What trees to plant in a courtyard that are both auspicious and beautiful?

Ancient feng shui theory holds that planting flowers and trees in a courtyard serves the functions of "retaining water and blocking wind, nurturing the earth's energy, dissolving negative energy, and boosting prosperity and good fortune." This is also why classical Chinese gardens, though small, are full of green shade and fragrant flowers and trees.

No matter which type of courtyard, if you want shade in summer, foliage to admire in autumn, and branches to enjoy in winter, you cannot do without all kinds of uniquely shaped landscape trees. So which landscape trees are best suited for planting in a courtyard? Let's take a look with Gugu:

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Flowering and Foliage Types

① Ginkgo

Ginkgo has a long lifespan, and a single planting brings long-term benefits, so land selection is very important. Ginkgo is a light-loving tree species and should be planted on a sunny slope with a gentle gradient. It is not strict about soil conditions; moist, fertile, well-drained neutral or slightly acidic soil is best.

Ecological value:

It not only provides large amounts of high-quality timber, leaves, and seeds, but also greening the environment, purifying the air, conserving soil and water, controlling pests, regulating temperature, and regulating mood, making it an excellent tree species for afforestation, greening, and ornamental purposes.

Ornamental value:

Because the ginkgo tree has a very long lifespan, it has become a symbol of health and longevity, happiness and good fortune, and its uniquely shaped leaves are also regarded as a "symbol of harmony," implying the harmonious qualities of the unity of opposites in all things, such as "one and two," "yin and yang," "life and death," "spring and autumn," and so on.

② Chinese Scholar Tree

As the saying goes, "A scholar tree before the gate brings promotion and wealth." Although this is a superstitious saying, the ancients planted scholar trees near their courtyards for good luck, whether they were official households or ordinary families. In terms of planting history, as early as the pre-Qin period, the scholar tree was already one of the earliest greening tree species officially selected.

Morphological characteristics:

Tree, flowering period June-July, fruiting period August-October

Ornamental value:

The Chinese scholar tree is a commonly used characteristic tree species in courtyards. Its branches and leaves are dense, and its green shade is like a canopy, making it suitable as a shade tree. The scholar tree's wood is hard and can be used as a greening tree, street tree, etc. In feng shui, it is believed to represent "emolument" (official salary). In ancient times, the imperial court planted three scholar trees and nine thorn trees; the nobles and high officials sat beneath them, and those facing the three scholar trees were the Three Excellencies. Therefore, among all trees, the scholar tree has the highest rank and carries authority in guarding the home.

③ Palm

Also known as the palm tree. It has ornamental value, its trunk can be used as pavilion pillars, and its palm fiber can be used as medicine to astringe and stop bleeding, mainly treating conditions such as vomiting blood and abnormal uterine bleeding. In feng shui, it has the effect of generating wealth and protecting wealth.

The palm prefers a warm and humid climate, is extremely cold-hardy, relatively shade-tolerant, and the mature plant is extremely drought-tolerant, but it cannot withstand too great a day-night temperature difference. It is suitable for growing in well-drained, moist and fertile neutral, calcareous, or slightly acidic soil, tolerates mild salinity-alkalinity, and also tolerates a certain degree of drought and waterlogging.

④ Osmanthus

In ancient Chinese poetry there is the line "Osmanthus seeds fall in the moon, heavenly fragrance drifts beyond the clouds," meaning that every Mid-Autumn Festival, osmanthus flowers drift down from the moon, and osmanthus has also become a symbol connecting the moon with the human world. Therefore, as long as a family can have a courtyard of its own, they will surely plant an osmanthus tree.

⑤ White Magnolia

Morphological characteristics:

The white-flowered variety among magnolias. Deciduous tree, the city flower of Shanghai, flowering period April-September, blooming in summer.

Growth habits:

Suitable for growing in warm and humid climates and fertile, loose soil; loves light. Not drought-tolerant.

Ornamental value:

It is a precious ornamental tree in gardens, symbolizing a pioneering, enterprising spirit.

⑥ Purple Magnolia

Purple magnolia belongs to the Magnoliaceae family, genus Magnolia, and is also called magnolia or xinyi. It is a plant endemic to China. Its flowers are gorgeous and pleasant, with a light, elegant fragrance. It looks beautiful whether planted alone or in groups, with a graceful tree shape and abundant branches and flowers, making it a very suitable ornamental plant.

Growth habits:

Prefers warm, humid, and sunny environments; relatively cold-tolerant, but not drought-tolerant or salt-alkali tolerant, and afraid of waterlogging; requires fertile, well-drained sandy loam.

⑦ Crabapple

Crabapple prefers sunlight and can also tolerate partial shade; it is cold-tolerant and not strict about environmental conditions. It is suitable for growing in loose, fertile, deep, and well-drained sandy soil.

Morphological characteristics:

Tree, flowering period April-May, fruiting period August-September.

Ornamental value:

Its flowers bloom brilliantly, bringing wealth and honor to the home. It has long been known as the "immortal among flowers" and the "imperial consort among flowers," while the blossoming of crabapple symbolizes brotherly harmony and joyful family life.

