Gardening Plants & Flowers Trees

29 Flowering Trees to Add to Your Landscape

Star magnolia tree branches with white star-shaped flowers in sunlight

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Flowering trees are a great way to add a pop of color and texture to any landscape. Regardless of your growing zone or the conditions you have available, there is a flowering tree out there for any kind of environment.

Here are 29 varieties of flowering trees that will brighten up your yard. 

  • 01 of 29

    Star Magnolia

    Star magnolia tree with white star-shaped flowers in branches closeup

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, with white star-shaped flowers that appear in March and April, before the leaves appear. This is a large shrub that grows up to 24 feet tall, but it can be trained as a tree by pruning to retain a single stem to serve as the trunk. 

    • Name: Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
    • Flower Color: Red, pink, yellow, white, purple
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, loamy
    • Mature Size: 15-20 ft. tall, 15 ft. wide
  • 02 of 29

    Dogwood

    Dogwood tree with white flowers growing on bare branches in sunlight

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    In addition to the showy spring flowers, Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida) offer landscape interest in fall and winter as the glossy green leaves turn attractive shades of red and berries appear. Their interesting branching patterns show up best in winter after their leaves have dropped.

    • Name: Dogwood (Cornus florida)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
    • Flower Color: White, pink, yellow, green
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, loamy
    • Mature Size: 15-30 ft. tall
  • 03 of 29

    Yoshino Cherry

    Yoshino cherry tree in a backyard.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    When you think of flowering trees, a cherry tree likely comes to mind. Cherry trees are notorious for being prolific bloomers, rewarding you with a stunning show of fragrant pink blossoms every spring. The Yoshino cherry tree (Prunus x yedoensis) is an amazing hybrid specimen with light pink blooms.

    • Name: Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: White, pink
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 30 ft. tall, 40 ft. wide
  • 04 of 29

    Weeping Cherry

    Weeping cherry tree with drooping branches and light pink flowers against blue skies

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Several varieties of weeping cherry trees are available, and they are among the most treasured plants of spring. Weeping cherries need to be kept moist, especially in drought conditions, by using mulch around the base of the tree.  

    • Name: Weeping Cherry (Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rosea’)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: Pink, white
    • Light: Full sun.
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining, loamy
    • Mature Size: 15-25 ft. tall, 15-25 ft. wide
    Continue to 5 of 29 below
  • 05 of 29

    Kwanzan Cherry

    Kwanzan and yoshino cherry trees with small pink flowers and buds on branch

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan') has an upright, rather than a weeping form, but it puts on an equally fine flowering show in spring. It grows 25 to 36 feet, and unlike many flowering trees, it also makes a good street tree.

    • Name: Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: Pinkish red
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
    • Mature Size: 15-25 ft. tall, 13-26 ft. wide
  • 06 of 29

    Saucer Magnolias

    Saucer magnolia trees with bright pink saucer-like flowers on thin branches

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) varieties offer large pink, white, or purple blooms and grow up to 33 feet tall. Avoid planting this tree in southern exposures, as the flower buds may emerge too early and be prone to cold damage. 

    • Name: Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
    • Flower Color: Pink, white
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 20-25 ft. tall, 20-25 ft. wide
  • 07 of 29

    Eastern Redbud

    Eastern redbud tree with pinkish-purple flowers on long bare branches

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Like flowering dogwood, the Eastern Redbud is indigenous to North America and is among the best flowering landscape trees of the spring. The flowers are not large, but they stand out because the blooms are among the first to appear in the spring on bare branches, coating them in a pinkish-purple fuzz.

    • Name: Eastern Redbud (Cersis canadensis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: Pink
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining
    • Mature Size: 20-30 ft. tall, 30-35 ft. wide
  • 08 of 29

    Hawthorn

    Hawthorn tree with pink blossoms.
    Nalin Nelson Gomes/Getty Images

    Hawthorn trees are one of the few flowering trees that provide color past early to mid-spring. This tree typically blooms in late spring to early summer. Plants in the Crataegus genus can bloom in pink, white, or red. Birds eat their berries in fall or winter.

    • Name: Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: White, pink
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 15-50 ft. tall, 5-20 ft. wide
    Continue to 9 of 29 below
  • 09 of 29

    Golden Chain

    Laburnum

    Reimphoto / Getty Images

    If you're looking for a flowering tree with something other than the white or pink blooms found on most spring-flowering trees, consider the glorious Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum spp.). This tree is slightly fussy, requiring a sheltered location and attention to a variety of pests and diseases.

    • Name: Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-7
    • Flower Color: Yellow
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 15-25 ft. tall, 9-12 ft. wide

    Warning

    All parts of a Golden Chain tree are toxic to people, dogs, and cats.

