Avocado fruits

Enjoy fresh-picked avocado for your guacamole or toast by growing an avocado tree. "Avocado trees are valued for their nutritious fruits," Popat says. "They require full sun and regular watering to thrive."

Barbados Cherry Fruits

Also known as an "acerola" cherry, this tree is an easy-to-grow variety that does well in the ground or a container. "Barbados cherry trees are notable for their high Vitamin C content," Popat says, adding that they prefer partial sun and are quite adaptable to different soil types.

Carambola fruit tree

Carambola trees (also known as star fruit) are known for their distinctively shaped fruits and refreshing flavor, according to Popat. While they enjoy full sun to partial shade, Popat says that they require regular pruning to maintain health.

Dragon Fruits

"Dragon fruit plants are actually cacti that produce stunningly beautiful fruits,” Popat says, noting that they need a trellis for support when being grown in the ground or a container.

Rare Miracle Tree Goji Berry Spices Plant Live Plant Original Variety

Rare Miracle Tree Goji Berry Spices Plant Live Plant Original Variety

Goji Berry Fruits

"Goji berry plants are superfoods, offering health benefits along with sweet, red berries," says Popat. Plant your goji berry tree in full sun for the best fruit production.

Passion Fruit

Passion fruit vines produce aromatic fruits that are a favorite for juices and desserts, according to Popat, who says that they need ample support for climbing.

Fig Trees

These self-pollinating trees have an interesting backstory since most of them require help from a wasp to produce fruit. "Figs have a unique, sweet taste, often described as a blend of honey and berry, with a soft, chewy texture interspersed with crunchy seeds," says Popat.

Dwarf Trees That Are Perfect for Small Gardens or Patios

Whether you have a small yard or even just a petite patio space, it's possible to still grow trees to add depth, color, and interest. Love the look of stately birch and magnolia trees but don't have the space to plant full-size versions? Try a dwarf version instead. You'll get the same aesthetic look you're after but in a smaller, more manageable size. And in some cases, dwarf trees can even be grown in containers, making them a unique choice for your patio or deck. Ahead, we spoke to gardening experts for their recommendations for dwarf trees for small spaces.

Red Japanese Maple

There are hundreds of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) options with many dwarf varieties. "Some have an upright habit, such as 'Red Dragon,' and others have a more weeping habit, such as 'Waterfall,' says Charlie Nardozzi, author of The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening. "The dwarf forms are slow growing, and all stay around 10 feet tall and wide or smaller."

Best The Dwarf River Birch

Looking for a dwarf tree to complement your rain garden? The dwarf river birch (Betula nigra) is an excellent option for most soil types and is ideal for shade and rain gardens. "They have great bark, great form, and are small," says Don Eaton, founder and CEO of Bower & Branch.

Fig Tree

If you're thinking of growing a fruit tree, consider a dwarf fig tree (Ficus carica). Sten recommends the 'Chicago Hardy' variety, which thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. You can also plant this variety in a tall container if you're short on space. These trees can handle colder weather but make sure to mulch in fall to protect the roots.

The Dwarf Magnolia Flowers

Magnolia trees (Magnolia) can be much smaller than you might think. "While most gardeners think of native magnolias as large majestic trees, there are several dwarf selections that fit well in a small space garden," says Nardozzi. He has a variety called 'Jane' on his property. "It has stayed below 12 feet tall after 10 years of growth with showy purple flowers that repeat bloom," he says. Another option he recommends is the variety 'Little Gem,' which is a good Southern dwarf magnolia with white flowers and evergreen leaves, he says.

The Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry

Another fruit-bearing dwarf tree to consider in your garden is the everbearing mulberry (Morus nigra). "Dwarf mulberries are fast-growing trees that produce a long, dark fruit that tastes like a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry," says Tucker Taylor, culinary gardener at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Sonoma, California. "They are one of the oldest cultivated fruits grown in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans." Dwarf everbearing mulberry varieties can be grown in containers as well.

Dwarf Australian Finger Lime

If you love citrus but don't have space for a large citrus tree, try finger limes (Citrus australasica), also known as citrus caviar. They produce finger-shaped round, tart fruit. "Finger limes are one of my favorite citrus varieties to grow in temperate climates," says Taylor. Grow in a south-facing sunny area with minimal exposure to wind or frost.

Seven-Son Tree

With beautiful flowers in the summer and peeling bark in the winter, the seven-son tree (Heptacodium miconioides) is striking year-round. "It produces clusters of fragrant, white flowers in late summer and fall on a birch-like shaped tree," says Eaton. "It's a favorite of butterflies."

Thuja tree

The cultivar Thuja Fluffy is a North American native tree and is resistant to windburn, making it an excellent choice for borders, says Kelly Funk, president of  Jackson & Perkins, a full-service nursery. Grow in moist, well-drained soil and choose an area that has full sun to partial shade.

