For most people living in townhomes with postage-stamp yards, apartments or condominiums the phrase we have embraced is Mies van der Rohe’s “Less is more.” For all of us, breeders around the world have been focusing on selecting trees to fit containers or the small back yard. Trees are becoming more versatile and therefore, useful. And heck, Father’s Day is Sunday, so why not consider buying dad a tree? Do we need any more reasons to think about these trees? Nope.
It seems there are endless things breeders can do with pansies, petunias or million bells. There is a brighter, softer, more disease-resistant variety every year. Every so often, new shrubs are introduced; but this seems to be happening more frequently. Plant breeders are getting the message that homeowners need plants sized to fit the scale of their smaller yards. Some are now small enough for containers.
