the eyes. With more and more people leaning toward growing their own personal gardens, the demand for ornamental trees has inevitably increased. This list of trees is a guide to help you start your dream garden. Let your colorful garden be a harbinger of joy and harmony in your home.
