Trees that bloom white in spring are always the first to produce flowers and give the landscape a dramatic effect. The appearance of new white flowers on stunning flowering trees with beautiful leaves is the epitome of spring.
While there are many white flowering trees, they all have distinctive features and characteristics that make them unique and perfect for different growing regions and landscapes.
Find the ideal white flowering tree for your backyard by scanning through the list of trees that bloom white in spring below.
Contents
Several Stunning Trees That Bloom White in Spring
1. Yoshino Cherry Tree
Elegant in its looks, the Yoshino cherry tree is a Japanese flowering cherry tree that produces beautiful almond-scented white blooms in early spring.
One of the unique traits is that this Japanese tree is grown as an ornamental tree in several parts of the world. It is perfect as a standalone tree or can be planted with other trees, like the weeping cherry tree, which produces flowers much earlier than the rest.
– Characteristics
This tree is also called the Japanese flowering cherry, or the Yoshino cherry trees which would fit almost any type of landscape because of their medium-sized height. However, they are prone to grow up to 30 feet tall and 40 feet wide.
These sprawling trees have a uniquely shaped crown that adds to their allure. They produce tiny berries along with their flowers, and although these fruits aren’t palatable to people because of their bitter taste, they attract all sorts of birds, just like they would for the Japanese snowbell tree.
While they are a beauty to behold, these cherry trees are a lot of work to grow, as they are a challenge, or in short, they are high-maintenance trees. Although, if you keep at it and take care of them well, the results are worth it which you will see in spring time.
– Growing Conditions
As previously stated, Yoshino cherry trees are high-maintenance trees. However, ideally, you can grow these beautiful trees with a few tips and tricks. Some things to consider are watering habits, soil type, planting zone, soil acidity, drainage, and pruning habits, if you keenly provide them, they will have a proper establishment.
Yoshino cherry trees are perfect for zones 5 to 8, so if you’re within these growing zones, they are the right choice for your garden. These trees require direct sunlight all year round, which means that at least six hours every day they need to receive light.
Exposure to sunlight helps the trees stay healthy and produce the lovely fragrant flowers they’re coveted for in spring, somewhat like the white rose.
On another note this, Yoshino cherry trees tolerate a wide range of soil types as long as the soil is moist and drains well. The ideal soil condition for these trees is an average soil, with medium moisture and a pH between 6.5 and 7.
As you would be adding a thin layer of organic hardwood mulch around its base will do the trick to keep the soil moist and the roots won’t be stressed with the proper humidity coming to them.
2. White Fringe Tree
Fringe trees belong to the olive or Oleaceae family. The fringe tree scientifically known as the Chionanthus virginucus, is also called “old man’s” beard or Grancy greybeard. This beautiful tree is an ornamental one that is indigenous to the southeastern parts of the United States.
American Fringe trees are widely found all over the states, except in some parts of Florida, as they do resemble the American elderberry. They are called fringe trees because of the fringe-like white blooms they produce in spring.
– Characteristics
Fringe trees are known for their characteristic white fringe-like scented flowers that bloom all spring. Their strong sweet scents are able to fill up the whole space during their blooming season in no time, especially in the evening times.
There are two popular varieties of the fringe tree; the American fringe tree, which grows to a height of 33 feet, and the Chinese variety, which is relatively smaller, because it would grow about 20 feet tall with the proper care given.
Fringe trees are dioecious, meaning they have male or female types. The male trees are usually more showy and bloom more in spring than the female trees.
On the other hand, you would easily know the female version, because of how they produce small and edible, blue or purple fruits that appear in the fall. Also, both the male and female varieties of fringe trees grow with a green foliage that would turn different shades of yellow in fall season.
– Growing Conditions
Fringe trees are easy to care for and maintain; however, there are always things you can do to improve the health and looks of these trees.
Fringe trees need well-drained soils to grow optimally, where water shouldn’t stay for a long time. These trees are water-loving and will not tolerate long periods of drought, so they need to be watered frequently, and the soil must be moist.
Like most flowering trees, they will produce more white flowers when exposed to more sun they would receive. Which means that if you’re opting for these ornamental shrubs, plant them where they can receive enough sunshine.
Also, you should note that you can only grow these trees properly by testing your soil’s pH. The ideal soil pH for growing fringe trees is an acidic pH. They can survive in alkaline soils sometimes, but not always.
3. Kousa Dogwood
If you’re familiar with trees, you’ve probably heard of the white dogwood tree, which is also known as kousa dogwood, Chinese dogwood, or Japanese dogwood. It is classified as Cornus kousa and is a white colored flowering dogwood tree. Professional and novice landscapers show great interest in this tree because of its beauty and versatility.
Unlike Cornus Florida, Cornus kousa trees are more drought-tolerant. Also, unlike Giant dogwood or the Cornus controversa, the kousa dogwoods grow small, about 15 to 30 feet tall and wide.
Their small to medium height and shallow root spread enable them to adapt to practically any environment and be planted close to residences and beneath power lines.
