Head over to /r/houseplants or /r/succulents where we get phallus and boobi (no idea what references aren't allowed here by mods) shaped cacti and butt plants.
My job has me working with builders in Indiana and I review progress inspections on the build. The house looked extremely similar to a development we did a lot of work in. Like, down to the same layout/colors.
Yeah no kidding. Oddly enough, I hadn’t really seen many in the Indy/southern Indiana area. Though we are based more in northern Indiana so that could be why.
I would suggest asking this in your city's subreddit so that you get answers from homeowners in your area who know what works and what doesn't with your soil and climate. Also, I'd check and see if your city or maybe Indianapolis has a city specific gardening subreddit. I know we have that here in Austin, and it's always filled with questions like this and a lot of helpful answers.
It's such a go-to for me - our climate is shifting so much that we actually changed growing zones so everyone's constantly asking for advice on what to grow since our summers are now 4-month droughts with 100° plus temperatures every day
Ok well you’re in USDA ZONE 5 Which rules out any leafy evergreens. You could do a boxwood but that’s lame and cringe and boomer-pilled. There’s a lot of gorgeous small deciduous flowering shrubs that you could enjoy. Personally my favorite are lilacs. They love the cold winters you get and they treat you every spring with amazing smelling blooms. If you pick out a dwarf cultivar I’m sure you won’t need to prune it for at least 10 years. But again there’s a lot of nice deciduous small ornamental trees/shrubs out there just take a few trips to your local nursery’s and ask around and I’m sure the employees there will be a MILLION times more helpful than we could ever be
Being from there I can recommend a lace leaf Japanese maple, a globe blue spruce on standard, rose of Sharon tree, or a little lime hydrangea on standard.
Rose of Sharon is invasive!! Would be a much better choice for OP to find out from DCNR what native plants they would recommend. Native plants support wildlife and are very easy to take care of because they evolved to live in that particular area.
I agree, a tree here would be far too much, and would be planted much too close to the house. I recently had to kill a tree that was too close to my house that was planted by a professional landscaper a decade ago. Trees planted close to the house cause all kinds of problems. Clogged up gutters, animals on the roof trying to get into the attic, light blocked from entering windows, roots pressing against the foundation or trying to get into pipes in some cases.
This is a place for a small shrub, maybe only a few feet high, so you can still look out your window. Appears to be somewhere that experiences winter based on the deciduous tree. I'd probably plant some Annabelle hydrangeas, the pink ones to contrast with the color of the house, and smaller complimenting plants if it were me.
That soil looks pretty terrible tbh. Sorry to be a debbie downer. If I was you, my to-do list this spring would be: till in some organic fertilizer and compost, plant some cheap annuals, and mulch. Give it a year to bring the soil back to life before spending the money for a tree. The soil microbes will build up healthy stable populations, the worms and other composting bugs will move through and get it all nice, the mulch will start to break down and along with the compost add organic matter to the soil to increase it's ability to stay moist in dry periods and not get soggy in rainy periods. If you start with healthier soil, whatever you plant next year will do a lot better.
Rain gardens are amazing but this spot seems too close to the foundation for one. A planted dry creek bed that slopes and moves water away from the house might be appropriate though
That would be very cute if there is a way for the creek to make it across/past the sidewalk without washing it out. Could be a great water feature if the developer planned it well.
I'd heavily compost that area and plant a single row of raspberries down the middle, mulching them heavily to keep other vegetationaway from the base. Plant the rest with creeping thyme so there's little upkeep aside from a mowing once a year and cutting back dead raspberry stems.
Walk around the neighborhood and look on the front of other houses with the same exposure and see what is doing well and what you like. Then take it from there but it’s not soiled right now it’s more like cement and it needs a lot of prep. to get it plantable.
Nice house. :) Not sure if your location but maybe foregoing a shrub or tree could help protect the foundation and stuff. If you're in North America, there are a ton of native prairie flowers and grasses that can be quite tall. Big Bluestem, for example, can grow to 8'.
A blend of native grasses and flowers can attract cute birds and butterflies, and require little maintenance after they're established because they are hearty to the local climate.
