- A flowering cherry treecherry blossom tree and japanese wall image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
There are numerous species of flowering tree throughout the world. In the United States there are several species of flowering tree more commonly found in yards, parks and public areas than others -- cherry, crabapple, dogwood and magnolia. These trees have become common due to their many desirable characteristics including not only their beauty, but their easy growth habits and low maintenance requirements. - Flowering cherry trees are an ornamental garden trees with many varieties and colors. The flowers of the cherry trees can range from deep pink to brilliant white and the foliage has a cascading appearance that makes an attractive display. The flowering cherry requires excellent drainage in order to thrive and though they are typically short-lived trees, are easy for most home gardeners to maintain. The flowering cherry grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture cold hardiness zones 5 to 8.
- The goldenrain tree is easy to care for and an option for difficult, shady locations and a variety of soil types. They are pest free and can handle high levels of air pollution common to urban locations. The goldenrain tree produces large, showy blooms of yellow flowers in the summer that last through the fall when its large, seed pods take the place of flowers. The goldenrain tree grows well in USDA cold hardiness zones 5 to 9.
- Flowering dogwood is a highly adaptable tree that can be grown in many soil types in both full sun to light shade. Flowering dogwood species come in a variety of cultivars with two of the most common being the 'Cherokee Chief' and 'Cherokee Princess.' Gardeners seeking a tree that will flower more prolifically than others may consider the 'Cloud 9,' which flowers earlier than other cultivars and offers more brilliant blooms. The flowering dogwood performs best in low-drought areas in USDA cold hardiness zones 5b to 8.
- Southern magnolia, saucer magnolia and sweetbay magnolia are three of the most popular Magnolia cultivars for the home gardener. Magnolia trees are slow growing, but at maturity can reach heights of up to 15 feet. The Magnolia is a hardy tree that can grow in a wide range of soils, though they do prefer acidic soils with ample moisture. The are relatively low maintenance and are resistant to most pests and diseases. Depending on the cultivar, the magnolia grows well in USDA cold hardiness zones 4b to 9.
- Flowering crabapple trees are spectacular in full bloom. There are numerous crabapple cultivars in a range of sizes and bloom colors. Smaller crabapple tree cultivars grow to approximately 10 feet tall, while larger species can exceed heights of 40 feet or more. Crabapple blooms range from white to bright red and most crabapples produce a prolific number of flowers each spring. Flowering crabapple trees can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, however, they do perform best when grown in USDA cold hardiness zones 5 to 8.
