1. Catalpa Bungei
This globe-topped tree can reach 8 m high for a wingspan of 4 meters. It has thick deciduous foliage with large light green leaves and provides pleasant shade.
It is only undemanding and grows in normal, rather light, even calcareous soil. Suitable for medium-sized gardens, it does not require pruning and thrives in the sun.
2. Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’
Also called “ball maple”, this tree with nicely webbed deciduous foliage grows quite slowly, but can reach 8 meters high and 6 meters wide. As it grows, it naturally forms a ball which then spreads out.
What it prefers are deep, fertile and cool soils, as well as locations in partial shade or, possibly, in the sun, but avoiding hot exposures. It is a tree that grows quite easily and withstands temperatures below -15°C.
3. Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Umbraculifera’
The robinia pseudoacacia ‘Umbraculifera’ is more commonly called “ball acacia”, with the difference that it does not bear thorns like the acacia. Its antlers grow regularly in the shape of a ball. Its deciduous foliage falls late in autumnbut regrows just as late in the spring.
It is an undemanding tree which accepts any type of soil, is able to withstand periods of drought once well established, but needs to be pruned every 2 years. It is very rustic.
4. Cherry
Do you want a fruit tree that is characterized by a ball habit? You can opt for a cherry tree. It can be one in which you will enjoy going to harvest your cherries or a more ornamental one from China or Japan which, of course, will only offer you insignificant fruits, but will adorn itself with a generous floweringbeautiful and fragrant in spring.
The varieties of cherry trees being multiple, You will be spoiled for choice ! To maintain a harmonious ball habit, it will be necessary to carry out regular pruning. They are very hardy trees.
5. Ginkgo biloba ‘Golden Globe’
This very beautiful tree with a compact and rounded port is of modest size, a height of 5 meters for a width of about 3 meters. It is suitable for small gardens, as its growth is slow.
This rather hardy tree requires little maintenance and has a preference for sunny or partial shade locations. In autumn, its foliage turns golden yellow before falling, which earned it its name “Tree of 40 gold crowns”.
6. Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Gumball’
Liquidambar is a relatively slow-growing tree, which can reach 3 meters high and 2.50 meters wide and which can therefore be planted in a small garden. This variety is distinguished by its compact and rounded habit, as well as by its foliage which, in autumn, takes on beautiful purple hues before falling.
It asks to be placed in the sun in a drained, rich and moist soil. Hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to -15°C.
7. Quercus palustris ‘Green Dwarf’
This tree at compact and regular ball habit is a dwarf variety of bog oak that can be grown in a more modest sized garden, as it does not exceed 4 meters high for 2.5 meters span. Even if its foliage is deciduous, it does not fall until late in the season.
very rustic, it grows very easily in all types of cool, deep soil, whether in sun or partial shade, and requires very little maintenance.
8. Platanus acerifolia Alphen’s globe
Also called “ball tree”, this dwarf version of the plane tree is overhung by a beautiful crown, in the shape of a ball, large, webbed, glossy leaves. Being able to reach 10 meters in height for 6 meters in wingspan, this tree with relatively modest dimensions will easily find its place in your garden. It is a sturdy tree that is very hardy.
9. Crataegus pinnatifida ‘Big ball’
More commonly known as “Chinese hawthorn”, this variety is thornless and is characterized by a modest stature. This small tree with copper-red young shoots, which give it a very decorative appearance, and large, deeply lobed leaves can reach 3.50 meters high for 3 meters wide.
In spring, it is adorned with beautiful white flowers which then give edible fruit, larger than those of other varieties of the same type. You can eat them in the form of compote, jelly or jam. It is a very easy-to-grow tree that thrives in ordinary soil and in a sunny location.
10. Malus ‘Brandy Magic’
This ornamental apple tree is a small tree, or a large shrub, which can reach 6 meters high for 5 meters span and which, over the years, will adopt a more rounded habit. It sports green deciduous foliage that turns red before falling. In April/May, it is covered with a superb pink bloom which gives rise to small apples.
Hardy and easy to grow, it will easily find its place in a medium to large garden, in deep and fresh soil, and in a sunny location.
11. Acca sellowiana
Also called “Brazilian guava”, this rounded tree can reach 4 meters high and 2 meters wide. It is both an ornamental tree, because of its beautiful spring flowering, and a fruit tree. In autumn, you can harvest small green fruits with rough skin and white flesh.
This rather hardy tree, since it withstands temperatures down to -10°Cand with evergreen foliage can be installed in isolation, in a hedge or in a container in a well-drained soil, whatever the type of soil, and in a sunny location, as well as sheltered from the wind.
12. Fraxinus ornus ‘Mecsek’
This flowering ash offers at the top of a trunk with smooth gray bark that turns to anthracite a beautiful rounded crown of dark green leaves with a light gray-green underside, which, in the fall, turn from yellow to purple before falling. This tree, which can measure up to 6 meters high, is covered in May/June with a beautiful, pleasantly scented and very decorative white bloom.
It is a tree that tolerates dry, calcareous soil, as well as temperatures down to -15°C and pollution. It can therefore be grown in the city.
It produces a lot of pollen and can be allergenic.
13. Betula pendula ‘Magical Globe’
The ‘Magical Globe’ common birch is a dwarf variety that can reach 3 meters high for 1 meter wingspan. Its deciduous foliage, which forms a compact crown, takes on beautiful colors in autumn before falling.
This rather hardy tree withstands temperatures down to -15°C and needs to be planted in a sunny location with drained but moist soil. Indeed, to ensure its development, its roots absorb a large quantity of water from the subsoil. It is in winter that it will reveal all its beauty with its colorful bark which takes on beautiful hues.
14. Apricot tree
For a fruit tree with a ball port, you can bet on the apricot tree. Easy to grow, it is very hardy. In your garden, find him, preferably, a sunny location sheltered from the wind and on light, well-drained soil, as it does not tolerate excess humidity. He can reach 6 meters high and after a few years, you can enjoy apricots to harvest during the summer.
15. Cotinus coggygria
More commonly known as a “wig tree” because of its amazing inflorescences in the form of pinkish-white silky plumes, this hardy and resistant tree is easy to grow. Depending on the variety, it can have a bushy or erect habit. It will therefore be necessary to choose your tree carefully to take advantage of its port ball.
Read also: 6 trees for a windbreak hedge