SMALL SPACE GARDENING -- DWARF VERSIONS OF OLD FAVORITES

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By Merry Bogert 

At some point, many homeowners decide to simplify their lives by moving into smaller homes that require less maintenance. Those who have enjoyed gardening sometimes put off this decision because they can’t bear to leave beloved plantings that would be too large for a smaller property or garden bed. But take heart - the plant breeders have seen this coming and have been busy developing smaller versions of your old favorites!

Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum), an impressive butterfly and pollinator magnet that grows 5-6’ tall, has two dwarf varieties: Little Joe (3-4’) and Baby Joe (2-3’). The classic Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) grows to an impressive 7’ x 5’, but there are newer cultivars that range from 4’ x 4’ to the Lo and Behold® varieties that are only 24-36” high and wide – perfect for a narrow bed surrounding a patio or for a container. Old-fashioned Beebalm (Monarda didyma), possibly large for a downsized bed, has a dwarf variety; ‘Fireball’ has the same red color but grows only 12-18” tall.

Hydrangeas are beloved shrubs with varied colors and flower types (ball, lacecap, panicle) that can reach 6’ high and wide, but newer dwarf varieties reach only 4’, and there are even cultivars (Hydrangea macrophylla Everlasting® or Let’s Dance®) that come in several colors and reach only 2-3’ high and wide.

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an unfussy broadleaf evergreen that boasts four-season interest with airy foliage, delicate white flowers, bright red berries, and spectacular fall color. It can also reach 8’ tall by 4’ wide. More recent cultivars (N. domestica ‘Harbour Dwarf’ or ‘Fire Power’) are better suited to a smaller-scaled space, reaching only 1-2’ tall by 2-3’ wide.

Tall and narrow Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) are frequently used to create screens or hedges, but there are two dwarf varieties (Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Giant’ and ‘Golden Globe’) that are slow-growing and rounded, reaching only 3-4’ high and wide. ‘Golden Globe’ has the additional attraction of providing a pop of yellowish-green in the landscape. And if your space is really tight, there are even cultivars (‘Danica’ or ‘Teddy’) that top out at 1-2’ tall and wide.

And finally, several trees have dwarf varieties (6-10’ tall) for the smaller-scale garden. Kousa dogwood ‘Little Poncho’, Japanese Maples ‘Coonara Pygmy’ or ‘Coral Pink’, or weeping Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Covey’) can even be grown in a large container.
So downsize without fear – there are plenty of plantings that will look perfect in a smaller garden and that will bring you many years of pleasure!



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