Trees stand for vitality and permanence. They thrive not only in the garden, but also in flower pots. However, only small and weak-growing dwarf trees are suitable for this. They impress less with their floral decorations than with the variety of shapes and colors of their leaves and, depending on the tree species, with fruit hangings. You can choose between ornamental, fruit, deciduous and coniferous trees. Even in pots, trees can reach an impressive age of several decades, provided you pay attention to a few things.
tub planting
Trees suitable for tubs
When choosing suitable trees for the bucket, in addition to growth height and location, winter hardiness often plays a decisive role. Trees with good winter hardiness can stand outdoors all year round, while specimens that are conditionally hardy can only tolerate minimal sub-zero temperatures and can only overwinter outdoors in mild locations. Exotic or Mediterranean plants are completely frost hardy, so they have to be housed in a frost-free area over the winter.
Pure ornamental trees
Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia)
With its large, white, yellow, red, orange or multicolored, funnel-shaped flowers, the angel's trumpet is one of the most popular trees for the flower pot. They are fast-growing and reach heights of growth between 100 and 300 cm. Flowering time is from July to September. The angel's trumpet should not be in too small pots and overwinter frost-free.
Tip: The angel's trumpet is highly poisonous in all parts of the plant.
Angel's trumpet as a container plant
Japanese Mini Cherry 'Kojou-no-mai'
This ornamental cherry grows very compactly and reaches a height of 140 to 160 cm in the balcony tub. The white-pink flowers appear from mid-March to early May. Their dainty, zigzag, twisted branches make these trees a real eye-catcher even during the leafless season.
Ornamental apple 'Tina' Malus 'Tina'
This fruity dwarf presents itself in May with an abundance of flowers. The snow-white, bowl-shaped flowers develop from red buds, transforming the dwarf tree into a real blooming dream in May. The dwarf tree grows to a height of up to 150 cm and a maximum width of 250 cm. After flowering, small, bright red, inedible ornamental apples develop.
Red Dogwood Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Beauty'
This deciduous tree impresses with its white flowers and especially the medium-green leaves, which are bronze when they sprout and turn orange-yellow in autumn. The black, slightly poisonous berries later ripen from the flowers. Its branches are orange-yellow in winter and reddish at the top. This small tree grows broadly upright, reaching a height of almost 200 cm and is easy to cut.
Almond tree (Prunus triloba)
The pink, double flowers of this densely branched ornamental tree usually appear before the leaves emerge, in April/May, and sit close together on the branches. With growth heights of up to 200 cm, the almond tree is the miniature version of the Japanese flowering cherry, but has nothing to do with the real almond tree Prunus dulcis.
Tip: A regular pruning guarantees a lush bloom next year.
Almond tree in the garden
Japanese maples
The shape and coloring of the filigree leaves of Japanese maples, such as those of the Japanese maple, sloth maple or golden maple, are very diverse and the greatest ornament of these trees. These trees already present themselves with colored shoots in the spring. The foliage, which is green or reddish in summer, turns a bright yellow-orange to a dark crimson in autumn, depending on the species.
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
This small, deciduous and densely branched magnolia species grows to a height of up to 300 cm and is well suited to being kept in a container. What is special about this little tree are the radiant white, star-shaped flowers, which cover the wood in a sea of blossoms from March to April.
Globe ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken')
The spherical ginkgo, also known as the fan leaf tree, grows very slowly and is predestined to be kept in the balcony planter. It grows as a standard, forms a compact and almost spherical crown and reaches heights of growth of up to 150 cm. The most striking thing about this little tree are the fan-shaped, lobed leaves that are typical of a ginkgo tree.
Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba
Chinese Judas Tree Avondale
This Mediterranean shrub grows slowly and upright with a final height of 250 cm and a width of up to 200 cm. What is spectacular about this small tree are the pretty violet-pink flowers, which form directly on the branches and trunk from April to May before the leaves emerge. But the heart-shaped leaves are also very decorative.
deciduous trees
Red-leaved hanging blood beech (Fagus sylvatica Rohan Weeping)
The tree, which is cultivated as a standard tree, is a real eye-catcher thanks to its shiny, dark purple foliage on the overhanging branches. The slightly toothed leaves are bright red when they sprout and later black-red. Once the maximum trunk height of 60 cm is reached, only the branches will grow as long as they are not cut.