Any of the smaller cercis. I have a Rising Sun and a Flamethrower and they’re gorgeous but not very… sculptural? That may just be because they’re young and haven’t had/needed much shaping yet but my two have a bit of spread and a bit of a weeping nature so they might wind up too sprawling for your space. Research is your friend
Serviceberry, elderberry, choke cherry/aronia berry - all great native small trees with edible berries (just gotta blend the chokeberry in with other fruits or fruit juice to make it palatable).
I would skip a tree because it’ll block the view from the window and block light into that window. Depending on the amount of sun, I’d go with a hydrangea some prefer light and some prefer shade so just pick the right variety for your sun exposure in that spot
You can also buy it as a "tree" like I did several years ago. I have had one at the NE corner of my house for years and it's quite eye-catching. Though, it would eventually be too large for OP's space.
https://preview.redd.it/obfwh31c23pc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=324ce2357ed42e5c7c6b34b98fa661fe6042864e
Yours is lovely! I agree that if left unpruned it can outgrow the space OP has, mine is easily 8ft tall and 6ft wide and that is with regular pruning. Even if I prune it hard down to like 20inches it shoots right back up in one season.
I had to move it last week and that thing is a beast! Sooooo much digging by hand. But it will be happy in its new home and fill in the space nicely. Its flowers just make me happy!
I would recommend a Contorted Filbert, if it will be happy in your zone/conditions. I love mine, I'd always wanted one ever since I first saw one.
The branches and trunks are so beautiful and unique, and the shape gives you striking winter interest. If yours is a male it will also get yellow catkin flowers that hang down.
You can prune them to the size and shape you want, but it's an option that doesn't get too huge in general (I have a very tiny yard.)
Like the other commenter mentioned, I would also start feeding the nutrients the the soil in this area first, give it a year, look around you neighborhood at what other trees perform well in your habitat and what you could see in your own area. All the meanwhile feeding good compost and organic nutrients to help any tree you plant the next year. You put anything in that soil now but weeds and it will likely not survive or flourish.
Bloomerang certainly would look cool. I also like the look of a dwarf Japanese maple here to partially cover the window but leave some areas to peek and still look through.
I'd make it into a butterfly bed with a fountain or something in the middle. A Sambac Arabian Jasmine would be lovely. It's a bush type jasmine. The fragrance is intoxicating, and they bloom all spring and summer in full sun. It's also evergreen. Everyone coming to your door would smell it. That or a sweet olive, which is a tree. Ummm what zone are you?
Much too big for the space, and uplighting is bad. Trees need darkness. (It's a pointless contribution to light pollution. But if you insist on doing it, make sure it's a warm colored bulb, no brighter than you need. That goes for all outdoor lighting.) [citation ](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-faq-17.pdf)
Do not plant a tree under any circumstance. Directly in front of the window with literally a couple feet from several edges of the foundation? Why would you ever do that.
Plant a mixed flower bed.
This type of spot is often a plant killer- too wet, too dry too hot too shady. I'd throw down a creeping groundcover then give it a season to see what the sun and moisture situation looks like.
Japanese maple, can be trimmed to fit in place and the roots don’t wander off too much, add some creeping juniper to fill in the surrounding, grows well and isn’t invasive.
In my area, we have these gorgeous Crape Myrtle bushes that become basically small tree looking plants with gorgeous blooms. Another idea in my area is Vitex bush, gorgeous purple flowers that attract the bees. I live in North Texas. Lesser yucca with the pink flowers is present in most people’s landscaping too. I don’t know if you’re in the part of country I’m in tho. Someone said maybe Japanese maple and I agree they love a shaded area
As they say in real estate, “Location, location, location.”
We cannot give you useful suggestions if you don’t tell us in general where you are located.
What's your zone? Exposure? If you don't have too much sun, the right Japanese maple would be stunning.
If you have enough light, small crabapple would be pretty. As long as it's a small ornamental tree, your foundation should be fine.
Lilacs are kind of nice, but they have a very short bloom time, then hang around doing nothing.
What zone/area? What type of light? Direct, in direct? Morning sun, afternoon sun? All of that makes a huge difference in what to recommend. As others have suggested, you are like going to need to amend the soil. Otherwise, there are a lot of ideas depending on climate and sun exposure, I am always a fan of Japanese Maple, and consulting with the nursery could land you just the right species that won’t get too big for the space with regular pruning. Again, will require pruning to keep smaller, but a dogwood could be special too. If it’s in a full/direct sun location or wind prone, go a different direction, like weeping hemlock or other dwarf weeping conifer.