Weeping Redbud Flowers

Weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis)  produces tiny pink-hued blooms in the spring, and 'Pink Heartbreaker' is a dwarf cultivar of this favorite tree. "Bower & Branch introduced 'Pink Heartbreaker' about 15 years ago, and the original discovered plant is still only 7 feet tall and about 15 feet wide," says Eaton. "These trees are more hardy than regular redbuds [and] are a great focal point, patio tree, or window tree!"

White Dwarf Fothergilla Flowers

A slow-growing deciduous shrub, dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia) has a compact, mounded habit. Terminal bottlebrush-like spikes produce white flowers and yellow anthers that fill gardens with interest in April and May. "This plant has suckers. They need to be removed if you do not want colonies of these shrubs," says Langelo.

Dwarf Chenille Flowers

Dwarf chenille (Acalypha reptans) is a heat-loving, trailing evergreen shrub with crimson flower spikes above ovate dark green leaves. Langelo recommends deadheading the flower buds immediately after the blooms die to stimulate re-bloom.

Avocado fruit look beautiful

The avocado, alligator pear or avocado pear  (Persea americana) is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to the Americas and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica more than 5,000 years ago. It was prized for its large and unusually oily fruit.[3] The tree likely originated in the highlands bridging south-central Mexico and Guatemala.[4][5][6] Avocado trees have a native growth range from Mexico to Costa Rica.[7] Its fruit, sometimes also referred to as an alligator pear or avocado pear, is botanically a large berry containing a single large seed.[8] Sequencing of its genome showed that the evolution of avocados was shaped by polyploidy events and that commercial varieties have a hybrid origin.[9] Avocado trees are partly self-pollinating, and are often propagated through grafting to maintain consistent fruit output.[10] Avocados are presently cultivated in the tropical and Mediterranean climates of many countries.[4] Mexico is the world's leading producer of avocados as of 2020, supplying nearly 30% of the global harvest in that year.[11]

Beautiful Dwarf Bottlebrush Flowers

Dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) is a showy evergreen shrub with elongated flower spikes and long bristle-like stamens—hence the name says Langelo. This beautiful, low-growing shrub provides nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Butterfly Bush, Purple Beautiful Flowers

Ornamental, hardy, and self-reliant, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) brings the whole package to a landscape. Coker likes its range of bloom colors, including blues, purples, pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and whites. And while humans and pollinators love this deciduous shrub's fragrance, which ranges from honey to lilac, it's a turn-off to deer. Of note: A prolific reseeder, butterfly bush is considered a noxious weed in some regions.

Bloodgood Japanese Maple, Beautiful Red Flowers Tree

Japanese maples have unparalleled curb appeal and one particularly eye-catching variety is 'Bloodgood.' "It’s a wider spreading Japanese maple and the branching is quite gnarly looking in winter," says Roethling. "New leaves emerge in mid-spring to a coppery red tone before turning burgundy red for the summer."  In fall, the palmate-shaped leaves turn a beautiful crimson color.

Portulaca beautiful flowers

Portulaca is a pretty choice for a simple, drought-resistant ground cover, producing many 1-inch flowers in shades of yellow, red, pink, orange, and white. It tolerates poor soil and does not want much care, says Awat. Generally speaking, it can grow where most flowers can't, and grows best in hot, dry areas—so if you're in the desert area, it may be the best bet for your garden goals.

Lantana beautiful flowers

For gardeners who crave color and vibrancy, this plant creates gorgeous clusters of brightly colored flowers that open to one shade and then fade to another. "It is a mounding plant, which makes it good for bedding and hanging baskets and planters," Awot says, adding that this annual loves the heat and is very drought tolerant. "It can also tolerate sea spray so it does well near the beach," she says. Lantana requires well-draining soil and full sun to thrive, but can multiply in the summer heat without much care.

Beautyberry flowers

This deciduous shrub emerges in late spring with green leaves that give rise to white flowers in summer followed by a show of bright purple berries. Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) can grow up to 6 feet tall, but in favorable conditions the shrub can grow an extra 2 to 3 feet. Come early fall, expect to see birds visit your beautyberry shrub in droves.

Butterfly Weed, beautiful flowers

While its cousin, common milkweed, is likely to spread through as much of your garden as it can, the "more restrained" butterfly weed will attract plenty of its namesake pollinators without the aggressive takeover. "Butterfly weed is vibrant orange or yellow-orange (or more rarely reddish-orange)," says Talabac. "They bloom around midsummer, and some species have appealing fragrances. Monarch and Queen butterflies will use many species of milkweed as host plants for their caterpillars."

Zinnias beautiful flowers

This multi-colored flower, which is most often seen in shades of cream, red, and purple, attracts butterflies thanks to its bright color and alluring smell. However, Mavec warns that butterflies do not like double zinnias; this variety makes it too hard for them to get the nectar—it becomes too much work. "It is best not to crowd zinnias, as they develop powdery mildew," she adds.

Lantana beautiful flowers

Butterflies love the color and sweet nectar smell of this perennial flowering plant. "Lantana does best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil and can tolerate full sun," MacLean says. "It can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers."