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Spring Flowering Trees

© Barbara M. Martin

Please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted, including any photos, by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author. I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening!

I like a lot of color in my garden all season long. Flowering trees are an easy and dependable way to bring a big bold color statement into the scene without too much work on my part.

To start the season off we have the ornamental pears such as Bradford. These emit what to me smells like an off odor, but the blossoms look fresh and clean. These trees grow in a naturally even and regular silhouette so they are very popular in formal settings. They also turn a lovely burgundy in the fall.

The flowering cherries, in assorted shades of white and pink, are an icon of spring. One of the most popular and hardiest forms is the Kwanzan cherry. It has bubblegum pink blooms that dangle like pompoms and the foliage is an interesting coppery color in the spring. Ornamental cherries vary in hardiness depending on variety and are available in weeping as well as upright forms, but please do not expect edible fruit.

Our native trees are treasures in the landscape, too. The familiar white flowered dogwood, Cornus florida, (also available in pink forms thanks to careful breeding) has been a spring garden fixture for many years, but sadly, recent disease problems have made this tree less reliable. A possible substitute would be the Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa, but it has a much stiffer look and blooms in early summer.

The native redbud, Cercis canadensis, is a purple explosion in the landscape. It proclaims spring's arrival in no uncertain terms. The color may be difficult to work with in combination with other plantings but the tree is a lovely one and deserves a spot in the garden.

The Juneberry or Sarvisberry or Shadblow or Serviceberry (Amelanchier) is another native tree worthy of the garden, although it is understated in comparison to the redbud. This tree is one of the first to bloom in my garden and the bright white flowers have an airy look. The fruit is wildly attractive to orioles and other birds, as well as to chipmunks who will climb the tree and bounce along the branch tips in search of it.