How Big Do Pygmy Plants Get?

Shrubs

• Certain shrubs are smaller than the species from which they originate and are referred to as pygmy or dwarf cultivars. For example, the "Crimson Pygmy" barberry (Berberis thunbergii "Crimson Pygmy"), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 7, gets only 2 feet tall, while the straight species (Berberis thunbergii), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, can reach 8 feet tall. Pygmy heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica "Pygmaea") reaches 3 feet tall, while the species (Nandina domestica) can reach 8 feet tall. Both bamboo versions are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9.

Trees

• Some trees grow small enough to almost be considered a shrub. The "Red Pygmy" Japanese maple (Acer palmatum "Red Pygmy"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, is a cultivar with purple, thin leaves that only reaches 6 feet, while the species, Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), hardy in USDA zones 5b through 8b, reaches 25 feet. The "Red Pygmy" dogwood (Cornus florida "Red Pygmy"), hardy in USDA zones 5 though 9, reached only 4 feet, while the species, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), is hardy in same USDA zones but reaches 30 feet.

Perennials

• Perennials grow, die back during their dormant period (usually winter) and then regrow from dormant roots. The pygmy iris (Iris pumila) and its cultivars, hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, reach about 12 inches maximum height, compared their taller cousins, the bearded irises (Iris germanica), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 10, that reach 36 inches tall. The same height ratio is true for hyssop: "Purple Pygmy" hyssop (Agastache cana "Purple Pygmy"), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, only reaches 12 inches tall, while the species hyssop (Agastache cana), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 10, reaches 36 inches tall.

Water Plants

• Water gardening also boasts a few pygmy selections. Pygmy water lilies (Nymphaea spp.), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 10, are classified as having flowers about 2 to 3 inches across. They come in a number of colors. Full-sized water lilies produce flowers up to 12 inches across. The pygmy chain sword or bur head (Echinodorus tenellus), hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11, is a pond or aquarium plant that seldom exceeds 2 inches.