Early Flowering Trees - Marion County
Early Flowering Trees Welcome Spring
By Steve Mayer
Extension Educator-Horticulture
Purdue Extension-Marion County
The calendar tells us when spring officially begins. However, it does not really feel like spring until the early flowering trees start to put on a show. Consider planting some of the following trees that can provide a spring welcome in your landscape.
One of the first trees to flower in the spring is corneliancherry dogwood (Cornus mas). The tiny yellow flowers grow in clusters about 3/4-inch in diameter. The flowers are produced in abundance and can be effective for three or more weeks.
This small tree or large multi-stem shrub grows 20-25 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. It grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers rich moist well-drained soil.
Red maple (Acer rubrum) produces small red flowers in early spring. Purchase a named cultivar (cultivated variety) for the most reliable fall color.
The tree may grow 40-60 feet tall with an equal spread. It prefers full sun but may tolerate a little shade. Grow in a neutral to slightly acid, moist soil.
The white flowers of callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) are a common sight in early spring. The flowers are 3/8 to 3/4-inch across and are borne in 3-inch clusters. Fall color may be bronze to red to reddish-purple.
Callery pears grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. The plant size varies by cultivar. Bradford is the most common callery pear; however, it is not recommended due to greater susceptibility to breakage and winter injury. Chanticleer is one recommended variety, but all of them appear to be vulnerable to fire blight disease to some degree.
Crabapple is another common spring flowering tree with flowers ranging from white to dark pink depending on the variety. The trees come in many different sizes and forms. Some crabapple varieties have messy fruit and are prone to pest problems so cultivar selection is extremely important.
Choose a crabapple that is resistant to the common disease apple scab. Some varieties are also more resistant to Japanese beetle feeding. Select cultivars that have small persistent fruit or are readily eaten by birds. Recommended cultivars include Prairifire and Sargent crabapple. Growing conditions are similar to callery pear.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) has small white flowers for a short period of time in early spring. The tree has fruit that is attractive to birds and it has reliable fall foliage color if a named variety is chosen.
Autumn Brilliance is one selection of serviceberry that grows 20-25 feet tall and wide. It grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Redbud is a popular native tree that looks especially beautiful in woodland areas or other naturalized plantings. The flower buds are reddish purple; they open to rosy pink flowers with a purplish tinge. The flowers are often effective for 2-3 weeks.
Another native tree enjoyed for its spring bloom is flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). This tree requires a moist, acid well-drained soil high in organic matter. It is intolerant of heat and drought.
Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is known more for its excellent fall color than flowers. However, it produces lightly fragrant creamy white flowers as the leaves emerge in spring.
Many of the magnolias can be attractive spring bloomers. However, they are often damaged by cold weather. If you plant one, avoid warm sites, frost pockets and strong winds.
Other white-flowering trees for mid- to late spring bloom include Winter King hawthorn (Crataegus viridis Winter King), kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa, blooms later than flowering dogwood) and white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus).
Questions
Q. What crabapple varieties do you suggest?
A. Descriptions of suggested pest resistant crabapples are available on our Extension Publications web page.
Q. Where can I find more information on trees and shrubs?
A. Online links to information and photos are found on our Plant Information web page.
Q. What shrubs do you recommend for spring flowers?
A. Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) is a beautiful early-flowering shrub for the shade with typically yellow flowers that may be single or double. Grefsheim spirea (Spiraea x cinerea Grefsheim) is about as nice an early-flowering spirea as you could ever hope to find. The white flowers appear on a plant about 5 feet high and wide. Other shrubs to consider are: Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri Palibin, reddish purple buds open to whitish pink flowers), cutleaf lilac (Syringa laciniata, pale lilac flowers), judd viburnum (Viburnum x juddii, pink buds open to white, fragrant flowers), and doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum Mariesii, white flowers).
Steve Mayer is Extension Educator-Horticulture with Purdue Extension-Marion County. He coordinates the Master Gardener program in Marion County. To contact a Master Gardener, call (317) 275-9292, or e-mail: marionmg@purdue.edu
Photo Credit: Steve Mayer
Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution.
April 2004
