What trees bloom in spring?

Question:

Answer:

While most deciduous trees have flowers of some kind in springtime, they tend to be small and not showy.  There are several species of smaller, ornamental trees that have showy blooms in the spring. 

The eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is an attractive, small, native tree with pinkish purple flowers that cover the branches before the leaves emerge in spring. 

Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) are multi-stemmed small trees native to Iowa woodlands with white flowers in early spring, small edible berries in early summer, and nice yellow to orange to red fall color.  Other common names for this tree include Juneberry, shadbush, sarvis-tree, and saskatoon.

Crabapples (Malus spp.) are an excellent tree for the home landscape because of their adaptability and diversity.  A wide range of cultivars exist in different sizes and shapes with flowers in white, pink, red, and almost purple.  Its important to select a cultivar resistant to apple scab to have attractive trees all season.   

Other Small Spring Blooming Trees

Other small trees with notable spring blooms include:

• saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana),
• cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera),
• flowering cherry (Prunus spp.),
• kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa),
• red horsechestnut (Aesculus × carnea),
• Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), and
• hawthorn (Crataegus spp.).