15 Early Spring Flowering Trees For Your Home Landscape

If you’re purchasing trees this spring, wait until they finish blooming before moving them to the garden. The blooms may fall off during transplanting, taking energy away from root formation. The best time to purchase spring bloomers is in autumn, as they enter dormancy. Plant them in the fall so you can enjoy their flowers in spring!

No matter which tree you select, you’ll enjoy charming blossoms as snow melts and days lengthen. Without further ado, here are 15 early spring flowering trees perfect for your home landscape. 

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Dogwood

	botanical name Cornus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-40’
	hardiness zones 2-10

Dogwoods are one of the first trees to awaken from winter dormancy. A few species are native to North America, including the Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii and the flowering dogwood Cornus florida. 

Showy dogwood blooms emerge on naked branches before the leaves open up. The effect is breathtaking—the trees look full of flowers! These flowers are unique; the showy petals are modified leaves, and the small ball at the center is the composite flower cluster. 

Dogwoods grow best with between three and eight hours of daily direct sunlight. They appreciate afternoon shade during the hottest hours. Grant them well-draining, fertile soil to grow in, and add a two to three-inch thick layer of compost around their roots every spring. 

Cornelian Cherry

	botanical name Cornus mas
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-25’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Cornelian cherry is a close relative of flowering dogwoods. It’s in the same genus, Cornus, though it grows differently than its showy counterparts. Cornelian cherries produce clusters of tiny yellow blooms. After successful pollination, they form bright red fruits that resemble cherries.

Dogwoods feed wild critters when they need food the most. These trees offer nutritious flowers, fruits, leaves, and twigs. Their branches provide valuable habitat space for small birds and mammals. Deer eat the twigs and shoots, while birds feed on the red drupes. 

Help your local critters by planting a Cornelian cherry or dogwood; you’ll enjoy the blossoms while the animals enjoy the natural resources. 

Redbud

	botanical name Cercis spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-30’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Redbuds are the perfect ephemeral trees. They bloom earlier than most species, pushing bright pink-red blooms out on naked branches throughout their canopy. You’ll immediately recognize one in full bloom since it’ll have hundreds of red buds! 

Two main species thrive in North America, and they each have many varieties to choose from. East Coast and Midwest gardeners should try the eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis. It’s a stately specimen that reaches between 20 and 30 feet tall. 

West Coast growers have the lovely western redbud, Cercis occidentalis, at their disposal. It’s smaller and less cold-hardy than the eastern species. It tends to grow many trunks instead of a single one, creating a decorative multi-stem structure. 

Flowering Plum

	botanical name Prunus cerasifera
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 5-8

When looking for early bloomers, always check for trees in the genus Prunus. Flowering plums, cherries, almonds, and apricots are all Prunus species! The genus contains dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars with impressive blooms and no fruit.

Ornamental plums are one of the most attractive of these trees. There are red and purple leaf varieties, and cultivars offer pink, white, or lavender blossoms. Most types are fruitless, though some older cultivars may form small yellow or red plums on fruiting limbs. 

Small and large spaces can hold a flowering plum. Opt for ‘Crimson Pointe’ for small sites; it grows straight up with a narrow canopy that tucks nicely against houses, doorways, and hedges. ‘Atropurpurea’ is a popular red leaf variety that holds its color throughout the growing season.

Japanese Flowering Apricot

	botanical name Prunus mume
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-20’
	hardiness zones 6-9

This Prunus species surprises garden visitors with its bright pink blossoms! They emerge on bare stems in late winter, creating a brilliant display that stands out in the landscape. Japanese flowering apricots excel in cool, moist areas. They perform poorly in dry sites with poor soils. 

Unlike most decorative trees, the Japanese flowering apricot grows fuzzy orange fruits. Though edible, they’re incredibly sour. Process them into syrups, preserves, or jams to enjoy their flavor without overwhelming tartness.

Flowering Cherry

	botanical name Prunus serrulata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-25’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Of all the flowering trees in the genus Prunus, flowering cherries are some of the showiest! Varieties offer double-petaled blossoms, fragrances, and petals of different colors. My favorite is ‘Kanzan,’ an old variety with pink double-petaled flowers. I like to snip the branches as buds form and bring them indoors for forcing; they make spectacular floral arrangements!

Flowering cherries rarely produce fruit. Many centuries of plant breeding have prioritized decorative attributes at the expense of seeds and fruits. Find your favorite cultivars as potted plants online or at your local nursery. Other special types include ‘Black Tartarian,’ ‘Mt. Fuji,’ ‘Ukon,’ and the hybrid ‘Yoshino.’

Flowering Almond

	botanical name Prunus triloba
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-15’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Flowering almonds are small, like Japanese flowering apricots. They’re ideal specimens for tight spaces and work well in large or small gardens. Lush, pink-red flowers emerge from the tree in early spring; post-pollination, they morph into red cherry-like fruits in summer and fall. The fruits are bitter and better left for squirrels and birds.

