17 Low-Maintenance Trees For Your Landscape
Would you like to add a new tree to your landscape but want something with minimal fuss? Luckily, plenty of highly ornamental yet easy-to-grow trees add some hardy greenery and structure to your yard. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares 17 of her favorite low-maintenance trees to add attractive foliage, beautiful flowers, and wildlife habitat to your landscape.
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Trees have so much to offer. They are showy and provide structure and interest all year long. Trees are easy to grow and long-lived. Trees provide shade and important habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Some trees are especially valued for their showy flowers, evergreen leaves, or colorful fall foliage.
Your property may be large or small, but if you have a yard large enough to landscape, there’s a good chance you have room for a tree. You can grow trees and shrubs in your landscape to provide shade, privacy, or food. You can use trees to attract wildlife, stabilize the soil, and help support the natural ecosystem. Whatever goals you have for your landscape, planting a tree is a great choice!
Each home will have its own unique landscape setting, including soil type, soil moisture and drainage, and available sunlight. You’ll also need to find a tree that’s appropriate for your region’s climate and plant hardiness zone. Choosing the right tree for your yard will not only help your tree survive but also ensure your tree can thrive where you plant it.
A tree may seem like a big commitment but most trees are very easy to manage. Read on for more details about 17 super trees that are both beautiful and low-maintenance, so you can have plenty of curb appeal with minimal effort.
Allegheny Serviceberry
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botanical name Amelanchier laevis |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 15 – 25 feet |
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hardiness zones 4 – 8 |
The Allegheny serviceberry is a small deciduous tree native to eastern North America. In its natural habitat, it grows in open woodlands and along forested edges. It prefers a partially shaded location with rich, moist soil. As a smaller tree, you can more easily incorporate a serviceberry into your yard than a full-sized shade tree.
The natural form of this serviceberry is a multi-trunked tree or shrub. Prune young trees, as needed, to maintain a desired form, as this tree is highly variable. The smooth gray bark is attractive during all seasons. Allegheny serviceberry blooms in the spring with a plethora of beautiful white flowers that pollinators love. By mid-summer, your tree will form small red fruits to feed the resident birds.
American Basswood
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botanical name Tilia americana |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 60 – 80 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 8 |
Here’s an appealing medium to large-sized shade tree native to eastern North America. Its broad heart-shaped leaves provide ample shade and help feed the caterpillars of the red-spotted purple butterfly and mourning cloak butterfly. The spring-blooming flowers are creamy yellow and favored by pollinators, especially honeybees.
American basswood prefers a sunny location with rich, moist, well-drained soil. When planting a young basswood tree, give it plenty of space to develop a beautifully rounded crown, providing shade and valuable wildlife habitat. The fall foliage is an appealing pale yellow.
American Persimmon
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botanical name Diospyros virginiana |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 30 – 80 feet |
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hardiness zones 4 – 9 |
The American persimmon is a valuable native species from central and eastern North America. It grows along forest edges and open woodlands and an understory tree or mid-sized canopy tree. This colorful tree is a good addition to the home landscape, but you should plant it in an out-of-the-way location where its messy fall fruits won’t drop onto your car, driveway, or patio.
American persimmon produces edible fruits that make excellent jams and preserves. Harvest them only when they are fully ripe, to the point of being extremely soft with a jelly-like consistency. Before they’re fully ripe, fruits are astringent, becoming sweet and creamy when soft.
The fall foliage is a brilliant scarlet red. This is a fabulous wildlife tree: it’s a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth, pollinators feed on the white bell-like flowers, and wildlife love the fruits.
Arborvitae
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botanical name Thuja occidentalis |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 40 – 60 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
Arborvitae is a familiar and popular landscaping plant. It’s commonly used for privacy hedges and living screens. These low-maintenance trees and shrubs have been widely cultivated and many interesting cultivars are available, including dwarf forms that grow only a few feet tall, if you’re looking for a miniature tree or shrub for a small space.
Arborvitae are needled evergreens. The leaves are flattened and scale-like, densely packed around these lush and full trees. The cones are less than an inch long, oblong, and more smooth than spiny. These trees provide valuable shelter and foraging opportunities for a variety of birds and small mammals.
Black Gum
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botanical name Nyssa sylvatica |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 40 – 70 feet |
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hardiness zones 4 – 9 |
Black gum, also known as tupelo, is a beautiful small to mid-sized species native to central and eastern North America. It really stands out in a crowd during the peak of fall color when its leaves change from glossy green to a spectacular shade of scarlet. Black gum blooms in the springtime. Its clusters of small creamy flowers feed hungry pollinators, particularly honeybees—tupelo honey is a delicious product! This is an excellent wildlife-friendly tree.
Black gums grow best in full sun and when grown as a specimen, make attractive shade trees. These ornamental trees prefer rich moist soil and tolerate a variety of soil conditions. Black gums are fairly slow-growing so don’t expect to be picnicking under it for many years.