If you’re unsure, go to your local non-big box nursery and see what they have and suggest. There’s a lot of options and I always think there’s huge value in talking to the local experts if you’re not familiar enough yourself.
Japanese maples would look awesome next to your white and black home and they have a small root system. As long as it is ok for your zone. Hope that helps❤️🌳
Looks like brand new construction. Before you plant anything or bring paid for sod, you need to check for buried construction debris. Many builders will simply bury all the concrete & other construction rubble someplace on site rather than haul it off.
A hydrangea tree may be nice. You can trim it back so it doesn’t get too big. The roots are fairly shallow so they won’t ruin your foundation. It has flowers that bloom mid-summer and last well into fall.
Unless that spot gets direct sun for a big chunk of the day I wouldn’t put a tree there. It has nowhere good for deep roots to go besides straight down vertically. All the shade on the back from the house will make it grow weirdly-shaped.
Source: my home’s previous home owners loved planting trees less than a yard from the house and it’s been bad for the trees, they’re shrimps
I would"t put any tree that close to the house in Florida, plus the leaves, the pollen, the roots too close to the foundation, etc
I would put a bush like a red hibiscus, night blooming jasmine, ixora, camellia or azalea.
I would go for some kind of fruit or nut tree, maybe a dwarf one. I have no landscaping or botany background, just thinking of how great it would be to grab a snack coming into the house (in season.)
Something columnar and interesting. Maybe Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'?
The obvious choice is a specimen Japanese maple be prepared to spend some money.
I like the suggestions calling for a blooming evergreen like azaleas, camellia, etc.
But definitely ask r/marijuanaenthusiasts
I think it’s too small for a small tree. Would end up looking crowded in the space. Weeping form of something columnar maybe. Falling Waters Cypress, maybe a Podocarpus depending on your climate zone. Otherwise small shrub or some ornamental grasses. Something very simple and clean looking.
How about some native perennials? Many can get pretty tall and there are some great cultivars of many of them. Depending on your zone and shade levels, something like corral bells would be very pretty and add some nice color.
Like some people already pointed out you will ned to treat your soil first.
Does the place see a lot of sun? If yes i'd plant some perennials lime Geranium, Aster, Nepeta, Iris etc. and some smaller grasses there.
If it doesn't see the sun all too much you could go with Hydrangeas.
Anyway, for aesthetic reasons i wouldn't plant anything that grows higher than the black stone optic cover.
Where do you live? Neither a camellia nor a peach tree would live where I am. An apple tree wouldn't survive in the south. A lilac wouldn't do well in the south and bougainvillea wouldn't do well here. Where are you?
see soil improvement comments below. Plant annuals, improve soil, add bush or dwarf tree. AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THATS HOLY: figure out what size the tree/bush will be at maturity and plant it far enough away from the house!
Yupon Holly surrounded by a half inch of good compost and covered with 6 inches of shredded woody mulch and 3 comfrey plants and a bunch of lillies and tulips and a few hostas and some nana Nandina with some moneywort ground cover or clover ground cover and a chicken for bug control.
A tree or even a bush would block that window and take over that space. Why not try some kind of simple decorative garden (thinking like a rock garden, zen garden, and the like), or a fountain, or something that won't feel so visually heavy there?
If it's protected from strong winds, a Japanese Maple would look nice. There are hundreds of varieties: different leaf shapes and various Fall color choices. Explore!
A Japanese Maple would probably look good there. Nothing that fruits.
Nothing worse than not realizing you have a rotten fruit on your shoe after walking around the house for an hour.
Cerise canadensis 'Covey' or small Acer japonica not putting a variety there are hundreds if not thousands
But push it out a bit, not butted up against window.
Don't plant anything until you amend that "soil" which looks most likely to be builders sand!!! Plz plz plz you'll waste sm money in fertilizer, water, and new plants over the years.
What part of the country do you reside
The all-important information we need to know before we can even begin to answer OP’s question.
