Flowering Trees For Spring

Welcome spring with the pretty pink blossoms of 'Ace of Hearts' redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Ace Of Hearts'). This dwarf variety grows to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Flowers appear before leaves unfurl, transforming twigs into blooming branches. Heart-shaped leaves turn gold in fall. Hardy in zones 5-9.

Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) is the single most popular magnolia, and it’s easy to see why. Its showy pink flowers steal the spotlight in early to mid-spring. The tree quickly grows to its mature height of 20 to 25 feet. Large blossoms to 8 inches across exude a beautiful perfume. In regions with lingering late spring frosts, don’t plant near the southern side of a structure because retained heat might trigger early flowering, which frost can quickly wipe out. Hardy in zones 4-9.

Large white flowers cover Hyperion dogwood in early spring. Hyperion hails from the dogwood breeding team at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The oversize blooms nearly overlap to blanket the tree in white. Flowers fade to form red, strawberry-like fruits that birds love. Fall color offers a medley of hues: purple, gold and orange. Expect this dogwood to reach its mature size of 20 feet tall and wide in roughly 20 years. Hardy in zones 6-9.

Flowering crabapple trees paint spring with floral finery that’s tough to beat. 'Thunderchild' is no exception. Delicate pink blossoms open before deep purple leaves appear, releasing a delicate fragrance. All this beauty belies a tough-as-nails constitution, marked by strong disease resistance (no fireblight here!) and strong winter hardiness. Mature size is 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Hardy in zones 3-7.