April and May are synonymous with spring renewal blessing us with an assortment of colorful blossom trees across the landscapes of homes, libraries, banks, stores, schoolyards, doctor’s offices, and more. Growth locations of the following flowering trees include widspread U.S. regions from New York to California, Texas to Michigan and other places around the world including Europe and Asia. The following presentation includes identifying photos accompanied by interesting information and growing guidelines. Be inspired!

Eight Spring Flowering Trees to Beautify Your Landscape

1. Ornamental Crabapple Tree
2. Redbud Tree
3. Weeping Cherry Tree
4. Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Tree
5. Japanese Kwanzan Cherry Tree
6. Magnolia Tree
7. Dogwood Tree
8. Wild Crabapple Tree

1. Ornamental Crabapple Tree

The Ornamental Crabapple tree (Malus x) paints spring with floral finery of pink, red and white hues. Malus is a genus of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family, Rosaceae, which includes the domesticated orchard or eating apple trees. The “x” in (Malus x) means it is a hybrid cross between different Malus varieties. Fruits of most Ornamental Crabapple tree cultivars are small and too sour or bitter to eat but useful for making jelly and preserves. Birds and various other wildlife actively forage on the fruit of Malus x Ornamental Crabapple tree varieties.

Cultivated varieties of the Ornamental Crabapple trees, Malus x, are planted in landscapes for their four season interest featuring spring flowers, colorful summer foliage, autumn fruit, and structural winter beauty. They grow into a variety of shapes, including rounded, weeping, upright, pyramidal, and vase. Small and dwarf varieties make suitable container plants for patios. Full-size varieties are ideal for small lots and large landscapes. Rows of Ornamental Crabapple trees are superb looking when lined up next to driveways or used as screens.

• Bloom: Mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun
• Growth: Typically 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 meters) tall and wide. There are dwarf varieties and larger varieties growing up to 40 feet (12 m) tall.
• Soil: Prefers well drained to slightly acidic soil but are known for their tolerance of various soil types, including heavy clay, sand, and even compacted, poor soils.
• Locations: Native and hybrid varieties are widely distributed across Northern Hemisphere temperate regions from Asia, Europe, and North America. Popular locations in landscapes across the U.S. include the Midwest, east to New England and Mid-Atlantic coastal regions. Specific collections exist in botanical gardens, such as the Jennings Crabapple Collection in New York.
• Zone: 3–8 (There are specific varieties that can survive in Zone 2).
• The Backyard Farmer gives advice and presents a Varieties Video of Ornamental Crabapple trees for different landscape purposes.

Flowering Eastern Redbud tree from emerging to full bloom.

2. Eastern Redbud Tree

Spiky branches stretch upwards and outwards on the Eastern Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis), also named the American Redbud. Clusters of pea-size magenta buds swell into showy rose-pink flowers in early spring before the leaves appear! The long-lasting blossoms put on a show for two to three weeks.

Heart-shaped leaves of 2 to 6 inches long emerge a reddish color, turning dark green in summer and then a bright canary yellow in autumn. The flowers also give rise to clusters of bean-like pods that remain on the tree into winter.

The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small deciduous tree characterized by a fast-growing and spreading habit developing slightly wider than tall. It forms a broad, rounded, or flat-topped crown with graceful, arching branches that often divide close to the ground, creating a multi-stemmed or vase-shaped appearance.

History of the Redbud Tree

Native to North America and Canada with cousins in Europe and Asia, the Eastern Redbud tree was noted by Spaniards in 1571 who made distinctions between the New World species and their cousins in the Mediterranean region. Centuries later, George Washington reported in his diary on many occasions about the beauty of the tree and spent many hours in his garden transplanting seedlings obtained from the nearby forest. It was chosen as the state tree of Oklahoma in 1937.

• Bloom: Mid-spring
• Exposure: Best in full sun to light shade
• Growth: 20–30 feet (6–9 meters) tall
• Spread: 25–35 feet (7.5–10.5 meters) wide
• Soil: Prefers well drained slightly acidic sandy, loamy soil, but will tolerate clay avoiding waterlog conditions.
• Locations: American or Eastern Redbud tree is native to the eastern half of the U.S. stretching from southern Michigan to central Texas and eastward to New Jersey, parts of Canada and south to Florida. Other varieties thrive in the U.S. West Coast, Europe and Asia.
• Zone: 4–9

3. Weeping Cherry Tree

A waterfall of delicate pale pink flowers forms an umbrella over the trunk of the Weeping Cherry tree (Prunus pendula), making it a desirable choice to beautify any landscape! For many years, the Japanese have cultivated this lovely cherry tree. The blossoms are held in clusters of 4 to 5 single or double flowers drooping off the branches with some almost kissing the ground. There are several other vaieties with Prunus pendula being one of the oldest traditional Japanese cultivars.

