When it comes to bringing nature’s beauty into your indoor or outdoor spaces, even small areas shouldn’t be overlooked. If you have a tiny patio, balcony, or terrace that gets lots of sun, there are best small trees for pots in full sun that can turn your space into a stunning oasis. These trees are compact yet captivating, providing shade and showcasing gorgeous leaves, charming blossoms, and even tasty fruits.
12 Best small trees for pots in full sun
In this article, we’ll explore some of the small trees that are perfect for pots in full sun.
1. Olive
- Scientific Name: Olea europaea
- Size: 5-6 feet
The Olive tree is an evergreen common in the Mediterranean, known for its twisted bark, silvery-green leaves, and olives. Its resilience, shallow root system, and love for full sun make it ideal for pot cultivation, even in limited spaces or varied climates.
Requiring well-draining soil and regular watering, it adds a unique aesthetic and potential fruit yield to your home. With its ability to thrive indoors and outdoors, it’s an excellent choice for diverse home gardening endeavors.
2. Fig tree
- Scientific Name: Ficus carica
- Size: 6-8 feet
The Fig Tree is a deciduous species known for its wide leaves and delectably sweet, nutrient-rich fruits. If you’re considering container cultivation, this plant is an excellent choice as it adapts well to restricted spaces. Doing this also allows you to protect the tree from severe weather conditions by moving it between indoor and outdoor locations at your convenience.
3. Lemon
- Scientific Name: Citrus limon
- Size: 5-6 feet
If you’re thinking about having a fruit tree in a container at your home, consider lemon trees. These lively plants love plenty of sunlight and are great at adjusting to life in a pot. These amazing citrus plants can also make any indoor or outdoor space look better with their shiny leaves and bright fruits.
Plus, they give you your own supply of fresh lemons right at home. Growing lemon trees in pots isn’t only a fun gardening activity but also practical, and it brings a fresh, citrus smell into your home.
4. Dwarf Conifers
- Scientific Name: Coniferophyta
- Size: 5-6 feet
Dwarf Conifers are miniature versions of full-size conifers, known for their compact growth and varied forms and colors. They’re ideally suited for pot cultivation, requiring full sunlight and a soil composition that drains effectively, along with a regular watering schedule.
These lovely trees can handle changes in the weather and stay beautiful all year round, with colors from bright green to deep blue. This makes them a great choice to add beauty to any home.
5. Orange
- Scientific Name: Citrus sinensis
- Size: 5-6 feet
The Orange trees are among the citrus plants that can be grown in pots and placed under full sun. They not only yield fruits rich in nutrients but also produce delightful, fragrant flowers.
It’s worth noting that oranges appreciate humidity, so using a humidifier is beneficial, particularly during winter when indoor humidity levels tend to decrease. These charming trees make an excellent addition to your home, and the specific timing of their fruiting season may vary depending on the variety you choose.
6. Rubber Tree
- Scientific Name: Hevea brasiliensis
- Size: 6-10 feet
The Rubber Tree is a strong houseplant, loved for its big, shiny leaves that add a tropical feel to your home. Even though it likes full sunlight, it can also handle partial sun, which makes it a good choice for indoor gardening.
It does well in a pot with soil that doesn’t stay too wet and needs about six to eight hours of sun each day. With its eye-catching look and ability to purify the air, the rubber tree is a great way to make indoor spaces more beautiful and bring more green into your home.
7. Sweet Bay
- Scientific Name: Laurus nobilis
- Size: 2-5 feet
The Sweet Bay trees are fragrant evergreen plants that are well-known for their shiny leaves, commonly used in cooking. These trees thrive in sunlight and can be successfully grown in pots, as long as they’re positioned in a sunny spot and provided with well-draining soil.
With their graceful appearance and the culinary benefits of their leaves, Sweet Bay trees add both charm and functionality to your home.
8. Peach
- Scientific Name: Prunus persica
- Size: 5 feet
If you want a container tree that can be grown in full sun, peach trees should be among your choices. These deciduous trees are known for their tasty, juicy fruits and pretty flowers that can enhance any indoor or outdoor space.
Peach trees need soil that’s well-drained and fertile, and they need about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. Growing these fruit trees in pots gives you the special joy of having your own peaches at home, along with the beauty of a flowering tree.
9. Crepe Myrtle
- Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica
- Size: 3-4 feet
If you’re looking for a tree that’ll bring stunning flowers into your home, consider the crepe myrtle. These trees produce vibrant and long-lasting flowers in a variety of colors, such as purple, red, white, lavender, light pink, or dark pink, depending on the variety.
Crepe myrtles thrive in full sun and can be grown successfully in pots, as long as they have moist yet free-draining soil. These magnificent blooms typically begin in May and continue until the fall season, making them an ideal choice for adding a burst of beautiful colors to your home.
10. Apple Tree
- Scientific Name: Malus domestica
- Size: 5-6 feet
Apple trees are among the well-known fruiting plants that can be grown in pots and placed in full sun. These trees don’t just add greenery to your home but also provide blossoms and nutritious fruits.
One of the most rewarding aspects of growing an apple tree at home is the yield of fresh, homegrown apples. The taste of an apple picked from your own tree is incomparable. Plus, you are satisfied knowing exactly where your fruit comes from.
11. Kumquat
- Scientific Name: Citrus japonica
- Size: 6-8 feet
Kumquat trees are small, citrus trees that thrive in sunny conditions and are highly valued for their bite-sized, edible fruit. Their compact size makes them ideal for container cultivation, making them a suitable choice for indoor gardening, even if space is limited.
Kumquat trees also require full sun exposure, at least 6-7 hours of sunlight daily, and regular watering, though it’s important to avoid overwatering. The fruits of this tree can be enjoyed as a snack on their own or incorporated into a variety of recipes, such as marmalades, salads, and desserts.
12. Witch Hazel
- Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana L.
- Size: 6-10 feet
Witch Hazel is a tree that captures attention with its unique ribbon-like flowers that typically bloom in late autumn or winter. Not only do these flowers add visual appeal, but they also emit a delightful fragrance, filling your home with a pleasant scent during the blooming season.
This tree thrives in full sun and requires a minimum of 4 hours of daily exposure. Witch Hazel trees are generally easy to care for and can tolerate various soil conditions, although they prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH level ranging from 4.5 to 7.0.