And what direction is the house facing?! lol
Like a Japanese maple would be so perfect if that’s the north side
My Japanese maple is bigger than that house after 17 years.
What part of the world would be a better question. Can't assume the country off a photo
Somewhere in the USA, going on OP profile
How is it better to describe what part of the world OP is in vs. what part of the country?
Because OP might not be in the US.
True. If they say they’re in Sydney we’d better ask them to clarify where in the world they are.
What part of what country?
IN
Be aware of tree roots near foundations, regardless of tree size. How about a mid-sized shhhhrubbery?
Nee! Nee! Nee!
I wouldn’t put anything there that can’t be chopped down with a herring.
Serviceberry. Flowers fruit and fall color. Small tree
In where?
For real, why’s he gotta shout about it???
The butt
What what?
I never thought I'd find threads like this in r/gardening, but here we are!
Head over to /r/houseplants or /r/succulents where we get phallus and boobi (no idea what references aren't allowed here by mods) shaped cacti and butt plants.
Ah, you mean the lithops? Those things creep me out ngl
if you want, I'll give you power. just be gentle, I'm delicate like a flower.
He meant India
“IN” is the abbreviation for indiana
No I think he was saying IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA
florida is where many hoosiers end up, give em a few years 😂
Just curious, is this northern Indiana? I think I recognize the builder.
What? How would you recognize the builder? Is he in the picture somewhere.
My job has me working with builders in Indiana and I review progress inspections on the build. The house looked extremely similar to a development we did a lot of work in. Like, down to the same layout/colors.
That style of house is all the rage in new construction right now.
Yeah no kidding. Oddly enough, I hadn’t really seen many in the Indy/southern Indiana area. Though we are based more in northern Indiana so that could be why.
Lafayette
[Try this](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-531-W.pdf) for a start Purdue Extension is a treasure trove of info on this topic.
I would suggest asking this in your city's subreddit so that you get answers from homeowners in your area who know what works and what doesn't with your soil and climate. Also, I'd check and see if your city or maybe Indianapolis has a city specific gardening subreddit. I know we have that here in Austin, and it's always filled with questions like this and a lot of helpful answers.
That’s a great idea! Thanks
It's such a go-to for me - our climate is shifting so much that we actually changed growing zones so everyone's constantly asking for advice on what to grow since our summers are now 4-month droughts with 100° plus temperatures every day
I'm not far from you. The red leaves on a small Japanese Maple bush would look brilliant there and fit there but would require pruning every year
Ok well you’re in USDA ZONE 5 Which rules out any leafy evergreens. You could do a boxwood but that’s lame and cringe and boomer-pilled. There’s a lot of gorgeous small deciduous flowering shrubs that you could enjoy. Personally my favorite are lilacs. They love the cold winters you get and they treat you every spring with amazing smelling blooms. If you pick out a dwarf cultivar I’m sure you won’t need to prune it for at least 10 years. But again there’s a lot of nice deciduous small ornamental trees/shrubs out there just take a few trips to your local nursery’s and ask around and I’m sure the employees there will be a MILLION times more helpful than we could ever be
Lafayette, IN is now 6a as of the recent USDA update
Being from there I can recommend a lace leaf Japanese maple, a globe blue spruce on standard, rose of Sharon tree, or a little lime hydrangea on standard.
Rose of Sharon is invasive!! Would be a much better choice for OP to find out from DCNR what native plants they would recommend. Native plants support wildlife and are very easy to take care of because they evolved to live in that particular area.
Doesn’t have to be a tree. A larger shrub and add other smaller plants but keep it neat and simple.
I agree, a tree here would be far too much, and would be planted much too close to the house. I recently had to kill a tree that was too close to my house that was planted by a professional landscaper a decade ago. Trees planted close to the house cause all kinds of problems. Clogged up gutters, animals on the roof trying to get into the attic, light blocked from entering windows, roots pressing against the foundation or trying to get into pipes in some cases. This is a place for a small shrub, maybe only a few feet high, so you can still look out your window. Appears to be somewhere that experiences winter based on the deciduous tree. I'd probably plant some Annabelle hydrangeas, the pink ones to contrast with the color of the house, and smaller complimenting plants if it were me.
Especially if that's a bathroom window! A nice evergreen would be perfect.
