10 Terrific Trees for Your Courtyard
The right courtyard tree can make an inner-courtyard ever so inviting, whether you're inside or out
Adding plants and trees to your inner courtyard can be a great way to incorporate the natural landscape into your interiors. Doing so blurs the inside/outside boundaries while adding a focal point to your home – it’s simply a matter of choosing species with fabulous flowering qualities, interesting foliage or textural bark. Deciduous species will also allow light into your courtyard in the winter months, while blocking the hot summer sun in the warmer months.
Here is a basic guide to some of the courtyard trees that might suit your home, including one or two that might surprise. Once you’ve established which courtyard trees you like, it’s important to consider drainage, root barrier treatments and other details to ensure no damage occurs to your footings and that your climate suits the species selection.
Here is a basic guide to some of the courtyard trees that might suit your home, including one or two that might surprise. Once you’ve established which courtyard trees you like, it’s important to consider drainage, root barrier treatments and other details to ensure no damage occurs to your footings and that your climate suits the species selection.
2. Courtyard plant: Philodendrons
These are classic courtyard plants, some of which are trees, and are well suited to indoor growing as well. They tend to do better in more tropical environments, so check with your nursery expert to see if they recommend the species of philodendron you’ve chosen.
A good starting species is Philodendron bipinnatifidum which grows well in sheltered sites as far south as Melbourne, and is perfect for a small secluded courtyard.
Need to consult a garden professional to find better plants for your garden? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz
These are classic courtyard plants, some of which are trees, and are well suited to indoor growing as well. They tend to do better in more tropical environments, so check with your nursery expert to see if they recommend the species of philodendron you’ve chosen.
A good starting species is Philodendron bipinnatifidum which grows well in sheltered sites as far south as Melbourne, and is perfect for a small secluded courtyard.
Need to consult a garden professional to find better plants for your garden? Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz
3. Courtyard grass: Bamboo
Bamboo, while not technically a tree, is an easy growing courtyard plant; just make sure you don’t let it grow out of control. There are many different species and cultivars readily available, so choose one you like and ask your local nursery how often you will need to maintain it to keep it looking tidy and trim.
Bamboo is also a great plant for down the sides of your house in order to screen off nosy neighbours.
Bamboo, while not technically a tree, is an easy growing courtyard plant; just make sure you don’t let it grow out of control. There are many different species and cultivars readily available, so choose one you like and ask your local nursery how often you will need to maintain it to keep it looking tidy and trim.
Bamboo is also a great plant for down the sides of your house in order to screen off nosy neighbours.
4. Courtyard plant: Ferns
Ferns are a great start to sprucing up your inner courtyard; they are often slow growing and well suited to areas less exposed to direct sunlight and wind – perfect for a courtyard. Just make sure your courtyard walls are high enough, because if the fern grows above the roofline and into the direct sun it will start to struggle, as it goes from a shaded and sheltered environment into full sun. This of course depends on what type of climate you live in.
Ferns are a great start to sprucing up your inner courtyard; they are often slow growing and well suited to areas less exposed to direct sunlight and wind – perfect for a courtyard. Just make sure your courtyard walls are high enough, because if the fern grows above the roofline and into the direct sun it will start to struggle, as it goes from a shaded and sheltered environment into full sun. This of course depends on what type of climate you live in.
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
5. Courtyard tree: Chinese redbud
Cercis chinensis is a beautiful tree that can be found in weeping varieties. It prefers full sun, so make sure your courtyard has plenty of it, and prepare to be blown away by its stunning blooming buds that cluster along the stems. Another great plant with a similar aesthetic is the Japanese flowering crabapple tree (Malus floribunda).
5. Courtyard tree: Chinese redbud
Cercis chinensis is a beautiful tree that can be found in weeping varieties. It prefers full sun, so make sure your courtyard has plenty of it, and prepare to be blown away by its stunning blooming buds that cluster along the stems. Another great plant with a similar aesthetic is the Japanese flowering crabapple tree (Malus floribunda).
6. Courtyard tree: Fig tree
Fig trees can be both stunning and tasty, though please be wary of their far-spreading roots, which can absorb moisture from the clay soils on which your footings may be founded. If planning to plant fig trees near your building, ensure you consult an arborist, engineer and architect in order to reduce any risk of cracking to walls due to footing movements.
There are all different methods to ensure your footings aren’t damaged, including bore piers, cantilevering slabs, screw piles, root-inhibiting chemicals (non-toxic to the environment) and root barriers that can extend down to depths of two metres-plus. Ensure that whoever installs your root barriers does so correctly to the proper depth and ‘zone of influence’.
Browse beautiful courtyards to inspire your inner sanctum
Fig trees can be both stunning and tasty, though please be wary of their far-spreading roots, which can absorb moisture from the clay soils on which your footings may be founded. If planning to plant fig trees near your building, ensure you consult an arborist, engineer and architect in order to reduce any risk of cracking to walls due to footing movements.
There are all different methods to ensure your footings aren’t damaged, including bore piers, cantilevering slabs, screw piles, root-inhibiting chemicals (non-toxic to the environment) and root barriers that can extend down to depths of two metres-plus. Ensure that whoever installs your root barriers does so correctly to the proper depth and ‘zone of influence’.