Although short-lived, the Weeping Cherry tree grows to an impressive size. Like the other Prunus trees, they are ornamental, meaning you would not plant them if your goal is to grow sweet cherries for eating.

Dangling branches of the Wheeping Cherry in Bloom (Tap or Click)

• Bloom: Early to mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun, though can handle partial shade
• Growth: 20–30 feet (6–9 meters) tall
• Spread 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 meters) wide
• Soil: Prefers well-draining loamy or sandy soil and needs regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist, especially in hot weather; avoid waterlog conditions.
• Locations: Native to Japan, introduced to the US around 1862. It is widely cultivated across the U.S from Michigan, Virginias, Carolinas, Washington D.C. to California and is also popular in Europe and Asia.
• Zone: 5–8

4. Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Tree

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus × cistena) also called, Dwarf Red Leaf Plum tree, is another member of the rose (Rosaceae) family. “Prunus” is Latin for “plum,” while “cistena” is the Sioux Native American word for “baby,” given presumably for its smallish size. The “x” is indicative of the tree’s hybridism.

The Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is named for its preference to dry, sandy soils, including coastal dunes, sandy prairies, and rocky shorelines. It acts as a specialized sand-stabilizing large shrub or small tree, using deep root networks to prevent erosion in these harsh environments.

The Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is a fast growing small tree with an upright, rounded, or vase-shaped form making it a great choice for those tucked away corners of the landscape.

Petite white flowers with maroon centers make this cherry/plum blossom tree a unique addition to the landscape.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry blossoms give off an amazingly sweet fragrance. Another real plus with these trees is how they compliment green landscapes with their deep maroon leaves throughout the growing seasons! It produces small, edible dark purple fruit adding further interest to the landscape, although birds love the fruit and can strip the tree clean!

• Bloom: Early to mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Growth: 6–10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall
• Spread: 5–8 feet (1.5-2.5 m) wide
• Soil: Well drained fertile soil, ideally with a sandy loam texture but are highly adaptable to rocky or clay soils avoiding waterlog conditions. They are adaptable to various pH levels, ranging from slightly acidic to alkaline; are drought tolerant.
• Locations: Widely cultivated across the U.S. particularly northern United States and Canada, with widespread cultivation reported from the East Coast to the Midwest, including areas like Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado.
• Zone: 2–8

5. Japanese Kwanzan Cherry Tree

The Japanese flowering cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) is known by the names “Kwanzan” or “Kanzan,” named after a mountain in Japan, but the original name is “Sekiyama,” though it is rarely used.

Native to Japan, China, and Korea and introduced to America in 1903, it was made famous by the outlandish floral displays at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

The Kwanzan Cherry tree is the most popular cultivar of all the double-flowering cherries, thanks to its stunning pink blossoms, copper-yellow fall color, lack of fruit, and vase-shaped growth habitat; is another fast growing tree.

• Bloom: Mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun (At least 6 hours of unfiltered sun)
• Growth: Typically 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 meters) tall and wide – sometimes up to 30-40 feet (9-12 m) tall
• Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile, loamy soil with slight acidic to neutral pH. They require consistent moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions; are adaptable to clay with proper drainage or sandy soils with regular watering.
• Locations: Native to Japan, Korea, and China, but they are widely cultivated across temperate regions globally, particularly in North America from NewYork to California and Europe, notably, Germany.
• Zone: 5–9
• Home Owner Advice Video

6. Magnolia Tree

Magnolias are a diverse family of medium-to-small trees. Magnolias, particularly the deciduous, cold-hardy, heat-tolerant varieties, as with the popular Saucer Magnolia and Star Magnolia, though not the iconic Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), can be grown in almost any region of the United States. From the tip of Florida, as far north as Maine and west to Washington state, there’s a magnolia that can be grown in your landscape. The Saucer Magnolia is highly regarded in Asia and is also a popular variety in Europe and Australia. Created in France, specifically, from a cross of two Chinese native species produced around 1826 .

The (Magnolia × soulangeana) or Saucer Magnolia hybrid tree displays robust, whitish-pink, cup-like flowers with pink interiors. This is the most commonly grown magnolia in the U.S. The flowers are produced on bare branches before the leaves in early spring, as with most members of magnolias. Young trees do not flower.

The Saucer Magnolia is a multi-stemmed medium to slow growing small tree or large shrub with a broad, spreading, and rounded canopy. The plant is known for its low-branching habit, producing massive blooms.