  • 10 of 29

    Crepe Myrtle

    Crape myrtle tree branches with bright pink flowers clustered near leaves

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    If you wish to follow up all of that spring color with terrific summer color, consider Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). A popular choice for Southerners, they have a long blooming period (mid-summer to fall) and grow up to 40 feet tall, with a multi-stem growth habit that can be trained into a tree form.

    • Name: Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
    • Flower Color: Pink, red
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 6-25 ft. tall, 6-20 ft. wide
  • 11 of 29

    Oklahoma Redbud

    Oklahoma redbud tree.

    Jon Kraft / Getty Images

    The Oklahoma redbud (Cercis reniformis ‘Oklahoma’) is a small redbud species that is known for its stunning spring show of dark pink flowers. The flowers appear on the bare stems before the leaves appear in the spring and are then followed by purple seed pods that remain on the tree into the winter months.

    • Name: Oklahoma Redbud (Cercis reniformis ‘Oklahoma’)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
    • Flower Color: Dark pink
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, well-draining
    • Mature Size: 30-40 ft. tall, 25-20 ft. wide
  • 12 of 29

    White Eastern Redbud

    White Eastern Redbud tree.

    AardLumens / Getty Images

    If red or pink blooms aren’t your thing then the White Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis f. alba) is for you. Beautiful pea-like white flowers adorn the branches in the early spring before the foliage emerges.

    • Name: White Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis f. alba)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining
    • Mature Size: 20-30 ft. tall, 25-35 ft. wide
    Continue to 13 of 29 below
  • 13 of 29

    Higan Cherry

    Higan cherry tree.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The Higan cherry tree (Prunus x subhirtella) is a gorgeous ornamental flowering cherry tree that adds a burst of color to any landscape. Light pink blooms contrast beautifully against the dark and textured bark in the spring, and the dark green foliage turns to shades of red, yellow, and gold in the fall months.

    • Name: Higan Cherry (Prunus x subhirtella)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: Pink, white
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining
    • Mature Size: 25-30 ft. tall
  • 14 of 29

    Fringe Tree

    Fringe tree flowers.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    If texture is what you’re after then the Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) simply can’t be passed up. In the spring, this ornamental tree is covered in white, fringe-like flowers which eventually give way to bluish-black fruits.

    • Name: Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 12-20 ft. tall, 12-20 ft. wide
  • 15 of 29

    Flowering Crabapple

    Flowering crab apple trees.

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    There are more than 30 species of flowering crabapples (Malus spp. and cultivators) that are prized for their showy blooms and tart fruits. These flowering fruit trees prefer areas with plenty of sun and soil that is well-draining and rich in organic materials. Most cultivators will only grow to be between 15 to 20 feet tall.

    • Name: Flowering Crabapple (Malus spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: Pink, white
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-draining, loamy
    • Mature Size: 15-20 ft. tall, 12-20 ft. wide
  • 16 of 29

    Southern Magnolia

    Southern magnolia tree.

    The Spruce / K. Dave

    Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) are beloved for their large fragrant flowers and thick, glossy leaves. They are native to the Southeastern United States and are hardy in zones 6 to 10. Since they can get up to 80 feet tall, ensure you choose a location that provides this tree plenty of room to grow over time.

    • Name: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 60-80 ft. tall, 20-40 ft. wide
    Continue to 17 of 29 below
  • 17 of 29

    Kousa Dogwood

    Kousa dogwood tree flowers.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) trees are popular among landscape designers and homeowners alike for their versatility and year-round interest. Notably, the large blooms of the kousa dogwood are actually bracts, or specialized foliage, rather than flowers (which can be found in the center of the bracts). 

    • Name: Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Mature Size: 15-30 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide
  • 18 of 29

    Flowering Almond Tree

    Flowering almond tree.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’, commonly called flowering almond, is a small tree or shrub that is known for its stunning show of light pink blooms in the early spring months. Flowering almond trees are known for being more cold-tolerant than flowering cherry trees which makes them a great option for gardeners that experience harsh winters.

    • Name: Flowering Almond (Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
    • Flower Color: Pink
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 10-15 ft. tall, 10-15 ft. wide
  • 19 of 29

    Juneberry

    Flowering juneberry tree.

    TasfotoNL / Getty Images

    The Juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) is a species of serviceberry that is popular for its showy blooms and year-round interest. This small tree displays fragrant star-shaped white flowers in the spring and edible purple berries in the early summer which are popular in pies and jams. 

    • Name: Juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 15-20 ft. tall
  • 20 of 29

    Pear Tree

    Flowering pear tree.

    Martin Ruegner / Getty Images

    Pear trees (Pyrus communis) are a great addition to any landscape. Not only are they filled with beautiful blooms in the spring months, but they’ll reward you with delicious fruit in the summer and gorgeous fall foliage too.

    • Name: Pear Tree (Pyrus communis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: Yellow, white
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, clay, well-draining
    • Mature Size: 40-50 ft. tall
    Continue to 21 of 29 below
  • 21 of 29

    Jerusalem Thorn

    Jerusalem Thorn tree in bloom.