Browse beautiful courtyards to inspire your inner sanctum
7. Courtyard tree: Maidenhair tree
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient tree dating back millions of years. It’s not only an attractive and majestic tree, it has also been used for traditional medicine to enhance cognitive function within various cultures. Its leaves have a unique fan shape and fantastic autumn colouring. The tree is native to China, though it grows well in certain areas of Australia such as Melbourne. This ancient tree is slow growing but those with patience will be rewarded.
Those with smaller courtyards will need to ensure the tree is pruned as it grows to quite a large size over time. If you do decide to plant one of these spectacular trees, ask your nursery if you are purchasing a male or female species, as the female’s fruit can produce unpleasant odours. For the sentimental reasons alone, this would be a great tree to plant for your future or current grandchildren to grow old with.
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient tree dating back millions of years. It’s not only an attractive and majestic tree, it has also been used for traditional medicine to enhance cognitive function within various cultures. Its leaves have a unique fan shape and fantastic autumn colouring. The tree is native to China, though it grows well in certain areas of Australia such as Melbourne. This ancient tree is slow growing but those with patience will be rewarded.
Those with smaller courtyards will need to ensure the tree is pruned as it grows to quite a large size over time. If you do decide to plant one of these spectacular trees, ask your nursery if you are purchasing a male or female species, as the female’s fruit can produce unpleasant odours. For the sentimental reasons alone, this would be a great tree to plant for your future or current grandchildren to grow old with.
8. Courtyard tree: Ornamental pear
Pyrus calleryana is common throughout Melbourne, mainly due to it being economical and vigorous, making it a great screening tree. It is a resilient plant that copes well with water logging, compaction and moderate drought. Just make sure you get a quality cultivar, as some have weak branches that fall off.
On that note, one of the strengths of the ornamental pear is also its weakness – it is cheap to buy and grows fast, but will require more maintenance over time. Allow for pruning once every 12 to 24 months, and a good sweeping after all its flowers have dropped.
Pyrus calleryana is common throughout Melbourne, mainly due to it being economical and vigorous, making it a great screening tree. It is a resilient plant that copes well with water logging, compaction and moderate drought. Just make sure you get a quality cultivar, as some have weak branches that fall off.
On that note, one of the strengths of the ornamental pear is also its weakness – it is cheap to buy and grows fast, but will require more maintenance over time. Allow for pruning once every 12 to 24 months, and a good sweeping after all its flowers have dropped.
9. Courtyard tree: Dragon tree
Dracaena draco is a beautiful slow-growing tree with great drought tolerance. One thing to note is it does not perform well with water logging, so ensure that your courtyard has effective drainage and well-draining soils. The dragon tree is also quite a wide-spreading tree, so is suited to wider courtyards.
The dragon tree can also be used as a container plant when young for those with paved courtyards. This can allow you to relocate the tree if your courtyard is quite narrow, or if you move. Another great tree for courtyards, and one that is native to Australia, is the Queensland bottle tree or Brachychiton rupestris, which grows at a slow pace in the colder states such as Victoria.
Dracaena draco is a beautiful slow-growing tree with great drought tolerance. One thing to note is it does not perform well with water logging, so ensure that your courtyard has effective drainage and well-draining soils. The dragon tree is also quite a wide-spreading tree, so is suited to wider courtyards.
The dragon tree can also be used as a container plant when young for those with paved courtyards. This can allow you to relocate the tree if your courtyard is quite narrow, or if you move. Another great tree for courtyards, and one that is native to Australia, is the Queensland bottle tree or Brachychiton rupestris, which grows at a slow pace in the colder states such as Victoria.
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
10. Courtyard tree: The Silver Princess
Finally, another tree not often thought of for courtyards is Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as silver princess. This tree can often be seen staked out at the front of homes, showing off its brilliantly waxy bark and rose-pink flowers. As long as your courtyard receives enough light, this could be a great feature.
One of the main problems with Eucalyptus caesia is its root instability and lack of wind resistance. Hopefully within your inner courtyard it will get all the wind protection it needs. Just make sure you have well-draining soil.
Ultimately there are hundreds of trees suitable for your courtyard, just ensure you choose the right species for your site’s climate, ensure your footings are protected from any potential root damage, and enjoy the beautiful view.
Your turn
What have you planted in your courtyard that works? Share your tips in the Comments.
More
For more planting suggestions, read 9 Low-Maintenance Poolside Plant Combinations
10. Courtyard tree: The Silver Princess
Finally, another tree not often thought of for courtyards is Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as silver princess. This tree can often be seen staked out at the front of homes, showing off its brilliantly waxy bark and rose-pink flowers. As long as your courtyard receives enough light, this could be a great feature.
One of the main problems with Eucalyptus caesia is its root instability and lack of wind resistance. Hopefully within your inner courtyard it will get all the wind protection it needs. Just make sure you have well-draining soil.
Ultimately there are hundreds of trees suitable for your courtyard, just ensure you choose the right species for your site’s climate, ensure your footings are protected from any potential root damage, and enjoy the beautiful view.
Your turn
What have you planted in your courtyard that works? Share your tips in the Comments.
More
For more planting suggestions, read 9 Low-Maintenance Poolside Plant Combinations
Acer palmatum, or the Japanese maple, is a common selection for inner courtyards, and rightly so. It is a relatively small tree, easy to prune and quite clean in its appearance.
It does well in cooler shaded areas, making it suited to sheltered courtyards, and has beautiful foliage and autumn colours. Some cultivars even have bright red bark.