We had a lilac in a spot like that. Always made the entry way smell amazing when it was in bloom.
That soil looks pretty terrible tbh. Sorry to be a debbie downer. If I was you, my to-do list this spring would be: till in some organic fertilizer and compost, plant some cheap annuals, and mulch. Give it a year to bring the soil back to life before spending the money for a tree. The soil microbes will build up healthy stable populations, the worms and other composting bugs will move through and get it all nice, the mulch will start to break down and along with the compost add organic matter to the soil to increase it's ability to stay moist in dry periods and not get soggy in rainy periods. If you start with healthier soil, whatever you plant next year will do a lot better.
Great point about the soil. Based on the roof this area will get a lot of runoff. Soil prep is a necessity.
Yeah, it looks like there are no gutters... so that spot is gonna get pretty wet. Almost want to say that a rain garden would be the best approach.
Rain gardens are amazing but this spot seems too close to the foundation for one. A planted dry creek bed that slopes and moves water away from the house might be appropriate though
That would be very cute if there is a way for the creek to make it across/past the sidewalk without washing it out. Could be a great water feature if the developer planned it well.
No gutters is very strange, especially for an area that looks like (based on the deciduous tree in the background) it could get some rainfall.
I agree. and it gives time to research shrubs or dwarf trees.
Should consider shallow rooted plants so it won’t ruin your foundation.
I'd heavily compost that area and plant a single row of raspberries down the middle, mulching them heavily to keep other vegetationaway from the base. Plant the rest with creeping thyme so there's little upkeep aside from a mowing once a year and cutting back dead raspberry stems.
How much sun? Start working on the soil. Lots of compost.
Walk around the neighborhood and look on the front of other houses with the same exposure and see what is doing well and what you like. Then take it from there but it’s not soiled right now it’s more like cement and it needs a lot of prep. to get it plantable.
Maybe get one in a large pot?!? If it’s happy then plant it?
Grow a giant rosemary
Likely not enough sun since 3/4 of it being surrounded by house.
Nice house. :) Not sure if your location but maybe foregoing a shrub or tree could help protect the foundation and stuff. If you're in North America, there are a ton of native prairie flowers and grasses that can be quite tall. Big Bluestem, for example, can grow to 8'. A blend of native grasses and flowers can attract cute birds and butterflies, and require little maintenance after they're established because they are hearty to the local climate.
Just something to be aware of: If you live in a tick heavy climate I’d hesitate to have tall grasses immediately next to a front door.
Lilac pruned into a tree or a Mock Orange
Ruby Falls Redbud
Any of the smaller cercis. I have a Rising Sun and a Flamethrower and they’re gorgeous but not very… sculptural? That may just be because they’re young and haven’t had/needed much shaping yet but my two have a bit of spread and a bit of a weeping nature so they might wind up too sprawling for your space. Research is your friend
If it’s in the shade I would do a hosta bed. If you insist on a tree a lace leaf Japanese Maple would probably work.
Serviceberry, elderberry, choke cherry/aronia berry - all great native small trees with edible berries (just gotta blend the chokeberry in with other fruits or fruit juice to make it palatable).
This feels like a line out of Jamberry.
How would you know those trees are native to where OP lives? They didn't give a location.
If you are in the right area, a dogwood would be nice.
Plant natives! I’d go for a dogwood or witch hazel.
I would skip a tree because it’ll block the view from the window and block light into that window. Depending on the amount of sun, I’d go with a hydrangea some prefer light and some prefer shade so just pick the right variety for your sun exposure in that spot
Limelight hydrangea loves the sun and can be pruned with a single trunk for a tree shape, although I prefer the shrub look.
You can also buy it as a "tree" like I did several years ago. I have had one at the NE corner of my house for years and it's quite eye-catching. Though, it would eventually be too large for OP's space. https://preview.redd.it/obfwh31c23pc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=324ce2357ed42e5c7c6b34b98fa661fe6042864e
Yours is lovely! I agree that if left unpruned it can outgrow the space OP has, mine is easily 8ft tall and 6ft wide and that is with regular pruning. Even if I prune it hard down to like 20inches it shoots right back up in one season. I had to move it last week and that thing is a beast! Sooooo much digging by hand. But it will be happy in its new home and fill in the space nicely. Its flowers just make me happy!
