Flowering Trees for the Garden: Magnolias, Fruit Trees, Quince, and Dogwoods

Magnolias

Care: Buy in bloom to choose flower form/color. Full sun/part shade, shielded from hot dry winds. Protect shallow roots: avoid foot traffic/digging; mulch 2–3 in. Water deeply, bait for snails/slugs. Yellow leaves between veins? Apply iron chelate.

Saucer-flowered (tulip trees): 3–6 in. tulip-shaped blooms.

• M. denudata (yulan): fragrant white, 35 ft. Zones 3b–9, 14–24.
• M. liliiflora 'Galaxy': red-purple, 40 ft. "Little Girl" hybrids ('Susan', 'Pinkie', etc.): pink–deep purple, 12 ft. Zones 2b–9, 14–24.
• M. × soulangeana 'Black Tulip': deep burgundy, narrow upright 30×15 ft. Zones 2b–10, 14–24.
• M. sprengeri 'Eric Savill': fragrant deep red-purple, 30×20 ft. Zones 5–9, 14–24.

Star-flowered: 3–6 in. multi-layered tepals, starburst-like, often fragrant. Zones 2b–9, 14–24.

• M. × loebneri 'Merrill': white, 25–35 ft.
• M. stellata: 'Centennial' (white/pink), 'Royal Star' (pink buds→white), 'Waterlily' (light pink→white). Multi-trunk 10–20 ft.
• M. 'Wada's Memory': white 7-in. blooms, coppery new foliage, 30 ft.

Blooming Fruit Trees

Care: Full sun, well-drained soil, regular water. Prune for shape and new wood.

Flowering cherries (Prunus): Need winter chill. Zones 2–7, 14–20.

• P. serrulata 'Kwanzan': double pink, 30×20 ft. 'Pink Cloud': single pink, 15–20 ft. 'Royal Burgundy': double magenta, purple leaves, 30×20 ft.
• P. × subhirtella 'Pendula': weeping pink, 10–12 ft.
• P. × yedoensis (Yoshino): single light pink–white, 40×30 ft.

Flowering crabapples (Malus): Disease-prone—choose resistant varieties. Zones 1–11, 14–21.

• M. floribunda: deep pink buds→fragrant pinkish white.
• M. 'Prairifire': red-purple flowers, maroon fruit, 20 ft.
• M. toringo sargentii 'Tina': deep pink buds→single white, 4–6×8–10 ft.
• M. × zumi calocarpa: fragrant single pale pink→white, 15 ft.

Flowering peaches (Prunus persica): Best in dry climates (less disease). Some fruit types also flower heavily.

• 'Early Double Pink': bright pink, 20 ft. Zones 3–24.
• 'Early Double Red': purplish red double, 20 ft. Zones 3–24.
• 'Red Baron': double red + tasty fruit, 8–14 ft. Zones 7–9, 14–16, 18–23.

Flowering Quince

Care: Full sun, deep occasional water once established. Prune for shape/thinning (watch thorns). Compact to upright. Zones 2–23.

• 'Cameo': soft apricot pink, nearly thornless, 3×5 ft.
• 'Texas Scarlet': glossy green, few thorns, bright red, 3×5 ft.
• 'Toyo-Nishiki': pale pink, red, white, 6 ft.

Dogwoods

Care: Full sun (high-filtered shade in hot inland areas), well-drained soil. Regular water initially, then reduce. Mulch 2–3 in. Anthracnose (fungal leaf damage/death) serious in Northwest—choose resistant species, site for sun/air circulation. Need winter chill; great as specimens or in mixed borders.

Multitrunk shrubs to stately trees:

• Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas): yellow winter flowers, anthracnose-resistant, 15–20 ft. Zones 1–6.
• Eastern dogwood (C. florida): many varieties ('Cherokee Daybreak' variegated, 'Cherokee Chief' rosy red). Parent of hybrids: 'Eddie's White Wonder', anthracnose-resistant 'Constellation' and 'Stellar Pink'. To 20 ft. Zones 2b–9, 14–16.
• Kousa dogwood (C. kousa chinensis): dense multi-stem to 20 ft, anthracnose-resistant. 'Gold Star' (white/gold-splashed), 'Heart Throb' (rose pink), 'Milky Way'/'China Girl' (white), 'Satomi' (rose red). Zones 2–9, 14–17.
• Pacific dogwood (C. nuttallii): stunning native to 50 ft, highly anthracnose-susceptible. Infrequent summer water once established. 'Goldspot', 'Starlight' tolerate gardens better. Zones 3b–9, 14–20.