Apple tree with white flowers

The Flowering Crab Apple Tree

How To Grow Crab Apples For Flowers & Fruit in The Permaculture Garden

The Flowering Crab Apple Tree is one of the most beautiful decorative trees. Crab Apple Trees have pretty flowers in the spring and gorgeous little apples in the autumn. They make a lovely feature in your garden and provide food for wildlife. The crab apples can also be used for delicious jellies.

The crab tree though has even more hidden values. This pretty ornamental tree can be a great pollinator for your eating apple trees and can help increase the yields of your fruit trees!

The pollen of a flowering crab tree is able to fertilize the flowers of eating apples so it is a good idea to plant them near your other apple trees.

Wild crab apples are natives to Europe, Asia and North-America. As ornamentals for gardens though the hybrids are the most common choice. The flowering season of these modern hybrids is definitely a highlight in any garden!

In the autumn the crab apple trees surprise us again with their colorful little fruits. Depending on the variety they vary in size, shape and color.

Particularly wild birds benefit from those late fruits that provide food for them when there is little else available.

The pretty flowers also vary depending on variety. They can be white, pink or red. Double flowered varieties are also available.

These flowering ornamental trees can reach a hight of 19-26 ft m. They have a bushy habit often with a broad pyramid shape. They are frost hardy and tolerate urban climate and pollution.

How To Grow Crab Apple Trees

Choose a sunny spot for your flowering crab apple tree. These trees are in general easy to grow and tolerate a wide range of soils. A moist but well drained, humus rich soil is best for them. They prefer a pH of 5 to 6.5.

Diseases like fire blight, mildew and rust can be problem. There is an easy solution for this though: choose disease-resistant varieties! The varieties shown below are very healthy and show good disease resistance.

Trimming Crab Apples

These trees do not require much pruning. Trim them only if you feel that they are outgrowing their space.

Trimming crab apple trees is best done during winter or very early spring. Remove old and diseased wood and reduce the overall amount of branches by about a third. Always keep the natural shape of the tree in mind. A well pruned tree does not look chopped or unnatural. It should still have its natural habit after pruning.

Always remove the straight shoots that appear right above the ground level. These are produced by the rootstock and are below the graft. They will weaken the tree and you will end up with a wild tree if these shoots are not taken off.

Beautiful Flowering Crab Apple Tree Varieties For Your Garden

Malus ‘Prairiefire’

Probably one of the nicest crab apple trees. The flowers are of a dark crimson color and appear in abundance. The red apples are very long lasting and stay on the tree until December.

This Flowering Crab Apple tree variety is very disease-resistant.

Malus ‘Royalty’

A lovely variety with pinky-red flowers and purple foliage in the spring. The beautiful foliage is a real bonus and colors orange in the fall! The fruits are red and long-lasting.

A very hardy and disease-resistant variety.

Malus ‘Adirondack’

This crab tree has white flowers flushed with a bit of red and flowers profusely in the spring. The flower buds are of a crimson red before they open up. Apples are orange-red and again very long lasting.

A very elegant and colorful variety that has the added bonus of good disease-resistance.

Malus ‘Sutyzam’ — Sugar Thyme Crab Apple

This wonderful tree has fragrant white flowers that are flushed with pink. They open in abundance in May. The flowers are followed by red berry-like fruit that stay on the tree for autumn and winter.

This is also a very healthy and disease-resistant variety.

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Types of Flowering Trees with Name and Picture for Easy Identification (Pink, White, Red, Purple Flowers)

Flowering trees add beautiful pink, red, purple, or white colors to any large or small garden. If you plan your garden landscape well, you can have various shades of tree blossoms in spring, summer, and fall. Some flowering fruit trees such as apple, pear, or cherry trees have the added benefit of producing delicious fruits. Other popular types of trees give you exceptional vibrant colors when they bloom in spring.

In this article, you will learn about some of the most popular types of flowering trees for your garden. The pictures and botanical names of these blossoming trees will help you identify the perfect tree to compliment your landscaping needs.

Types of Flowering Trees with Name and Picture

Flowering trees can turn your garden into a sea of color when they blossom. A few well-placed landscape trees can greatly increase the aesthetic beauty of any garden, large or small. When the trees aren’t in bloom, they can provide shade, shelter, or even reward you with a bumper crop of fruit.

When choosing the ideal flowering tree, take into account your growing zone, how tall the tree grows, and when it blossoms. If you have a small, compact garden, then there are also many dwarf hybrid flowering trees.

Once your trees are established, they will require very little maintenance and you can enjoy their colorful blossoms year after year.

Types of Pink Flowering Trees (With Pictures)

Magnolia

Magnolia is a flowering tree with large pink or white flowers being the most popular

Magnolia trees belong to the flowering plant family Magnoliaceae. When magnolias blossom in the spring, they produce exquisite pink, mauve, rosy-purple, white, and red flowers. Magnolia flowers are large and fragrant and will add beauty, grace, and elegance to your garden.

