Weeping Trees—The Focal Point

Everyone’s Favorite

The weeping cherry trees at the NY Botanical Garden are eye popping. I make a point to visit them every year when they are in bloom.

Weeping trees are everyone’s favorite. They intrigue us with their drooping branches and pendant habit. They add a graceful note to any planting and are a natural focal point in the landscape. Their unique cascading shape can be used to create a solid backdrop or even screen a view. For example, I once planted two snow fountain cherry trees, side by side, to create a beautiful vegetative screen.

‘Snow Fountains’® weeping cherry (Prunus x 'Snofozam') grows no taller than 15 ft and has elegant arching branches that are covered with thousands of white blossoms every spring. The flowers completely cover the tree, making it look like a white snowy cascade. In fall, its glossy green leaves turn shades of orange and gold. Hardy to Zone 5.

Weeping trees are especially evocative when planted next to water, such as a weeping willow by a pond. And smaller weeping trees, like a threadleaf Japanese maple, are beautiful draping over a wall or large rock. But do not get carried away—many weeping plants in one landscape bed can be too much of a good thing!

 Green threadleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum) is a weeping tree with deeply cut, finely textured leaves. It has a distinct mounded shape that becomes more striking with age.

There are many pendulous trees to choose from including weeping birch, weeping blue Atlas cedar and weeping beech, and weeping Katsura tree, among others. These grow large and are stars in the landscape. One of my favorite trees at the NY Botanical Garden is a stately weeping Katsura tree. It has an inviting ‘aura’.

The weeping Katsura tree has branches that touch the earth - it is such an enchanting tree.

There are also compact weepers more suitable for smaller gardens. One tree to consider is ‘Ruby Falls’ weeping Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' ) It grows just 6-8' tall with large, purple heart-shaped leaves hanging in an elegant habit. Attractive red-purple flowers bloom profusely in early spring. It grows in sheltered spots in zone 4, and in zones 5 to 9. Full sun is best but will grow in partial shade. Avoid planting in wet or poorly-drained soils.

Ruby Falls Redbud - This is from the Tree Center website. You can even plant this small tree in a large container if you don’t have a garden.

The threadleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum dissectum) and its many varieties are among my favorite small trees.  Their wide-spreading, low-branching shape features lacy, deep-cut leaves that form a delicate weeping effect. They look especially graceful cascading over a large rock or beside water. The variety ‘Crimson Queen’ holds its deep burgundy color throughout summer and fall and looks stunning against larger-leaved green plants such as hollies, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel.

I planted this Japanese maple next to a pool and then had to prune it intensely every year - quite a feat! Looks great but yes, the leaves drop in the pool - not a good idea.

The willow-leaved pear (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’) is a refined small-statured, weeping tree. Its serene quality is enhanced by its dainty silvery leaves and creamy white flowers in spring. The variety, ‘Silver Frost’, grows to only 15 feet and has cascading foliage that lights up any corner. It is a wonderful specimen tree for planters, in small urban gardens and for bordering a walk or behind a bench as shown here.

Silver Frost weeping Pear adds an illuminating touch to a landscape. Glows at night!

I also like the blue-needled, evergreen weeping blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus  atlantica ‘glauca pendula’) as a striking weeping accent. It has branches that cascade like a slow-moving, azure waterfall. Weeping atlas cedar will grow to a height of 6 to 15 feet and a width of at least 20 feet, so consider carefully where you plant it. It can be trained and pruned to fit a smaller garden, but keep it away from walks or driveways where its outstretched branches might intrude. The weeping cedar in a client’s landscape shown below has grown into quite an outstanding specimen!

Here is a ‘Before and After’ photo of a wonderful project - The blue color of the pendulous branches of the weeping blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’) is breathtaking.

And lastly, I will like to showcase the weeping white pine. It is a native tree with an ethereal form. It takes a while to get established but it is well worth it! I placed a weeping white pine tree (Pinus strobus pendula) alongside an entry walk and it has now grown in to gracefully drape over. The yellow-green blades of the deer-resistant Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘aureola’) are a vibrant accent. 

Weeping white Pine is a stunning accent tree for an entry - we used a well light to light it up for a special effect at night.

So please consider planting a weeping tree - it only gets better with age! And let me know if you liked this post: