What are globe trees?
There are basically two different forms of spherical trees. The first includes trees that do not naturally grow spherical, but can be cut into any shape. Typical examples of this are the common boxwood and the various false cypresses. However, this article is about the second form of spherical trees: These are special cultivars that tend to remain small and have a naturally round crown. These trees rarely need to be cut into shape and will also grow without the regular use of secateurs with a spherical crown.
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The best varieties for the small garden
Globular trees are often head-grafted, ie only the crown is grafted onto the trunk of another species, which is fast or slow-growing, depending on the variety. Some spherical trees can be up to ten meters high, while others remain at just three to four meters even when they are old. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, always pay attention to the expected final size specified by the retailer when making your selection. However, the tree can still get bigger or stay smaller, because the actual growth depends, among other things, on factors such as location, soil conditions and climatic conditions. Ball trees that are well suited for the small garden are, for example:
- Ball willow (Salix purpurea 'Nana'): up to 150 centimeters high, ideal for moist soils
- Ball maple (Acer platanoides 'Globosum'): up to 450 centimeters high, remains spherical even without a cut
- Ball trumpet tree (Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana'): up to 300 centimeters high, forms neither flowers nor fruits
- Ball oak (Quercus palustris 'Green Dwarf'): up to 300 centimeters high, slow growth
- Round steppe cherry (Prunus fruticosa 'Globosa'): up to 300 centimeters high, white flowers and small, red fruits
- Ball cork fir (Abies lasiocarpa 'Green Globe'): up to 200 centimeters high, low water consumption
- Fan leaf tree / Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken'): up to 150 centimeters, perfect for buckets
Tips
In principle, spherical trees require the same care as their larger relatives. The biggest difference, however, is the pruning, which should be done more or less regularly depending on the type and variety. Some spherical trees almost do without a cut, while others have to use the scissors more often. However, this is less important to maintain the spherical shape, but mainly to prevent balding.
