A white tree in bloom is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever witness. Brightening the landscape and heralding the arrival of spring is the profusion of white blossoms. Early to mid-spring is often when a tree starts to bloom, producing small or enormous white blooms.
White flowering trees come in a variety of varieties, most of which are deciduous. They also come in various sizes, forms, and white hues. 21 white-flowering trees that will help your garden idea flourish are covered in more detail in the list that follows!
1. Serviceberry
Scientific name: Amelanchier
This less well-known ornamental tree, sometimes called saskatoon, juneberry, or shadbush, is a true standout in the springtime, when it blooms in a cloud of white and produces magnificent blue-red berries that, if you can beat the birds to them, can be used to create jam. Outstanding red-orange fall foliage is another feature of the cultivar “Autumn Brilliance.”
2. Catalpa
Scientific name: Catalpa speciosa
This tree, which can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) tall, has enormous, eye-catching white blossoms in the early summer. What makes each flower unique is a purple or yellow mark that appears around the throat of the bloom.
Following that, the tree is decorated with long green pods. Catalpa trees grow quickly and are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8.
3. Southern Magnolia
Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia grandiflora, or the Southern Magnolia, is a sight to behold. It is an icon of the South and is loved all over the world for its enormous, thick leaves and big white flowers. These towering trees, which may reach heights of 70 feet, require space but, when fully grown, provide a stunning spectacle.
USDA Zones 7–10 are the best places to cultivate these white-flowering trees. Try the smaller cultivar “Little Gem,” which only reaches approximately 20 feet, in areas with less space.
4. Dogwood
Scientific name: Cornus
This is an amazing hybrid that grows quickly and has incredibly huge, white bracts that resemble flowers. Autumn brings beautiful crimson decorative fruit. The brilliant scarlet fall color accentuates the glossy green leaves.
This hardy Rutgers University cultivar exhibits exceptional disease resistance, outstanding drought tolerance, and great winter hardiness. blooms in the latter part of April. Sun from partly to fully. 20′ tall and wide at most. Zones 5 through 9.
5. Acoma Crape Myrtle Tree
Scientific name: Lagerstroemia indica
This deciduous semi-dwarf tree is a great specimen tree that does well in planters or small gardens because of its low height, reaching just 8 to 10 feet. It can thrive with very little water. This resilient tree cries over the abundance of blossoms it bears.
For growth, the Acoma Crape Myrtle needs a lot of sunlight and warmer temperatures. Conditions like those can be found in growing zones five through eleven. This tree can be supported in any sort of soil. When the creamy-white crinkled flowers emerge in the summer, you get to enjoy 90 days of leaves.
6. American Elderberry
Scientific name: Sambucus canadensis
Large shrubs, endemic to most of eastern North America, are called American elderberries. It’s best suited for huge rain gardens and likes moist, muddy soil. It is a spreading shrub that spreads by suckers; trimming will be necessary to keep it under control.
In June and July, clusters of white flowers with a lemon aroma emerge, drawing butterflies and other pollinators in. American elderberry grows best where clustering is desirable due to its tendency to spread. Berries are poisonous to both people and animals.
7. Star Magnolia
Scientific name: Magnolia stellata
The large star-shaped flowers that bloom on these white-blooming trees in the spring are their most famous feature. These cold-hardy trees grow well in tiny gardens, but they need strong winds and abundant sunlight to flourish. The tree can reach heights of 10 to 12 feet and widths of 8 to 15 feet.
8. White Redbud
Scientific name: Cercis canadensis cultivars
Redbuds get their name from the color of the closed flower buds, not the blooms, which are usually dark pink or purple. Nonetheless, a few cultivars, such as “Texas White,” “White Pom Poms,” and “Royal White,” yield all white blossoms. Before the heart-shaped leaves appear, the branches of all types are covered in an abundance of pea-like blooms.
Redbud trees serve as hosts to twelve different kinds of butterflies and moths, including Henry’s elfin butterflies. This low-maintenance tree can withstand heat and is well-adapted to dry soils. Mature plants reach heights and widths of 15 to 25 feet.
9. Natchez Crape Myrtle Tree
Scientific name: Lagerstroemia Natchez
The Natchez crape myrtle tree is a summer-flowering tree that blooms spectacularly from summer into fall. Many refer to this quickly spreading tree as the “lilac of the South.”
Crape myrtle hybrids were given names derived from Native American tribes by the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. This tree can be planted in groups to create a tall screening, or it can be used to border a driveway or walkway.