– Characteristics
Various kousa dogwood trees produce spring white, red, or pink flowers, that resemble the ones on the Carolina silverbell tree. While they all look beautiful, the type that grows white flowers is the most striking.
Also, these trees are even able to some produce small fruits that interest birds, deer, and other small animals. They’re safe to eat, and many people make wine and jelly out of them, as it doesn’t have any intoxicating characteristic.
– Growing Conditions
You can guarantee year-round interest and continuous aesthetic appeal in your backyard by planting kousa dogwood trees. However, they require some effort to sustain their year-round attractiveness and producing blooms.
These trees can be delicate and sensitive. Although they prefer total exposure to the sun, they can burn under too much heat. So, it’s better to plant them where they can get full sun in the earlier hours of the day and some shade later.
On the other hand, these trees thrive in nutrient-rich soils that aren’t water-logged. As you would provide some well-drained soils with an acidic pH are ideal soil choices for these trees. It’s best to keep the area around the dogwood trees moist, especially for the young trees when the weather is consistently dry.
4. Cleveland Pear
To resist extreme weather conditions and exclusively produce blossoms, the Callery pear tree was modified to create the Cleveland pear trees. These trees are classified as Pyrus calleryana or the Cleaveland select, which are ornamental trees that produce beautiful blossoms in spring time.
Due to their low cost and quick growth, Cleveland pear trees have gained much popularity among landscapers and nature lovers.
– Characteristics
If there’s one feature of Cleveland pear trees that draws attention from observers, it is the color of its flowers. They grow stunning white flowers that add elegance to many landscapes, including sidewalks, backyards, city roads, and many other areas even outside the city.
These trees have a cone-like or pyramidal shape, which certainly adds to their allure. Also, it is a prominent feature that they would grow as tall as 40 feet and spread as wide as 20 feet.
As for their leaves, the Cleveland pear trees have lush oval-shaped green foliage with a glossy look and leather-like texture. Their leaves are prone to change color from green to gold-red or reddish-purple during fall; in the winter, they would be shedding their leaves.
– Growing Conditions
Cleveland Pear trees do best when it is exposed to direct or full sunlight for at least six hours a day. They also tolerate partial shade. These trees are great because they can adapt to almost any soil type but prefer to grow in well-drained loamy soils.
Also, alkaline soils support their growth best. Cleveland Pear trees can survive in many growing zones, especially zones 4 to 9, be sure of your usda growing zone before you opt for these trees.
5. Magnolia Tree
Magnolia grandiflora, popularly called southern magnolia, is a common flowering tree that grows throughout the United States. There are so many varieties of the tree that you will almost always find one or two that can grow in your usda zone.
However, they grow optimally in usda zones 4 to 9. Some species of the magnolia tree include; Kobus Magnolia or the Magnolia kobus, Magnolia stellata, sweetbay magnolia, and umbrella magnolia.
– Characteristics
Magnolia trees produce stunning, fragrant blooms in the shades of white or pink during spring before their foliage would develop. Depending on their growing environment, these trees can be deciduous or evergreen.
The different varieties of magnolia trees grow to be different sizes. Some grow as shrubs, while others are cultivated as tall trees. On another note, their flowers would become bigger in their size, much like the brugmansia spp flowers, they would have a bit of a trumpet shape.
– Growing Conditions
Magnolia trees or shrubs are easy to grow; you only need patience, as they’re not fast-growing plants. They stand out among other flowering trees because they can tolerate shade; however, ideally, they require full sun conditions.
Note that these plants typically struggle in water-logged soils, which means that if you intend to grow magnolia trees in your backyard, the ideal soil for them is an acidic soil that is also a well draining one.
6. Crape Myrtle Tree
Lagerstroemia indica, popularly known as crepe myrtle, Japanese crepe myrtle, or Natchez Crape myrtle tree, is a small flowering tree found in Asia and several parts of the United States, precisely between the zones 7 and 9, similar to the sweet tea tree conditions.
These trees produce stunningly beautiful flowers that range between several shades of colors, from purple to white. Also, they can be grown as standalone trees or as part of a garden of trees.
– Characteristics
The height of crape myrtle trees can range from less than a foot to a bit more than a hundred feet, depending on the variety, because they have a vast variety.
Their flowers blossom from late spring to fall and sometimes even until the early frost arrives. Despite being grown for ornamental purposes, some ornamental species of Crepe myrtle can also be utilized to construct furniture, bridges, and numerous other things, because of the quality of the bark that it has.
– Growing Conditions
Japanese crape myrtle trees typically require minimal care and maintenance. However, there are always things you can do to boost their growth and flower production, for instance, you must provide the tree with direct sunlight to grow in a more profound way.
So, when selecting a planting spot, choose a portion of your landscape that receives at minimum of six hours of sunlight per day, as this is important for the proper production of flowers. Any less than six hours daily will show a significant decline in flower production as it would hinder the growth.
Although the trees aren’t overly picky about the pH of the soil, but it does favor slightly acidic to neutral pH. However, they can be really sensitive to soil moisture content as these trees are prone to root rot and other diseases caused by water-logged soils.
