Top 10+ spring-flowering trees that bring the first big burst of color

Spring comes a little earlier in the South. Pale pink, snowy white, and fragrant purple blossoms dangle from trees and have us exalting in this season of renewal. If you're wondering what kind of tree is blooming down the street in your neighborhood, check out our guide to the best spring-flowering trees Southerners love. You'll want to plant at least one of these gorgeous trees with spring blooms in your own yard.

01 of 10

Eastern Redbud

• Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained but moist, loamy, sandy, clay
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline (6.5-8.0)

Eastern redbud is a small understory tree that blooms in early spring before the branches leaf out. The blossoms can range from pale purplish-pink to nearly red. A few cultivars of this native tree have white flowers, and some have burgundy or golden leaves. Plant Eastern redbud in moderately rich soil in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4-9. Water the tree well during the first year and during periods of drought.

02 of 10

Flowering Dogwood

• Botanical Name: Cornus florida
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained but moist, sandy, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0)

Flowering dogwood is another understory tree that likes to grow along the margins of forests. You can plant it in Zones 5-9, but give it some protection from afternoon sun if you live near the southern end of its range. You can also find pink-flowering versions of this native tree, which bears red fruits for songbirds to enjoy in fall.

Dogwood trees can be susceptible to disease and pests when damaged. Plant it somewhere out of the reach of lawn mowers and weed whackers.

03 of 10

Saucer Magnolia

• Botanical Name: Magnolia x soulangiana
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Moist, rich, loamy, well-drained
• Soil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.2) 

Plant a saucer magnolia in front of your house, and your yard will be the center of attention every spring. The saucer magnolia (or tulip tree) has large, showy, pink or purple flowers that appear on bare branches starting in late winter or early spring. Blooming can last for two weeks as long as the flowers aren't damaged by frost. Saucer magnolia can grow 15-25 feet wide, so give this tree plenty of room to spread out. This tree can be grown as far south as Zone 9.

04 of 10

Star Magnolia

• Botanical Name: Magnolia stellata
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, rich, well-drained, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (5.0 to 7.0) 

Star magnolia is a smaller, shrubby magnolia that you can plant near your patio. The flowers of this Japanese native can be pure white or tinged with pink. Star magnolia is one of the first trees to bloom, so it needs shelter from cold winds and frost. Grow it in Zones 4-8.

05 of 10

Fringe Tree

• Botanical Name: Chionanthus virginicus
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained but moist, loamy, clay
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)

Fringe tree may take a few years to start flowering. It is worth the wait for clouds of fragrant white blooms. Male trees are a bit showier than female ones, but the latter have small fruits for the birds in summer. This slow grower eventually reaches 20 feet and lives longer than many small trees.

06 of 10

Crabapple

• Botanical Name: Malus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained but moist, loamy
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5)

Crabapple trees come in many varieties. They can grow from 15 to 30 feet tall; bloom in white, red, or pink; and bear gold, green, or red fruits. Most people grow them for the spring flowers rather than the sour fruits. Crabapples do best in areas with cool summers, they can be messy, and they are susceptible to the same diseases as any apple tree. People still love them, as do the bees, birds, and deer.

07 of 10

Weeping Cherry

• Botanical Name: Prunus subhirtella (Pendula)
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, average, loamy
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)

Weeping cherries are a showstopper when they erupt in a fountain of pale pink flowers. Though they look compact, some trees can grow to 40 feet tall. Weeping cherries are grafted onto a different species of cherry, so remove any sprouts that come from the base.

Cherry trees are susceptible to disease from pruning cuts. Limit pruning to summer whenever possible.

08 of 10

Yoshino Cherry

• Botanical Name: Prunus × yedoensis
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy, sandy, clay
• Soil pH: Acidic (6.0-6.5)

This tree stars at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Yoshino cherries will bloom for two or three weeks in early spring if the weather is favorable. The blossoms fall like snowflakes and blanket the ground. Yoshino cherries can be grown in Zones 5-8.

09 of 10

Serviceberry

• Botanical Name: Amelanchier arborea
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained, moist
• Soil pH: Acidic, neutral (6.0-7.0)

Downy serviceberry or juneberry is a beautiful native tree that deserves more attention. Often grown as a multi-stemmed tree, it can adapt to almost any location in Zones 4-9. The fruits taste somewhat like blueberries and can be used in jams and pies.

10 of 10

Jacaranda

• Botanical Name: Jacaranda mimosifoila
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy
• Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.0)

In mid-spring, jacaranda's purple blossoms light up streets in Florida and parts of Texas. This tropical, deciduous tree starts blooming before foliage appears and often continues flowering through summer. The tree may drop its leaves during drought. Once conditions improve, foliage and flowers reappear.