Springtime and color — what more could anyone want?
Wherever you turn, bulbs are blooming, shrubs are smothered with floral wonders, and flowering trees are draped with one of the finest shows nature has to offer.
Blooms of vivid pinks and lavenders, glistening yellows, creamy whites and spectacular reds paint the garden with a lavish and elegant display. Fortunately, these trees can be a part of any landscape.
The problem is not which trees to choose but which to leave out. Selecting from the pallet requires a little research on which plants will do well for you. Flowering trees, like all others, must fit the spot where they are going to grow.
Among a list of favorites are crab apples. These are small, versatile trees whose shapes range from narrow upright forms to pendulous weeping forms. The delightful flowers are single or double, large or small and come in white, pink, red and lavender or combinations of the four. Additional attractions are the leaves that range from bright glossy green to shades of red, bronze and purple. Some varieties even have leaves that turn fall colors.
When it comes to crab apples, chose those that are fruitless or that have persistent fruit. You may not realize what a problem fruit can be, but I know one gardener who picks up several 55 gallon drums of fruit from one tree each year.
Select varieties that are resistant to most serious diseases such as scab, fireblight, cedar apple rust and powdery mildew. In our area, being mildew resistant is the most important.
Flowering pears are among my favorite flowering trees. Right now they are covered with a blizzard of showy white flowers. Most varieties have excellent upright growth forms. As a bonus, they have dark green, glossy leaves. Another great treat comes in later in the year with their showy fall color ranging from yellow to orange to red.
They are usually winter-hardy and resistant to fireblight. The fruit is small and round and causes no problems. Bradford is the original introduction, but there are several improved varieties, including Aristocrat, Autumn Blaze, Chanticleer, Redspire and Trinity.
Other flowering stone-fruit trees include cherries, plums, peaches and nectarines. Most stone fruits are less cold-hardy than crab apple or pear trees. They are also susceptible to peach tree borers.
Flowering cherries come in dozens of varieties with single or double white, pink or magenta flowers. Look for shapes that fit your growing area.
For those planting in higher mountain valleys, the choice is more limited. The choice for colder areas is the flowering chokecherry. Not only is it cold-hardy, it features red to purplish foliage in summer.
Flowering plums are attractive but have several problems. Besides those mentioned above, they have congested, upright growth that breaks down easily with snow or heavy winds. If you decide to use flowering plums, train them carefully when they are young to avoid future problems.
Don't overlook the droplet shaped blossoms of the redbuds. Their brilliant purplish flowers add a special delight to the spring display. They are small trees that grow best if given light protection from the heat of the sun. Forest Pansy is a variety with purple leaves.
Hawthorns are other small trees with many shapes and colors. Choose improved varieties, as many are susceptible to insects and diseases. Another common defect is crowded upright growth that needs regular pruning. My own favorite is Lavalle.
Horse chestnuts have large clusters of white or red flowers. Those with red flowers are smaller, more manageable trees that fit small landscapes better than their larger counterparts.
The black or Idaho locust has white or rich purple blossoms. These trees withstand hostile conditions and are cold-hardy in most locations.