Standard trees (also called avenue trees) have a continuous central leader at least five metres high.  Lateral branches are removed from the stem up to a height of two metres, at which the branching of the crown begins. This is the most functional tree since the tree takes up little space at ground level. However, the crown provides good shade projection. Standard trees are generally planted in rows as avenue or street trees, but also as solitary trees in parks or squares. Standard trees often do not acquire a character until they are more mature, because they are grown mainly for their height and continuous central leader. The crown is pruned to a narrow shape so that transplanting remains possible, and so it cannot be compared with a tree of the same stem thickness which is never transplanted. The size of standard trees is determined by the stem circumference of the tree at a height of one metre.

Half-stem trees are similar to standard trees but have a stem free of lateral branches up to 1.20 metres. This makes them ideal for use in a small garden. They can achieve the correct shape as a result of training through pruning.  Many trees are grafted at this height, which means that they will not increase in stem height. In addition, if a slow grower is chosen, little maintenance is required. Half-stem trees are often chosen for fruit trees, in order to have easy access to the fruit.

Feathered trees are also called well-branched trees. They have a continuous central leader and still have lateral branches from the ground up. Thus, their stem has not been trimmed free of branches. Favourite trees for cultivation as feathered trees are columnar trees. The branches of columnar trees often grow fairly vertical, and so a feathered columnar tree takes up little space. However, in public spaces feathered trees can also be functional in a different way. In trees with a smooth bark such as beech the lateral branches protect the bark against scorching. It seems that this will be increasingly important as a strategy in the near future until crowns are sufficiently developed to shade the bark. Feathered trees can also create a natural atmosphere when alternated with multi-stem trees.

Shade trees are planted and grown specifically to create shade. The shape is often high with a broad fan-shaped crown. Shade trees provide shade because of a dense crown structure and large leaves. We also grow trees specifically for this purpose, such as multi-stem roof-shaped trees which provide a great deal of shade such as a London plane tree. Espalier trees such as an espalier linden are suitable for creating shade on facades and, because of their shape, they immediately give structure to the garden when they are used as a separate element.

Fruit trees can be the familiar apple, pear and cherry, but also less commonplace fruits such as sea buckthorn, cornelian cherry and pawpaw. They are planted mainly for the fruit harvest, but fruit trees are also a food source for birds, small mammals and insects in the form of fruit as well as the nectar in the blossom.

A separate category is formed by varieties which are specifically selected for decorative blossom or fruit yield, which are often less palatable for people but are particularly tasty for animals. For example, there are numerous of crab apples, with their brightly coloured fruits standing out decoratively against the autumn colour of the foliage.