    Lokibaho / Getty Images

    Native to the southwestern United States, the Jerusalem Thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata) is a small flowering tree that is prized for its year-round interest. It features delicate green foliage and bright yellow flowers in the spring and summer months.

    • Name: Jerusalem Thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
    • Flower Color: Yellow
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Clay, loamy, sandy, well-draining
    • Mature Size: 15-20 ft. tall, 20-25 ft. wide
  • 22 of 29

    Red Buckeye

    Red Buckeye tree.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Another famous native tree is the Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia). It's known for its showy blooms that grow in three to six-inch clusters at the end of the branches during the spring.

    • Name: Red Buckeye Tree (Aesculus pavia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
    • Flower Color: Red, pink
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 15-20 ft. tall, 15-20 ft. wide
  • 23 of 29

    Silver Wattle

    Flowering Acacia tree.

    Minh Hoang Cong / 500px / Getty Images

    The Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) is a small tree that features delicate blue-gray leaves and fluffy yellow flowers in the late winter and early spring. It does best in full sun and sandy, well-drained soils. The silver wattle is one of the hardiest species of Acacia trees and was the recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

    • Name: Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
    • Flower Color: Yellow
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, sandy
    • Mature Size: 40-50 ft. tall, 40-50 ft. wide
  • 24 of 29

    Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’

    Yellow flowering Magnolia.

    Cori Sears

    Considered one of the best yellow magnolia trees available, the Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ is an excellent addition to any landscape. Featuring bright yellow tulip-like blooms that emerge in the late spring, this showy tree is low-maintenance and hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.

    • Name: Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ (Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Yellow Bird’)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: Yellow
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, loamy
    • Mature Size: 20-40 ft. tall, 10-25 ft. wide
    Continue to 25 of 29 below
  • 25 of 29

    Japanese Snowbell

    Japanese snowbell flowering tree.

    AKIsPalette / Getty Images

    The Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus) features delicate white flowers that make an appearance during the spring months. It’s a relatively small tree with a medium growth rate, reaching about 20 to 25 feet tall at maturity and 25-30 feet wide.

    • Name: Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, loamy
    • Mature Size: 20-25 ft. tall, 25-30 ft. wide
  • 26 of 29

    Carolina Silverbell

    Carolina silverbell flowering tree.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina) is a delicate native tree that displays white bell-shaped flowers in the early spring months. It can be grown as a shrub or tree, depending on how it’s trained, and can grow between 30 to 40 feet tall at maturity.

    • Name: Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 30-40 ft. tall, 20-35 ft. wide
  • 27 of 29

    Japanese Stewartia

    Japanese Stewartia flowering tree.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Add some fall blooms to your landscape with the Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia). This small tree develops small cup-shaped flowers in the summer that last until the fall.

    • Name: Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
    • Flower Color: White, orange
    • Light: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Mature Size: 12-40 ft. tall, 8-25 ft. wide
  • 28 of 29

    Japanese Lilac Tree

    Japanese lilac tree flowers.

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The Japanese lilac tree (Syringa reticulata) is a great tree-form lilac specimen for landscapes in USDA zones 3 to 7. For those familiar with common lilac shrubs, this lilac has a few important differences including the flower scent, bloom time, and bark color, which are all good to know before you buy.

    • Name: Japanese lilac tree (Syringa reticulata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
    • Flower Color: White
    • Light: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, moist, clay, loamy, sandy
    • Mature Size: 20-30 ft. tall, 15-20 ft. wide
    Continue to 29 of 29 below
  • 29 of 29

    Tulip Tree

    Flowering tulip tree.

    Katrin Ray Shumakov / Getty Images

    Gorgeous spring flowers, stunning fall foliage, and attractive to pollinators—the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) has it all. While its blooms may not be as showy as some of the other trees on this list, the fact that this tree is native to North America wins it some big points. It is a massive tree and the flowers are short-lived and quite small, so only go for the tulip tree you're prepared for its size. A catalpa is an alternative with quite large flowers.

    • Name: Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
    • Flower Color: Yellow, green, orange
    • Light: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    • Mature Size: 70-130 ft. tall, 30-60 ft. wide
FAQ
  • What is the easiest flowering tree to grow?

    The charming Eastern Redbud is fast-growing and agreeable, making it a favorite of gardeners looking to add springtime color to their yards.

  • What flowering tree stays in bloom the longest?

    If you're hoping for months of color, plant a crepe myrtle. The delicate, paper-thin flowers on these colorful trees will give you 60 to 120 days of blooms each year.

  • Which flowering tree is the least messy?

    The downside of flowering trees is that those flowers will eventually drop, littering your yard with wilted blooms and seeds or fruit! Dogwood trees are the least messy thanks to the birds that quickly eat the tree's berries before they ever hit the ground.

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  1. Laburnum anagyroidesNorth Carolina State Extension.