Fabulous Flowering Trees

There are many more varieties of flowering trees than those I have listed here. This list includes some of my favorites. They can certainly improve your landscaping and increase the value of your property.

Magnolia

Magnolia is a flowering tree with large pink or white flowers being the most popular.

Magnolia Trees belong to the flowering plant family Magnoliaceae. When magnolias blossom in the spring, they produce exquisite pink, mauve, rosy-purple, white, and red flowers. Magnolia flowers are large and fragrant and will add beauty, grace, and elegance to your garden.

One of the delightful features of magnolias is that their fragrant blossoms often appear before their leaves. Depending on the species, magnolia flowers can be cup-shaped or saucer-shaped and are generally very large. The big pink flowers can sometimes be up to 12” (30 cm) across. Some of the smaller light pink blooms can be around 4” (10 cm).

Flowering magnolia trees can grow to about 40 ft. (12 m) high. However, if you have a smaller garden, choose a dwarf variety that grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall.

Magnolias grow well in zones 4 – 9; but check the species as some varieties only grow well in warmer climates.

Flowering Cherry Trees

The cherry tree has beautiful blossoms of pinkish-white flowers

Many people regard flowering cherry trees as the most beautiful of the spring flowering trees. Also called sakura, the Japanese cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) produces beautiful light pink and white flowers.

Similar to magnolias, cherry blossoms are some of the first flowers on trees to appear in spring. The small 5-petal flowers create showy clusters of ruffled blossoms. From a distance, these flowers give the tree an appearance of being covered in pinkish-white candy floss.

The flowering season of cherry blossom trees can be relatively short. After flowering, the trees may lose their petals in 2 to 3 weeks. However, you can plant a variety of cherry blossom trees that bloom at different times to extend their flowering time.

Flowering cherry trees thrive in full sun and grow well in zones 4 – 9

Eastern Redbud (American Redbud)

The eastern redbud is a small flowering tree with pink flowers

The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a relatively small deciduous tree that produces pink and dark magenta flowers from spring until summer. Just like with magnolias, eastern redbuds produce flowers before the leaves appear on the trees.

Masses of small rosy-pink flowers in the shapes of pea create a dazzling display of flower clusters on the redbud tree. The thin flower-covered branches grow in all directions to give the tree a truly dramatic look. Adding to the drama are many pink flowers that grow on the trunk.

Although eastern redbud trees are famous for their pink flowers, there are also some species that produce white flowers.

You can expect an eastern redbud to grow to between 20 and 30 ft. (6 – 9 m) and with a spread of up to 33 ft. (10 m). For smaller gardens, choose a smaller dwarf tree such as the ‘Ace of Hearts’ that only grows to 9 ft. (2.7 m) tall. Redbuds grow well in zones 5 – 9.

Persian Silk Tree or Mimosa Tree (Albizia Julibrissin)

The Persian silk tree has fragrant fluffy pink and white flowers

Also called “mimosa,”( the Persian Silk Tree) is a species of flowering tree known for its fluffy pink flower heads. The Persian silk tree shouldn’t be confused with trees from the genus Mimosa. The flowers on both trees may look similar but they are from different genera.

Mimosa silk trees have long spreading branches with drooping fern-like leaves. From early summer until mid-summer fragrant pink and white flowers grace the tree. In the warm sun, these spiky-looking flowers give off a delicate floral fragrance.

Compared to other types of tree flowers, flowers from mimosas are unique. They are a cluster of pink stamens about 3 cm long. These form “powderpuff” flowerheads that look fluffy on light-green pipinnate -shaped leaves. A leaf resembling a feather

Persian silk trees grow well in warmer climates that are in zones 7 – 9.

Dogwood

Dogwood trees have white, purple, pink, or red flowers

Dogwoods are stunning flowering trees that produce small white, purple, pink, or red flowers. The flowerheads on dogwood trees are made up of beautiful petals that are obovate-shaped and taper to a point. The center of the individual flowers is a dense cluster of greenish-yellow stamens.

