I am always so amazed by spring blooms that fill the landscape with sweet, wonderful color blooms. Then just when I thought I could see nothing more beautiful… Fall comes around with crimson vibrant leaves that fills the area with boldness and nature shouts.

This Blog I want to share with you a few Spring and watch in September for Fall varieties to wow your socks.

Spring

White Dogwood- Cornus florida

Flowering dogwood can be a tricky plant to grow in a landscape setting. It is commonly found growing in woodland margins.  Dogwood’s true flowers are visited by butterflies and specialized bees, and its red fruits are a food source for songbirds and other wildlife from fall through winter.  This tree is quite tolerant to heat once established and has a low flammability rating.

Family: Cornaceae

Hardiness Zones White dogwood trees grow in Zones 5-9, across most of the country except for very far north and very far south.

Tree Type- Deciduous

Growth Rate –Dogwood trees have a slow to moderate growth rate, generally growing at a rate of about 20 feet in 25 years

Mature size –Height15-25 feet

Sun Preference-Partial shade to full sun

Soil Preference- moist, loamy, slightly acidic soil. While they need to remain moist due to their shallow roots, they do not like having wet feet.

Flower Description: Blooms early spring before leaf-out, March-May, the true flowers at the center, are green and insignificant, but are surrounded by 4 petal-like 2 inch long bracts, notched at the ends, that are often mistaken for the actual flowers. Flower buds are round and flattened at the ends of stems, (many) greenish-yellow; bud is biscuit-shaped,

Wildlife Value It is a host plant for the spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) butterfly/larvae. Flights are from May to August in Canada but range from January through October near the Gulf Coast. Butterflies nectar on the blooms.  Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, quail, wild turkey, chipmunks, black bear, foxes, white-tailed deer, skunks, and squirrels

Attributes

This tree:

• This plant was used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans, as well as for carvings, looms, and disinfectant.
• Wood is hard, heavy, close grained and strong. Often used for textile shuttles and spools as well as handles for tools.
• Fruit is a glossy bright, shiny red, oval drupes (0.5″ )in tight clusters of 3 or 4 that are bitter and inedible to humans but loved by birds. They display from August to October.

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Eastern Redbud- Cercis canadensis

The genus name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis, which means weaver’s shuttle, referring to the fact that the seed pod resembles the size and shape of a weaver’s shuttle used to move thread back and forth on a loom. Sometimes called the Judas tree, from its oriental relative of that name, it is a smaller tree with a nearly flat or rounded crown that is often found growing beneath taller trees.

Family: Fabaceae

Hardiness Zones 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a

Tree Type: Deciduous

Mature Size- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. – 30 ft. 0 in. Width: 25 ft. 0 in. – 35 ft. 0 in.

Growth Rate-This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

Sun Preference-Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference-The eastern redbud grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils.

Wildlife value: 12 species of Lepidoptera use this tree as a larval host plant. Leafcutter bees (such as Megachile rotundata) and other bees use this plant (as shown in a picture). Host plant for Henry’s Elfin butterfly. Butterflies and other insects’ nectar from the flowers. Caterpillars appear from February to May and have one flight. Adult Henry’s Elfin butterflies feed on flower nectar. Songbirds and small mammals occasionally eat the seeds.

Flower Description: Conspicuous bright-red flowers bloom in early spring (around April) and are anywhere from pink to red to purple in color. Unlike many other plants, the flowers are seen before the leaves. Only about 1/2 inch wide and having about 7 flowers in a cluster, these flowers grow right on new stems as well as older branches.

Attributes This tree:

• Blooms in a profusion of rosy, pink flowers in April.
• Begin flowering at a young age, sometimes as early as 4 years.
• Features somewhat heart-shaped leaves 2–6″ in length. They emerge a reddish color, turning dark green as summer approaches and then yellow in the fall.
• Yields brown to brownish-black pods that are 2–3″ in length, remaining on the tree throughout winter.

Saucer Magnolia- Magnolia x soulangeana

Small, low-branched tree with large, saucer-shaped flowers. The fragrant, early-spring blossoms are white shaded with light to deep pink or purplish pink. Big, broad leaves are dark green, and the smooth bark is silvery gray. Medium- to fast-growing, good pollution tolerant.

Family: Magnoliaceae

Hardiness Zones: 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a

Mature Size:Height: 15 ft. 0 in. – 33 ft. 0 in. Width: 15 ft. 0 in. – 25 ft. 0 in

Growth Rate: This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

Sun Preference: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Preference: “The saucer magnolia grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It has some drought tolerance. “The saucer magnolia grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It has some drought tolerance. The saucer magnolia grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It has some drought tolerance.

Wildlife Value: Is the larval food source for saddleback caterpillars. Magnolia soft scale produces honeydew that bees love.

