7 trees for small evergreen gardens

One of the keys to a successful garden is choosing the right plants and their location, taking into account the adult size that they will have, the surface that we have available, as well as the conditions in which they will live. This, which can be complicated at first, can become an extraordinary journey through the world of botany, since it is a wonderful opportunity to discover a great variety of plant species.

Although each region has its own characteristics, fortunately we can say that, looking a little, you can have several trees for small evergreen gardens. Next we are going to show you some of the most interesting.

Arbutus unedo

El Arbutus unedo, known as strawberry tree, is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region that reaches a height of 8 meters. The leaves are lanceolate, bright green on the upper side and dull on the underside, 8 by 3 centimeters. The flowers are grouped in hanging panicles, and produce edible fruits of a globose berry type and red in color when ripe.

Care

The strawberry tree is an ideal plant for sunny or semi-shady corners where the soil is fertile and has good drainage. It requires moderate watering, 3-4 times a week in summer and less the rest of the year. Resists up to -12ºC.

Brachychiton populneus

El Brachychiton populneus, known as the bottle tree, brachiquito or kurrajong, is an evergreen tree native to Australia, specifically Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. It has a fast growth, developing a straight trunk about 40 centimeters thick by 7-10 meters high, and a narrow crown formed by simple or lobed leaves, dark green in color. The flowers are small and flared, pale to pink in color. It blooms in spring.

Care

It is an ideal tree for dry climates, as it resists drought and high temperatures (up to 40ºC) very well, as well as frosts of up to -7 ° C. It adapts to all types of soils, being able to live - and this I tell you from experience - in limestone without problems.

Ceratonia siliqua

La Ceratonia siliqua, known as carob or carob tree, is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean Basin. Reaches a height of up to 10 meters, although the normal thing is that it does not exceed 6 meters. Its crown is open, very dense, formed by dark green paripinnate leaves 10-20 centimeters long. The flowers are small and red, without ornamental value, and the fruits are called carob beans, which are up to 30 centimeters long and contain numerous seeds.

Care

It is a slow-growing species, very resistant to drought, that tolerates pruning well. It has to be planted in limestone soils, and during the first year it has to be watered once or twice a week so that it can root well. Resists up to -12ºC.

Citrus reticulata

El Citrus reticulata, one of the citrus species that we know as mandarin, It is a tree or small tree 5-6 meters high originally from Asia. Its glass is open, formed by lanceolate leaves, and it blooms in spring producing white and aromatic flowers. The fruit is ovoid, and its pulp is made up of numerous edible segments with an acidic but pleasant taste.

Care

It is a plant that must be put in full sun, in soils rich in organic matter. Water frequently in summer, every 2-3 days if temperatures are 30ºC or more and the environment is very dry; 1-2 times a week will suffice for the rest of the year. Resists up to -7ºC.

magnolia hodgsonii

La Magnolia hodgosnii, known as »Gai lie mu» in China, is an evergreen tree native to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia that reaches a maximum height of 15 meters. Despite its size, it is interesting for small and medium gardens since it begins to branch several meters from the ground. As if that were not enough, it produces flowers of up to 9 centimeters, fragrant, and a beautiful white color during the spring (April-May in the northern hemisphere).

Care

It must be placed in a corner where the sun does not shine directly, especially if you live in a place where the insolation is high (as in the Mediterranean for example). It grows in soils rich in organic matter, slightly acidic (with a pH of 4 to 6) and well drained. It needs moderate watering, with rainwater or, also, with one whose pH is 4 to 6. It resists frosts down to -4ºC.

Olea europaea

El Olea europaea, known as olive tree, is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. It can reach a maximum height of 15 meters, with a wide crown composed of lanceolate dark green leaves. The flowers are hermaphroditic, white, and the fruit is a succulent drupe ovoid or somewhat globose, green or black-purple depending on the variety, and edible.

Care

Recommended for small-medium gardens, where the soil is limestone and rich in organic matter, and in full sun. Although it is true that it has a thick trunk, around 1 meter, its root system does not take up much space. Likewise, it must be taken into account that its growth rate is slow, which added to the fact that it tolerates pruning well, it will not be difficult for you to have it as a tree or even as a shrub 😉. Resists drought and frost down to -12ºC.

Viburnum tinus

El Viburnum tinus, known as Durillo, is a small tree or evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. Reaches a height of up to 7 meters, with a straight trunk and a narrow crown formed by ovate-elliptical leaves. The flowers are actinomorphic, hermaphroditic and white or pink in color. The fruits are whitish drupes that contain a single seed.

Care

It should be put in a sunny exposure, in well-drained and fertile soils. It requires moderate watering, 2-3 times a week in summer and less the rest of the year. It tolerates pruning, but only if it is not very aggressive (that is, only if it is cut a little each season). Resists well cold and frost down to -12ºC.

What do you think of these trees for small evergreen gardens? Do you know others?