Apart from some species of dogwood producing star-shaped pink flowers, dogwood tree leaves turn to shades of purple and burgundy in fall.

Plant dogwood trees in moist well-drained soil in zones 5 – 8.

Crape Myrtle

The giant crape myrtle is a large flowering tree but smaller varieties are available as well

One of the most striking trees to produce purple flowers in summer is the crape myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia). Small deep purple petals form delicate flowers that grow in clusters.

Crape myrtle trees thrive in hot dry climates and their purple flowers are long-lasting. Because the branches start low to the ground, this flowering tree may look more like a large flowering shrub. Each flower cluster grows in a conical triangle shape and they cover the tree with purple color all summer.

Although purple is the most common flower color of crape myrtle, other Lagerstroemia cultivars also produce white, red, and pink flowers.

Plant crape myrtle as an ornamental tree to landscape your garden if you live in zones 7 – 10.

Jacaranda Tree

The blue jacaranta is a large flowering tree with stunning purple flowers

Jacaranda trees (Jacaranda mimosifolia or blue jacaranda) are native to sub-tropical areas but are now grown worldwide due to their stunning purple flowers.

These are large flowering trees that can grow up to 66 ft. tall (20 m) so make sure you have plenty of space in your yard for these flowering trees. The flowers are small (2 in. / 5 cm) and blossom in spring and early summer.

Cauyion the many flower blooms that drop can be quite messy.

Plumeria Tree (Frangipani)

Plumeria is a group of small flowering trees or shrubs and is famous for highly scented, exotic, showy flowers. Plumeria flowers are shaped like a star and come in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, and multi-colors.

Plumeria trees are also called frangipani. The tropical trees are classed as deciduous or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs. However, there are a few evergreen plumeria tree species like the Plumeria obtusa and Plumeria pudica. The spectacular flowering trees thrive in USDA zones 9 through 12. They commonly grow in Florida, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, Mexico, and Central America.

Frangipani trees are moderate to fast-growing plants that can grow up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall. However, in most tropical and subtropical garden landscapes, the exotic trees reach between 6 and 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall.

The only care plumeria trees require is plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, water, and fertilizer.

Floss Silk Tree

Floss-Silk Tree This rounded, deciduous tree eventually has widespreading branches which are green when young and covered with spines, often becoming grey and sometimes losing their coarse, sharp spines The spiny trunk is unusually thick and remains green even on older trees.

Floss-Silk tree can reach 50 feet in height with an equal or greater spread, and grows rapidly the first few years, then more slowly. Some trees maintain a relatively narrow crown with one straight trunk while others are wide-spreading, particularly on older specimens. The large, showy, pink and white, five-petaled flowers, which somewhat resemble narrow-petaled hibiscus, are produced in small clusters in fall and winter (usually October) when the tree is nearly bare.

The fruits are large, eight-inch-long, pear-shaped, woody capsules, filled with silky, white, kapok-like floss and pea-like seeds. Floss from the seeds was used for stuffing pillows and thin strips of the bark have been used to make rope. The Floss Tree is not native to North America.

Red Flower Gum

Red Flowering Gum is very desirable as a flowering accent tree, with its profusion of bright flower clusters in late summer, and sporadically throughout the year. It prefers temperate coastal conditions, where it tolerates dryness and salt spray. It is drought and smog tolerant. Hardiness estimate : 25-30 degrees F. Leaves have no dot glands when held up to the light (see photo). Native range: Western AustraliaHorticultural

The Red Flowering Gum has an ovate Leaf color: dark green flowers: showy, fragrant Flower color: Orange or Pink or Red or Rose. Flower type: Has male and female reproductive parts in each flower (perfect) flowering time: Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer.

Planting area: 5′ to 10′ Sun exposure: Partial shade to full sun;

Soil texture: Loam or SandSoil pH: Slightly acidic to very alkaline soil salinity tolerance: Coastal, moderate salt spray tolerance: High

#trees #floweringtrees