10. Fringe Tree
Scientific name: Chionanthus
This gorgeous tree has fringe-like flowers that smell wonderful, and its broad form and upright branches make it a striking specimen tree. It eventually gets a little bit wider than taller.
11. Smoketree
Scientific name: Cotinus obovatus
The beautiful blooms of the smoketree, which resemble puffs of smoke, will astound anyone who has never seen one. June marks the start of flowering, which lasts for several weeks. The 30-foot (9-meter) tall smoketree grows best in sunny areas.
12. Ohio Buckeye
Scientific name: Aesculus glabra
This gorgeous tree, which reaches a height of around 40 feet, requires space and should not be planted next to a residence. This tree thrives in a spacious, roomy yard in Zones 3–7.
When in full bloom, buckeyes (Aesculus glabra) command attention. Large, dark brown nuts are produced in the spring after the plant produces creamy white blooms.
13. Buttonbush
Scientific name: Cephalanthus occidentalis
The buttonbush is a medium-to-large suckering bush that is native to the eastern United States and Chicago. It can reach a height of 12 feet and have a uniform spread. Its fragrant, pin cushion-shaped blooms, which appear in June, draw pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies.
It is used for a lot more than just providing food for the bees, though, can promote the growth of wetlands, reduce erosion in places that flood, and provide a haven for insects and other small animals.
It is noteworthy since it is one of the few plants with a brief life cyclelikes lots of sun with some shade, as well as rich, wet soil that drains well. USDA growing zones five through nine are ideal for its growth.
14. Black Chokeberry
Scientific name: Aronia melanocarpa
Black chokeberry a native of eastern North America, is a petite, suckering shrub that bears berries that ripen to black in the fall after clusters of white, small-petaled blooms bloom in May. Fall foliage has a striking purple or red hue.
Its suckering habit is not an issue in group or bulk plantings, where it is most frequently employed. This plant can withstand damp circumstances rather well.
15. Crab Apple
Scientific name: Malus
The springtime clusters of white flowers that bloom on crab trees are well-known, and they are followed by the red berries that birds like.
During the fall, the foliage also turns yellow, producing a stunning spectacle. Because they only reach a height of 10 feet, the white-flowering “Lollipop” type of these trees is ideal if you don’t have much space.
16. Crepe Myrtles
Scientific name: Lagerstroemia indica
Crepe myrtles cover themselves in many soft, papery blossoms for months on end, from July through September, when they flower. There are numerous white-flowered cultivars that range in height from 6 to 30 feet; the plants are roughly categorized as dwarf, semi-dwarf, medium, or tall based on size.
Crepe myrtles grow in a beautiful vase shape that adds a graceful elegance to the landscape in addition to their stunning blossoms. A few types have amazing color and contrast with their white blooms set against dark crimson or purple foliage.
17. Spring Snow Crabapple
Scientific name: Malus x ‘Spring Snow’
Crabapple is the common name for the spring snow crabapple tree (Malus ‘Spring Snow’). Because it doesn’t bear fruit, the spring snow crabapple is a popular ornamental tree for yard settings. It can be used as an accent tree or in a grouping.
18. Lilac
Scientific name: Syringa
Although its purple-blue blooms are well-known, white lilacs also have stunning blossoms in late spring. It’s worth planting this huge shrub, which can reach tree-like heights, somewhere you can appreciate its lovely aroma. It works well as a privacy screen as well.
19. Serviceberry
Scientific name: Amelanchier canadensis
Early spring blooms are seen on this 40-foot (12-meter) serviceberry tree. From skeleton to luxury, everything changes almost instantly.
It blossoms into a lovely tree with loads of tiny white flowers in clusters in the early spring. Pretty purple berries that draw birds appear right after them. The fall display, which comes in red, gold, or yellow, is the serviceberry’s last act.
20. Carolina Silverbell
Scientific name: Halesia carolina
This white-blooming tree is deserving of much larger admirers. The Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina) is a small to medium-sized tree that grows well in both full sun and partial shade, and it has bell-like blossoms that rival cherry trees.
Grown in Zones 4–8, the illness rarely affects it. Rich, organic soil that drains properly is preferred for Carolina silverbells. They won’t ever require trimming to keep their form, save for the odd touch-up.
21. California Buckeye
Scientific name: Aesculus californica
This tree, which thrives on slopes and canyons, can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet and a spread of 30 feet. There are spikes of cream-colored flowers that bloom on several stems in the spring. The tree produces poisonous fruit, seeds, and flowers.
The California Buckeye is similar to bushes. You can plant it in bleak places because it can withstand drought conditions. It thrives in zones six through eight.