One of the delightful features of magnolias is that their fragrant blossoms often appear before their leaves. Depending on the species, magnolia flowers can be cup-shaped or saucer-shaped and are generally very large. The big pink flowers can sometimes be up to 12” (30 cm) across. Some of the smaller light-pink blooms can be around 4” (10 cm).

Flowering magnolia trees can grow to about 40 ft. (12 m) high. However, if you have a smaller garden, choose a dwarf variety that grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall.

Magnolias grow well in zones 4 – 9; but check the species as some varieties only grow well in warmer climates.

Flowering Cherry Trees

The cherry tree has beautiful blossoms of pinkish-white flowers

Many people regard flowering cherry trees as the most beautiful of the spring flowering trees. Also called sakura, the Japanese cherry tree (Prunus serrulata) produces beautiful light pink and white flowers. Varieties of blossoming cherry trees are usually cultivated for their superb floral displays rather than their fruit.

Similar to magnolias, cherry blossoms are some of the first flowers on trees to appear in spring. The small 5-petal flowers create showy clusters of ruffled blossoms. From a distance, these flowers give the tree an appearance of being covered in pinkish-white candy floss.

The flowering season of cherry blossom trees can be relatively short. After flowering, the trees may lose their petals in 2 to 3 weeks. However, you can plant a variety of cherry blossom trees that bloom at different times to extend their flowering time.

If you have a compact or small garden, then choose an ornamental blossoming cherry hybrid. The small cherry blossom tree cultivar ‘Kojo-No-Mai’ grows to 7 ft. tall (2.1 m) and produces pale-pink flowers in early spring.

Flowering cherry trees thrive in full sun and grow well in zones 4 – 9.

Eastern Redbud (American Redbud)

The eastern redbud is a small flowering tree with pink flowers

The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a relatively small deciduous tree that produces pink and dark magenta flowers from spring until summer. Just like with magnolias, eastern redbuds produce flowers before the leaves appear on the trees.

Masses of small rosy-pink flowers in the shapes of pea create a dazzling display of flower clusters on the redbud tree. The thin flower-covered branches grow in all directions to give the tree a truly dramatic look. Adding to the drama are many pink flowers that grow on the trunk.

Although eastern redbud trees are famous for their pink flowers, there are also some species that produce white flowers.

You can expect an eastern redbud to grow to between 20 and 30 ft. (6 – 9 m) and with a spread of up to 33 ft. (10 m). For smaller gardens, choose a smaller dwarf tree such as the ‘Ace of Hearts’ that only grows to 9 ft. (2.7 m) tall. Redbuds grow well in zones 5 – 9.

Pink Trumpet Tree

The pink trumpet tree blossoms grow in large clusters

The pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia heterophylla) is a semi-deciduous tree with pink flowers. In warm tropical climates, the tree may stay green throughout the year.

Flowers on the pink trumpet tree are delicate pinkish-white petals with a yellow center. The small trumpet-shaped flowers grow in large clusters to create a bushy flower head. The large spreading nature of the branches gives the tree a beautiful look in any garden. When planted near a patio or deck, a pink trumpet tree can provide shade during the summer as well as beautiful pink colors.

Pink trumpet flowering trees (Tabebuia trees) grow best in subtropical zones and can thrive in both dry and wet climates.

Persian Silk Tree or Mimosa Tree (Albizia Julibrissin)

The Persian silk tree has fragrant fluffy pink and white flowers

Also called “mimosa,” the Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a species of flowering tree known for its fluffy pink flower heads. The Persian silk tree shouldn’t be confused with trees from the genus Mimosa. The flowers on both trees may look similar but they are from different genera.

Mimosa silk trees have long spreading branches with drooping fern-like leaves. From early summer until mid-summer fragrant pink and white flowers grace the tree. In the warm sun, these spiky-looking flowers give off a delicate floral fragrance.

Compared to other types of tree flowers, flowers from mimosas are unique. They are a cluster of pink stamens about 3 cm long. These form “powderpuff” flowerheads that look fluffy on light-green bipinnate-shaped leaves.

Persian silk trees grow well in warmer climates that are in zones 7 – 9.

Dogwood

Dogwood trees have white, purple, pink, or red flowers

Dogwood trees are stunning flowering trees that produce small white, purple, pink, or red flowers. The flowerheads on dogwood trees are made up of beautiful petals that are obovate-shaped and taper to a point. The center of the individual flowers is a dense cluster of greenish-yellow stamens.

Apart from some species of dogwood producing star-shaped pink flowers, dogwood tree leaves turn to shades of purple and burgundy in fall.

Plant dogwood trees in moist well-drained soil in zones 5 – 8.

