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6 Weeping Trees For USDA Zone 4 (Including Dwarf Varieties)

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Written By Elaina Garcia

Green Thumb & Homesteader

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Home » USDA Zone 4 » 6 Weeping Trees For USDA Zone 4 (Including Dwarf Varieties)

If you’re looking for cold-hardy weeping trees, you’re exactly where you need to be.

USDA zone 4 experiences below-freezing temperatures in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow weeping tree varieties on your property.

Out of all the USDA Planting zones, zone 4 covers a diverse and broad geological region of the United States. Common characteristics include four distinct seasons, sharp temperature variations within short periods, and relatively dry climates.

While the states in zone 4 typically receive heavy snowfall during the winter, it’s rather fluffy and low-moisture.

The weeping trees for USDA zone 4 listed below make stunning scenery and may also increase property value.

6 Hardy Weeping Trees To Grow In Zone 4

1. Prairie Cascade Willow (Salix ‘Prairie’ cascade)

Weeping willow, regardless of the varieties, are graceful, refined, and move in majestic ways. They provide some of the most romantic scenes from paintings and movies. They’re a pleasure to look at and bring about a relaxing vibe; at least, that holds true for me.

The Prairie Cascade Willow tree starts its life growing straight and strong. But as they age, they begin to form the beautiful ‘weeping’ habit we appreciate so much. The leave’s fine texture naturally stands out in contrast to many other thick-leaved trees and plants.

While the lush, forest-green leaves are beautiful all season, in the fall, the leaves turn golden yellow. Once the leaves drop, the stems remain yellow, shining like a bright beacon amidst winter’s darker, gray scenery.

Similar to all Willow tree varieties, it’s best to choose their site rather carefully. Intense storms can send its limbs flying, and the healthy roots look for water lines. They love wet soil!

Other Common Names: Prairie Cascade, Weeping Willow

Growing Zones: 4 to 10

Average Size At Maturity: 20 to 30 ft high with a 20 to 30 ft spread

Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees

2. Pink Weeping Cherry (Prunus subhirtella var. pendula)

Pink Weeping Cherry Trees
Image by Tatters via Flickr

Pink weeping cherry trees are so beautiful, producing incredible double blooms in the early spring. Their form is exquisite, making them excellent shade trees.

These beautiful trees add the perfect touch to any landscape, including gardens. Weeping cherry trees make excellent accent trees that grab attention all year. They’re easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners, and expert gardeners love to play around with them.

With just a few simple pruning cuts made while the tree is still young, allow growers to fit these beauties like a glove wherever their planting spot is. Once the training is complete, the Weeping Cherry tree becomes a great focal point in any landscape.

The delicate, double-pink flowers blooming against the bronze tree bark are picturesque. Once the flowers have bloomed and fallen, the glossy, elegant leaves emerge in a striking manner. In the autumn, the dark green leaves add even more color as they transform into shades of red and yellow, a true beauty for every season.

Birdwatchers love to view the songbirds that come for the ebony-colored cherries. You may have to keep an eye if you hope to see the cherries, as the birds eat them rather quickly. While the cherries from the weeping tree are inedible for humans, various edible cherry trees grow well in zone 4.

This weeping tree is impressive throughout spring, summer, and fall. But, it truly stands out during the winter months when the bare branches trail to the ground, seeming to rest while they wait for the warmth of the warmer months.

Other Common Names: Weeping Cherry, Higan Weeping Cherry, Higan Cherry Tree

Growing Zones: 4 to 9

Average Size At Maturity: 20 to 30 ft tall with a 20 to 30 ft spread

Fruiting / Flowering Season: Late March to Early April

Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees

3. Pink Snow Showers (Prunus x ‘Pink Snow Showers)

Weeping trees are beautiful enough on their own but add vibrant pink blooms to the elegant arching branches, and you have something even more impressive. The sweetly scented pink flowers bloom early in the spring and stand out against the backdrop of silvery branches.

The serrated, dark green foliage has no issues with the unsightly shot hole disease. This means the leaves will remain lush and beautiful throughout all seasons before they develop the fabulous red and orange hues for their autumnal show.

Pink Snow Shower trees are vigorous growers, meaning they’ll grow fast. Before you know it, your baby tree will develop into an incredible specimen of a showpiece.

Another excellent point about this beautiful tree is that it’s hardier than many of its family members, being able to endure temperatures as low as -20 degrees Farenheight. There’s no worry about whether it’ll come back strong for the following spring!