The Southern U.S. Magnolia actually bears a cone-shaped fruit that pileated woodpeckers, squirrels, turkeys, and quails eat, but is not advisable for human consumption which can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Throughout American history, the floral beauty of the magnolia has made it one of the country’s most sought-after botanical treasures.

• Bloom: Mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade    
• Growth: 20 to 30 feet (6–9 meters) tall
• Spread: 20 to 30 feet (6–9 meters) wide
• Soil: Prefers fertile loamy soil, but toletates clay and sand with moderate consistent moisture. While preferring acidic soils, they are relatively adaptable to neutral soils, though very high alkalinity causes issues.
• Locations: The Saucer Magnolia is widely cultivated across temperate regions worldwide, particularly in North America and Europe. Other varieties are native to East/Southeast Asia (notably China, Vietnam, Japan) and the Americas (from the U.S. to South America), thriving in temperate to subtropical climates.
• Zone: Southern varieties 7–10; Northern varieties 4–9

7. Flowering Dogwood

An old-time favorite, the flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) is an American native. Other names include the American Dogwood and Florida Dogwood. The American Dogwood trees explode in spring with clusters of white flowers. There are also pink and yellow hybrids. Their compact size is suitable for small landscapes with four-season interest displaying fall leaves turned deep red. They are popular, low-maintenance native trees increasing property charm. Their bright red, berry-like fruit in autumn feed birds and wildlife.

The common name “dogwood” comes from a colonial description of the fruit as being edible, but not fit for a dog. The common name dogwood is also thought to be from the use of the tree’s wood for skewers or “dogs”.

Young flowering Dogwood trees tend to be upright to rounded while mature specimens grow as wide or slightly wider than tall with a round to flat-topped crown. The lateral branches are somewhat horizontal and form a recognizable feature when in bloom and in the winter landscape.

• Bloom: Mid-spring
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Growth: 20–25 feet (6–7.5 meters) tall
• Spread: 20-35 feet (4.5-10.5 m) wide
• Soil: Thrives in well-drained, acidic to neutral soil that is rich in organic matter and consistent moisture, yet not waterlogged; requires regular watering during establishment to avoid stress; a layer of mulch is recommended.
• Locations: The American Dogwood is native to eastern North America ranging from southern Maine, Michigan to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas south to Mexico and the northern most range is in Ontario, Canada. Other varieties are native to temperate and boreal regions across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in North America, Europe and Asia.
• Zone: 5–9

American or Wild Crabapple Trees in Bloom

8. Wild Crabapple Tree

The Wild Crabapple tree (Malus coronaria formerly Pyrus coronaria) has a lot of history as the original native crabapple tree spanning regions in the eastern and central United States. The Wild Crabapple tree is also called the American Crabapple or the Sweet Crabapple tree.

Modern homeowners and landscapers frequently grow American Crabapple trees as ornamental landscape trees. They are highly prized for their spring blossoms, vibrant fall foliage, and medium to small size, which make them ideal for residential yards and street-side planting. The fruit of Malus coronaria are tart if eaten raw, but are great for jellies, jams, sauces, and ciders, due to their high pectin and acidic, tangy flavor.

American, Wild or Sweet Crabapple Tree Flowers

History of the Wild Crabapple Tree

The American, Wild or Sweet Crabapple tree flower is the state flower of both Michigan and Arkansas. The flower was chosen as the state flower by the Michigan legislature in 1897, and the specific variety chosen was Malus (Pyrus) coronaria, the Wild Crabapple. The Wild Crabapple species Malus coronaria (1753) predates the modern hybrid classification of the Ornamental Crabapple-Malus x (flowering tree described above) which was bred for ornamentation. The American Crabapple, Malus coronaria tree flower was chosen as Arkansas’s state flower in 1901 because of the apple’s importance as a cash crop in the state at the time, and it remains the state flower even though Arkansas is no longer a major apple producer.

The Malus coronaria, Wild Crabapple tree habit is characterized by a wide-spreading, open canopy and rigid, often contorted branches. It features highly fragrant, white to light rose pink colored flowers.

• Bloom: Mid to late spring
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Growth: 15-30 feet (4.5-9 m) tall and wide; Dwarf hybrids 7–10 feet (2–3 meters) tall
• Soil: Prefers moist to dry, well-drained soils with slight acidic pH, but is highly adaptable, often thriving in poor or rocky soils from clay, chalk and sand.
• Locations: Native to Eastern and Central North America primarily ranging from southern Ontario, Canada, through the Great Lakes region, and south to Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. It is most prevalent in the Ohio Valley and Appalachian regions, preferring forest edges and moist woodlands.
• Do not plant near Eastern Red Cedar to avoid Cedar Apple Rust
• Zone: 3–8

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