16 skinny trees for your small city lot T


here are now many, many dwarf trees in the marketplace, but if you have a small city lot with narrow space


and you want height, columnar trees may be the right choice for you. Please note that the dimensions given are approximate and that not everyone agrees – it may be that in warmer zones, the trees are larger than they


grow in cooler areas. Note also that the word ‘columnar’ is


used to describe many of these narrow trees, but technically, a columnar tree is one with a single trunk. The word ‘fastigiata’ describes trees with upright branches and in some cases more than one stem. Look to the botanical name for guidance.


Swedish aspen (Populus tremula ‘Erecta’). Grows 16 metres (50 feet) tall and spreads 3.5 metres (10 feet). This is a fast growing tree with an upright form. Because it is a fast grower, its lifespan will be limited to 30 to 50 years. Branch clearance of five feet from ground. Grow in full sunlight.


Swedish aspen.


Russian mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Rossica’). This small tree grows 10 metres (30 feet) tall and has a three-metre (nine feet) spread, but it is a stunning accent tree with clusters of white flowers in springtime and scarlet berries that persist into winter. Leaves are orange and yellow in fall. The average lifespan for mountain ash is about 25 to 30 years but good care can extend that to 50 or more.


‘DreamWeaver columnar’ crabapple. Iseli columnar blue spruce.


Russian mountain ash.


Northern Arrow Apple ‘Treasure Red’. This new columnar apple was bred at the University of Saskatchewan and is just making its appearance in garden centres now. It is a true columnar that grows only one meter (three feet) wide and up to 12 feet tall. The apples are bright red and delicious. Available from T & T Seeds.


‘Rosthern’ columnar crab apple.


‘DreamWeaver columnar’ crabapple (Malus ‘Dreamweaver’). Grows three metres (10 feet) tall with a three-metre (nine feet) spread. The foliage is a rich burgundy to purple interspersed with pink flowers in spring, followed by dark red fruit. Lives 50 to 60 years.


‘Fairview’ Chinese juniper.


‘Rosthern’ columnar crab apple (Malus baccata ‘Columnaris’). This pretty columnar crab apple grows five metres tall and spreads two metres for a perfect sized small lot tree. Dark green foliage with fragrant white flow- ers in spring. Yellow fruit. This is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard.


‘Fairview’ Chinese juniper (Juniperus


chinensis ‘Fairview’). Grows five metres tall and spreads two metres. Dense blue-green foliage on a strong growing tree.


‘Pencil Point’ common juniper. 30 • Summer 2014


‘Pencil Point’ common juniper (Junipe- rus communis ‘Pencil Point’ a.k.a. ‘Senti- nel’). 10 metres tall with a slender spread of 1.5 metres (four feet). The foliage is bright green.


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