7. Royal White Redbud
Royal white redbud (Cercis canadensis) is an ornamental flowering tree that is sure to be noticed wherever it is planted. These white redbud trees are grown for their stunning arrangement of royal white flowers that bloom in early spring.
– Characteristics
Royal white redbud grows up to 30 feet tall and its width would reach about 25 feet wide. They are perfect for many landscapes as well as backyards because they are low-maintenance trees.
They grow perfectly in zones 4 to 9. Which means that, if you’re within this growing zone, you should consider making this tree a focal point of your landscape to provide you with an elevated aesthetics.
– Growing Conditions
White redbud trees aren’t fussy and can grow and thrive in almost any soil type. They are easily adaptable and very easy to maintain, which means you can grow them in a spot in your backyard with proper sunlight exposure, ideally around six hours of sunlight.
On another note, these trees appreciate some shade sometimes, especially in the afternoon when the weather is extremely hot.
In addition, the royal white redbud trees need to be watered frequently when they’re newly planted. As you would take care of their water needs they would, in return, provide you with the best results. If you’re not sure about the watering frequency, just check the soil from time to time, and make sure it never gets completely dry.
8. Spring Snow Crabapple Tree
The crabapple tree generally produces fruits; however, if you want a variety that doesn’t produce fruits like the black chokeberry, you should opt for the snow crabapple variety. This spring snow apple tree is popularly cultivated for its beautiful fragrant white flowers and glossy green foliage.
– Characteristics
Interestingly, the green leaves of snow tree would change colors from lush green to golden-yellow as the fall approaches.
Asides from the white flowers, this display of the tree make it a beautiful addition to the backyards and landscapes it is grown in. Crabapple trees would typically grow up to 25 feet in height and have a spread of 20 feet.
On another note, it is important to note that these trees can be toxic to beloved pets like cats, horses, and dogs. So it’s best to plant them well away from the reach of pets, or else if they consume it accidentally, it would intoxicate them.
– Growing Conditions
Like many other ornamental flowering trees, snow crabapple needs complete exposure to the sun. They don’t tolerate shaded areas, so if you want to plant these trees, you must make sure to find a spot where they can receive enough sunlight exposure to grow them.
Additionally, the snow crabapple trees can grow in almost any soil type and texture which are sandy, chalky, clay, and loam, as long as they’re moist but well-drained.
9. Japanese Lilac Tree
The Japanese lilac tree also called the Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata), is an ornamental tree grown all over Europe and even in parts of America. These tree grow small and produce very fragrant flowers that grow in clusters during spring and even in early summer.
– Characteristics
Japanese lilac trees have spreading branches that form a beautiful shape. These trees can spread as wide as 25 feet, and as tall as 30 feet. Owing to their size, they can be grown as small trees or shrubs.
The lilac trees have characteristic medium sized medium to dark green leaves with thin tips. Their leaves change to a beautiful greenish-brown, before they drop during fall.
Additionally, Japanese lilac trees are attractive to pollinators like bees and other insects because of their stunning fragrant flowers, and as bees come for pollination, they would even help other plants or trees to grow more as well.
These trees also produce fruits that grow as capsules with seeds in them in spring time. Generally, they are perfect to grow in almost any space because of their small size.
– Growing Conditions
To get the best results, the ideal time to plant Japanese tree Lilac is during late winter or early spring. These trees will do well with full or partial sun exposure. However, in partial sun exposure, they won’t bloom as much. These trees grow well in moist, well-drained soils, with a neutral or acidic pH.
Conclusion
You can brighten up the look of your backyard landscape with any of the cheery trees listed in this article. Most of these showstoppers will serve to liven up your space and provide you with shade from the afternoon sun.
Here’s what we covered in this article:
- The fridge tree, would produce fragrant blooms that would still fill the atmosphere during the evenings, especially in the blooming season.
- The flowers on the dog wood tree would start to blossom in spring time, and your backyard would be very well lit with the flowers
- Cleveland pear trees would produce flowers faster than leaves, and the foliage would be thriving till the early winter.
Even though options like the Bridal wreath spirea (spiraea prunifolia), hibiscus syriacus, hydrangea paniculata, styrax japonicus and aesculus californica bloom white in spring, but the list above covered the more authentic ones.
In addition, the Cephalanthus occidentalis, halesia carolina, chionanthus virginicus, natal plum, carissa macrocarpa, orange jasmine and murraya paniculata bloom white in spring, but now, which one will you be planting?
References
- https://bernheim.org/learn/trees-plants/bernheim-select-urban-trees/japanese-tree-lilac/#:~:text=Plants%20can%20be%20grown%20as,of%2015%20to%2025%20feet.&text=Leaves%20are%20simple%2C%20opposite%2C%20entire,leaves%20are%20slightly%20fuzzy%20beneath.
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST523&ved=2ahUKEwiWjLj_v8H7AhXH-KQKHfB8AiAQFnoECGUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2GTL6lRf10D87d4vT7E7iu
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