With wildlife interest and decorative qualities, flowering almonds are excellent for gardens. Most types have single-petaled flowers, though varieties like ‘Multiplex’ offer two rows of petals like ‘Kanzan.’ Situate your specimen where it has plenty of direct sunlight and rich, fertile, well-drained soil. 

Magnolia

	botanical name Magnolia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-80’
	hardiness zones 4-10

Magnolias are some of the earliest flowering plants in the fossil record! They evolved at a time when most species reproduced via spores or asexually. Their blossoms attracted beetles that helped with pollination and fertilization. 

Today, magnolias are one of the first plants to emerge from winter dormancy. Their flowers hold up well to more evolved specimens, providing lush beauty in home and commercial gardens. Find cultivars with yellow, white, purple, or pink petals. Some are fragrant, offering rich aromas as you walk by. 

There are two types of magnolias: evergreen and deciduous. Deciduous types lose their leaves in autumn and have incredibly showy petals. Evergreen types retain their leaves year-round, though they have fewer and less showy blooms than deciduous varieties.

Maple

	botanical name Acer spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-120’
	hardiness zones 2-9

Maple blooms aren’t showy, though they are attractive! Maple species produce many clusters of small flowers throughout their canopy; after pollination and fertilization, they develop into winged seed capsules called “samaras.” The flowers and samaras appear in spring and prepare the way for large hand–like leaves that stay all summer.

The best maple for your garden is a species or cultivar originating from your region. Dozens of maples are native to the U.S., including bigleaf, red, and sugar maples. Native types offer nectar, pollen, habitat space, and shoots for local wildlife. Some non-native species, like Japanese and field maples, also perform well in North American gardens.

Serviceberry

	botanical name Amelanchier spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 15-25’
	hardiness zones 4-9

There’s nothing bad to say about serviceberries! Their fruit is delicious, their flowers are gorgeous, and they grow well throughout North America. These native shrubs or small trees excel in garden settings and tolerate many conditions. Sun or shade, moist or dry, serviceberries shine in the landscape.

Though they tolerate full shade, serviceberries grow the most flowers and fruit when they have plenty of direct sunlight during the day. Grant them regular water, but avoid soil sogginess as they dislike wet feet. They may sprout suckers as they age; you can leave them be for a multi-stem shrub or prune them out to create a single-trunk tree. 

Persian Ironwood

	botanical name Parrotia persica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 4-7

Ironwoods are stately specimens that don’t grow too tall. They’re medium-sized, staying under 30 feet tall in maturity. Persian ironwood sprouts distinct red flowers without petals. They form along the branches before the leafy buds open like redbud blooms. 

Though the flowers are pretty, the Persian ironwood is a favorite for its lush leaves that display superb fall color. They shift from bright, glossy green to maroon-purple before falling off. After they fall in autumn, they reveal a stately structure with a single trunk and tiered branches. If you’re looking for a specimen, the Persian ironwood may be the one for you. 

Hawthorn

	botanical name Crataegus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-50’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hawthorn trees grace forests with bright white flowers in early spring. These tough and hardy shrubs or small trees are native to large swaths of the country. Find them in woodland edges, forests, and foothills.

After the blooms fade, glistening red or orange fruits form. These fruits are decorative and important for wildlife, offering a delicious nutrition source for birds and small mammals. The leaves and stems provide valuable habitat space for butterflies and their larvae, while hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy the flower nectar. 

Hawthorns are incredibly popular in the animal kingdom! Plant one and your garden will evolve into a wildlife habitat for local critters. 

Two-Wing Silverbell

	botanical name Halesia diptera
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Two-wing silverbells also go by “American snowdrops” because they resemble the Japanese snowbell, Styrax japonicus. They sprout lovely white winged blossoms that hang down off the flowering stems. They morph into decorative seed pods that dump the seeds all over the ground when ripe.

Two-wing silverbells are common and popular, though many species of Halesia thrive in the U.S. The Carolina silverbell is another species excellent for alpine gardens and mountainous regions. It’s slightly more cold-hardy than the two-wing silverbell, though its bloom period isn’t as showy or proliferous. 

Camellia

	botanical name Camellia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-20’
	hardiness zones 6-10

Shady gardens are perfect for camellias. These tall shrubs reach epic proportions in maturity; they often grow taller than the houses they’re planted against! Because they’re so popular, plant breeders throughout history have created hundreds of hybrids and cultivars that excel in shady yards.

Which camellia is right for you depends on your tastes and preferences. Flowers come in reds, pinks, whites, purples, and multi-color forms. There are double and single-petaled varieties. A rare favorite ‘Bob’s Tinsie’ has small red flowers with centers bigger than the petals! No matter your design style, there’s sure to be an ideal camellia for you. 

Japanese Tree Lilac

	botanical name Syringa reticulata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 25-30’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Rounding out this list is a unique early spring flowering tree not often found in home gardens—the Japanese tree lilac! Unlike other lilac species, the Japanese tree type may reach 30 feet tall in maturity. Though the blooms are white and not as colorful as other lilacs, they’re just as showy and fragrant. They attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.