That moment in spring when flowering trees burst into a blizzard of blooms. That's when you know that a new season has truly begun. As you begin to assess the garden this winter and spring, consider adding a spring-flowering tree or two. Think of it as a gift from you to you after a long winter (or consider gifting a tree to a loved one to mark a special occasion or life event).
Below you'll find 13 of our favorite spring-blooming trees categorized by white, pink, and purple flowers. None of these get larger than 25' tall or wide, and several are much smaller. We've chosen our favorites based on years of growing trials, experience, gardener feedback, and of course pure beauty. They range in size, habit, requirements, and growing zone so no one will have to miss the stunning spring show!
Spring Blooming Trees with White Flowers
Royal Star Magnolia
An early bloomer with large, fragrant, white, double flowers appearing before the foliage emerges in spring. A springtime thriller that will add a nice touch to the landscape as the seasons progress. Useful as an open-branched, multi-trunked large shrub or as a small specimen tree. Excellent cold and heat tolerance for a magnolia. Blooms early to mid spring. Full sun. Up to 15' tall, 12' wide. Zones 4-9.
Venus® Dogwood
A spectacular, fast-growing hybrid with exceptionally large, white, flower-like bracts. Attractive red ornamental fruit appears in fall. The glossy green foliage has wonderful red fall color. This vigorous selection from Rutgers University has notable winter hardiness, good drought tolerance, and excellent disease resistance. Blooms in late spring. Partial to full sun. Up to 20' tall and wide. Zones 5-9.
Teddy Bear®
Southern Magnolia
Very compact, upright grower whose shiny, deep green leaves have a heavy reddish-brown felt beneath. Large 6 to 8" fragrant white flowers dot the plant throughout the warm months. Superb small specimen or accent in the landscape. Highly adaptable tree tolerates mild drought when established. Full sun. Up to 20' tall, 12' wide. Zones 7–9.
Tina Sargent Crabapple
A dense, dwarf form whose profuse pink buds open to single, white flowers that mature to small, red fruit. The small tree has spreading and somewhat pendulous branches that are striking as a specimen, for lining a drive, or for framing an entrance. Early spring blooming. Full sun. Up to 5' tall, 6' wide. Zones 4-8.
Spring Blooming Trees with Pink Flowers
Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum
A stunning landscape specimen with splendid coppery purple foliage that holds its color into fall. Pale pink, single blooms blanket the stems in the spring before the foliage emerges. Produces small, red edible fruit. A wonderfully versatile deciduous tree. Useful in all areas of landscape: lawn, patio, and terrace. Full sun. Up to 20' tall and wide. Zones 4-9.
Black Tulip™ Magnolia
This is the darkest, most dramatic tulip magnolia of any on the market, with rich, deep-pink, six-inch-wide blooms that appear before the foliage emerges in early spring. The small, slender, multi-branched form is outstanding for use as an elegant specimen tree, en masse to form a hedge, or as a container plant. Full sun. Up to 20' tall, 10' wide. Zones 5-9.
Stellar Pink® Dogwood
Profuse, large, overlapping, blush pink, flower-like bracts cover this small but vigorous tree in early spring. The fully branched habit provides layers of lush green foliage from bottom to top. A magnificent landscape specimen for small gardens or woodland settings. A sterile cultivar that produces no fruit. Partial to full sun. Up to 25' tall, 20' wide. Zones 5-8.
Royal Raindrops®
Flowering Crabapple
This stunning small landscape tree is a colorful specimen that's perfect for front yards or courtyards. Vibrant pink-to-red spring flowers are followed by showy red-purple fruit. Unique, cut-leaf foliage emerges wine red in color, maturing with burgundy overtones in summer before turning bright orange-red in the fall. Full sun. Up to 20' tall, 15' wide. Zones 4–8.
Ruby Falls
Weeping Redbud
A lovely compact redbud tree with a weeping canopy that is perfect for a smaller-sized landscape. An excellent specimen plant with clusters of lavender-red, sweet pea-like blooms in spring. Small, semi-glossy, heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall. Partial to full sun. Up to 8' tall, 6' wide. Zones 5–9.
Spring Blooming Trees with Purple Flowers
Forest Pansy Redbud
Beautiful landscape tree valued for its brilliant scarlet-purple color to new foliage, maturing to maroon. Rosy-purple flowers on bare branches bridge the gap between winter and spring! Full sun. Up to 20' tall, 25' wide. Zones 5-9.
Bonsai Blue
Jacaranda
A truly dwarf Jacaranda with showy, large, deep purple, tubular flowers that bloom in late spring. An ideal small specimen tree for today's smaller gardens, equally useful as a large border accent or in decorative pots on a terrace or patio. Bright green, fern-like foliage takes well to pruning and is remarkably heat and drought-tolerant. Full sun. Up to 12' tall and 8' wide. Zones 9–11.
Timeless Beauty®
Desert Willow
The improved desert willow cultivar introduced by Monrovia is notable for its long bloom period from spring through summer. Fragrant blooms appear in clusters at branch ends; flowers do not set seed. The gorgeous specimen to anchor a border, or as a large patio container feature. Drought-tolerant once established. Full sun. Up to 20' tall and wide. Zones 7–9.
Genie Magnolia
This small, pyramidal tree is the perfect way to bring dramatic, purple spring blooms into a small garden. Stunning, deep maroon-purple, lightly fragrant flowers open on bare branches in early spring, holding, as the green leaves emerge, until early summer. Blooming repeats in late summer. Up to 13' tall, 5' wide. Zones 4-9.
Learn More About Spring Gardening and Spring-Blooming Plants
- Top 10 Colorful Spring Flowers to Kickstart Your Garden
- Best Early Spring Flowering Plants to Attract Pollinators
- Early Spring Shrubs for Bliss and Beauty
- 10 Early-Blooming, Cold-Hardy Plants for Pollinators
- Hellebore Care 101: How to grow the harbingers of spring
- Azalea Care Guide: How to plant, grow, and care for azaleas
- How to Grow Perennial Dianthus
- How to Grow Rhododendron Shrubs in the Garden
- Long-Blooming Perennials for a More Colorful Landscape
- Our Top 10 Gardening Tips for Growing Confidently
- Sign up for the Grow Beautifully newsletter to get seasonally relevant plant recommendations, as well as garden design advice from experts, first access to live webinars, and digital guides.