When it comes to beautifying a garden, there are few resources as valuable as that of ornamental trees. Whether they are large or smaller, they have the ability to add a special touch to the area in which they are, helping to delimit and enrich spaces. There are them with very showy flowers, with berries, with leaves that change color depending on the time of year, and so on.
If you want to learn more about the different trees for ornament that exist, join us in this article where we will see 20 ornamental trees , their names, characteristics and photos.
Mimosa, one of the most used ornamental trees
With a scientific name Acacia baileyana , it is one of the most common ornamental trees to see. It is actually a shrub, although it can reach heights of up to 8 meters. It has greenish-gray evergreen leaves, but the most striking thing about it are its flowers, which are bright and striking yellow . These are small in size and appear in inflorescences in the shape of a spherical pompom, very beautiful and decorative.
Cow leg
Also called the orchid tree, and with the scientific name Bauhinia variegata , it is a deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 10 meters . Given its moderate size, it is one of the most popular ornamental trees in small gardens. It has long leaves arranged alternately and its flowers, pink or white , bear a great resemblance to those of orchids.
Jupiter tree
Its scientific name is Lagerstroemia indica , but it is also called crepe or Indian lilac . It is another small deciduous tree, since its average size is around 8 meters , although it can grow more over time.
Its flowers, which appear in summer, are its most distinctive feature, as they are grouped in bouquets of red, white or pink , very showy and decorative. The appearance of its bark, brown in color and ready texture, is also highly valued and adapts without problems to the conditions of the cities.
Tree of love, one of the ornamental trees with pink flowers
Although its scientific name is Cercis siliquastrum , it is also simply called cercis, redbud or mad carob . It is rare that it exceeds 6 meters in height, although under very optimal conditions it can double this size.
It is deciduous, and its most appreciated characteristic is its pretty flowers, which are grouped in pink clusters . Its fruits are also striking, and due to its size it is very popular in gardens and parks.
Hunter’s Rowan or Azarollo
This is one of the ornamental trees belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree ( Sorbus Folgneri ) has its origin in southern China. It is a tree with a broad crown and thick trunk, with a grayish bark that takes on green tones in high humidity climates.
It produces its flowers in spring, white and small but with a great aroma, very useful for attracting pollinating insects that are beneficial to the garden. Its fruits or red berries also feed the birds. It is a very easy to grow and resistant tree, suitable for all types of fans.
Iron Tree
Its scientific name is Parrotia Persica and it is a large deciduous shrub of the Hamamelidaceae family. It reaches heights of up to 12 meters and has a very wide and branched structure that gives it the ability to occupy large spaces.
Its trunk, up to 70 cm wide, tends to branch into secondary trunks from very low heights, and is covered in a striking bark of multiple shades that include black, gray and pink. It blooms in winter , with small red or orange flowers .
Canada Maple
Also called American or Canadian red maple , its scientific name is Acer Rubrum . It is a deciduous tree that has its origin in North America, and is especially valued for the striking red color that its leaves acquire in autumn.
It can reach heights of up to 20 meters , and is columnar and wide in size. Its leaves, its most distinctive feature, are large and webbed, green in the warm months and intense reds, oranges and yellows in autumn.
Codeso of the Alps, one of the ornamental trees with yellow flowers
Its scientific name is Laburnum Alpinum , and it is a species of deciduous tree in the Fabaceae family. It has its origin in central and southern Europe, and is popular as an ornamental tree due to its broad shape, which can reach up to 6 meters in height and a similar diameter.
It has a highly branched trunk from practically the base, with a grayish bark, and its leaves are dark green. It gives flowers from spring to summer, giving rise to showy hanging yellow inflorescences , very aromatic.
Juglans, one of the Asian ornamental trees
This is an evergreen tree ( Juglans Mandshurica) that has its origin in Asia. It is a very fast growing species, which can reach heights of up to 25 meters and somewhat smaller widths, although its crown is very wide. It is especially suitable for cold climates , as it withstands low temperatures very well.
Silver willow
Scientific name Salix Alba Sericea , it is believed that this deciduous tree has its origin in Russia. It reaches heights of more than 12 meters in the right conditions, and stands out for its very characteristic silver and green leaves .
It is very fast growing and has cracked bark, with a trunk that is usually very thick.
More ornamental tree names with photos
To finish, here we leave you a list of 10 names of ornamental trees that are very seen in parks and large gardens around the world, due to the color of their leaves and flowers.
- Korean maple ( Acer pseudosieboldianum ).
- Hop tree ( Ptelea trifoliata ).
- Ligustrum ( Ligustrum Delavayanum ).
- Catalpa hydride purple ( Catalpa X erubescens ).
- Plum-leaved apple tree ( Malus prunifolia ).
- Lilo ( Syringa vulgaris ).
- Blackhead ( Acacia caven ).
- Elephant foot ( Beaucarnea recurvata ).
- Holly ( Ilex aquifolium ) .
- Japanese apple tree ( Malus floribunda ).