Common Witch Hazel
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botanical name Hamamelis virginiana |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 15 – 30 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 9 |
Common witch hazel grows up to 30 feet tall. It develops multiple branching stems to form a spreading, rounded shape. Grow your witch hazel as a single specimen where you’ll be sure to see and appreciate it. This plant produces a stunning winter floral display with an abundance of feathery yellow flowers that you won’t want to miss! Several other witch hazel varieties also make excellent landscaping specimens.
This lovely plant is native to open woodlands and woodland edges of eastern North America. It prefers full sun or light shade with rich, acidic, well-drained soil. Make sure to plant your witch hazel in a location where the soil stays moist, as these plants aren’t tolerant of very dry soil conditions. Allow your witch hazel to grow naturally into a shrubby form and use it as an attractive privacy screen.
Eastern Hop Hornbeam
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botanical name Ostrya virginiana |
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sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
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height 20 – 40 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 9 |
The eastern hop hornbeam, also called American hop hornbeam, while fairly common in nature, isn’t widely used as a landscaping plant. It has slender trunk with a pleasing oval or pyramidal crown. This low-maintenance species makes an excellent understory addition, as it prefers a shaded plot with moist, well-drained soil.
In early spring, long yellowish catkins dangle from the branches and develop into interesting, papery fruits that resemble hops. The toothed leaves turn showy yellow-orange in the fall. A variety of wildlife use the canopy for foraging and habitat, including birds, butterflies, and small mammals.
Fringe Tree
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botanical name Chionanthus virginicus |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12 – 30 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 9 |
I must admit the American fringe tree is one of my favorites. This beautiful small specimen is native to open woodlands of eastern North America. It grows best in full sun or light shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil.
A fringe tree is simply stunning during its spring flowering. Before it fully leafs out for the summer, it bursts into bloom with thousands of delicate, white, fringe-like flowers, so the entire canopy seems to be covered with a mass of feathery white petals. These flowers are lightly fragrant and attract pollinators. They typically develop several main stems, although they can be pruned to a single trunk when young.
Japanese Cherry
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botanical name Prunus serrulata |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 15 – 25 feet |
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hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
The Japanese cherry is a showy, smaller species with spectacular spring flowers. Its abundant white or pink flowers welcome spring with a profusion of petals, inviting pollinators to your landscape. There are many Japanese cherry cultivars to choose from with varying flower colors, some with double flowers, and some with bronze or purple leaves.
These charming cherries perform best and will bloom most profusely with full sun. Give them moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. Japanese cherries are relatively short-lived, but their 20-year lifespan yields plenty of enjoyment.
Despite the fact that these are cherry trees, they are grown for their flowers rather than their fruits. Many cultivars don’t produce fruits at all, and those that do yield sparse, inconspicuous, berry-like fruits that attract songbirds.
Kousa Dogwood
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botanical name Cornus kousa |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 20 – 30 feet |
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hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
The Kousa dogwood is a showy and low-maintenance species native to Asia. These small trees are similar to our North American native dogwood (Cornus florida) but are generally more disease-resistant and sun-tolerant than the native species. Grow your Kousa dogwood in moist, well-drained soil.
This makes an excellent specimen to appreciate throughout the year and there are numerous colorful cultivars to choose from. Kousa dogwood comes to life in the spring with showy white or pink flower-like bracts. By mid-summer, you’ll notice its showy spherical pink fruits.
The glossy leaves may be dark green or variegated, with appealing reddish fall foliage. They even have interesting, ornamental bark, which you’ll appreciate during the winter months.
Norway Spruce
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botanical name Picea abies |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 40 – 60 feet |
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hardiness zones 2 – 7 |
The Norway spruce is a cold-loving conifer from the mountains of Europe. This evergreen needs a cool summer climate with full sun and moist, acidic, well-drained soil. If you are able to grow this beautiful spruce in your yard, use it as an attractive specimen or plant several together as a privacy screen.
If you’re interested in a Norway spruce, check out some of the many cultivars. You’ll find dwarf varieties and bush-like forms for small spaces and weeping varieties for some dramatic flair. These needled evergreens have brushy needles about one inch long. The cones measure up to six inches long and hang down along the branches.
Red Maple
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botanical name Acer rubrum |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 40 – 120 feet |
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hardiness zones 2 – 9 |
The red maple is one of several native maple species that make fine landscaping plants. Red maples are tolerant of a wide range of climate zones, provided they receive plenty of sunlight with rich, moist soil.
When you add a red maple to your landscape, you’re adding a beautiful specimen with showy red fall foliage. But they offer a lot more than autumn color. In the spring, they produce tiny red flowers that attract pollinators and foraging birds.
In the summer, they make attractive shade trees with silvery gray bark. These trees provide excellent wildlife habitat, offering shelter, nesting sites, and abundant foraging opportunities.
