Who said it was necessary to have a garden to plant a tree? Although it is true that the vast majority of tree species grow much better on the ground, there are others that may be fine if grown in containers.
Luckily there is an interesting variety of small potted trees that will surely beautify your patio or terrace from day one. These are our chosen.
wild olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris)
Image - Wikimedia / Pau Cabot
El wild olive or wild olive tree is a small tree or large evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean Basin. It reaches 5 meters in height, and develops a more or less rounded crown formed by oval leaves, Green color. It blooms in spring, producing very small yellow flowers. Some time later the fruits called olives appear, which are smaller than those of the common olive tree (Olea europaea).
It is a very resistant species that wants sun, a substrate with excellent drainage, and few waterings. As if it weren't enough, withstands frosts down to -7ºC.
Tree of loveCercis siliquastrum)
Image - Wikimedia / Zeynel Cebeci
Known as redbud, Judas tree, love tree or crazy carob tree, this deciduous tree native to the Mediterranean region grows between 4 and 6 meters high. Its leaves are round and green, but What is most striking are its flowers when they sprout in spring, since they develop from the same branches. In addition, they are pink and are grouped in clusters.
It grows at a rather slow rate, which is why it is such a special small pot tree, because by light pruning it is possible to keep it at the desired height. What's more, it resists frosts down to -15ºC.
Jupiter tree (Lagerstroemia indica)
Image - Wikimedia / Captain-tucker
El jupiter tree It is a deciduous plant that in a garden and enough space can reach 8 meters in height; However, it is one of the favorites to have in a pot, because grows slow and has spectacular spring blooms. The flowers are pink, white or mauve, and very numerous.
Resists frost down to -12ºC, but it requires a substrate for acidic plants, as well as an irrigation water whose pH is between 4 and 6.
Amur maple (Acer tataricum subsp ginnala)
Image - Wikimedia / MPF
El maple tree, as it is sometimes known, is a deciduous tree native to Asia that grows between 3 and 10 meters in height. It has simple, palmate leaves with 3-5 green lobes, but in autumn, before detaching from the branches, they turn bright orange.. It produces flowers in spring, but they measure between 5 and 8 millimeters in diameter and are greenish, so they tend to go unnoticed.
Some botanists consider that acer ginnala is a distinct species, and not a subspecies of Acer tataricum; and is that the leaves of the first are bright green and have more lobes than those of the Acer tataricum. In any case, We are talking about a tree that grows in shade, in acidic lands, and that supports up to -18ºC.
Purple Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var atropurpureum)
Image - Wikimedia / Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
The purple Japanese maple, or Japanese dwarf maple, is a deciduous tree widely grown in pots. It is native to Japan and South Korea, and reaches 6 meters in height. It has palmate leaves that are green-purple in spring, greener in summer, and purple in fall before falling.. Its flowers appear at the end of winter, usually before the budding of the leaves, and they are so small that it is normal for them to go unnoticed.
We are talking about a slow-growing plant, which needs shade but in cool and humid climates it can be in semi-shade. Likewise, it is important that the substrate is specific for acidic plants, or coconut fiber, since it cannot grow in soils whose pH is higher than 6. For this reason, the irrigation water must also be adequate: clean rain , or failing that, acidified water with a little lemon or vinegar. It tolerates pruning and frosts down to -18ºC.
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Image - Flickr / Leonora (Ellie) Enking
El buoy It is one of the plants that is most widely grown in pots. It can grow as a shrub or as a tree of about 5-6 meters in height, but it tolerates pruning so well that we cannot but recommend it for growing in pots.. It is native to the Mediterranean region, and its leaves are perennial, small, and green, being lighter on the underside. In spring it produces yellowish-white flowers, about 2 millimeters in size, rich in nectar.
Its growth rate is very slow, and it does not need much care. In addition, is able to withstand moderate frosts, up to 12ºC.
Cane fistula (Cassia fistula)
La reed fistula It is a small deciduous tree native to Egypt that grows about 6 meters in height (if it is in the ground it can reach 20 meters). It has a beautiful flowering in spring, since its branches sprout flowers in hanging clusters of yellow color, and they are also aromatic.
Es very sensitive to cold, and only supports occasional frosts down to -1ºC, but otherwise it is ideal for growing in pots.
laurel (Laurus nobilis)
El laurel It is a small tree or evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region that grows between 5 and 10 meters in height. Develops a crown densely populated with blue-green and aromatic leaves. During the spring it produces small yellowish flowers, and later the berries, which are black, ripen.
It can live in a pot without problems, as long as it is placed in a sunny area and with a substrate that drains water quickly, as it is very sensitive to waterlogging. Resists up to -5ºC.
Lilo (Syringa vulgaris)
Image - Flickr / Babij
El lilo or common lilac is a tree, sometimes considered a shrub or little tree, native to Europe, specifically the Balkans. It is deciduous and reaches a maximum height of 7 meters. Low branches sprout from its trunk, but this is not a problem as they can be pruned leaving a single trunk. Its clusters of flowers appear in spring, and are lilac, mauve or white. (in the 'Alba' variety).
It is a very loved plant in the Mediterranean region, since it supports the often very hot and dry summer in this part of the world, as well as frosts down to -7ºC.
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
Image - Wikimedia / GPodkolzin
El arbutus It is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region that grows between 4 and 7 meters in height. It has lanceolate leaves, bright green on the upper side and dull on the underside. It blooms in spring, producing flowers in hanging red panicles. And its fruits are globose and tuberculate berries, reddish when ripe. These are edible, so when they are ready feel free to taste them.
Put it in a sunny place, with a quality substrate that drains the water, and it will grow wonderfully. And we are talking about a plant that is easy to grow, which it tolerates pruning and frost down to -15ºC.
What do you think of these small potted trees?