Flower Description: Flowers are cup-shaped, solitary, slightly fragrant, terminal, erect, cupulate, and 4.7″-10″ in diameter. They have 9 perianth segments, are obovate-spatulate, and are concave at the tip. In mid-spring before leaves emerge, showy tepals are white on the inside and pink, purple on the outside and grow up to 4″ long and 3″ wide. Buds are silky pubescent and are less than an inch long.

Attributes This tree:

• Has some pollution tolerance.
• Best to plant in protected location against frost and strong winds, but avoid southern exposures near structures, as buds may be encouraged to open too early.
• Needs seasonal protection in areas with cold winters for the first couple of years.
• Has thin bark that is easily damaged by lawnmowers, weed cutters, etc.

Yoshino Cherry- Prunus x yedoensis

The Yoshino cherry (also known as the Japanese flowering cherry) is the darling of the flowering tree world and the star of such renowned events as the National and International Cherry Blossom Festivals. This stand-out tree is, of course, known for its vibrant display of white-pink blossoms and faint almond fragrance in the springtime. In the summer, this tree will be a highlight in the yard with its oriental branching pattern, glossy bark, and dark-green leaves.

Family: Rosaceae

Hardiness Zones- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a

Mature Size- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. – 40 ft. 0 in. Width: 20 ft. 0 in. – 50 ft. 0 in.

Growth Rate-This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

Sun Preference-Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference-The Yoshino cherry is very versatile growing in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. While it prefers moist conditions, the tree has some drought tolerance.

Wildlife Value: Fruits attract birds and tree is larval host to butterflies.

Flower Description: Flowers are pure or snow-white in color for 2-3 weeks. Inflorescence is a congested corymb. it is 5-6 flowered. Flowers have a slight almond fragrant.

Attributes This tree:

• Produces an amazing profusion of white-pink flowers March through April.
• Features alternating leaves with a simple shape, often reddish as they emerge and turning dark green by summer.
• Yields a round fruit up to 1″ that is attractive to birds, resulting in insignificant litter.
• Grows in a rounded shape.

Prairifire Flowering Crabapple- Malus ‘Prairifire’

Its showy, dark pink to red flowers is what draw most people to the prairifire flowering crabapple. And for good reason. The stunning, long-lasting spring blossoms are a sight to behold. But this variety also offer year-round beauty with its changing leaf color. Glossy maroon or purplish red in spring, the leaves become dark green with purplish-red veins in the summer then a beautiful bronze color in autumn.

Family: Roseaceae

Hardiness Zones: 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a

Tree Type; Deciduous.

Mature Size: Height: 15 ft. 0 in. – 26 ft. 0 in. Width: 10 ft. 0 in. – 20 ft. 0 in.

Growth Rate: This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

Sun Preference: Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Soil Preference: The Prairifire flowering crabapple grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils.

Wildlife Values: Songbirds

Flower Description: Flowers are white to pink to carmine to red to rose in color. They are 5-petaled and bloom in mid to late spring. Petals are small and orbicular to obovate. Flowers have 15-20 stamens, usually with anthers. They have an inferior ovary.

Attributes This tree:

• Is disease resistant.
• Yields abundant, maroon-colored berry-like drupes up to ½
• Is self-fertile, meaning it depends on insects such as bees to transfer pollen between flowers on the same tree.
• Can be used to pollinate apple trees. (However, because bees tend to stay within the same flower color when foraging apple blossoms, try to match the flower color of the crabapple to the apple variety.)
• Eat flowers only in moderation, they contain cyanide precursors. Fruits are edible but must be cooked to be palatable.

Shadblow Serviceberry- Amelanchier canadensis

Blooms in March and April (depending on location), with delicate white flowers arranged in clusters Is one of the finest small trees for fall color, with leaves turning vivid shades of red and gold. Produces berry-like fruit that ripens in June, changing from green to red to purplish black

Family: Roseaceae

Hardiness Zones: 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a

Tree Type: This is a flowering Deciduous tree, typically planted for its profusion of flowers.

Growth Rate: Medium

Mature size:15′ – 25′

Sun Preference: Full Sun, Partial Sun/Shade

Soil Preference: Acidic, Moist, Well Drained

Wildlife Value: The fruit this tree produces is loved by birds.

Flower Description: Short-lived (10 days) lightly fragrant white, drooping racemes 2″-4″ long bloom early spring just before dogwoods. Flower parts are in multiples of fives.

Attributes-This tree:

• native to Europe, Africa, Northern America, and Temperate Asia. It is one of the first shrubs to flower in the spring, just before the dogwoods.
• It acquired the common name serviceberry because it blooms as soon as the ground starts to thaw, when people were able to dig graves and bury their dead after the winter.
• The berries are also popular with the human crowd for pies, preserves and fresh eating.

Let me know what soring beauties you love