Gardening Ideas Outdoor Plants Trees 13 Flowering Southern Trees To Plant In Your Home Garden By Steve Bender Steve Bender Steve Bender, also known as The Grumpy Gardener, is an award-winning author, editor, columnist, and speaker with nearly 40 years experience as Garden Editor, Senior Writer, and Editor-at-Large for Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 29, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Claver Carroll / Getty Any time of year, a Southern tree bursting with colorful buds is a surefire way to make a statement in your landscape. Soft pink cherry blossoms or magnificent ivory magnolia flowers will have the neighbors stopping at a standstill every time they walk past. Flowering trees celebrate the advent of spring or add much-needed color in summer when your perennials are taking a rest. Many also create a more vibrant garden by attracting birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Some trees bear fruit, while others waft a sweet fragrance that makes sitting on the porch a delight. Here are 13 beautiful flowering trees we recommend for planting in the South. 01 of 13 Crepe Myrtle Rob Cardillo Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indicaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5) These resilient flowering trees are a no-brainer in most of the South. They love a sunny environment and thrive in the upper, middle, lower, and coastal South planting zones. Drought-tolerant once established, crepe myrtles bloom in the heat of summer in shades of purple, pink, red, or white. They have attractive exfoliating bark in winter. Depending on the variety, these trees can grow from 6 to 30 feet tall. 02 of 13 Flowering Dogwood Ralph Anderson Botanical Name: Cornus floridaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Sandy, LoamySoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.0) There are many dogwood species, but no type is quite as popular in the South as the flowering dogwood. Native to the eastern United States from New England to central Florida, flowering dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina and Virginia. The springtime blooms of this small tree are typically white, though you might occasionally spot pink and red variations. Birds enjoy the red fruits in fall, when the leaves turn a lovely burgundy color. If you live in an area with hot summers, mulch the tree well and provide protection from the afternoon sun. 03 of 13 Southern Magnolia Southern Living Botanical Name: Magnolia grandifloraSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy, Clay, RichSoil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.0) The massive flowers of the Southern magnolia have become iconic in the region. It's the state flower of Mississippi and Louisiana, and for a good reason—this evergreen magnolia stuns year-round. The late-spring blooms are wonderfully fragrant and borne among their leaves as opposed to the ends of the branches. In winter, the leathery leaves are adorned with cone-like seed pods that are popular in flower arrangements. Wild trees may grow to 80 feet tall, but you can find varieties bred for more compact spaces. 04 of 13 Japanese Flowering Cherry Southern Living Botanical Name: Prunus serrulataSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Loamy, SandySoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.0-7.5) Though cherry blossom season is fleeting, lasting just about a month every spring, you can't dispute this tree's stunning beauty. The subtly fragrant pink or white flowers also make for beautiful cut-branch arrangements. Grow the Japanese flowering cherry in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 to 8 in well-drained, moist, loamy soil in full sun. This small deciduous tree is available in wide-spreading, vase-shaped, and weeping forms, all of which are show-stopping. 05 of 13 Eastern Redbud Michael P Gadomski / Getty Botanical Name: Cercis canadensisSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy, Sandy, Clay, RichSoil pH: Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline (6.5-8.0) Before their leaves arrive, redbuds explode in small, sweet pea-shaped flowers. They range in color from lavender-pink to rosy purple, appearing on twigs, branches, and even the main trunk. Bees and butterflies feed on the nectar or the heart-shaped leaves. Beanlike pods appear after the flowers and last into winter. Redbuds thrive in full sun or partial shade, often growing as an understory tree in the wild. Some modern varieties have gold or reddish leaves or a weeping form. Redbuds can grow in all but the Tropical South and tolerate almost any average soil, but should be watered during hot, dry weather. 06 of 13 Jacaranda Claver Carroll / Getty Botanical Name: Jacaranda mimosifoilaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Rich, SandySoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.5-7.0) If you live in the tropical South, you've spotted these massive trees with ferny foliage and countless lavender, trumpet-shaped blossoms. Jacaranda prefers sandy soil but won't flower if planted in the path of ocean winds. This sun-loving tree is tough enough to thrive along streets or your driveway but will litter the ground with its pretty blooms. Jacaranda is hardiest in frost-free areas and may briefly lose its leaves in winter. 