Small Tree Care Guide

Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus umbellata · Small trees

A very hardy shrub with silvery leaves that bears edible red fruit in autumn. However, because it fruits abundantly and is spread by birds, it is considered an invasive species in many parts of the world; planting it requires care and control.

Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis · Small trees

A Mediterranean evergreen small tree known for its aromatic leaves used in cooking. It is extremely drought tolerant and responds very well to pruning; it can be easily shaped as a hedge or a single-stem ball tree.

Bladdernut

Staphylea pinnata · Small trees

It likes partial shade or sunny areas and moist, well-drained soil. It is grown for its drooping white flowers in spring and its inflated, bladder-like fruit in autumn. It is used as a specimen or in woodland gardens.

Cider Gum

Eucalyptus gunnii · Small trees

A very fast-growing eucalyptus species grown for its round, silvery-blue juvenile leaves. To keep the blue foliage, it can be hard pruned (coppiced) every winter; otherwise it grows into a large tree.

Common Hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna · Small trees

A thorny, deciduous, very hardy small tree that is also native to Turkey. It is ideal for forming impenetrable hedges; it has white flowers in spring and red fruit (haws) eaten by birds in autumn.

Cornelian Cherry

Cornus mas · Small trees

A deciduous small tree native to Turkey, valuable both as an ornamental and as a fruit tree. It is known for its yellow flowers that open on bare branches in late winter and its tart, red fruits that ripen in late summer; it is very tolerant of drought and calcareous soils.

Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica · Small trees

A small tree that produces showy flowers all summer and loves sun and heat. Because it flowers on new shoots, it must be pruned at the end of winter or in early spring; it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and aphids.

English Holly

Ilex aquifolium · Small trees

An evergreen small tree famous for its red fruits in winter. For fruit set, a male plant must be planted near the female plants (dioecious). In Izmir it needs partial shade and moist, acidic soils; in alkaline soil its leaves turn yellow.

Hazelnut

Corylus avellana · Small trees

A deciduous fruit shrub that grows multi-stemmed in a clump, notable for its drooping yellow male catkins in winter. It likes a moist and cool climate; it is of Black Sea origin.

Ilex colchica

Ilex colchica · Small trees

An evergreen butcher's broom species native to the Black Sea region. For fruit set, a male plant must be planted near the female plants (dioecious). In Izmir it needs partial shade and moist, acidic soils; it is sensitive to drought and heat.

Japanese Angelica Tree

Aralia elata · Small trees

Likes sunny or partially shaded areas and well-drained soils. It is used as a specimen in the landscape and offers a tropical look with its thorny trunk and large, compound leaves. Its spreading root suckers must be kept under control.

Japanese Laurel

Aucuba japonica · Small trees

Likes partial or full shade and moist, well-drained soil. Direct sun scorches its leaves and causes black spots. A hardy shrub that is ideal for greening shady and problem areas of gardens.

Jujube

Ziziphus jujuba · Small trees

A small fruit tree with thorny branches, very tolerant of dry, hot and calcareous conditions. It wakes late; in autumn it bears small red-brown fruits that taste like apple.

Kumquat

Citrus japonica · Small trees

A compact evergreen citrus that produces small oval fruits eaten with the peel. It is among the most cold-hardy of the citrus; suitable for pots and small gardens.

Medlar

Mespilus germanica · Small trees

A hardy, traditional small tree whose fruit is eaten only after it has ripened and become soft ('bletted' after cold). It likes full sun or partial shade and adapts to most soil types. It is also ornamental, with spring flowers and autumn leaf color.

Puka

Meryta denhamii · Small trees

A houseplant native to New Caledonia that creates a tropical atmosphere with its giant, glossy, paddle-shaped leaves. It likes spots with bright light but no scorching direct sun, and a well-drained, rich potting soil. It has no tolerance for frost.

Saucer Magnolia

Magnolia soulangiana · Small trees

A deciduous small tree famous for its large, tulip-like flowers that open on bare branches before the leaves in spring. It likes full sun or light shade and well-drained, rich, slightly acidic soil. In chalky soils its leaves may yellow (chlorosis).

Snowbell Tree

Styrax officinalis · Small trees

A natural plant of the Aegean and Mediterranean region that loves sun and calcareous, well-drained soils. It is known for its fragrant white flowers that open in spring and its seeds used to make prayer beads; established plants are completely drought tolerant.

Snowy Mespilus

Amelanchier ovalis · Small trees

A plant with four seasons of value: it offers white flowers in spring, edible fruits in summer and beautiful leaf colors in autumn. In Izmir's hot climate it needs afternoon shade and regular summer irrigation.

Star Magnolia

Magnolia stellata · Small trees

A slow-growing, compact, deciduous small tree of Japanese origin. It is known for its abundant, fragrant, star-shaped flowers that open very early in spring before the leaves appear. It prefers sunny or partially shaded, moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soils.

Trident Maple

Acer buergerianum · Small trees

A slow-growing, hardy small tree known for its three-lobed leaves and magnificent autumn color. It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil; it is often used in bonsai, in urban landscapes and in small gardens.

Whitebeam

Sorbus aria · Small trees

A small tree that loves sunny areas and calcareous soils, decorative with the silvery-white undersides of its leaves. It is moderately drought tolerant but needs regular irrigation for best growth in Izmir's hot summers; it can be susceptible to fire blight.

Willow-Leaved Pear

Pyrus salicifolia · Small trees

A very decorative small deciduous tree with weeping branches and graceful, silvery-white leaves resembling a willow. It is covered in white flowers in spring. Because it is extremely tolerant of heat and drought, it is an excellent accent plant for xeriscape gardens.