Saucer Magnolia
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botanical name Magnolia x soulangeana |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 15 – 35 feet |
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hardiness zones 4 – 9 |
This beautiful deciduous magnolia makes a lovely addition to your landscape. The saucer magnolia is a hybrid with several cultivars of its own. These low-maintenance trees are fairly small and highly ornamental. Use a saucer magnolia as a specimen to highlight in a prominent location where you can admire it, especially in the spring.
Saucer magnolia puts on a showy display early in the spring. The six-inch cup-like flowers bloom just as it starts to leaf out for the season. A healthy magnolia in full bloom will have a profusion of slightly fragrant flowers that demand plenty of attention. If you live in a cooler climate, consider planting a late-flowering cultivar to reduce the risk of frost damage to the flowers.
Southern Magnolia
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botanical name Magnolia grandiflora |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 60 – 80 feet |
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hardiness zones 6 – 10 |
The southern magnolia is a magnificent species native to the southeastern United States. This broadleaf evergreen has extra-large glossy green leaves with a downy brown fuzz on the undersides. Its spectacular white flowers bloom in late spring and can reach a whopping 12 inches across! These trees also have prominent cone-like seed pods full of glossy, bright red seeds.
You’ll need a large yard to grow a southern magnolia. They grow up to 80 feet tall and 50 feet wide. The lower branches spread wide and low, some even touching the ground, giving it a broadly pyramidal shape. These trees provide excellent cover and foraging opportunities for birds and other wildlife. The flowers also attract pollinators.
White Fir
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botanical name Abies concolor |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 30 – 70 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
The white fir is a cool-climate evergreen native to mountainous regions of western North America. This attractive needled evergreen prefers full sun and organically rich, moist, well-drained soil. White fir needs a climate with cooler summers in USDA zones 7 and cooler. It is not suitable for plant hardiness zones warmer than 7.
If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own Christmas tree, the white fir is a good choice. You can also use it as a privacy screen or windbreak or simply enjoy its broad conical shape as a specimen. Firs are excellent wildlife plants. Birds use them for foraging, shelter, and nesting sites. Young fledglings will seek the cover of dense-needled conifers like these.
White Oak
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botanical name Quercus alba |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 50 – 135 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 9 |
The white oak is truly a mighty oak. This attractive oak has a sturdy trunk, branching into a spreading, rounded crown. The deciduous leaves are glossy green with smooth wavy edges. Larger leaves can reach eight or nine inches long and four to five inches wide. White oak acorns are longer than they are wide and have a relatively shallow, bumpy, light gray cap.
Oak trees are very valuable to wildlife. Several species of butterflies and moths use oaks as larval host plants. Many birds and mammals eat the acorns, and birds use oaks for foraging, nesting, and shelter. As a landscaping species, a mature white oak makes a beautiful shade specimen, although you will need to wait for several years before your young oak begins to provide any useful shade.
Winterberry Holly
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botanical name Ilex verticillata |
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sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
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height 3 – 15 feet |
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hardiness zones 3 – 9 |
If you thought that all hollies had prickly evergreen foliage, here’s one that doesn’t. This deciduous holly is slow-grower that makes an excellent focal point in your winter landscape. Its smooth-edged leaves turn a rusty red color in the fall before dropping to reveal attractive gray branches full of bright red berries. These little fruits linger well into the fall and winter until hungry birds devour them.
Winterberry holly is native to eastern North America. It grows best in full sun or light shade with acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Since these are smaller trees that tolerate some shade, they can be easily incorporated into smaller landscapes. There are even some dwarf cultivars for the smallest spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fruit trees low-maintenance?
Generally, fruit trees require more maintenance than many other types of trees. Fruit trees may require regular pruning to help maintain a specific form and fruit accessibility. Many fruit trees are also prone to pests and diseases and you’ll need to protect the fruits from insects, birds, and squirrels, which adds to the work you’ll need to do. If you’re willing to put in some extra effort, however, fruit-producing trees and shrubs can be immensely rewarding!
How do I maintain a tree in my yard?
Fortunately, trees are easy to care for. They require the most work when you first plant them. You’ll need to mow or pull grass and weeds around your young trees because aggressive weeds can easily outcompete a recently planted small sapling. You may also need to regularly water your young tree for a few weeks or months until it settles in and becomes established in its new home. This early transition period is when your young tree will require the most care.
Can I grow a tree in a container?
You can still grow a tree even if you don’t have a yard, or if you have a very small yard. Some species of tree will perform very well in a container. Look for dwarf varieties and species that will perform well with limited root space. Container-grown trees will require some extra work, however. You’ll need to give them extra water to keep the soil moist and you’ll need to prune them to keep them container-sized.
When is the best time of year to plant a tree?
Generally speaking, fall is the preferred time to plant a tree. You can also plant a tree in early spring. Planting in the fall or spring allows your tree some time to settle in when it isn’t in the peak active growing season. The weather is generally cooler and wetter in the fall and spring which helps you avoid transplant shock. If you’re buying trees online, many reputable nurseries will only ship during the fall or spring months. If you buy a potted tree in the middle of summer, you can keep it well-watered in its pot until the cooler weather of fall arrives.
