13 Fantastic Trees Under 20 Feet Tall

The list of small garden trees is a relatively short one—most trees will grow taller than 20 feet as they mature, and many trees become nearly as wide as they are tall over time. Most small garden trees under 20 feet tall prefer filtered light or dappled shade, as they are naturally found in the understory with taller trees providing them with shade.

Recent plant breeding introductions have produced dwarf selections and smaller cultivars of normally larger specimens such as ‘Little Gem’ and ‘Baby Grand’ Evergreen Magnolias, and more varieties become available each year. While we are focusing on deciduous and broad-leafed evergreen trees, there are many fantastic conifers that stay under 20 feet and would look great in any size garden. For more on them, check out our blog on dwarf conifers.

In addition to traditional single-trunk trees, many shrubs can be grown as small, multi-trunked trees, or even trained into growing with a single trunk for a more formal appearance.

Acer/Maple

Vine maples (Acer circinatum) grow to 20 feet tall/wide and have fresh, light green leaves that turn orange and red in fall with partial to full sun; one of our best native trees for small gardens
Full Moon Japanese maples (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) and many other upright Japanese maples, including Flame maple (Acer ginnala) and Paperbark maple (Acer griseum), can grow to 25 feet tall

Paperbark Maple Tree Closeup of peeling bark and green leaves

Cornus/Dogwood

‘Satomi’ (20 feet tall and wide) has pink flowers that bloom in June; disease-resistant cultivar with red fruits and orange/red fall color
‘Wolf Eyes’ (10–20 feet tall and wide) has creamy white flowers and wavy, variegated foliage that turns red/pink in fall with occasional red fruit

Wolf Eyes Japanese Dogwood Tree - White blossoms with variegated leaves

Azara

20–25 feet tall at maturity
Tucked amongst the tiny, evergreen leaves are clusters of small yellow flowers that have a vanilla fragrance in January and February
Mature plants have gracefully layered branches

Magnolia

‘Leonard Messel’ (15 feet tall and wide) is usually multi-trunked with fragrant, light pink, star-shaped flowers on bare branches in early spring
‘Black Tulip’ (15–20 feet tall by 10 feet wide) has huge, deep burgundy/purple flowers that bloom on bare branches in early spring

Evergreen Magnolia

‘Little Gem’ (20–25 feet tall by 10–15 feet wide) is a dwarf form of southern magnolia with dark green, shiny leaves and fuzzy, brown undersides; fragrant, large white flowers bloom sporadically in late spring through fall
‘Baby Grand’ (8–10 feet tall and wide) has large, creamy white, fragrant flowers from spring into summer with a compact, rounded habit

Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia Tree - white blossom with green leaves

Lagerstroemia/Crape Myrtle

Can be found as single-trunk specimens or often grown in multi-trunk form
Wide range of mature heights vary by cultivar in addition to flower color
Late summer flowers last into fall and foliage turns brilliant colors of red, yellow, orange, and purple before dropping to reveal patchy, interesting bark in winter
Very late to break dormancy in spring!
‘Tuskegee’, ‘Tuscarora’ and ‘Arapaho’ each grow to about 20 feet tall with dark coral pink or red flowers
‘Catawba’ (8–10 feet tall) has violet purple flowers
‘Hopi’ (10 feet tall and wide) blooms with clear pink flowers from late July into the fall

Hopi Crape Myrtle Tree blooming bright pink

Sambucus/Elderberry

Our native Sambucus nigra ssp. Caerulea a.k.a. Blue Elderberry grows with multiple stems to about 12 feet tall and wide with large, creamy white lacey flowers followed by showy clusters of blue/purple edible berries
Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ a.k.a. Black Lace Elderberry (8–10 feet tall and wide) is a dramatic version with dark burgundy colored, finely cut foliage and large clusters of pink flowers followed by purple, edible berries in fall

Black Lace Elderberry Tree pale pink flowers with fark red, spindly leaves

Cercis/Redbud

‘Merlot’ redbud (12 feet tall and wide) has dark leaves and a dark pink flower in early spring on bare branches that last a few weeks
‘Rising Sun’ (8–12 feet tall by 8 feet wide) has lavender flowers followed by lime green, heart-shaped foliage that is heat-resistant

Serviceberry/Amelanchier

‘Autumn Brilliance’ (20 feet tall by 15 feet wide at maturity) is an upright form with reliable, white spring flowers and small, edible fruits in autumn
Can be prone to disease

Autumn Brilliance Apple Serviceberry Tree Closeup of white flowers

Fringe Tree/Chionanthus

20 feet tall by 10 feet wide
This uncommon tree has lovely, white spring flowers, yellow fall color, and attractive fruits (fruit can be a little messy)

Assorted Crabapples/Malus

Certain cultivars can be prone to disease
‘Prairifire’ (20 feet tall by 15 feet wide) is a popular disease-resistant variety with dark pink-red flowers in early spring and maroon leaves that turn dark green in summer and bronze in fall; maroon fruit that lasts well into winter