Four Great Weeping Trees
To add grace and elegance to the garden, try planting a weeping tree. These four choices are particularly nice.
European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus ‘Vienna Weeping’
This graceful deciduous tree forms a fountain of branches. It has smooth gray bark and leaves that turn yellow in the fall. It reaches 30 to 50 feet tall ad requires part to full sun and moderate water. USDA Zones 4–8.
Weeping beech, Fagus sylvatica f. pendula
Deciduous tree with wavy-edged leaves that turn yellow to orange-brown in autumn. It has a short trunk and its dense branches typically touch the ground. Grows 50 to 60 feet tall and up to 50 feet wide, but it grows very slowly. It likes moist, well-drained acidic soil and full sun. Zones 4–7.
Japanese pagoda tree, Sophora japonica ‘Pendula’
Also known as weeping scholar tree. It has long branches that sometimes twist. Its 10-inch-long leaves are made up of 7 to 17 small leaflets, giving it a soft feathery appearance. Leaves turn yellow in fall then drop. Reaches 15 to 25 feet tall and wide. Does best in rich, well-drained sandy soils and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates heat and some drought, though it prefers moderate water. Zones 5–9.
Japanese snowbell tree, Styrax japonicus ‘Carillion’
This deciduous tree often looks more like a large shrub. Reaches 8 to 12 feet high with an equal spread. Its weeping branches bear bell-shaped white flowers with showy yellow stamens in the late spring. Likes rich, well-drained acidic soil and regular moisture. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.
