Choose a flowering tree for the space it will occupy after the spring display has passed. Redbuds, serviceberries, cherries, dogwoods and magnolias can all bring flowers to a yard, but their mature size and other features differ. Start with the space available, then narrow down the tree.
Redbud brings flowers before its leaves
A redbud can flower along its stems and branches, which makes its early spring display particularly easy to notice. It is a smaller landscape tree that can reach roughly 25 feet tall and wide, but check the expected size of the particular tree you buy. ‘Forest Pansy’ is a redbud selected for purple foliage after flowering. Its leaf color can vary with its exposure and conditions; some afternoon shade may help it hold its color. To think through placement before planting, read making a good tree choice.
Look beyond the first flush of flowers
Serviceberry has spring flowers followed by berries. The fruit can be eaten if birds do not get to it first, and leaving it for the birds is a benefit in its own right. Cherries and dogwoods are other flowering trees to consider, but do not assume every tree offered under those names will fit the same spot. Read the label for the exact species or cultivar and its mature spread.
Magnolias show why the variety matters. Saucer magnolia blooms in spring with large, tulip-shaped flowers. ‘Little Gem’ is a compact Southern magnolia selection with white flowers in summer. A standard Southern magnolia can grow much larger, sometimes up to 80 feet. Do not pick a tree from its flowers alone if it will eventually crowd the house or overhead space.
Give the chosen tree a good start
Once you have checked the likely height and width, look at the light and the planting spot. Spring can be a planting time, though a newly planted tree will need attention to watering as the weather warms. Avoid squeezing the root ball into an undersized hole or piling soil against the trunk. Our post on planting trees in cool weather walks through the hole, root ball and mulch in more detail.
