Criteria for a Great Spring Tree or Shrub
Several virtues will make a particular spring-blooming tree or shrub a good choice for your landscape:
Showiness of bloomFoliage interest, including multi-season colorInteresting branching patternsCold hardinessBerry output and beautyEase of maintenance, including disease-resistance
Some very popular spring-flowering shrubs (azaleas and rhododendrons, for example) don’t make the list because they are not particularly attractive after the spectacular spring bloom season is completed. The trees and shrubs selected below are divided equally between early bloomers and late bloomers. Early bloomers are those that flower by early April, while late bloomers are those that bloom only after spring has fully sprung (late April or perhaps early May). A well-designed landscape features mixed planting of flowering trees and shrubs and includes both early bloomers and later bloomers. All of the plants on the list should be grown in full sun, although flowering dogwood is an understory tree and performs well in part shade. While most of the plants on this list are regarded as low-maintenance, this should not be confused with no maintenance. It’s always a good idea to winterize flowering shrubs, especially when they are young, to protect them against the harshness of winter. Two popular varieties of Cornus florida are ‘Cherokee Chief’ and ‘Rubra’. ‘Cherokee Chief’ attains a maximum height of about 30 feet with a spread of about 15 feet. Its springtime floral bracts are red and yield berries that birds like to eat. In autumn the leaves turn bronzy-red. ‘Rubra’ is commonly known as pink dogwood or pink flowering dogwood. It reaches 15 to 30 tall, with a similar spread, and flowers from April to May. Japanese dogwood trees are relatively disease-resistant and blossom slightly later in spring than the American dogwoods. USDA Growing Zones: 5–9 Color Varieties: White to pink Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil Avoid spring pruning with this tree, as the open wounds can be susceptible to fireblight infection. Instead, prune in late winter.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: Pink, transitioning to whiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, acidic loam
Root suckers should be regularly pruned away to prevent flowering quince shrubs from spreading.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: Pale red to scarletSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
Late spring frosts can damage the flowers, but the plant generally recovers. Watch out for scale, cankers, and fungal leaf spots.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9Color Varieties: White and purpleSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, acidic, well-drained loam
Do not prune this shrub until mid-July. ‘Sunrise’ is a very cold-resistant plant (down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit) and some zone 4 gardeners may be able to grow it.
USDA Growing Zones: 5–8Color Varieties: Bright yellowSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Loose, medium-moisture, well-drained soil
Eastern redbud trees bear bright pinkish-purple flowers all along their bare branches in April (depending on zone), about the same time that crabapples bloom. They are among the few flowering trees that tolerate shade, although they will bloom better in full sun. This tree can be susceptible to a variety of disease and insect problems if it begins to decline, so make efforts to keep it healthy and treat problems promptly when they occur.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: Pinkish purpleSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
In mid- to late-spring, ‘Tor’ spirea produces white flowers that are small but grouped in showy clusters. Goldflame and Gold Mound spireas are also late bloomers (they bear pink flowers, as does ‘Neon Flash’). But they bear colorful, golden leaves earlier in the season. This shrub blooms on new wood, so pruning should occur in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
Weigela tends to look best with a natural, unpruned look, but if you must trim it, do it in spring immediately after blooming is complete.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: Rose pinkSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
The flowers of the pussy willow are soft-textured catkins said to resemble the paw pads of cats. They appear from March to April, and stems can be cut for use in dried flower arrangements. Only male plants exhibit highly decorative catkins–female catkins are much smaller, greenish, and less attractive. Kept closely trimmed, pussy willows can be used as a hedge. Cut the plants to the ground every three to five years to keep them in check.
USDA Growing Zones: 4–8Color Varieties: Grayish whiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Damp but well-drained soil
Planting specimen flowering shrubs on either side of the home’s entry helps direct the eye to it. Be sure to choose varieties with interesting foliage so that the entry will look good beyond the spring season. You can hide a high house foundation with flowering shrubs that serve as foundation plantings. Again, consider foliage as well as flowers when choosing plants. Flowering shrubs can be planted near a home to “soften” the landscape, breaking up vertical or horizontal lines that are too strong. Some flowering shrubs are particularly effective in controlling erosion. For example, forsythia has a large root system that can help hold back soil on a hill. Flowering dogwood trees and flowering shrubs with attractive foliage can be used as a border for landscaping property lines or to define distinct outdoor spaces. Taller plants, such as some of the larger varieties of magnolia, can provide shade for patio and deck areas.