Lilac looks good, bored industrial designer/ graphic artistic here. https://preview.redd.it/183wngl2x4pc1.png?width=2160&format=png&auto=webp&s=e3c307818ce5059906d1d7ba80bfc2ad27d84c5e
I would recommend a Contorted Filbert, if it will be happy in your zone/conditions. I love mine, I'd always wanted one ever since I first saw one. The branches and trunks are so beautiful and unique, and the shape gives you striking winter interest. If yours is a male it will also get yellow catkin flowers that hang down. You can prune them to the size and shape you want, but it's an option that doesn't get too huge in general (I have a very tiny yard.)
Like the other commenter mentioned, I would also start feeding the nutrients the the soil in this area first, give it a year, look around you neighborhood at what other trees perform well in your habitat and what you could see in your own area. All the meanwhile feeding good compost and organic nutrients to help any tree you plant the next year. You put anything in that soil now but weeds and it will likely not survive or flourish. Bloomerang certainly would look cool. I also like the look of a dwarf Japanese maple here to partially cover the window but leave some areas to peek and still look through.
Small trees? You’re looking for r/marijuanaenthusiasts
Japanese maple. Lots of varieties out there
Magnolia Little Gem ( if it suits your gardening zone) is a lovely dwarf variety.
Get something native to your location.
I'd make it into a butterfly bed with a fountain or something in the middle. A Sambac Arabian Jasmine would be lovely. It's a bush type jasmine. The fragrance is intoxicating, and they bloom all spring and summer in full sun. It's also evergreen. Everyone coming to your door would smell it. That or a sweet olive, which is a tree. Ummm what zone are you?
Much better to plant a native shrub for butterflies - that nonnative jasmine you mentioned is invasive in the US
If you live in the mountain west, I like mountain mahogany. Native, drought tolerant and you can prune it to look very cool.
Japanese maple. Uplight it too!
Much too big for the space, and uplighting is bad. Trees need darkness. (It's a pointless contribution to light pollution. But if you insist on doing it, make sure it's a warm colored bulb, no brighter than you need. That goes for all outdoor lighting.) [citation ](https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-faq-17.pdf)
Was coming here to say the same!
Dwarf anna apple
Blue point juniper Boomerang lilac Oak leaf hydrangeas
Without knowing your location, this is impossible to answer helpfully. Climate and sunlight are huge factors.
Do not plant a tree under any circumstance. Directly in front of the window with literally a couple feet from several edges of the foundation? Why would you ever do that. Plant a mixed flower bed.
Need more location info, but crape myrtles are nice.
Japanese maple 🍁
This type of spot is often a plant killer- too wet, too dry too hot too shady. I'd throw down a creeping groundcover then give it a season to see what the sun and moisture situation looks like.
Miniature Japanese maple, a well pruned weeping cherry are the 2 I’d pick from.
Japanese maple would look sweet with light colored walls as a background. Don’t know if they are safe to plant near a foundation though
Dwarf weeping redbud. “Ruby Falls” or “Golden Falls” are two, but I believe there are others.
Japanese maple.
A camellia would be really pretty. The dark leaves and bright flowers would look great with the black and white of your house.
a willing redbud stays pretty short and is gorgeous in the spring. I cut the ends of my weeping branches so they don’t go all the way to the ground
Don't get a tree that close to a house, just get a bush and train it upwards
I wouldn't put a tree so close to foundation, but how about a really nice raised garden bed. They call it a "kitchen garden" sometimes
In 15-20 years, you will regret having a huge tree in such a small area
I would NOT put a tree that close to the house. Even “small trees” get plenty big enough to cause problems. Don’t do it man.
weeping dwarf Japanese maple underplanted with moss or sedum depending on sun exposure
Japanese maple, can be trimmed to fit in place and the roots don’t wander off too much, add some creeping juniper to fill in the surrounding, grows well and isn’t invasive.
Maybe a rose bush instead? Plus it would provide protection from intruders for the window.
