Trees for a Home Atrium

An atrium offers a retreat for year-round gardening.

An atrium creates a lush tropical garden within a home. Inside the confines of the glass room, the small trees and plants grow year-round. The room becomes a retreat from the raging cold winter days. Trees within the atrium function much as they do outside; they shade the area while adding size contrast.

Fruit Trees

Citrus trees, such as sour orange, kumquat, lemon and limequats, flourish in an atrium's sunny confines. Through regular pruning, the tree grows to 4 to 5 feet tall. The tree's profuse blooms appear year-round and fill the entire atrium with sweet fragrance. Citrus trees also continuously produce fruit. Grow the citrus tree in a large pot or plant it directly into the atrium's soil. Indoor citrus trees rarely suffer from pests or disease. On occasion, the tree may suffer from aphids, scales, mites or mealy bugs. Prompt treatment prevents the infestation from becoming severe.

Small to Medium Trees

An array of ficus trees is available offering varying foliage colors and sizes. The Doescheri has variegated leaves and the Indian Rubber Tree has thick leaves that have the consistency of rubber. The ficus thrives when grown in a container. The lady palm (Rhapis excelsa) grows slowly in a pot. It has a bushy appearance with abundant fronds. In time, it attains a height of 8 feet. It comes in a variegated leaf form. Place the King Maya palm (Chamaedorea hooperiana) in an area of the atrium with low light. It is an ideal space filler under larger tree specimens. The bushy palm grows to a height of 8 feet and produces abundant green fronds.

Large Atrium Trees

The black olive (Bucida buceras) grows well in a large atrium where it reaches a height up to 16 feet. An evergreen, the tree produces small, inedible black berries. It flourishes when the temperature stays above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The tree prefers bright, diffused sunlight and moist soil. The Norfolk tree (Araucaria heterophylla) also flourishes inside of a large atrium. Its striking resemblance to a holiday tree makes the tree an atrium favorite. The tree grows 16 feet tall in a large atrium. It requires little care once established.

Tropical Trees

The betel nut palm (Areca catechu) grows 16 feet high in a large atrium. The palm produces lush fronds giving the enclosure a tropical look. It grows in full or partial sun. The distinctive foliage gives the fishtail palm (Caryota mitis) its name. The fishtail palm's leaflets bear a striking resemblance to a fish tail. The palm can grow to 16 feet. It creates a bushy appearance. The palm grows well in full or moderate light.

References

• Green Talk; Garden Atriums: A Sustainable Living Green House; Anna Hackman; April 2010
• Walter Reeves The Georgia Gardener: Trees for a Large Atrium
• Colorado State University; Citrus Trees: an Ideal Indoor Plant Selection; Sheri Hunter
• Los Angeles Times; Alluring Atriums; Maresa Archer; August 1990
• Cornell University Cooperative Extension: Care and Selection of Ficus
• Plants-In-Buildings: Bucida Buceras

Resources

• Plants-In-Buildings: Araucaria Heterophylla
• Plants-In-Buildings: Areca Catechu
• Plants-In-Buildings: Caryota Mitis
• Plants-In-Buildings: Rhapis Excelsa
• Plants-In Buildings: Chamaedorea Hooperiana