Trees bring gravitas. Every white flower garden or moon garden needs a special white flowering tree, either nearby or in the garden itself.
Every landscape needs some structure in the form of woody trees and shrubs. Woody plants help define the spaces within the flower garden and add height for visual interest, as well as provide a sense of overhead proportion. Trees can also provide welcome (or unwelcome) shade. Whether you plant a tree within the confines of your white garden or moon garden, or a tree serves as part of the surrounding setting, why not select a tree with white flowers to complement your garden design and add a sense of continuity and weight to the landscape. There are many different factors to take into account when selecting a tree. If nothing else, the tree will live for decades and become a major statement in your landscape, so do not take its selection lightly.
Use Trees for Structure
Small growing, white flowering trees such as selected varieties of crabapple, ornamental cherry, serviceberry, tree lilac, stewartia, silverbell, chionanthus, crepe myrtle, dogwood, the white flowered form of redbud, and both deciduous and evergreen magnolias can provide structure and add height to your planting without overwhelming it.
More than Blooms
Flowering trees bloom for only a week or two, so examine the overall look of the tree to be sure it will make a good all season addition to the garden. Beyond the white flowers, check if it has exceptional fall color, or a lovely silhouette when leafless in winter, or terrific bark or fruit or other special features that would make it a superior choice for your particular situation. For example, some of the deciduous magnolias have wonderful silvery bark that makes a ghostly appearance in the evening moon garden. Paper birch is another terrific addition to a white garden that will also be enjoyed at night.
Trees Create Shade
When placing your tree, keep in mind that it will cast increasing shade over the years as it grows and matures. The shade cast by a tree provides a nice place to sit on a hot summer afternoon. It will also allow you to add shade loving plants with white flowers. (For ideas, see The White Garden in Shade.) Check the mature size of any tree you are considering and be certain you have adequate space for it to grow over the coming decades.
Big Enough: Tree or Large Shrub?
A small tree is generally considered to be a tree that grows to about thirty feet or a bit less. This can be too big for many small spaces. Many large shrubs can certainly be the size of what you and I would consider to be a small tree-twelve or fifteen feet. So consider whether you truly need a tree or could do with a shrub trained to a single stem or in a multi-stemmed but still tree-like form. So many choices!
Read All of the White Garden Series:
More Roses for the White Garden
All Flower Gardens Articles So Far
Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin
