7 Flowering Trees That Will Become the Centerpiece of Your Yard With their vibrant blossoms and attractive growing habits, these trees will boost your home's curb appeal. Close Credit: aleroy4 / Getty Images Flowering trees make for a stunning centerpiece in any yard. They not only signify the arrival of different seasons with colorful, vibrant blooms, but they also lend sweet aromas and a sense of whimsy to your garden. Better yet, they're a boon to the environment, attracting pollinators and serving as a haven to birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. "Flowering trees also play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere," says Greg Thomas, co-owner of Barton Springs Nursery in Austin, Texas. "While all trees are known to purify the air, recent studies suggest that smaller ornamental trees—such as understory trees—can store carbon dioxide for longer periods than larger trees." Given all their benefits, adding a few flowering trees to your yard makes perfect sense. Here are some of the most beautiful options to consider if you're ready to enhance your outdoor space. Greg Thomas, co-owner of Barton Springs Nursery in Austin, Texas Breanna Sherlock, in-house plant expert for the Planta App Nicole Shah, gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls 11 Simple Front Yard Landscaping Ideas That Won't Break the Bank 01 of 07 Star Magnolia Credit: Getty Images/AYImages True to its name, the star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a small, deciduous tree that yields papery, star-shaped blossoms. The blooms perch on bare stems in the early spring—signaling that warmer months are around the corner—and leaves follow close behind. "The green leaves are attractive throughout the warmer months and have pretty crinkled edges," says Breanna Sherlock, in-house plant expert for the Planta App. "These trees are prolific bloomers and are covered in really fragrant flowers." The star magnolia is somewhat rare, but you're apt to have some luck at a local nursery. They're affordable and make for a beautiful addition to smaller yards and gardens, adds Sherlock. Care Requirements Star magnolias are relatively easy to care for, since they're disease resistant and are low maintenance in terms of water consumption. They thrive in well-draining, moist, acidic soil, and prefer partial to full sun. Ideally, the tree should receive between four and six hours of full sun per day, which will encourage blossoms. For the first few years, you'll want to water the tree once weekly during the growing season—but once it is established, you can cut back to about every other week. Zones: 4 to 9Mature Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wideCare Level: Easy How to Find Your Gardening Zone—Plus, the Best Plants to Grow in Your Region 02 of 07 Yoshino Cherry Tree Credit: Getty Images You can enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms in your own yard—no spring trip necessary. A seasonal stunner, the Yoshino cherry tree (Prunus x Yedoensis) produces a profusion of white-pink blossoms on bare branches and has a faint almond fragrance. "This tree, also known as the Japanese flowering cherry, is the main event at many cherry blossom festivals around the world," says Nicole Shah, a gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls. "In summer, you will enjoy the tree's vase-shaped canopy and glossy green leaves." It's not only an aesthetic beauty: The tree also serves as an important source of food for birds like robins and cardinals. Care Requirements The Yoshino flowering cherry tree requires a bit more maintenance initially, but once established, it's easy to care for. This tree variety takes to many types of soil conditions, including loamy, moist, sandy, and clay. Opt for a location with full sun and water deeply in the first three to five months to encourage rooting. Once established, water only as needed during extended dry periods. Pruning isn't necessary, but it's helpful to deadhead in late winter or early spring before the next set of blossoms arrive, explains Shah. Zones: 5 to 8Mature size: 30 to 40 feet tall x 25 to 40 feet wide Care: Moderate 03 of 07 Mexican Buckeye Credit: Getty Images/Wolfgang Kaehler The Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) is a beautiful deciduous tree with multiple trunks that displays a profusion of aromatic, light pink or mauve-hued flowers. "It blooms from late spring through summer, and during this time, its leaves turn into a captivating deep bronze hue," says Thomas. "The tree's exquisite blooms also serve as a host for a wide variety of butterflies, enhancing the beauty of your garden." Growing up to 30 feet tall and with a stretching, broad canopy, the Mexican Buckeye is renowned for its smooth, light gray bark and dangling leaflets that can reach up to 5 inches in length. Its unique features make it an excellent addition to any landscape, providing both aesthetic and ecological benefits. Care Requirements The Mexican buckeye is moderately easy to care for. It prefers full sun to partial shade in zones 7 through 11, and should receive supplemental water when it's first planted in order to establish the rooting. But like many other plants that thrive in hot and dry conditions, the Mexican Buckeye doesn't like wet feet. Make sure soil drains well; don't overwater once established. This tree is very tolerant of heat and considered hardy. Pruning isn't required, but you can lightly trim it to create your preferred shape. Zones: 7 to 11 Mature Size: 20 to 30 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wideCare Level: Moderate 10 Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees That Will Be Tall Before You Know It 04 of 07 White Dogwood Credit: Getty Images/Teresa Kopec No matter the season, the white dogwood (Cornus florida) is ready to put on a show. "In spring, it produces white flowers," says Shah. The blooms, which are a mainstay from March through May, are actually "bracts" or modified leaves featuring small blooms at the center. These are thick, creamy white with a golden-green bud; pink spots tend to appear on the tips of each petal. In summer, the blooms fade, but the leaves take on a gorgeous, glossy green that nearly sparkles in the sunlight. "The tree shows off again in fall when the foliage turns a vibrant red-purple, and the red fruit attracts winter songbirds," says Shah. Care Requirements Dogwoods thrive in partially shaded areas where larger trees help provide a canopy of protection from direct sunlight. Because they adapt well to many soil conditions and require no pruning, white dogwoods are considered a low-maintenance flowering tree. They tend to get enough water from rainfall, but if you're experiencing a dry spell, give them a good drink once per week. Zones: 5 to 9Mature Size: 15 to 30 feet tall x 15 to 30 feet wide Care Level: Easy When selecting flowering trees, think beyond their springtime blooms. Look for varieties with eye-catching bark, vibrant fall foliage, or fruit that attracts birds in winter. Trees with multi-season interest bring beauty and value to your landscape throughout the year. 05 of 07 Bottlebrush Credit: Getty Images/ClaireLucia Also referred to as Callistemon trees, bottlebrush trees (Callistemon rigidus) are characterized by their peculiar and fuzzy bright red flower spikes that resemble, well, a bottlebrush! Thomas says that this eye-catching tree is one of his absolute favorites since it feels uniquely different from other flowering trees and plants. "The leaves of C. rigidus are narrow, lance-shaped, and grow up to 4 inches long. They have a leathery texture and are dark green in color, providing a beautiful contrast to the tree's showy flowers," Thomas says. "The bottlebrush-like flower spikes of C. rigidus are about 3 to 4 inches long, and bloom in shades of pink to red." Care Requirements With proper care and maintenance, bottlebrush trees can thrive in a variety of climates, providing a stunning display—even in colder regions. They prefer full sun, but can tolerate partial shade; when choosing a location, opt for an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Bottlebrush trees prefer moist, well-drained soil and Thomas recommends watering the tree deeply once weekly, especially during hot and dry weather conditions. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Zones: 9 to 10Mature Size: 10 to 25 feet tall x 10 feet wide Care Level: Easy 06 of 07 Flowering Crabapple Credit: Getty Images/Cheunghyo For a real garden showstopper, look no further than the gorgeous flowering crabapple (Malus 'Royalty'). The Royalty variety produces purple-meets-crimson flowers, which are striking all on their own. The addition of deep, dark foliage adds a richer color palette. Sherlock says that the flowers and fruits produced by the tree are very attractive to bees and wildlife. Their size makes them a great focal point for any garden, though they're particularly well-suited for smaller yards. The seeds of these trees are quite easily located—inside the fruits they produce, of course—but note that they can take about three to five years to produce flowers. It's well worth the wait if you have the patience. Care Requirements Crabapple trees are a garden staple for a reason—they're easy to care for and reward you with their fragrant blossoms. "They can grow in all kinds of conditions, but will thrive in humus-rich soil," says Sherlock. "You don't need to undertake any hard pruning, but removing suckers—the shoots at the base—is good practice so that the plant's energy isn't wasted." These trees love full sun and well-draining soil. Zones: 4 to 8Mature Size: 15 to 20 feet tall x 15 to 20 feet wide Care Level: Easy 07 of 07 Tulip Tree Credit: Getty Images The tulip tree, also known as a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), offers year-round visual appeal. In late spring to early summer, it produces unique, tulip-shaped flowers in shades of greenish-yellow with orange bands at the base of the petals. The tulip tree is one of the tallest native trees in North America, making a majestic statement for any home's landscape. Care Requirements Tulip trees prefer full sun and moist, rich, well-draining soil. They need space to reach their full potential since they grow quickly—sometimes up to 2 feet a year. In its first few seasons, give it regular water to encourage deep, healthy roots. Avoid heavy pruning, or you may miss out on their beautiful blooms. Zones: 4 to 9Mature Size: 60 to 90 feet tall x 30 to 50 feet wideCare Level: Moderate 15 Fast-Growing Fruit Trees That Will Yield a Delicious Harvest in No Time Explore more: Garden Landscaping Sources decorvow is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Hubau W, De Mil T, Van den Bulcke J, et al. The persistence of carbon in the African forest understory. Nature Plants. 2019;5(2):133-140.