The sight of a 20-metre behemoth of a beech tree plonked in the middle of vast, open parkland is certainly impressive, but realistically, it’s not something that most of us gardeners can replicate at home. The majority of us have only a modestly-sized outdoor space to work with; a patch where every gardening decision has to be made with care, and where one ill-judged tree planting can lead to a cramped, overly-shaded plot for years to come. Bummer.

That’s where trees for pots come in handy. Trees that grow in pots are a) small enough for most gardens, b) movable – the handiness of which can never be overstated – and c) a viable option for those homes that only have a patio or terrace, as opposed to open lawns, beds or borders. So, in this post, we’ll be doing an arboreal deep dive on the best container trees for various situations, branching out (pun intended) every which way.

Jump to:

• Best evergreen tree for pots
• Best flowering tree for pots
• Best low-maintenance tree for pots
• Best fruit tree for pots
• Best potted tree for wildlife
• Best potted tree for shade
• Caring for pot-grown trees

Best evergreen tree for pots

Loropetalum Patio Tree | Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Fire Dance'

With its riotous burgundy-red foliage and punchy-pink flowers, Loropetalum ‘Fire Dance’ laughs at the very idea of seasonality, instead offering year-round evergreen interest and doing so at a modest ultimate height of just a metre or so, making it perfect for container growing. Also known as the Chinese witch hazel, this species was originally native to Asian woodlands, the upshot of which being that it doesn’t mind a slightly shadier spot in the garden (or on your patio).

Honourable mentions: Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Patio Tree, Spindle ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Patio Tree and Holly ‘Alaska’ Patio Tree.

Best flowering tree for pots

Cheal's Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree | Prunus 'Kiku-shidare-zakura'

Who wouldn’t want a cherry blossom tree they could grow in a pot? If you find someone, send them our way. We’ll be having words. ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ is a simply stunning variety, dazzling with its pendulous habit and fluffy pink double blossoms, and growing to just two-and-a-half metres tall, is ideal for large pots. Plus, it can be pruned to be kept even smaller should your space dictate.

Honourable mentions: ‘Kilmarnock’ Dwarf Weeping Willow, ‘Royal Beauty’ Weeping Crabapple and ‘Genie’ Magnolia.

Best low-maintenance tree for pots

‘Garnet’ Weeping Japanese Maple Tree

If you’re a busy gardener and don’t have as much time on your hands as you’d like to spend in the garden, then you’ll want something that’s low-maintenance and easyg(r)o(w)ing. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are typically pretty no-fuss plants and ‘Garnet’ is no exception. With its deep burgundy foliage and hanging branches, this RHS award winner will happily grow without too much attention, provided you place it out of direct sunlight and don’t allow the container to dry out.

Honourable mentions: ‘Water Lily’ Evergreen Star Magnolia Tree, 'Hakuro-Nishiki' Flamingo Willow Tree and Standard Eucalyptus Tree.

Best fruit tree for pots

UK Hardy Fig Tree | ‘Brown Turkey’

Boy was this a tough one to pick. There are so many amazing smaller fruit trees out there that will still grow well in pots, that it’s tough to pick just one. But when push came to shove, we had to opt for the ‘Brown Turkey’ fig tree. With its lovely lobed foliage and sweet, jammy fruits, this hardy variety adds a touch of the Mediterranean to any patio or balcony, whilst at the same time being able to withstand most British conditions. Eat the figs fresh or incorporate them into a sticky fig and walnut chutney!

Honourable mentions: Grafted Patio Lemon Tree, ‘Avalon Pride’ Patio Peach Tree and ‘Discovery’ Patio Apple Tree.

Best potted tree for wildlife

Corkscrew Hazel | Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

If you’re looking to attract more wildlife to your garden or terrace, then we’d recommend growing a potted corkscrew hazel, whose nuts provide food for dormice, woodpeckers, jays and many more animals. The tree’s foliage serves as food for various species of caterpillar, while the dangling catkins also provide a source of early pollen for bees.

Honourable mentions: Patio ‘Evereste’ Crabapple Tree and Patio Laurustinus Tree.

Best potted tree for shade

Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

If you’re not fortunate enough to have a south-facing garden drenched in glorious sun each day, then fear not, there are still plenty of good options out there. None more so than the ‘Orange Dream’ Japanese maple. An RHS award winner, this tree boasts various shades of foliage, depending on the season, with best leaf colour occurring when planted in a partially-shaded spot.

Honourable mentions: Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' and Japanese Maple Tree | Acer palmatum 'Ōsakazuki'.

Tips for growing trees in pots

Growing trees in pots requires a couple of special care considerations that you wouldn’t have to think about were you growing in the open ground. The main one is watering. When compared with trees grown in the ground, container-grown trees require a lot more watering as their compost is prone to drying out far more quickly. This is particularly important throughout the growing season and during hot, dry spells.

As for the compost you use, we tend to go for something like John Innes No.3. A springtime application of general, slow-release fertiliser can also be beneficial, however it’s worth looking at the individual tree to determine its feeding needs. For trees that need particularly good drainage, consider raising your pot using feet to improve the ability for water to drain.

Final thoughts

A lack of space shouldn’t mean a lack of trees in your garden. The trees we’ve mentioned above all grow nicely in pots, and will add everything from colour to wildlife appeal, and do so in spades. Be sure to check out our other tree-growing guides, including the best trees for autumn colour, the best urban trees and five trees for all four seasons.