Tree Talk: Ornamental trees for small spaces

Trees can be used to beautify even small spaces. Here are some trees that will work for narrow boulevards, near structures, or beneath power lines.

Flowering crabapple trees are among the most widely planted ornamental tree species and many types thrive in North Dakota. ‘Spring Snow’ offers a spring display of white flowers that are sterile, so no fruit is produced. Some crabs produce small fruit that hangs on the tree through the winter (“persistent” fruit), providing a food source for birds and adding color to the winter landscape – try these rosy-pink blooming varieties: Adams, Centurion, Indian Magic and Indian Summer. Red Splendor crab has reddish-green spring foliage and small shiny cherry-like fruit that will feed the birds all winter.

Amur chokecherry produces white flowers and sports coppery-curly bark; Amur maackia produces showy white summer flowers; and Amur maple produces red fall color. Something to note: plants with the name ‘Amur’ have their origins in Asia and are generally hardy trees that can withstand the climate of the northern plains.

Mountain ash (NOT a true ash so it is safe from emerald ash borer) provides an exotic look with its compound leaves bearing many small leaflets and white flower clusters that form colorful orange fruits persisting through the winter season. There have been reports of birds ingesting mountain ash fruit on warm spring days, and then crashing perilously into nearby windows. Apparently, the ripe fruit ferments and the result is intoxicated birds!

Japanese tree lilac is another popular small ornamental with beautiful creamy white flowers that form in June. This tree is great for urban sites as it is tolerant of road salt and grows in poor and alkaline soil.

Take a Look: See a pair of Japanese tree lilacs on the 200 block of 1st Ave North, planted this year as part of the city-wide grant project. Use organic mulch around the base of the tree and water when the upper few inches of soil are dry. This is critical for new trees, especially during dry conditions and until fall freeze-up.

See ‘Recommended Trees for North Dakota Communities’ on the N.D. Forest Service website: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ndfs. Another useful website is the North Dakota Tree Selector, where a list of appropriate trees for a site can be identified by selecting attributes such as mature tree size, cold hardiness, leaf retention, flowers, and tolerances to shade, drought and flooding: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/tree-selector.