Little beauties 

Trees bring shade, beauty and life to a garden, and there are superb options suited to even the smallest spaces. You don’t need towering canopies – small trees can deliver structure, habitat and seasonal interest without overwhelming their surroundings. As a tree’s potential size increases, so too does the risk of long-term regret, which is why small trees are such valuable additions. They offer the benefits of regular-sized trees while remaining manageable, adaptable and far easier to live with over time. Here’s one popular native that’s worth considering: 

Lightwood (Acacia implexa)  
Native to an area stretching from Queensland to Victoria and even King Island, this fast-growing wattle, pictured, adapts well to a wide range of climates and forms a light, airy crown. Long, curved phyllodes perform the role of leaves, which are present only briefly at the seedling stage. The fluffy flowers are typically pale yellow to almost white. The bark is smooth when the tree is young, becoming fissured and rough towards the base with age. It’s best grown in a lawn, where any suckering can be easily managed with mowing. 
It’ll grow 6-10m high, with a spread of up to 8m, and flowers in summer. 

Learn more about little trees for all climate zones in the May issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine, on sale now! 

Image: Bili Nursery