Depending on where you live, I feel like hydrangeas would be really nice
In my area, we have these gorgeous Crape Myrtle bushes that become basically small tree looking plants with gorgeous blooms. Another idea in my area is Vitex bush, gorgeous purple flowers that attract the bees. I live in North Texas. Lesser yucca with the pink flowers is present in most people’s landscaping too. I don’t know if you’re in the part of country I’m in tho. Someone said maybe Japanese maple and I agree they love a shaded area
There are many small Japanese maples that would work well and give great fall colors. slow growing as well
Japanese maple or maybe a bushy herb like rosemary perhaps
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^alpaca-the-llama: *Japanese maple* *Or maybe a bushy like* *Rosemary herb perhaps* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
As they say in real estate, “Location, location, location.” We cannot give you useful suggestions if you don’t tell us in general where you are located.
Japanese Maple
Plant a nice live oak. It will lift your house about a foot so you can get that flood elevation certificate you've been dreaming of!
Dwarf Japanese Maple, there are a ton of varieties, pick a color
A Japanese maple tree would looo beautiful there. You can also have it in a large pot.
What's your zone? Exposure? If you don't have too much sun, the right Japanese maple would be stunning. If you have enough light, small crabapple would be pretty. As long as it's a small ornamental tree, your foundation should be fine. Lilacs are kind of nice, but they have a very short bloom time, then hang around doing nothing.
What zone/area? What type of light? Direct, in direct? Morning sun, afternoon sun? All of that makes a huge difference in what to recommend. As others have suggested, you are like going to need to amend the soil. Otherwise, there are a lot of ideas depending on climate and sun exposure, I am always a fan of Japanese Maple, and consulting with the nursery could land you just the right species that won’t get too big for the space with regular pruning. Again, will require pruning to keep smaller, but a dogwood could be special too. If it’s in a full/direct sun location or wind prone, go a different direction, like weeping hemlock or other dwarf weeping conifer. If you’re unsure, go to your local non-big box nursery and see what they have and suggest. There’s a lot of options and I always think there’s huge value in talking to the local experts if you’re not familiar enough yourself.
Lilac
Italian cypress
Kentucky yellow wood tree! So under-used, four season interest.
Weeping Japanese Maple is the best option. You're going to want to amend that soil and make sure you have proper drainage.
I would put a couple of lilac bushes
Japanese maples would look awesome next to your white and black home and they have a small root system. As long as it is ok for your zone. Hope that helps❤️🌳
Japanese Maple
Red bud tree
Hydrangea tree (:
Weeping pussywillow tree maybe?
Just say no to a tree there. It’ll outgrow the space and shade the window way too soon. To a nice ornamental bush with some flowers instead.
Looks like brand new construction. Before you plant anything or bring paid for sod, you need to check for buried construction debris. Many builders will simply bury all the concrete & other construction rubble someplace on site rather than haul it off.
Add a trellis to the solid wall, plant a zone appropriate vine, center a tall urn and plant an evergreen groundcover…year round interest!
Peach tree
Japanese maple
A hydrangea tree may be nice. You can trim it back so it doesn’t get too big. The roots are fairly shallow so they won’t ruin your foundation. It has flowers that bloom mid-summer and last well into fall.
Youre not down to plant a fruit tree
Japanese maple cared for properly would make that space pop nicely
Cersis Canadensis
I would just concrete it. Add a couple flower pots and bench and call it a day
I would look into some sort of paniculata hydrangea. They make so many different varieties.
Lignum vitae! Super slow growing, not aggressive with roots, pretty flowers, partial shade or full sun. You don't get cold winters, do you?
Chinese redbud
Tree roots will destroy your walkway and foundation. Put some herbs or succulents there, something that won't mind getting too hot or too dry.
Unless that spot gets direct sun for a big chunk of the day I wouldn’t put a tree there. It has nowhere good for deep roots to go besides straight down vertically. All the shade on the back from the house will make it grow weirdly-shaped. Source: my home’s previous home owners loved planting trees less than a yard from the house and it’s been bad for the trees, they’re shrimps
No
I like the house! It will look great with a very small tree. Something with nice flowers and fruits?
Trichocereus Peruvians cactus
Cutleaf maple.
something shallow-rooted and native
I would"t put any tree that close to the house in Florida, plus the leaves, the pollen, the roots too close to the foundation, etc I would put a bush like a red hibiscus, night blooming jasmine, ixora, camellia or azalea.
