“Unrivaled when in bloom”—nursery growers present 9 ornamental weeping trees
Exquisite silhouettes! Weeping trees add eye-catching shapes and year-round allure to your garden. Choose the perfect species for a focal spot near your yard entrance or pair them with perennials and shrubs.
Three top picks from Mika Salomäki, Vuorelan Puutarha garden center
Camperdown elm
What is it? Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’) draws attention in any yard and can extend its branches by 50–70 centimeters over the summer.
Why? You can easily shape this weeping elm cultivar by pruning its gracefully drooping branches, making it one of the best weeping trees for small gardens. Its large leaves lend a lush, almost tropical vibe, and the zigzagging branches remain eye-catching in winter. This hardy tree has already lived 25 years here.
Where? Allow this striking weeping tree enough room to grow up to 4–5 meters wide. Plant it in ordinary or moderately moist, sand-rich soil and remember to water it after planting.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 2–3 m
Flowering time: June–July
Hardiness zones: I–III
Weeping Japanese larch
What is it? Native to Honshu in Japan, the weeping Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi ‘Stiff Weeper’) can even fit in a small garden, like a rowhouse yard.
Why? Its soft, fresh-green needles give the tree a lovely look. They turn bright yellow in fall before dropping, so it’s decorative year-round. Over time, Stiff Weeper’s branches may reach the ground. It stays impressive if you prune them occasionally or shorten them all at once.
Where? It works well as the focal point in a planting group. It thrives best in sandy soil in a sheltered location. Good companions include small conifers or a yellow Japanese spirea.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 1,5 m
Hardiness zones: I–III
Railway crabapple
What is it? Originating from the Finnish state railways’ garden in Hyvinkää, the railway crabapple (Malus ‘Hyvingiensis’) is, in my opinion, one of the most stunning weeping trees.
Why? The tree is especially striking in bloom. Another plus for this Finnish-bred variety is its resilience. You can even use its small apples in jams.
Where? Pick a generous spot for planting, as over time its canopy can span 3–4 meters. Dig a hole 60–70 centimeters deep and wide, and place the tree on a small mound so water doesn’t pool at its roots. It grows best with plenty of light. Remove any branches that appear on the trunk if needed.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 2–3 m
Flowering time: May–June
Hardiness zones: I–VI
Vuorelan Puutarha is located in Rauma, zone Ib, vuorelanpuutarha.fi.
Three top picks from Marjaana Lepänjuuri, Pinsiön Taimisto nursery
Weeping purple willow
What is it? Weeping purple willow (Salix purpurea ‘Pendula’) is a weeping form of the purple willow. Its height, like all weeping trees, depends on how tall the trunk was grafted.
Why? It has pretty, narrow blue-green leaves and generally needs no pruning, forming a naturally beautiful shape. If its branches start touching the ground, you can trim them back. In spring, it produces sweet catkins that insects love.
Where? Hardy and carefree, it grows well in ordinary garden soil. Because it stays quite small, it’s ideal in a mixed planting. Underneath, you can plant groundcovers like creeping Jenny, creeping phlox, or yellow archangel.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 1,3–2 m
Flowering time: April–May
Hardiness zones: I–V
Weeping rowan
What is it? Weeping rowan (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Pendula’) is a weeping version of our native rowan, available grafted at different trunk heights.
Why? The tree is attractive throughout the season, from white blooms in early summer to red berries in fall. It’s fast-growing, thriving in normal garden soil, and can spread up to 3–5 meters wide.
Where? With regular pruning, you can shape a weeping rowan’s canopy into an umbrella-like hideaway. Prune branches just above an upward-facing bud and remove any suckers. I’d plant shade-tolerant Siberian carpet cypress, bugleweed, or spring bulbs like Siberian squill beneath it.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 2–3 m
Flowering time: June
Hardiness zones: I–V
Young’s weeping birch
What is it? The large Young’s weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) is a weeping silver birch whose crown grows noticeably taller over time.
Why? I find its graceful shape enchanting, making it a stunning focal point in a large yard. The leaves are tiny, around 1–2 centimeters, much like those of a silver birch.
Where? Plant Young’s weeping birch where it can reach 4–6 meters tall and wide. Remember that birches are best pruned minimally, only in August, to avoid heavy sap flow in spring. It’s happy in full sun and tolerates most soils. Try underplanting with oregano or wild strawberries.
Light requirement: full sun
Height: 4–6 m
Flowering time: May
Hardiness zones: I–V
Pinsiön Taimisto is in Hämeenkyrö, zone III: pinsiontaimisto.fi.
Three top picks from Ilpo Koivu, Puutarha Tahvoset nursery
Japanese flowering cherry ‘Kiku-Shidare-Sakura’
What is it? The weeping form of the Japanese cherry (Prunus serrulata) ‘Kiku-Shidare-Sakura’ is a lovely small tree for a prime spot.
Why? In May, its elegantly arching branches are covered with double pale-pink blossoms just before the leaves appear. The foliage starts bronze, turns green for summer, and then blazes red-orange in autumn. Even in winter, this tree’s shape is a delight.
Where? This weeping tree thrives in a sheltered location and looks great with low-growing shrubs, perennials, or evergreens. In colder regions, you can keep it in a large container and shield it from harsh winter weather.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 1.5–2.5 m
Flowering time: May
Hardiness zones: I–II
Weeping crabapple Ruby Tears
What is it? The graceful weeping crabapple Ruby Tears (Malus ‘Bailears’) is covered in pretty pale-pink blossoms in early summer.
Why? When in bloom, it appeals to pollinators. This newer weeping crabapple offers reddish-green foliage through the season, and in fall, small red crabapples appear. It tolerates pruning well, so you can shape or limit its size if you like.
Where? Such a beautiful weeping tree deserves a prime spot in your yard. I’ve had mine for years by the entryway, and it has thrived there. Protect the trunk in winter from rabbits and voles using a trunk guard and wire mesh.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 2 m
Flowering time: May–June
Hardiness zones: I–III
Weeping Siberian pea shrub
What is it? Weeping Siberian pea shrub (Caragana arborescens ‘Pendula’) bursts into bright yellow blossoms in June.
Why? This weeping form of the Siberian pea shrub is leafy, eye-catching, and winter-hardy, even up north. Its vibrant green foliage turns yellow in fall. It needs little care beyond removing suckers from the trunk or base.
Where? Its roots fix nitrogen, helping it thrive in low-nutrient soil. Small in stature, it works well in both mixed plantings and on its own, adding a pleasing contrast in height and shape.
Light requirement: full sun to partial shade
Height: 2 m
Flowering time: June
Hardiness zones: I–VII
Puutarha Tahvoset is in Raasepori, zone Ib: tahvoset.fi.
