The 4 Different Varieties of Trees and Why We Love Them

There are thousands upon thousands of different tree varieties in the world, but from a landscaping perspective, they all tend to fall into four main categories. If you’re considering planting a new tree in your yard, take a look through this guide to different types of trees to determine which one is right for you!

What Are the Four Types of Trees?

The four most common types of trees for landscaping include:

  • Ornamental
  • Fruit
  • Columnar
  • Tall

Each of these varieties serves a different purpose or function in the landscape, with unique characteristics and features to help boost your property value and make your outdoor space even more beautiful.

Mother Nature greenhouse- The 4 Different Varieties of Trees--magnolia tree

Ornamental Trees

Ornamental types tend to be on the smaller side, so they’re easier to fit into front yards if you’d like some front window privacy. What they lack in height, they make up for with major visual impact! Whether it’s their striking foliage, beautiful blooms, colourful bark, distinctive growth habit, or a combination of fascinating features, ornamentals bring so much charm to the landscape.

Some popular ornamental varieties for Powell River include:

  • Japanese Maple
  • Serviceberry
  • Eastern Redbud
  • Flowering Dogwood
  • Magnolia
  • Golden Curls Willow
  • Crape Myrtle

Mother Nature greenhouse- The 4 Different Varieties of Trees--crape myrtle tree

Some ornamentals are more suitable for planting near hardscapes than others—it’s all dependent on how their roots spread. If they spread deeply and don’t tend to break the surface of the ground, they’ll work well for sidewalks and borders. Check with our staff to see which options are best suited for your space.

Fruit Trees

Obviously, besides being absolutely gorgeous, fruit trees provide us with delicious edible fruits!

There are endless options you can grow on the Sunshine Coast—even grafted hybrids that produce two different fruits at a time! You can grow all of these fruits here in Powell River:

  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Cherry
  • Peach
  • Plum
  • Fig 
  • Nectarine  


Citrus trees are a bit too sensitive to the cold to grow in the landscape, but you can grow dwarf citruses such as oranges, lemons, and limes indoors as a houseplant!

Pest control can be an issue with fruit trees, so feel free to visit Mother Nature to stock up on natural pest control products to keep the bugs at bay without jeopardizing your harvest.

Columnar Trees

Columnar types grow tall but remain compact and narrow like a pillar. They’re easy to fit in modestly sized yards, but you can also plant them in a row to create a privacy screen or a property border.

Our top columnar trees include:

  • Columnar Swedish Aspen
  • Slender Silhouette Sweetgum
  • Red Obelisk Beech
  • Tower Poplar
  • Arnold Sentinel Austrian Pine
  • Pyramidal English Oak
  • Pyramidal Arborvitae
  • Weeping Blue Spruce

Tall Trees

Some trees can get pretty enormous! Not all properties can accommodate trees that exceed 50 feet tall with a wide canopy spread, but those that can get the benefit of plenty of shade. Shade is valuable, especially in summer when the sun beats down on our homes. A shade tree can even keep your home cool, so there’s less need to crank up the air conditioning.

Some of our favourite tall varieties for Powell River include:

  • River Birch
  • Red Maple
  • Purple Beech
  • Rocky Mountain Juniper
  • Colorado Spruce
  • Austrian Pine 

Tall trees tend to have a pretty massive root spread, so give your sapling adequate space to spread. Don’t place them too close to buildings, sidewalks, or property lines, or those roots could do some serious damage!

Explore even more of the incredible types of trees for sale in Powell River by visiting Mother Nature! If this is your first time planting, we’ll be happy to share some information on proper planting and care for your sapling in its first year.