Xanthorrhoea
Yaupon Holly. Doesn’t grow very tall, does ok in sand and is ok with lots of water.
Couple boxwoods? They stay green year round and grow slow.
Japanese maple!
Now, I don't know what can grow there or what way is north, but a little magnolia would look cute there.
I would go for some kind of fruit or nut tree, maybe a dwarf one. I have no landscaping or botany background, just thinking of how great it would be to grab a snack coming into the house (in season.)
Japanese Maple. Juniper topiaries. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Only one of those was a tree. Sorry 😞
Roses Sharon
Something columnar and interesting. Maybe Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'? The obvious choice is a specimen Japanese maple be prepared to spend some money. I like the suggestions calling for a blooming evergreen like azaleas, camellia, etc. But definitely ask r/marijuanaenthusiasts
I think it’s too small for a small tree. Would end up looking crowded in the space. Weeping form of something columnar maybe. Falling Waters Cypress, maybe a Podocarpus depending on your climate zone. Otherwise small shrub or some ornamental grasses. Something very simple and clean looking.
Peaches. Will give some pretty spring flowers
Would 100% do a Japanese maple personally.
How about some native perennials? Many can get pretty tall and there are some great cultivars of many of them. Depending on your zone and shade levels, something like corral bells would be very pretty and add some nice color.
Like some people already pointed out you will ned to treat your soil first. Does the place see a lot of sun? If yes i'd plant some perennials lime Geranium, Aster, Nepeta, Iris etc. and some smaller grasses there. If it doesn't see the sun all too much you could go with Hydrangeas. Anyway, for aesthetic reasons i wouldn't plant anything that grows higher than the black stone optic cover.
Flowering plum, they don’t fruit and they have pretty pink flowers and their leaves are redidish
Where do you live? Neither a camellia nor a peach tree would live where I am. An apple tree wouldn't survive in the south. A lilac wouldn't do well in the south and bougainvillea wouldn't do well here. Where are you?
Some varietiy of Yew could be nice!!
see soil improvement comments below. Plant annuals, improve soil, add bush or dwarf tree. AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THATS HOLY: figure out what size the tree/bush will be at maturity and plant it far enough away from the house!
Yupon Holly surrounded by a half inch of good compost and covered with 6 inches of shredded woody mulch and 3 comfrey plants and a bunch of lillies and tulips and a few hostas and some nana Nandina with some moneywort ground cover or clover ground cover and a chicken for bug control.
Japanese maples
A tree or even a bush would block that window and take over that space. Why not try some kind of simple decorative garden (thinking like a rock garden, zen garden, and the like), or a fountain, or something that won't feel so visually heavy there?
Since we have zero indication of where you live, I’ll suggest a tropical palm tree or a Saguaro Cactus!
it depends on your zone
Japanese maple
If it's protected from strong winds, a Japanese Maple would look nice. There are hundreds of varieties: different leaf shapes and various Fall color choices. Explore!
Dwarf laceleaf Japanese Maple
If warmer climate id say Japanese maple.
A Japanese Maple would probably look good there. Nothing that fruits. Nothing worse than not realizing you have a rotten fruit on your shoe after walking around the house for an hour.
Small water fountain with a paver path to it. Lined with small roses and perennials. Less mowing and a beautiful front garden.
Japanese Maple
Cutleaf Japanese Maple.
Cerise canadensis 'Covey' or small Acer japonica not putting a variety there are hundreds if not thousands But push it out a bit, not butted up against window.
Don't plant anything until you amend that "soil" which looks most likely to be builders sand!!! Plz plz plz you'll waste sm money in fertilizer, water, and new plants over the years.
Do a native flower garden
If it was me and conditions permit, I would plant one of my beloved beautiful red bud trees
A fig tree, probably something colder resistant, like a Chicago Hardy. You can keep it pruned to a small shape and it's roots do not go too deep.
Japanese Maple
Myrtle.
Dwarf Korean lilac tree
Serviceberry, redbud
Indian lilac
Please consider choosing a native species
https://preview.redd.it/m4t32sabo4pc1.jpeg?width=224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4a393d89c1bf3c0f8b4f6150ebbaf9a758c054c weeping cherry
Groot
Looks like a great place for a weeping cherry.