Other Common Names: Weeping Cherry, Flowering Cherry

Growing Zones: 4 to 8

Average Size At Maturity: 35 ft tall with a 25 to 30 ft spread

Fruiting / Flowering Season: Spring

Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees

4. Cascade Falls Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichim ‘Cascade Falls’)

Cascade Falls Weeping Bald Cypress Tree
Image via Nature Hills

It may come as a surprise that the Cascade Falls Bald Cypress is not an evergreen tree, especially since cypress trees are typically evergreens. Instead, this weeping tree is deciduous species.

However, there are various evergreens that grow in zone 4.

This excellent specimen has drooping branches from a central leader and boasts incredible orange colors during the fall. Cascade Falls Bald Cypress trees are perfect for zen gardens. But they add a flare to any landscape.

You can utilize this tree’s weeping form as an outdoor room divider or simply as a showpiece. The fine-textured, feathery green leaves make for a soft and beautiful view all season. The pendulous weeping branches can be left to drape as a ground cover. Still, they can also be pruned to provide a uniform skirt of your desired length.

As the warm weather fades and temperatures drop, this tree’s green foliage transforms into a lovely orange color, adding a vivid autumnal accent. Plant a Cascade Falls Bald Cypress near fall-flowering plants such as Aster for a showy seasonal display.

Other Common Names: Weeping Bald Cypress, Weeping Cypress

Growing Zones: 4 to 10

Average Size At Maturity: 8 to 12 ft tall with a 4 to 5 ft spread

Available at: Nature Hills

5. Weeping Pussy Willow (Salix caprea ‘Pendula’)

The Pussy Willow tree is an unusual marvel, but the Weeping Pussy Willow adds more uniqueness to the already interesting vibes.

These trees are small, but they still pack a punch with their overflowing silky catkins bursting in early spring. This small weeping tree has pendulous branches, meaning they’re saggy or droopy.

Every year around late winter or early spring, the Weeping Pussy Willow branches overflow with the fuzzy gray catkins known as Pussy Willows. They’re incredibly soft to the touch.

This species of tree doesn’t grow very tall, only reaching about 8 feet in height on average. Weeping Pussy Willows thrive in sunny sites, as well as areas of partial shade. However, you’ll want to ensure the tree gets sun in the afternoons.

Other Common Names: Weeping Goat Willow, Goat Willow

Growing Zones: 4 to 8

Average Size At Maturity: 6 to 8 ft tall with a 5 to 6 ft spread

Fruiting / Flowering Season: Early Spring

Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees

6. Young’s Weeping Birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’)

Young’s Weeping Birch Trees
Image by Wendy Cutler via Flickr

Many of us are familiar with various Birch tree species like Paper Birch, River Birch, and Silver Birch. However, there are likely just as many of us who had no idea that a Weeping Birch existed. I have to say, I think it’s an excellent choice to add to any landscape.

Young’s Weeping Birch trees are known for their distinctive shape and form. They’re short in stature, with dark green foliage hanging like curtains from the incredible asymmetrical branches.

The branches can be pruned to remain at a certain height, or you can allow them to trail the ground. The unique, umbrella-shaped crown puts on quite a show in both modern and traditional gardens and landscapes.

While the Weeping Birch is small in size, it leaves a significant impact. It’s an excellent choice for small spaces. It’s easy to grow and thrives in various climates. These trees prefer full sun and moist soil. While it can thrive in most environments, it performs best in zones 2 to 7.

Other Common Names: ‘Youngii’ European Birch

Growing Zones: 2 to 7

Average Size At Maturity: 8 to 10 ft tall with a 12 to 15 ft spread

Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees

Cold Hardy Weeping Trees To Grow In Zone 4

USDA zone 4 throws some wicked cold weather, and a lot of snow falls on the ground. However, there are various fruit trees and ornamental flowering trees that grow well in zone 4.

Weeping tree varieties add beauty to any landscape, and most of them are easy to care for. Weeping willow and birch trees are a couple of my favorites, but I’m not alone in that feeling.

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Elaina Garcia

Green Thumb & Homesteader

Elaina has had her hands on the Earth since she was little. For over a decade, she’s been tending gardens and learning about plants and trees. A seasoned writer with a green thumb, Elaina loves to write about everything from gardening and homesteading to health and wellness. When she’s not in the garden, you can find her in the chicken coop, with her rabbits, or somewhere in the woods with her cats and dog.

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