Having a large tree in your yard can come with several different benefits, like shade and diversifying your landscape. Having a large tree that has flowers is even better! When it comes to that perfect balance of shade and beauty, these 19 large flowering trees will give you great examples of flora that will take your landscape to the next level.
1. Magnolia
There are many different kinds of magnolia trees, and almost all of them blossom. They will bloom in different colors, so make sure you do your research into the various types before you make a purchase!
The magnolia tree blossom pictured above is from the magnolia grandiflora. The blooms are very delicate and will discolor easily. The trees themselves are pretty cone-shaped and are classified as an evergreen. The leaves are glossy and green on top, but appear to be slightly rusted underneath.
They are a fast-growing tree and require a lot of water. It likes well-draining soil and will do just fine if it is planted in shade or partial shade.
2. Weeping Cherry
Weeping cherry trees, despite their slightly deceptive name, are not a cherry tree! They are an ornamental tree, and you don't have to worry about harvesting fruit from them. There are several different varieties, and they come in white and pink blossoms. Click here for a list of trees with white blossoms.
The scientific name for the weeping cherry tree is prunus subhirtella. It can handle being planted in full sun, which makes it perfect for decorating and shade in areas where you would like to block out some sun. It's a relatively disease-resistant tree, making it low maintenance.
For the best blossoms, the tree will need to be planted in full sun and well-draining soil. If planted in full shade, this tree will have stunted growth, and the foliage won't be as thick.
3. Wisteria
Wisteria is not a tree! It's a very, very vigorously growing vine. However, this vine can be grown into a tree shape with just a little effort, which will make it a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape.
There are several different kinds of Wisteria. Japanese Wisteria, Chinese Wisteria, Silky Wisteria, American Wisteria, and Kentucky Wisteria are where you'll find your best choices. If you're looking for something that grows quickly, has lots of blossoms, and comes with the widest variety of colors, Japanese Wisteria is probably your best bet.
Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) will grow up to thirty meters long, but if grown into a tree shape, it can be controlled and maintained by trimming. They can have blue, purple, pink, or white flowers. They like moist, well-draining soil and lots of sun to encourage blooming.
4. Autumn Cherry
Autumn Cherry trees or Prunus subhirtella autumnalis not only live longer than most other varieties of decorative cherry trees, but it is also heat resistant and cold tolerant as well, making it the perfect tree for all seasons. The blossoms on these trees are white with a pink tint to them, and the trees can bloom several times a year, depending on weather and growing conditions.
They can handle full sun to partial shade, and they like at least four hours of sun per day. They will have the best chance of being healthy when planted in rich, moist soil that drains well and make a fantastic border tree for walkways.
5. Jacaranda
Originating from Central and South America, Jacaranda trees have found popularity in many areas of the world because of their gorgeous large blue blossoms. Jacaranda trees can be a perfect addition to your landscape, but they do come with a couple of warning signs.
First, the full-grown trees can take up quite a bit of room, so you need to make sure you've planned ahead for their size. They can grow up to 45 feet tall and 45 wide, so plant accordingly. Second, their roots are no joke. These are the trees that will wreck pipes you have underground, and raise and crack concrete pathways or patios.
They do best in warm areas that don't drop below freezing. Plant them in sandy, well-draining soil with full sun, and you'll have a very happy tree.
6. Crab Apple
Crab Apple trees, or Malus Angustifolia, are beautiful trees that produce edible fruit. They bloom in the spring with a variety of different shades in white and pink, but the colors don't stop there. The blossoms fall as the tree starts to grow its green leaves, which throughout autumn, transform into gorgeous red, orange, and yellow foliage.
Where many of the other ornamental trees are heat resistant, crab apple trees are resistant to the cold, which makes them a great option in the more northern states. They do well in sandy or clay soil, and once they are safely established, don't require much of your time or attention.
7. White Dogwood
Cornus florida, the White Dogwood plant, blooms with a majestic crown that could be a tree in a fairytale. Their white blossoms aren't flowers; they're called bracts. Similar to a poinsettia, there are different sets of leaves that have a different color and bring variety to the plant, and these are the bracts. There is still a small flower, but it isn't particularly noticeable.
White dogwoods will do great in a large variety of soils, and aren't a high maintenance plant. The leaves in summer are a deep, shiny green, and turn a deep red-purple over autumn. They need a minimum of four hours of full sunlight per day and will grow up to 2 feet every year.
8. Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia fauriei, or the Japanese Crepe Myrtle, comes with a bonus in its showmanship. Not only does it bloom in a plethora of white or pink blossoms, but on the more mature trees, and bark becomes mottled and displays a variety of colors, adding interest to your landscape no matter what the season is.
This tree will do best if grown next to a house or structure that will give it some shelter from the harsher elements. It will do fine in the sun, but in the winter it will appreciate the extra protection. Plant this tree in fertilized, well-draining soil for the best long term results, and you can look forward to a beautiful tree that will stand about 25 feet tall.
9. Persian Silk Tree
Persian Silk Trees (Albizia julibrissin) are unique trees that are fun to look at. They have a very airy blossom that is quite eye-catching as it looks similar to a white and pink dandelion puff. Also called the Chinese Silk tree, the leaves are also quite fun to look at. Instead of each leaf being a singular unit, they are more like ferns, with one segment that grows many different leaflets along its length.
