Question:
What are some good native small ornamental trees for my landscape?Answer:
Small ornamental trees endemic to Iowa or similar ecoregions are listed below. These species are less than 30 feet tall and are found east of the Rocky Mountains in North America and Canada. They are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 or 5. Those native to within Iowa's boundaries are noted with an asterisk (*).
Learn more about these species, recommended cultivars, and their mature sizes in this article: Small-stature Trees for Iowa.
- yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava)
- red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- serviceberry (Amelanchier)*
- pawpaw (Asimina triloba)*
- American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)*
- redbud (Cercis canadensis)*
- fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)*
- American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)
- hawthorn (Crataegus)
- sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
- American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)*
- sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
- American plum (Prunus americana)*
- black cherry (Prunus serotina)*
- chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata)
- sassafras (Sassafras albidum)*
- rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)
Last updated on
March 6, 2026