Types of White Flowering Trees (With Pictures)

Crabapple Tree

Crabapple tree flowers can be white, pink or red

All apple trees (genus Malus) are types of flowering trees, but the crabapple is an ornamental plant with especially beautiful white blossoms. Crabapples are a great type of landscaping tree if you want spectacular white flowers every spring. If you plant these small to medium-sized trees, you will also be rewarded with a crop of delicious apples in fall.

Crabapples are one of the smallest types of apples from apple trees. Crab apple trees flower for up to 2 weeks starting in mid-spring. The delightful flowers can be single, semi-double or full-double flowers. Depending on the species, the flowers can be white, pink, magenta, orange, or red. These may give off exotic cinnamon or clove-like fragrances.

Although crabapples can grow up to 40 ft. (12 m) tall with a similar spread, choose a dwarf cultivar for landscaped gardens. For example, the miniature ‘Camelot’ crabapple produces clusters of delightful white flowers and only grows up to 9 ft. (2.7 m) tall.

Crabapples grow well in zones 4 – 8.

Star Magnolia

The star magnolia is a small flowering tree with stunning white flowers

Magnolia trees are one of the most beautiful of all the flowering trees you can choose from. If you are looking for a spectacular white variety, then choose the Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata).

The star magnolia is a small tree that gets its name from its star-shaped white flowers. These brilliant white flowers are made up of thin linear-shaped petals that radiate out to create a daisy-like flower shape. Star magnolias produce a mass of delicately scented snow-white flowers in early spring.

Fringe Tree

The fringe tree is a small tree with white scented flowers

Native to the eastern states of the US, the Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) produces masses of creamy-white flowers. Fringe tree is a type of small flowering tree with mildly-scented flowers. Each flower head is made up of a number of tassel-like petals that give the flower clusters a bushy, stringy appearance. This is maybe one of the reasons why the tree is also called Old Man’s Beard.

After the fringe tree finishes flowering in early summer, the fallen white petals will look like a blanket of snow under the tree.

These hardy shrub-like trees grow well in zones 3 – 9. Fringe trees grow to between 12 and 20 ft. (3 – 6 m) and with proper care and pruning, you can control their growth.

Hydrangea Tree

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ is a type of white flowering tree

Although more commonly thought of as a shrub, some species of hydrangeas are small flowering trees. The Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ is the white-flowering hydrangea tree.

Also called the ‘Pee Gee,’ this small tree can grow to between 10 and 25 ft. (3 – 7.5 m) tall. Each conical flowerhead can measure up to 18” (45 cm) long and is made up of clusters of small white flowers. During the flowering season from summer until fall, the tree will be covered in large bushy flowers.

With the proper pruning, this large shrub can be made to look like a spectacular specimen tree or an ornamental tree. This is also a hardy flowering tree that can add color to gardens even in cooler climates. Ideal growing zones are 3 – 8.

Hawthorn Tree

Hawthorns are hardy low maintenance flowering trees

Hawthorn trees are low-miniature flowering trees that produce white, red, or pink flowers in early summer. One of the reasons why hawthorns are popular as flowering trees is that they are very hardy.

When hawthorns blossom in late spring/early summer, the tree is covered by clusters of white flowers. These are made up of dainty oval petals with pale-yellow stamens. The brilliant white flowers contrast well with the dark green foliage.

Some white hawthorn cultivars include the popular ‘Washington Hawthorn’ and the thorn-less ‘Winter King’ cultivar. Hawthorns also give you various colors throughout summer and fall. Red berries appear during summer and their foliage turns purple then red before dropping.

The best zones for hawthorns are 4 – 8.

Pear Tree

Pear tree has small white flowers that grow in clusters

Pear trees are another type of fruit tree that produces delightful white flowers in mid to late spring. When in full bloom, the whole pear tree is covered in clusters of fragrant pure white flowers. Each flower is made up of 5 small petals that measure up to 1.5” (4 cm) across.

After flowering at the start of summer, pears will start to grow on the tree. These are usually ready for harvesting in late summer and early fall.

As with apple trees, pear trees grow to between 12 and 20 ft. (3.6 – 6 m). However, if you have a small garden, dwarf and compact varieties of flowering pear trees are a great option.

Japanese Stewartia

The Japanese stewartia flowers are white with yellow center

The Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) is a species of small to medium-sized flowering tree. This plant native to Japan has multiple low-branching trunks that give the tree a large bushy appearance.

The tree produces white flowers in summer that are made up of cup-shaped white petals and a golden yellow center. These flowers can grow up to 3” (8 cm) across and give off a delightful floral scent. The Japanese stewartia produces many white flowers throughout the summer season.

Plant a Japanese stewartia if you live in zones 5 – 8 and have well-draining soil in your garden.