This tree does well in high temperatures and can survive periods of drought, though the foliage may begin to droop of it goes too long without a deep watering. Though very pretty, it is considered to be invasive in many areas because of the spread of the seeds.
10. Eucalyptus Tree
Eucalyptus torquata, also known as the Coral Gum Tree, is an evergreen tree that will generally bloom after it's at least two years old. It will do best in a hot climate in well-draining soil and can grow up to 24 feet tall. It is slightly susceptible to scale, a tree pest, so make sure to keep your eyes out for bugs.
11. American Redbud
Cercis canadensis, or American Redbud, will grow in a wide variety of conditions. It isn't picky when it comes to soil, and needs at least four hours of sunlight per day to thrive. It will begin to show its pink blossoms as early as four years old, and it very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
12. Apple Trees
Malus domestica, the apple tree, is a great tree to try your hand at since it can give you beautiful blossoms as well as fruit. Different kinds of apple trees will also bloom at different times of the spring and summer, which means you can essentially pick a tree for the time you want it to bloom in, or for the color of its blossoms.
Apple trees can be slightly picky, liking full sun and a soil ph of between 5-7 to thrive.
13. Royal Purple Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria, the Royal Purple Smoke Tree, almost always appears to be out of focus when you look at it because of the thin, airy seed clusters that grow on the outside of the foliage. The foliage itself is a dark greenish-purple in the summer that turns bright red in the fall.
Left untrimmed, it will grow more similar in shape to a bush, so it will require some attention and trimming in the beginning to achieve a typical tree shape. It adapts well to many different kinds of soils, and will only need to be watered occasionally once it has established itself.
14. Floss Silk
The Floss Silk tree (Chorisia speciosa) is unique for several reasons. It's trunk, instead of being brown like the majority of trees, is green. However, it may look brown from a distance. Why? The green trunk and branches are covered with thorns that do somewhat hide the color of the trunk by add interest to the tree in all seasons.
This tree will grow up to 50 feet tall and has beautiful pink or white blossoms. Best grown in a warm climate with full sun, it is fairly drought resistant and has no major pests or diseases that threaten it.
15. Hong Kong Orchid
Popular in Florida and more tropical areas, the Hong Kong Orchid (bauhinia blakeana) has been lauded as one of the most beautiful flowering trees in existence. That's right; the Hong Kong Orchid is a tree! Unlike many other flowering trees, this one doesn't create any seed pods, which makes it on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to maintenance. Similar to the Orchid Tree, did you know there is a Tulip tree as well? Click here to find out more about it!
In warmer areas like Florida, these trees bloom between January and May, which have given them a great reputation with snowbirds. Plant this tree in an area that receives full sun, and as it's establishing itself, water it more frequently. As it grows older, let the soil dry out before watering it again, as this has proven to encourage a more thorough blooming throughout the tree.
16. Peltophorum
Peltophorum Dubium is a quick-growing, durable tree whose lumber is utilized for several commercial uses. Featuring bright yellow blossoms and dense foliage, it's a great addition to any location needing some shade. They can flower up to two times per growing season.
Originally a tropical tree, they can also be grown in dry, typically unforgiving conditions, which can make them a great low maintenance plant. It should be planted in full sun, but don't worry too much about the soil, as it can adapt to a variety of different soils.
17. Royal Poinciana
Delonix regia, also known as the Flame Tree, is native to Madagascar and is a very popular tree in Florida. For the best blossoms, it should be planted in an area where the canopy will receive full sun. The flowers can come in red, orange, or yellow, and look similar to orchids. A full-grown tree will look identical to an umbrella, wider than it is tall, providing a large shaded area.
These trees will do best in an area where they won't get frosted over and are very tolerant of drought, so don't be afraid to plant them in hot locations that get lots of sun. They're also not picky when it comes to soil quality. These trees do drop large seed pods, which can make them more high maintenance than many of your other options.
18. Trumpet tree
There are many different kinds of trumpet trees, with blossoms that come in sizes similar to your pinky, to flowers that are as big as your feet. We're going to be focusing on the handroanthus heptaphyllus, the pink trumpet tree, which has smaller pink blossoms and is more delicate in appearance.
The pink trumpet tree can grow up to 120 feet tall and is a very sturdy, dense tree. Because of its dense wood and deep root system, it's a great tree to plant in windy areas where you have to worry about trees falling over. Planted in moist soil where it can get lots of sun, you're sure to get a canopy full of nice, pink, and white blossoms.
19. Ylang Ylang
Cananga odorata, the Ylang Ylang tree, is pronounced "Lang Lang." While they do blossom, they are not a particularly showy blossom, as they spend most of their time the same general color as the foliage. They are a unique shape, and they turn yellow before falling off.
If you live in a windy area, this tree should be planted in a location where it won't be on the blunt end of the elements. Since it grows so fast, it isn't a particularly strong tree, so the excessive wind tends to be this tree's downfall. Plant it in well-draining and soil where it will get between four to six hours of sun every day.
