12 Best Small Trees for Your Front Yard

A blooming tree with pink flowers in a park setting surrounded by green vegetation — Credit:
Cheunghyo / Getty Images

The impact trees have in the landscape is not to be underestimated: they're visually stunning, provide shade, offer interest across all four seasons, fill in negative space, and have myriad ecological benefits. But despite how attractive they are, trees can take up a lot of square footage in your yard. If you don't have enough space for a large tree or don't want one that will overpower your other plants, opt for a small variety instead.

Small trees are defined as those under 30 feet in height—the ones in our list grow anywhere from 10 to 30 feet tall. But what they lack in size, they make up for in curb appeal. From flowering native plants to evergreen conifers, your yard will look the best it ever has when one of these expert-recommended trees takes center stage.

Tyler Hesseltine of The Davey Tree Expert Company
Tyler Altenburger, arborist manager at Longwood Gardens

01 of 12

Flowering Dogwood

If you prefer growing native plants in your landscape, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a great variety to turn to. "Native to the majority of the eastern United States, dogwoods enhance curb appeal year-round, showcasing plump white, yellow or pink flowers in early spring," says Tyler Hesseltine of The Davey Tree Expert Company. "Its bright red fruit attracts birds, adding an extra touch of liveliness to any landscape."

Zones: 5 to 8
Size: 25 to 30 feet tall x 25 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil

02 of 12

Umbrella Pine

Evergreen conifers like umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) are a timeless choice for front yards. "It has large, coarse needles that grow in whorls while the trunk gets a reddish, stringy bark," says Tyler Altenburger, arborist manager at Longwood Gardens. "Dwarf varieties are available for tighter landscapes."

Zones: 5 to 8
Size: 25 to 30 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; slightly acidic, well-draining soil

03 of 12

Eastern Redbud

A sign that spring has sprung, Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensi) bloom before leafing out, putting on a display of showy pinkish-purple flowers. "In older specimens, they will even flower on the trunks," says Altenburger. "Various varieties are available from variegated foliage to weeping, and even ones with white blooms."

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 20 to 30 feet tall x 25 to 35 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

04 of 12

Kousa Dogwood

Another dogwood variety with big curb appeal, kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) provides multi-season interest. "The kousa dogwood offers a stunning display of delicate pink or white flowers in spring, complemented with late summer fruit and reddish-purple foliage during the fall season," says Hesseltine. "This tree is a disease-resistant alternative to the flowering dogwood, ensuring its longevity and beauty for years." Water newly planted kousa dogwood deeply and regularly to promote healthy root growth.

Zones: 5 to 8
Size: 10 to 25 feet tall x 10 to 25 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

05 of 12

Fringe Tree

Known for its fragrant white blooms that appear in late spring, the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) produces beautiful blue-purple fruits after it flowers. "As a native tree to Eastern North America, it requires minimal maintenance, making it a hassle-free, and stunning addition to your landscape," says Hesseltine.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 12 to 20 feet tall x 12 to 20 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to various soil types

06 of 12

Crabapple

Bring a burst of color to your landscape with a sprawling crabapple (Malus). "Crabapples are a curb appeal staple, with their spring flowers in red, pink, or white, followed by the colorful fruits and leaves that adorn them in autumn," says Hesseltine. "Plus, they are native to North America, making them the perfect food resource and habitat for local songbirds and pollinators." Be sure to select a variety that is labeled as disease-resistant.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 6 to 30 feet tall x 6 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; adaptable to various soil types

07 of 12

Saucer Magnolia

A hybrid of two other magnolias, saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) will be the showstopper of your landscape come early spring. "It does well in wet conditions and will continually rejuvenate itself as it gets older by sending up new sprouts as the larger stems die or decline," says Altenburger. "They are available in many varieties with different color flowers and forms."

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 20 to 25 feet tall x 20 to 25 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; acidic, well-drained soil

08 of 12

Paperbark Maple

The foliage of paperbark maple (Acer griseum) isn't the only beautiful part of the tree—it's actually highly sought after for its bark. "Even young trees will have a golden orange-to-brown, flaky bark that only gets better with age," says Altenburger. "They are a fairly upright ornamental maple that can fit in most front yards, even when given a small footprint to grow in."

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 20 to 30 feet tall x 15 to 25 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil

09 of 12

Winter King Hawthorn

Want to welcome pollinators to your yard? The winter king hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) will do just that. "This tree attracts pollinators to its spring blooms, and birds love its late summer fruits," says Hesseltine. "Its dark-green leaves transition to a stunning bronze color in the fall."

Zones: 4 to 7
Size: 25 feet tall x 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to various soil types

10 of 12

Blackhaw Viburnum

Blackhaw Virburnum — Credit:
skymoon13 / GETTY IMAGES

Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) has a unique shape that adds a distinctive touch to any landscape. It showcases cream-colored flowers and plump, blue fall fruits. "Notably, the tree's fruits are edible for both wildlife and humans," says Hesseltine. "Water newly planted trees deeply and regularly to promote healthy roots."

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 15 feet tall x 15 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to various soil types

11 of 12

American Hophornbeam

Aptly named, the American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) boasts clusters of fruit that resemble hops. It has finely furrowed bark that will give your landscape year-round texture and interest. "Thriving in shady areas, this tree is celebrated for its remarkable toughness and ability to withstand challenging conditions, as well as being a pollinator powerhouse, providing ample food and habitat," says Hesseltine.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 25 to 35 feet tall x 20 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Partial shade to full shade; adaptable to various soil types

12 of 12

Japanese Tree Lilac

A small tree that provides the landscape with early summer interest, Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) has large, fragrant lilac blooms. "It keeps an attractive shape and drops seeds that attract birds, making it a charming addition to borders," says Hesseltine. "In the winter, its smooth, shiny bark is a highlighting feature in the otherwise dreary season."