Gardening Ideas Growing Trees 12 Flowering Southern Trees You Need To Plant Now By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Claver Carroll / Getty Make a statement with a Southern tree that's bursting with colorful buds. These iconic Southern plants are a surefire way to add a dose of character and curb appeal to your landscape. Planting flowering trees improves the ornamental structure of your landscaping, and some can help the environment by attracting birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Also, air quality improves, and your yard can often avoid soil erosion by adding these flowering plants. Some trees bear fruit, while others showcase fragrant blooms that brighten your yard. Here are the 12 best Southern flowering trees you should plant now. 01 of 12 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 the South. They love a sunny environment and thrive in the upper, middle, lower, and coastal South planting zones. Their flowers come in various shades, including pink, purple, red, and white. You can expect your Crepe Myrtle to put on a show of color during the summer months. 02 of 12 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 varieties, but no type is quite as popular in the South as the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). The flowering dogwood, native to the eastern United States from New England to central Florida, is the state flower of North Carolina and Virginia. Its blooms are typically white, though you might occasionally spot pink and red variations. 03 of 12 Magnolia Southern Living Botanical Name: Magnolia grandifloraSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy, 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—it stuns year round. The blooms are wonderfully fragrant and borne among their leaves as opposed to the ends of the branches. 04 of 12 Cherry Blossom Southern Living Botanical Name: Prunus serrulataSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Loamy, Sandy, ClaySoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0) Though cherry blossom season is fleeting, lasting just about a month every spring, you can't dispute this tree's stunning beauty. Cherry blossom's subtly fragrant flowers also make for beautiful cut-branch arrangements. 05 of 12 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. Beanlike pods appear after the flowers and give rise to seedlings that turn into broad, heart-shaped leaves. They thrive in full sun or partial shade. 06 of 12 Forsythia hdmddphoto / Getty Botanical Name: Forsythia spp.Sun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Neutral, Alkaline (7.0-8.0) Forsythia trees are popular because they're inexpensive, easy to grow, and dependably colorful. They bloom with thousands of tiny yellow flowers from late winter to early spring. Plus, bees and butterflies love Forsythia. 07 of 12 Jacaranda Claver Carroll / Getty Botanical Name: Jacaranda mimosifoilaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Rich, SandySoil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.5) If you live in the tropical South, you've spotted these massive trees with countless lavender-colored blossoms. Jacaranda prefers sandy soil but won't flower if they're in the path of ocean winds. They thrive in full sun. 08 of 12 Chaste Tree vsanderson / Getty Images Botanical Name: Vitex agnus-castusSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, LooseSoil 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 seven feet of growth in a season. This plant, considered a shrub or tree, blooms in shades of violet, blue, pink, or white during the summer. After establishing, the Chaste tree does not require a lot of watering, making it a low-maintenance plant that attracts pollinators. 09 of 12 Serviceberry Courtesy of Pinterest Botanical Name: Amelanchier arboreaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Acidic (6.0-6.8) Enjoy fruit and beautiful blooms when planting the Serviceberry tree. It bears fruit, similar to the size of blueberries, that change 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 this little fruit, so you will see plenty of birds if you decide to plant one in your yard. 10 of 12 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 the Old Man's Beard tree, the Fringe tree has smooth bark and features white flowers on its twigs before the first leaves appear, which turn yellow in the spring. These flowers grow on bare twigs and have thin petals. After flowering, look for berries that attract birds. Remember to maintain consistent watering as this tree is not very drought-tolerant. 11 of 12 Hawthorn sandra standbridge / Getty Image Botanical Name: CrataegusSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline (6.0-7.5) Find the appropriate species that will thrive in the South, and enjoy the fragrant clusters of flowers that bloom in mid to late spring and year-round features. During cool autumn and winter weather, expect to see red, black, orange, or yellow berries on this tree, attracting birds. Flowers appear in a range of colors, from white to hot pink. Be mindful that varieties of this species contain sharp thorns—hence its name. 12 of 12 Tulip Poplar Photos / Getty Images Botanical Name: Liriodendron tulipiferaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline (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. These trees are a member of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) and can often grow to 70 to 90 feet tall. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit