Flowering tree form plants are one of the most affordable plant showstoppers you can add to a landscape for texture, color, and life. Not to mention, they are hit for pollinator benefits! That not only makes them a triple threat but a quintuple threat. (Yes, we made that up!)
What exactly is a tree form you may ask? It is definitely not a regular tree; they are far too unique for that. Instead, a tree form is created from a specific flowering bush that is grafted or trained onto a straight trunk, producing a single stem tree.
It is especially interesting to see a fabulous rose bush look like a tree or even a hydrangea bush hanging up in the air! If you add in a flowering tree form shrub, you'll be growing something that none of your garden-competitive neighbors have in their landscape.
We know that it can be an overwhelming process picking out the prettiest flowering tree form to grow in your yard. What color pops the most? What season does it bloom? Will it match my outdoor color scheme?
And then you still have to figure out where to put the thing! How on Earth are you to decide how to use a unique tree form when you want to use it anywhere and everywhere? Don’t start pulling out your hair quite yet. Nature Hills has you covered.
We’ve listed out 12 different design ideas for flowering tree forms that may catch your gardening eye and even provided some of our best sellers currently on the plant market right here within this blog.
So we know what you’re thinking...”How could there be so many amazingly different ways to use a tree form of flowering shrubs and bushes?” Read on and be enlightened!
Our 12 Design Ideas For You
- Use several flowering tree forms to create small "garden moments", or "vignettes" throughout your yard. They'll become the focal point of any garden bed.
- Plant by a pond or fountain to enjoy both the real deal and the reflected image!
- March a series of evenly-spaced tree form plants along the length of a walkway. Remember the old design tip...an odd number of plants will look better than an even amount of plants.
- Use one at the corner of your house. Include it in your foundation planting, even if you have to expand the bed outward. Include the tree form plant in the mulched garden bed.
- Use a sentry pair on either side of a door. You'll be the talk of the neighborhood as few people have taken part in the original tree form excitement!
- Add a single specimen spaced 15 feet out from one side of your front door. Include it in a mulched garden bed. Grace your front entryway with style and color using hard-working plants.
- Shade a child's play structure or outdoor picnic bench. This is basically just adorable, as both the tree and the kids are about the same size.
- Use several of them to create a short hedge. Prune the canopies in early spring so they'll grow together and touch. They’ll draw eyes up since there isn’t much happening towards the ground, it’s just a trunk.
- Plant one outside your bedroom window. Imagine waking up to that view!
- Use several in a curved planting pattern behind your patio furniture. Grow them in containers, or in-ground. Even add in the interesting look of having a rose bed with both the regular bushes and the tree forms! A simple way to add texture, while saving space.
- Mix and match colors and styles from Nature Hills' extensive catalog of tree form plants. You'll easily create a completely personalized designer look. Pick the colors you love and use them with abandon to get the most out of your space.
- Situate one as a flowering screen outside a tiny porch. Add a cushioned bench and outdoor table. It's the prime photo background to show off your spring, summer, and fall outfits. Bonus: neutral-colored flowers aren’t boring, they simply match all outfits! Or enjoy watching the world go by as merely an observer, sipping your morning latte.
Prized Flower Tree Forms
Hydrangeas
Your favorite hydrangea bushes are elegantly crafted onto a tree for double the trouble! Hydrangea trees display large colorful flowers and bright green foliage that stands out among the crowd.
They add in curb appeal with ease and value to your home! Not to mention, these tree form plants are unique and add a whole new dimension to your landscape. Below are a few of our favorites that we know you will love too.
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Tree (Hydrangea paniculata 'Renhy') is one of our best sellers for a reason. This First Editions® plant is unbeatable in the garden! Its white blooms will slowly shift to pink and then strawberry red as the flowers age. Enjoy this major focal point!
Little Lime® Hydrangea Tree (Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane') supplies full-sized flowers at eye level! Use this marvelous tree form for fresh-cut flowers or to simply admire from the window.
Roses
Roses are an excellent choice for tree forms as their beauty can now be admired on trees as well! When working with rose tree forms, you’ll want to plant them about 5 feet apart to give them room to stretch their limbs.
Tree roses are very tender plants that require winter protection in all zones but the warmest. Those in containers should be brought in from the harsh outside to continue growing beautifully before your eyes.
From miniature roses to hybrid teas to even climbing roses, they all can be grafted into a tree form for your landscape. And we offer a wide variety!
Hot Cocoa™ Tree Rose (Rosa 'WEKpaltlez') was made to be the centerpiece of your garden. From the glossy green foliage to the dazzling red Floribunda blooms-this isn’t a plant you’ll want to pass up. They don’t stay in stock long!
Two-fer® Brilliant Pink Iceberg & Iceberg Rose Tree (Rosa x 'PRObril', Rosa x 'KORbin') is for those who couldn't possibly pick just one colored tree. With Two-fer, you'll get a show-stopping tree form consisting of both bright pink and pure white roses. These are so popular that we often sell out so make sure to sign up to be notified the moment we have more!
Rose of Sharon
Bringing a tropical feel to your backyard has never been easier with Rose of Sharon Trees! These are classic hardy hibiscus either trained into a single stem or grafted onto a trunk to get a refined tree look.
Plant them in the ground or use smaller varieties in containers on the patio. Like with other container plants, you’ll want to bring it into the garage during the winter to keep it from experiencing the worst of the cold.
The options for Rose of Sharon trees are extensive, but these are a few of our favorites!
Azurri Blue Satin® Rose of Sharon Tree Form (Hibiscus syriacus 'DVPazurri') is a marvelous choice for a rose tree form with its blue blooms and purple-centered throats. From summer till fall, you can enjoy plenty of brightly colored roses from the comfort of your own home!
Lavender Chiffon® Rose of Sharon Tree Form (Hibiscus syriacus 'Notwoodone') works excellent in containers and is perfect for small spaced gardens. It’s one of the longest blooming flowering tree forms and you will love these frilly petals flowing in the air.
Blushing Bride Rose of Sharon Tree Form (Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride') is everything you could ever want in a landscape and it will easily make your neighbors jealous. These various shades of pink go along with everything and give a sensation of positivity!
Pink Chiffon® Rose of Sharon Tree Form (Hibiscus syriacus 'Pink Chiffon') effortlessly adds a major boost to a landscape with bright shades of pink. Enjoy listening to the attracted hummingbirds and gaze at the beautifully striped butterflies who pay a quick visit.
Tree forms of popular flower bushes are so much fun and are a great way to include unique specimens in your urban backyard, even if you’re low on space. Hurry though, these plants are popular and don’t stay in stock long.
Happy planting!