⑧ Plum Tree

Plum blossom, one of China's national flowers, is renowned throughout the world for its purity, boldness, elegance, and delicate fragrance. Through the ages, countless literati and poets have wielded brush and ink for it, and many famous works and excellent pieces have been praised for millennia and passed down forever.

Morphological characteristics:

Small tree, flowering period December-March, fruiting period May-June

Ornamental value:

The plum tree is highly adaptable to soil. Its flowers bloom with five petals, representing nobility and wealth. The five petals carry the meaning of "plum blossoms bringing five blessings," which enhances the good fortune of the home.

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Shaped Landscape Trees

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In traditional Chinese culture, podocarpus symbolizes longevity and wealth retention, carrying an auspicious meaning. In Guangdong, there has long been a folk saying: "A household with podocarpus will never suffer poverty for generations." Ancient Chinese officials also liked to plant podocarpus in their courtyards, regarding it as the guardian spirit of their official position.

Morphological characteristics:

Evergreen coniferous tree, flowering period April-May, seeds mature August-September. Cultivated in courtyards as an ornamental tree. Prefers warm and humid climates, weak cold tolerance, strong shade tolerance.

Ornamental value:

In traditional Chinese culture, podocarpus symbolizes longevity, wealth retention, and guarding the home, carrying an auspicious meaning. In Guangdong, there has long been a folk saying: "A household with podocarpus will never suffer poverty for generations." Ancient Chinese officials also liked to plant podocarpus in their courtyards, regarding it as the guardian spirit of their official position.

② Five-Needle Pine

The five-needle pine has a neat posture and is a tree species with high ornamental value. It is suitable both for decorative arrangement in courtyards and as an important tree species for potted plants or bonsai. To maintain a good tree shape and control the growth of branches and leaves to achieve a short, dense, and vigorous form, regular pruning and shaping are necessary.

Morphological characteristics:

Evergreen coniferous tree of the Pinaceae family, flowering period May, seeds mature October-November of the following year.

Growth habits:

Prefers warm and humid environments; a light-loving tree species with very high light requirements. The planting soil must not waterlog and must have good drainage and aeration.

③ Shaped Banyan Tree

The banyan is a very common tree. It is tall in form, with full and dense branches and leaves, and is often planted as a landscape tree in parks, courtyards, and other places.

Morphological characteristics:

Tree, flowering period May-June. The banyan has strong adaptability and can develop aerial roots in humid air, greatly enhancing its ornamental value. It loves ample sunlight.

Ornamental value:

It embodies the meaning of "great tolerance leads to greatness, and freedom from desire leads to strength." Residents using it to encourage themselves can help improve their cultivation.

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Flowering and Fruit-Bearing Types

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Chinese people have always loved lively and festive scenes, and the pomegranate symbolizes the kind of prosperous, joyful life with many children and blessings that Chinese people hope for. Anyone who has seen pomegranate flowers knows that they are fiery in color, passionate and gorgeous, and pomegranate flowers covering the branches symbolize prosperity, beauty, and a flourishing life.

Morphological characteristics:

Small tree, evergreen in the tropics, flowering period May-June, fruiting period September-October.

Ornamental value:

Chinese people regard the pomegranate as a mascot, containing the auspicious omen of many children and blessings, and it is full of a sense of wealth and honor.

② Persimmon Tree

The persimmon tree has a graceful form, with large, dark green, glossy leaves. In autumn the leaves turn red, and the fruit hangs abundantly and does not easily fall, making it an excellent fruit tree and ornamental tree for both foliage and fruit.

Morphological characteristics:

A deciduous tree of the Ebenaceae family. Its trunk is upright, and its crown is large and graceful. In autumn, the persimmon tree's leaves turn red after frost, which is very beautiful. The persimmon fruit matures between September and October.

Growth habits:

It has the characteristics of drought resistance, moisture tolerance, early fruiting, high yield, and long lifespan.

③ Kumquat Tree

"Ju" (kumquat) is homophonous with "ji" (good fortune), symbolizing auspiciousness. Its fruit is red or yellow in color, full of festivity. Potted kumquats are an important decoration for families during the Spring Festival, and kumquat leaves also have the function of soothing the liver and relieving depression, able to bring joy to the home.

Growth habits:

Kumquat prefers sunlight and warm, humid environments; it is not cold-tolerant, slightly shade-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and requires well-drained, fertile, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam.

Ornamental value:

Namely the kumquat tree. "Ju" (kumquat) is homophonous with "ji" (good fortune), symbolizing auspiciousness. The fruit is orange-red or orange-yellow, representing passion and joy.

④ Loquat

Morphological characteristics:

Evergreen tree, flowering period October-December, fruiting period May-June

Growth habits:

Native to the subtropics, it requires relatively high temperatures and can grow normally with an average annual temperature above 12°C. It is a sun-loving tree species for landscaping, drought-tolerant, and not demanding about soil, with fertile soil being best.

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