You’ll be thrilled to discover a whole series of dwarf weeping trees that, even though small, still boast a weeping, trailing branch habit. Here are a few of our favorite ‘Pendula’ varieties!
Who doesn’t feel a twinge of emotion upon seeing the wavy fronds of a weeping willow sway in the breeze? Swaying leaves that great artists have forever tried to paint on their canvas?
After a quick intro onto how this weeping appeared, we’ll list 6 of our most beautiful small weeping trees.
There is a number of species that have acquired their weeping habit after a certain genetic mutation occurred on one of their branches. Let’s say an ash or birch tree exhibits this trait on a branch in its natural environment, for example. Once a savvy eye has noticed this trait, either in the wild or among the thousands of trees in a nursery, the branch is carefully collected and reproduced through both cuttings and grafting.
→ Note: for newly grafted trees, remember to stake them properly to keep the graft joint from breaking.
Weeping habits will result in very different profiles depending on the species in which they occur. For species such as sophora, ash or white mulberry, a regular dome-shaped silhouette appears in time. Oppositely, a weeping birch, cherry or apple tree will thrust branches out in a much more disorganized manner.
The human touch is also essential: pruning will play a defining part in how regular or random any given tree will grow to become. Pruning also helps lighten the tree up, since thinning that thick mat of weeping branches will let more light seep through the tree. It’ll give the plant a more transparent, see-through dimension. Indoors, a weeping fig needs pruning to truly show a weeping form.
This is a modest pear tree native to the Caucasian mountain range and to Iran. Its striking silvery foliage lets it make amends for the tiny bland-tasting pears it produces. Its appeal comes from the long, graceful arching branches that, from afar, look identical to the silhouette of a willow tree. The white blooming in spring is rather discrete, not worth noticing even since it’s buried behind the foliage.
An advantage of this very hardy pear tree is that it can adapt to any type of soil, and copes well with both drought and sea spray. At maturity, its size reaches about 15-18 feet (5-6 meters) high, for about 15 feet across (5 meters).
Ash was for a time one of the most favored trees in the countryside, not particularly because of its noble silhouette, but rather for the many uses it had for life on the farm. Young branches were ideal for whittling handles out of for tools, leaves made excellent foraging material for beasts, young and tender leaves were delectable in tea…
The ‘Pendula’ habit will drape over a barrel composition magnificently, especially if you prune the weeping twigs to the same length every winter. Typically grafted at a height of 6 feet (2 meters), it will not grow any taller than 15 feet (5 meters) in time, and about 12 feet across (4 meters). Best plant it in cool soil.
This weeping birch brings an original touch in small gardens, especially when grafted at the tip at about 6-7 feet (2 meters): this forms a perfect umbrella-like treehouse that children love playing in! When grafted to a rootstock stump, however, it will grow into a dramatic twisting contortionist-like shape that can be very surprising as well.
Like all birch trees, the white bark that twinkles in the dappled sunlight adds appeal, too. The superficial root system means this tree can survive very well in containers and large garden boxes, notwithstanding the fact that it’s a slow grower as well. It’ll top out at 15-18 feet (5-6 meters) when planted in the ground, less so for containers.
Ah, the perfect round shape of the pagoda tree excels at enhancing the elegance and structure of exceptional gardens. The very regular branches arch out and kiss the ground at an even height. Composite leaves form a uniform green curtain that is neutral but regular, and becomes dotted with cream-white flowers at the end of summer. These blooms release a pleasant honey-like fragrance, and signal that the entire tree will shift in hue to light golden yellow as fall rolls in.
This cultivar generally reaches 18 to 20 feet (6 to 7 m) high and 12-15 feet (3-4 m) across as it matures, and age renders it ever more circumvoluted. Whichever soil and exposure you have will suit it well, it doesn’t really matter.
