10 Dwarf Weeping Trees For Small Gardens

Weeping trees add a unique look to any space they are planted in. In fact, adding a dwarf weeping tree can significantly improve your house’s curb appeal. It’s one of the design elements that I was immediately drawn to when looking at the house we live in now. These small trees make me think of my childhood. In the mid-80s, lots of people had them in their front yards because they fit in many different garden designs with smaller lots.

Generally, weeping trees are not as large as upright varieties but can still reach 15-25 feet in height. This means planting them indoors is usually not an option. 

However, you can get dwarf weeping trees, which are essentially shorter versions of full-sized weeping trees. These dwarf versions do very well indoors and can also be used in your outdoor landscape if you have a small space to fill or you don’t want to compromise your line of view, combine these trees with some low growing ground covers and you truly have an easy to maintain garden space.

---

Most of the weeping tree variations are cultivars, and the dwarf versions of these trees have been modified by humans to restrict their overall size. These trees are quite resilient and require very little maintenance. 

Here are some of the best dwarf weeping tree options to consider for your garden. 

1. Weeping Norway Spruce 

The Norway spruce has branches filled with needles, much like a pine tree. Unlike the pine tree, the Norway spruce is a weeping variety, so the branches hang downwards, and the entire tree tends to drape over the ground. This is a good choice if you want a tree that will cover a lot of open ground. 

On the other hand, if you provide the tree with some support in the form of stakes or a fence, it can creep over these objects and develop a more upright posture, so it grows vertically. 

This is a very resilient tree, and you don’t have to worry about pests or diseases damaging it. Additionally, the pine needles on the Norway spruce have a very pleasant fragrance, keeping the entire area around the tree smelling fresh. 

Plant Growing Details

2. Weeping White Pine

The weeping white pine is a highly prized variety of weeping trees due to its unique appearance. It has very fine pines on its branches, making it fluffy and nearly fabric-like. It has long branches that weep down to the ground. 

The dwarf variety of this tree has more of a mound-like shape and usually grows in irregular patterns. When it reaches its natural height of 4-7 feet tall, it can look a bit like a hedge but rounder and fluffier than a standard hedge. 

Plant Growing Details:

3. Dwarf Weeping Willow

Weeping willows are one of the most popular weeping tree varieties, as well as one of the few weeping trees that are naturally occurring. The dwarf version of the weeping willow tree has different sizes and outlooks. 

These dwarf trees typically reach a maximum height of 5-6 feet. They have silvery stems with small golden leaves that are quite thick. The top umbrella of the tree looks like a dense plate of veins with long, thin branches weeping downwards. 

Plant Growing Details:

4. Weeping Crabapple

As the name suggests, the crabapple tree is part of the apple tree family which are all part of the Malus genus. Therefore, the crabapple does produce some small fruits, but these are not palatable at all. 

However, this is a flowering tree, and its thin weeping branches are covered with white, red, pink, and yellow flowers during the flowering season. While the flowers only last a couple of weeks, they have green foliage and colorful fruits hanging on the tree all year round. 

Plant Growing Details:

5. Weeping Mulberry

The weeping mulberry tree is not only a beautiful tree to look at, but it also provides some delicious fruit. The dwarf variety of this tree will provide much less fruit if any at all, but the good news is that it is edible. The tree itself has an upright posture with dwarf varieties – easily reaching 6 feet in height. 

The branches stem from the top of the tree and droop downwards, featuring medium-sized solid green leaves. This is a seasonal tree, so it sheds leaves in the winter, but during the summer months, it has rich and thick foliage. 

Plant Growing Details:

6. Weeping Cherry Tree

This is one of the most beautiful weeping trees you can get. It is commonly found with white flowers, but you can also get varieties that have pink, red, lavender, or purple flowers. 

The dwarf version of this tree will grow to be 4-6 feet tall and develop a bushy top where all the flowers are located. It doesn’t have very long branches but as the tree grows, the entire umbrella will start to swoop downwards. With its colorful flowers, it is a vibrant addition to any garden. 

Plant Growing Details:

7. Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

The weeping blue atlas cedar tree has a very dramatic look to it in terms of its structure, and the blueish-gray color only makes it more prominent. The pin needles on this tree grow in small, tight bunches, and they have a bluish-green color to them. 

They are also coated with a translucent white sheet which gives the tree a slight gray color when you look at it from afar. This tree can get to about 10 feet tall, but it also spreads out quite wide. 

The branches can be 6-7 feet long each, and they will spread horizontally across the landscape. Long stems with pine needles will droop down to the ground from these main branches. 

Plant Growing Details:

8. Weeping Hemlock

The weeping hemlock is a great choice if you want a windbreak or something that will provide solid cover to some parts of the property. This tree has very small pine needles, but they are so densely packed that they can create a solid structure. 

Moreover, the tree develops so that branches layer on top of each other and keep building up in the form of a mound. This tree does not get too tall or too wide, but it is very densely built like a hedge. It has a classic green color and a very gentle and wave-like structure. 

Plant Growing Details:

9. Weeping Beech Tree 

If you’re looking for a standout – a real show-stopper – then the weeping beech tree with its deep purple foliage is a great option. This tree can grow to be 5-8 feet tall, depending on how much ground space the roots have to spread. 

You can always plant this in a large pot if you want to limit growth. The foliage on this tree is extremely dense – so much so that you can’t even see the trunk of the tree when it is fully developed and in full flowering season. The leaves also have a glossy finish to them, and when combined with the natural purple color, it creates an amazing visual. 

Plant Growing Details:

10. Redbud Tree

The redbud tree is one of the few dwarf weeping trees that gives you amazing aesthetics in a compact package. The leaves on this tree can be purple, deep red or white. The tree itself grows up to 5 feet tall and has a small umbrella that does not have more than a 4 foot radius. 

This is perfect for the small front yards of modern homes. On top of that, this tree doesn’t droop all the way down to the floor, so you still have space to grow other small plants. 

Plant Growing Details:

Final Thoughts

Dwarf weeping trees give your garden both a pop of color and a very unique foliage. All these trees are very low maintenance, and you don’t need to do much to get them going. However, you will need to be patient with some varieties as they can take several years to grow and reach their final stage. 

They are definitely worth the wait, though, once their signature style emerges and they show their eclectic and fragrant colors.