Types of Purple Flowering Trees (With Pictures)

Crape Myrtle

The giant crape myrtle is a large flowering tree but smaller varieties are available as well

One of the most striking trees to produce purple flowers in summer is the crape myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia). Small deep purple petals form delicate flowers that grow in clusters.

Crape myrtles come in various sizes, from tall trees, small to medium sized trees and dwarf trees. There are even crape myrtle shrubs.

Crape myrtle trees thrive in hot dry climates and their purple flowers are long-lasting. Because the branches start low to the ground, this flowering tree may look more like a large flowering shrub. Each flower cluster grows in a conical triangle shape and they cover the tree with purple color all summer.

Although purple is the most common flower color of crape myrtle, other Lagerstroemia cultivars also produce white, red, and pink flowers.

Plant crape myrtle as an ornamental tree to landscape your garden if you live in zones 7 – 10.

Burgundy Desert Willow

The desert willow grows well in hot dry climate and has purple-magenta flowers

Chilopsis is the botanical name for small trees commonly known as desert willows. These flowering trees are small growing shrub-like plants that produce funnel-shaped ruffled flowers. Desert willows are not related to true willow trees but are a member of the Bignoniaceae family.

The smaller species of desert willows grow to about 5 ft. (1.5 m) and the larger tree can reach 26 ft. (8 m) tall. Purple flowers appear on the tree from May through September and they give off a delightful fragrance.

As their name suggests, desert willows grow best in hot dry climates and they are popular in US states such as Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Chaste Tree

Chaste tree is low maintenance and fast growing purple flowering tree

The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous low-growing tree with a shrub-like appearance. This is a fast-growing and low-maintenance flowering tree that procures striking blue or purple flowers. The short stocky trees can grow to between 4 and 15 ft. (1.2 – 4.5 m).

The spectacular floral displays are made up of vibrant flowers that grow along stems measuring 12” (30 cm). These purple-blue sprays seem to shoot out of the plant and their wonderful fragrance is a delight in the summer.

Expect flowers on chaste trees to last from summer right up until the start of fall. Chaste trees grow well in zones 6 – 9.

Jacaranda Tree

The blue Jacaranda is a large flowering tree with stunning purple flowers

Jacaranda trees (Jacaranda mimosifolia or blue jacaranda) are native to sub-tropical areas but are now grown worldwide due to their stunning purple flowers.

These are large flowering trees that can grow up to 66 ft. tall (20 m) so make sure you have plenty of space in your yard for these flowering trees. The flowers are small (2 in. / 5 cm) and blossom in spring and early summer.

Other Types of Flowering Trees (With Pictures)

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a small tree with yellow flowers

Witch hazels (Hamamelis) are trees that produce dainty yellow flowers and are very cold hardy. Although they are classed as shrubs, the larger varieties can grow into a small tree. Small yellow flowers grow along stems. Unlike most other flowering trees on this list, witch hazel is a late bloomer that flowers in fall.

Rose Trees

Tree roses give stunning look to any garden landscape

Roses are a flowering shrub that is one of the most popular types of flowers in the world. However, it is possible to produce a rose tree by grafting and pruning an existing rose shrub. This can create a spectacular type of flowering rose tree that can grow in containers or as a specimen tree in your landscaped garden.

Plumeria Tree (Frangipani)

Plumeria is a group of small flowering trees or shrubs and is famous for highly scented, exotic, showy flowers. Plumeria flowers are shaped like a star and come in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, and multi-colors.

Plumeria trees are also called frangipani. The tropical trees are classed as deciduous or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs. However, there are a few evergreen plumeria tree species like the Plumeria obtusa and Plumeria pudica. The spectacular flowering trees thrive in USDA zones 9 through 12. These flowering trees commonly grow in Florida, the Caribbean, the Pacific islands, Mexico, and Central America.

Frangipani trees are moderate to fast-growing plants that can grow up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall. However, in most tropical and subtropical garden landscapes, the exotic trees reach between 6 and 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall.

The only care plumeria trees require is plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, water, and fertilizer.

Flowering Purple Leaf Plum Tree (Prunus cerasifera)

Purple Leaf Plum

The purple leaf plum tree (Prunus cerasifera) is a small ornamental flowering tree with fragrant whitish-pink spring flowers. Each attractive, fragrant flower has five petals growing in a radial form measuring 1” (2.5 cm) across.

The purple leaf plum tree has deep red or rich purple colored leaves. The small flowering tree with dark purple leaves grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 8 m) tall. The deciduous tree has dense foliage and a vase-shaped crown.

Also called the cherry plum tree, the purple leaf plum is an easy-to-grow ornamental tree that grows best in moist but well-drained soil that is moderately fertile. The attractive dark foliage tree performs well in full sun and can tolerate some shade. However, too much shade causes the leaves to turn green.

The purple leaf plum tree also produces small plum-like yellow or red edible fruit.

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