Most weeping trees on sale are top-grafted cultivars, so the grafting height sets the final scale as much as the variety does. Use this table to match the main attraction, the aspect and the size band to your pot or small garden.
| Variety | Main attraction | Season of interest | Aspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ | Silvery willow-like foliage | Spring to autumn foliage | Full sun, tolerates wind and salt |
| ‘Lavender Twist’ | Twisting weeping stems, lilac-pink flowers | Spring flower, heart-shaped summer leaves | Sun or part shade |
| ‘Snow Fountains’ | Cascading white blossom | Early spring, autumn tints | Full sun |
| ‘Kilmarnock’ | Silver-grey catkins on stiff weeping shoots | Late winter to spring | Full sun |
| ‘Royal Beauty’ | Purple-tinted leaves with violet tones, dark red flowers and fruit; 6 x 6 feet (2 x 2 meters) tall and wide | Spring flower, autumn fruit | Full sun; cool acidic soil or rich neutral soil |
| ‘Red Jade’ | White flowers, small light red glossy crab apples | Spring flower, autumn to winter fruit | Full sun; cool acidic soil or rich neutral soil |
| ‘Ruby Falls’ | Deep purple heart-shaped leaves | Spring flower, dark summer foliage | Sun or part shade |
| ‘Youngii’ | White bark, umbrella-shaped crown | Year-round bark, autumn yellow | Full sun or light shade |
| ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ | Double bright pink blossom | Mid to late spring | Full sun |
| Prunus x subhirthella ‘Pendula Rubra’ | Single deep rose-pink blossom | Early spring | Full sun |
| Prunus x subhirthella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ | Waves of new flowers produced continuously | Starts blooming in fall, on until March-April in mild climates | Full sun |
| Fraxinus excelsior ‘Pendula’ | Dome of arching green shoots | Summer shade, autumn yellow | Sun or part shade |
| Malus ‘Echtermeyer’ | Weeping form of the Ornamental apple trees: deep purple young leaves shifting to bronze-green in summer, simple red flowers lightening in tone as they age, tiny violet apples | Spring flower, autumn fruit much appreciated by birds in winter | Full sun; cool acidic soil or rich neutral soil |
| ‘Hybridus Pendulus’ | Evergreen weeping standard, red berries | Autumn to winter berries | Sun or part shade |
| Morus alba ‘Pendula’ | Dense curtain of shoots, edible fruit | Summer fruit | Full sun |
| ‘Ryusen’ | Sheet of trailing green leaves | Summer foliage, fiery autumn colour | Part shade, sheltered |
The branches of this special Japanese cherry tree shoot out from the trunk like fireworks in April, covered as they are in bright pink double flowers.
Cherry trees also add value to the fall garden thanks to the colors of their leaves. They appreciate cool soil but it should not hold water for very long. Full sun exposure suits it best. The rootstock is what determines the ultimate size they can reach. Generally, they won’t exceed 12-15 feet (4-5 meters).
Yes, several varieties are very hardy. The weeping pear tree (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’) is described as ‘very hardy’ and can adapt to various soil types and harsh conditions like drought and sea spray. The dwarf weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) and pagoda tree (Sophora japonica ‘Pendula’) are also suitable for outdoor gardens year-round.
The article does not specify growth timelines to maturity. However, it notes that the dwarf weeping birch is ‘a slow grower’ that will reach 15-18 feet (5-6 meters) when planted in the ground but will be smaller in containers.
Yes, the dwarf weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) can survive very well in containers and large garden boxes due to its superficial root system. The article focuses on dwarf weeping trees specifically for pots and small gardens, suggesting they are suitable for container growing.
Pruning is essential to shape the tree and reveal its weeping form. For the weeping ash, prune the weeping twigs to the same length every winter. Pruning also helps lighten the tree by thinning the thick mat of branches to let more light through, creating a more transparent appearance. For the weeping fig grown indoors, pruning is necessary to truly show its weeping form.
Dwarf weeping trees are created through genetic mutations in individual branches, which are then reproduced using both cuttings and grafting. Professionals graft the weeping branch onto a conventional tree rootstock, typically at a height of 6 feet (2 meters) to create the characteristic weeping silhouette.