Tip: Pruning measures for optical reasons can be carried out on this wood at any time without any problems.
Dwarf Ash Abiona (Fraxinus excelsior Abiona)
At 100 cm, this dwarf tree has already reached its final height. It forms a very compact crown with rich green leaves that are 10 - 12 cm long. The deciduous foliage is imparipinnate and shows a splendid yellow color in autumn. The flowers are rather inconspicuous and vary in color depending on the variety. Due to its slow growth, this dwarf ash tree is ideal for keeping in flower tubs.
Dwarf chestnut (Aesculus pavia Koehnei)
This dwarf chestnut is an attractive alternative to the traditional chestnut. It reaches heights of growth of about 200 cm in the balcony tub. In May, it presents its orange to pink, upright flower spikes. In combination with the lush green foliage, they create a harmonious play of colours. In the fall, the foliage turns yellow before finally falling.
Castanea, chestnut
fruit trees
Dwarf blood plum (Prunus cistena)
The dwarf blood plum is available as a shrub or stem. Foliage and bark are dark red and the radial flowers appear pink-white from April to May. In autumn, the dwarf blood plum produces small, round, bright red, edible fruits. They are ready to harvest from October and have a sweet, fruity taste.
Pillar Cherry 'Garden Bing®'
This self-fruiting columnar cherry tree shows the straight, columnar growth habit characteristic of columnar fruit and can reach heights of growth of 200 cm in the flower pot. The delicious, dark red cherries can be harvested in August.
Apricot 'Compacta Super Compact®'
This new breed is a maximum of 200 cm high, so that it can be cultivated well in a pot. It is in full bloom in March and the medium-sized, intensely yellow and sweet fruits can be harvested from July.
Dwarf apple Malus domestica 'Delgrina'
This small apple tree grows up to 180 cm high, 100 cm wide and needs a suitable pollinator e.g. James Grieve or Cox Orange Renette. It shows its light pink-white flowers in March/April and can be harvested from September. The fruits are very aromatic and can be stored well.
Tip: The more volume of soil this dwarf apple has available, the better it feels.
Apple tree in the garden
conifers
Columnar Black Pine Green Tower (Pinus nigra Green Tower)
This columnar, medium-sized pine grows slowly and densely with a height of 150 - 300 cm and a width of 100 cm. The 8 - 12 cm long needles are erect and double-needled. The brown cones are also very decorative.
Dwarf Balsam Fir 'Nana'
The dwarf balsam fir 'Nana' grows slowly, densely and spherically with a height of up to 100 cm and a width of up to 250 cm. The dark green needles exude an aromatic scent and are comparatively short with a length of 4 - 10 mm.
Himalayan Cedar 'Feelin Blue'
With its strongly hanging branches and the blue-green needles up to 5 cm long, the Himalayan cedar is one of the lowest cedars and not only a real eye-catcher in the pot. After about 10 years it reaches its final height of about 100 cm and a width of up to 150 cm.
pot planting
Plant trees in pots - the right planter
- Planters made of clay or plastic are equally well suited
- Pots made of copper and zinc are only suitable to a limited extent
- they can emit toxic substances
- in these cases, line the pot with foil or coat it with polyester resin
- generally pay attention to the optimal shape and size of the bucket
- Cylindrical or conical pots can easily tip over in the wind
- Pot should be big enough but not too big
- tubs that are too large will result in excessive root growth
- Roots should not be curved
- Distances between the root ball and the edge of the pot of approx. 10 cm are ideal
- Tubs of non-hardy specimens should be easy to transport to winter quarters
- Repot trees in pots about every 3 - 5 years
- the new pot should be a maximum of 2 - 4 cm larger than the old one
plant substrate
planting guide
First, put a thick drainage layer of coarse gravel, potsherds or expanded clay on the bottom of the bucket and cover the whole thing with fleece. Then you fill it about a quarter with potting soil and put the tree in the middle. Finally, fill up with soil up to just below the edge, press it down and water thoroughly. A support can help the tree grow.
Tip: Underplanting with periwinkle, cranesbill, herbs or strawberries, for example, can prevent the root ball from overheating or drying out.