07 of 13 Chaste Tree vsanderson / Getty Images Botanical Name: Vitex agnus-castusSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Sandy, ClaySoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0) Plant a chaste tree in the spring and watch this fast-growing tree thrive, reaching up to 7 feet of growth in a season. In fact, it can be cut to the ground and reemerge to bloom the following summer. This plant, which can be grown as a wide-spreading shrub or trained as a single or multi-trunk tree, blooms in shades of violet, blue, or pink. The chaste tree does not require a lot of watering after it's established, making it a low-maintenance plant that attracts pollinators. It can be grown in zones 6-9, but may temporarily die back to the ground in a harsh winter. 08 of 13 Serviceberry Courtesy of Pinterest Botanical Name: Amelanchier arboreaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0) You can plant a serviceberry tree in all but the tropical South for beautiful early spring blooms and fruit. The fruit, similar to the size of blueberries, changes from green to red and finally black when ripe in early summer—a reason why a common name for this tree is juneberry. While not commonly eaten by humans, birds love the little fruits, so you will have plenty of feathered friends if you decide to plant this native in your yard. Plant it in moist but well-drained soil and prune away the suckers to maintain the pleasing shape of this small, multi-stemmed tree. 09 of 13 Fringe Tree RichieChan / Getty Images Botanical Name: Chionanthus virginicusSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy, ClaySoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0) Also known as old man's beard, this small tree has smooth bark and features white fringed flowers on its bare twigs before the first leaves appear. After flowering, look for black berries that attract birds. The fall foliage is yellow. You can train fringe trees to have a single trunk or multiple trunks. Remember to maintain consistent watering as this tree is not very drought-tolerant. This native can be grown in all but the tropical South. 10 of 13 Washington Hawthorn sandra standbridge / Getty Image Botanical Name: Crataegus phaenopyrumSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (5.0-8.0) This medium-sized, rounded tree is appreciated for its fragrant white flower clusters in mid-to-late spring and year-round features. Washington hawthorn is also very tolerant of most soils, even clay. During cool autumn and winter weather, expect to see bright red berries and orange, red, and purple foliage. This tree is enjoyed by native wildlife from hummingbirds and butterflies to caterpillars and cedar waxwings. Be mindful that many varieties of this species contain sharp thorns—hence its name. Plant it in zones 4-8. 11 of 13 Tulip Poplar Photos / Getty Images Botanical Name: Liriodendron tulipiferaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (4.5-7.5) Enjoy a spring bloom time of this tulip tree, also known as the tulip poplar or yellow poplar, featuring large, cup-shaped greenish-yellow flowers. This native grows in most Southern climates except for the tropics. These trees are a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) and can grow to 70 to 90 feet tall. As the trees are large and messy, plant them a good distance from your home. Tulip poplars attract lots of wildlife and are a host plant for some swallowtail butterflies. 12 of 13 Saucer Magnolia nickkurzenko / Getty Images Botanical Name: Magnolia × soulangeanaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Organically RichSoil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.5-6.5) The large, tulip-shaped flowers on the bare branches of a saucer magnolia are a welcome sight in spring. This small, shrubby tree can be grown in zones 4-9 in well-drained but moist, acidic, organically rich soil. It can eventually spread to 30 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety. Saucer magnolias are very popular, with flowers that bloom in white, pink, rose, purple, magenta, or burgundy. Don't plant them in a southern exposure, which can cause this tree to bloom too early and lose its petals to frost. 13 of 13 Bottlebrush Getty/DigiPub Botanical Name: Callistemon spp.Sun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.5) Gardeners in the Coastal and Tropical South can enjoy the scarlet-red flowers of bottlebrush. Hummingbirds also love this Australian evergreen, which comes in upright or weeping forms and can be trained as a tree or shrub. The soft, willowy branches bear red flower spikes on the tips in warm months. Bottlebrush prefers well-drained soil and is very drought tolerant once established. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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