Spring Flowering Trees (cont.)

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) blooms on bare stems with flowers which are rose to purple outside, with a soft, white interior. This slow growing tree reaches 20'-30' in both height and width and is ideal for the small garden. In autumn the leaves turn yellow to bronze before. Also makes an excellent addition to woodland gardens and to other shady areas.

Soon after the star magnolia blooms, the Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) begins to flower on bare stems. Depending upon the variety, the saucer magnolia will have large saucer-shaped, pink, white or purple flower. Some, however, have pure white interiors with exteriors of purple to pink. Mildly fragrant, the flowers typically have nine petals. The 1 inch long flower buds are fuzzy in late winter. It is often grown as a multi-trunk small tree ranging from 20 to 25 feet in height with a similar spread. The saucer magnolia is ideal as both a specimen and as part of a mixed shrub border.

Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford') is a beautiful spring-blooming tree with showy white flowers before its leaves develop. Bradford pears are more narrow than other flowering trees, growing 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide, and as such are perfect of screening. Bradford pears are also ideal as specimens in the landscape or, because they’re tolerant of pollution, for urban areas. The Bradford pear grows best in full sun but will tolerate part shade. In the fall the leaves turn mahogany-red and then sometimes bright orange-red by late autumn.

Flowering cherry trees are one of the most lovely sights in the spring. Two varieties, in my mind stand out; the Kwanzan and Higan cherries.

The very popular Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata) is a pink double-flowering cherry which grows to 30 feet. Kwanzan's buds open in early spring and are spectacular. Like all flowering cherries it needs well drained soil. It can grow well in partial shade or full sun, though those grown in full sun offer the best flowers. It's hardy to Zone 5. Kwanzan is an upright flowering cherry, and can be used in groupings, or as a single tree in your landscape.

Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella) is a very popular weeping variety of cherry. The flowers aren't long lasting but the combination of the hanging branches and the blooms makes it very graceful in appearance. It grows well in Zones 5-8. This variety also needs a quick draining soil. Higan cherries will grow to 20 feet, and as much as 40 foot. It blooms from early to mid spring and can have white or pink flowers, some single and some double. This type of cherry grows fairly quickly though is somewhat short lived when compared to the others.

These flowering trees are an essential part of any garden. Most are relatively small so even gardens with limited space can enjoy their colorful spring displays.

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