10 Flowering Trees for Spring 2024

A well-designed garden includes layers of vibrant color and texture of perennials, annuals, and shrubs. However, flowering trees are a showstopper of any landscape. They provide shade and structure to your garden and add a pop of eye-catching color and texture to the landscape. As winter comes to an end, these flowering trees brighten up the springtime landscape with their colorful blooms. Additionally, they also attract pollinators and birds to your yard. Fortunately, there is a flowering tree for every climate, regardless of your growing zone.

Here are the 10 stunning trees that will add an abundance of beauty to your yard and turn it into a springtime flower show.

1. Southern Magnolia

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist and well-drained soil

Southern magnolia (Magnolia Grandiflora) is beloved for its huge, fragrant spring flowers. This flowering tree blooms flowers in creamy white color and features evergreen, glossy leaves. Southern magnolia is native to the southeastern US and is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10. It can grow very tall, up to 80 feet. Therefore, you should carefully choose a location that provides the tree with enough room to grow over time.

2. Crape Myrtle

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist and well-drained soil

Crape myrtle trees are a striking addition to landscapes in temperate regions. These flowering trees come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Moreover, these popular trees have a long blooming period. They bloom in shades of pink, red, purple, or white from May through fall. They are an excellent choice for small yards. You can let the tree form multiple trunks or prune it into a single-stem tree form.

3. Yoshino Cherry

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

Plant this darling cherry tree in your yard to show prolific blooms for weeks. Cherry trees are well-known for being stunning bloomers as they reward you with a delightful show of fragrant white and pink blossoms each spring. Its blooms have a faint, almond-like fragrance. In addition to the striking springtime show, the Yoshino cherry tree is adored for its rich green leaves and unique branching structure. It also possesses some drought tolerance.

4. Eastern Redbud

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil

Eastern Redbud is one of the most gorgeous and earliest flowering trees to bloom in spring. This easy-to-grow tree is native to North America. The tree boasts heart-shaped leaves and tiny pinkish-purple flowers that line the branches. Additionally, it has yellow fall foliage. Since it is among the first flowering trees to bloom in early to mid-spring, pollinators love this tree.

5. Flowering Crabapple

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-draining, loamy soil

Flowering crabapple trees are small to mid-sized flowering trees that offer spring blooms and fruit. These trees love plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. There are over 30 amazing species of these trees that are beloved for their showy blossoms and tart fruits. They provide a welcoming splash of color in springtime. In spring, they are covered with aromatic bright pink, red, or white flowers. Furthermore, they produce tiny orange, red, or yellow fruit in fall, which the birds love.

6. Flowering Dogwood

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Growing Conditions: Full sun to light shade, well-drained and loamy soil

Flowering dogwood is another popular flowering tree for spring that comes out with an abundance of flowers in early spring that lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Its leaves turn attractive shades of red in fall when it produces small red fruits that look delightful. Dogwood is popular mainly due to its interesting, horizontal branches that give it a graceful appearance all year. Their branches spread to form a large umbrella and add dimensions to the landscape. So, plant these trees where you can enjoy their stunning natural shape.

7. Japanese Snowbell

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil

This is a less common tree, but it is a stunning showpiece when it blooms in late spring. This spring flowering tree features elegant and fragrant bell-shaped white flowers. It is a small tree and reaches around 20-25 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide at maturity. Also, it is a lovely tree, even post-bloom. Another amazing thing about this flowering tree is that it is super easy to grow. Its scented flowers also attract pollinators.

8. Fringe Tree

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist soil

If you're looking for a gorgeous flowering tree with texture, the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is the best choice. The tree gets its name from its tassel-like blooms that appear in mid through late spring. The fringe tree is covered in fragrant white, fringe-like flowers in spring, followed by bluish-black fruits in summer. These are small-sized trees that grow about 12-20 feet tall and wide. This ornamental tree is popular for its beauty as well as adaptability, as it can grow in both sun and shade.

9. Saucer Magnolias

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade, moist soil

This beautiful flowering tree features large, pink, purple, or white saucer-shaped blooms. This springtime flowering tree will add a splash of colors to your yard in early spring. It is one of the most popular flowering trees in the country. Saucer magnolia can grow up to 25 feet tall and wide. When the tree is in full bloom, one look is enough to mesmerize you. Their beauty and flower shape add interest to any landscape.

10. Tulip Tree

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist soil

Last on our list is the tulip tree, the gorgeous flowering tree that boasts stunning spring blooms and dazzling fall foliage and is also attractive to pollinators. Though its flowers are not showy like the other trees, this is native to North America, and its unique cup-shaped flowers are sure to beautify your yard. It produces blooms in shades of yellow, green, and orange. The tulip tree is a massive tree, up to 130 feet tall. So, plant this tree if you're prepared for its size.

Wrapping Up

Flowering trees add splashes of stunning color and beauty to your landscape. Spring is the season of bright blooms and sweet scents. The above-mentioned trees are the popular flowering trees for spring that produce attractive blooms in an array of shades. Choose a few trees from the list that are suitable for your space and growing zone, plant them in your yard, and spruce up your outdoor space. For information on landscape irrigation contact Dripworks or check out our website at dripworks.com. We have knowledgeable staff ready to assist you.

Happy spring!