Small ornamental trees are the perfect addition to add charm and beauty to your garden landscape. Not only do small decorative trees add color, texture, and fragrance to an outdoor space, but they also offer shade and privacy. Small ornamental trees for landscaping compact yards can also create a welcoming space without taking up much room.

Texas is home to several species of native pine trees. From the common loblolly pine and shortleaf pine to the dwarf mugo pine, these majestic coniferous trees thrive in Texas. Although pine trees are cold-hardy conifers, many species of these evergreen trees thrive in the hot, dry, and sometimes humid climate of Texas.

Pine trees are evergreen coniferous trees that are native to most countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Pine trees belong to the family Pinaceae and the genus Pinus. It is estimated that there are over 126 species of pine trees in the world. Pines are resinous trees that are related to other types of conifers such as fir trees, cedars, and spruces.

Trees with yellow flowers are a common sight in Florida landscapes. The most popular yellow-flowering trees in the Sunshine State are trumpet trees (Tabebuia or Handroanthus) and cassia trees. However, many other varieties of deciduous and evergreen trees grace Florida’s tropical and subtropical outdoor spaces with spectacular bright yellow floral displays.

Oak trees are an integral part of California’s ecosystem and landscape. These majestic hardwood, broadleaf trees provide shade, beauty, and habitat for wildlife in the Bear Flag State. From native California oak trees like the California Live Oak, Black Oak, Canyon Oak, and Channel Island Oak to naturalized oak trees, these deciduous trees are common throughout the western United States.

Oak trees are a group of hardwood trees that belong to the genus Quercus and the beech family, Fagaceae. All types of oak trees are categorized into two groups: white oak trees, and red oak trees. To identify the type of oak tree, you need to look at its bark, leaves, acorns and its general shape.

Small palm trees in Florida are the perfect solution to add a tropical twist to a southern garden landscape. Several species of dwarf palms don’t grow more than 20 feet (6 m). Popular small Florida palms include the Florida thatch palm, bottle palm, dwarf sugar palm, and Everglades palm. Additionally, many native low-growing Florida palms are easy to care for and thrive in the challenging climate of the Sunshine State.

Trees with spiky seed balls are generally easy to identify. In late summer and fall, trees like buckeye, chestnut, and sweet gums produce spherical round seed balls covered with prickly spikes. In some cases, the spiked seed balls don’t do any harm. However, round seed pods with sharp spikes can be painful if you step on them barefoot.

Trees with long, slender seed pods are easily identified in woodlands and parks. The distinctive bean-like pods may look like a string of pearls, long flattened brown cases, or slender cylindrical seed pods measuring up to 24” (60 cm) long. Many of these trees with long seed pods are in the bean family Fabaceae and have similar seed cases containing several round or oval seeds.

Magnolia trees are prized in Florida gardens for their showy, fragrant white or pink flowers and leathery leaves. The most common magnolia tree species in Florida is the native southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). It’s an evergreen tree with extremely fragrant creamy-white flowers, smooth leathery evergreen leaves, and large rose-red conical seed pods. However, other magnolia varieties and cultivars thrive in North, Central, and South Florida.