Growing flowering trees can improve the aesthetic value and fragrance of a landscape.
Some trees bloom early, such as flowering almond, and some bloom in winter, such as witch hazel. Also, some trees flower all summer, such as the heat-loving and popular crape myrtle.
With so many options, picking which flowering trees to grow in Tennessee might be challenging.
To make things easy for you, here is a list of twenty stunning flowering trees in Tennessee.
20 Beautiful Flowering Trees that Grow Well in TN
1. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Flowering dogwood is one of Tennessee’s favorite flowering trees. It grows throughout the state, from old properties to newer subdivisions. It’s an excellent addition to any garden because the small tree fits anywhere.
Flowering dogwoods are well-known for their beautiful flower-like bracts, available in various colors, including white, pink, and red. They make great understory trees, as they can live without a lot of sun. Also, they come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from dwarf trees to higher trees up to 20 feet tall.
Dogwoods are also resilient trees, which makes them a great choice if you want to spend less time taking care of them. But it helps to give them a light pruning annually. You can also feed them regularly with fertilizer for flowering trees and shrubs.
Some of Tennessee’s more popular varieties include white-flowered Kousa Dogwood, the pink-flowered Cherokee Chief Dogwood, and the red-flowered Red Pygmy Dogwood.
Other Common Names: Cornel, Dogwood Cornus, American Dogwood, Boxwood
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
With a lifespan of between 50 and 70 years, Eastern Redbud is a sight to behold in spring. Also known as the “Spice Tree” by Native Americans, the tree’s bark, roots, inner bark, and flowers were once used as medicine to treat various common ailments.
What surprises people the most is how the tree flowers. Some trees produce flowers on branches, whereas others have flowers growing on their trunks! In spring, umbels of pink, lavender, or burgundy flowers decorate the tree, leaving passers-by speechless!
Other Common Names: Eastern Redbud, Judas Tree, Redbud Tree
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 30 feet tall with a spread of 15 – 35 feet
Flowering Season: Early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
For many southerners, few trees are as satisfying as the southern magnolia.
Southern magnolia’s large creamy-white flowers offer a lovely lemony sweet fragrance. The shiny dark green evergreen leaves visually appeal to the garden throughout the year.
The flowers turn to 3″-8″ long fruits that attract birds; because fruit drop is better to plant in the landscape instead of on the streets.
Southern magnolia does well in full sun and partial shade. It does well in a wide range of soils, including clay soils.
Other Common Names: Laurel magnolia, large-flower magnolia, big laurel
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 80 feet tall with a spread of 20 – 40 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring to early mid-summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)
The chaste tree is a fast growing tree and looks like a vase covered in delicate lavender blooms. The trees can bloom for a long time – between June and September.
Besides its elegance, the Chaste Tree has a long history of medicinal usage for various conditions. These plants have a variety of therapeutic applications, including menstrual problems, menopausal symptoms, bacterial infections, and anxiety disorders. Additionally, it is thought to have aphrodisiac qualities, making it an ideal plant for a garden dedicated to love.
This tree thrives in full sun and prefers soil that drains well. It can withstand dry conditions and needs minimal care, so it’s ideal for busy gardeners.
Other Common Names: Lilac chaste tree, Monk’s Pepper, Chasteberry
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape myrtles are one of the most popular flowering trees in the southern United States. It offers large flower clusters, shiny leaves, and sweet-smelling flowers.
Crape Myrtle can handle heat and drought. There are many flower options that range from white, pink, purple, yellow, and even red. A perk of this tree is that they bloom for many months.
The trees usually have multiple stems and a peeling trunk. This feature makes it attractive in the winter landscape.
The best spot for crape myrtles is in full sun. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, but it prefers moist and well-drained sites.
Other Common Names: Crepeflower, Crepe Myrtle, Chinese Crape Myrtle
USDA Growing Zones: 7-10
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 25 feet with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Summer to Fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas)
Cornelian cherry is an excellent choice for Tennessee’s hot summers and cold winters. This small tree is a relative to the flowering dogwood.
Cornelian cherry trees feature yellow to chartreuse flowers early in the spring. As spring goes on, the blooms die off and are replaced by shiny green leaves. When autumn comes, the leaves turn a beautiful yellow-gold color. Cornelian cherry also bears bright red fruits in the summer that birds enjoy.
Not only does the Cornelian cherry look great, but it’s also a low-maintenance tree. It does well in full sun to partial shade. It does best in medium moisture and well-drained soil.
Other Common Names: European Cornel, Cornelian cherry
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 – 15 feet
Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees
7. Crabapple (Malus angustifolia)
Crabapple trees are beautiful flowering trees that can give your property a little extra flair. They come in a wide range of beautiful colors, from white to pink. Also, they can make the air smell wonderful.
Wildlife also likes crabapple trees as they give birds and small animals a safe place to live. Also, they enjoy the fruit. The fruit can also make jellies and jams, which is a nice bonus.
The best thing about crabapple trees is that they are low maintenance. They don’t require much care and can even grow in the shade. Aside from that, they don’t need much water and don’t need to be pruned.
That means you’ll have to take care of it less and have more time to enjoy its beauty.
Other Common Names: Wild Apple, May Apple, Southern Crabapple
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 40 feet with a spread of 8 – 20 feet
Flowering Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees
8. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn is one of the most popular flowering trees in Tennessee.
In the spring, the tree adorns its branches with clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers that’ll leave you mesmerized.
Although the fruits that appear shortly after the flowers are edible, they’re very tart and tangy, with a mildly sweet aftertaste. They make excellent additions to jams, jellies, and syrups!
Other Common Names: Common Hawthorn, Whitehorn, Mayblossom, Quickthorn
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 30 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring
9. Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
Want to have your very own weather tree in your Tennessee garden?
The Serviceberry is famous for indicating winter’s passing because it blooms very early in spring. The tree makes an incredible accent tree in front of evergreen trees in any landscape, thanks to its fragrant white flowers.
The edible berries look and taste a lot like blueberries, and while they’re delicious, they’re also added to jams and pies. The tastiest berries are those that have changed their color from red to dark-purple blue!
Another great thing about the serviceberry is that they only require a little care. It can also grow in various conditions, from partial shade to full sun and moist to dry soil.
Other Common Names: Shadbush, Juneberry, Sarvisberry
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring
Available at: Nature Hills
10. Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)
Due to its stunning purple-pink smokey plumes and the purple leaves found on some cultivars, the smoke tree is a popular choice for ornamental landscapes.
The smoke tree grows upright and has several stems. Except for those cultivars with purple leaves, the leaves are generally waxy green. Leaves turn yellow, orange, or purplish-red in the fall.
The flower clusters’ billowy hairs remain throughout the summer and gradually change color from a smoky pink to a purplish pink over multiple weeks, which is the source of its name.
Smoke trees prefer loamy, well-drained soil. It also prefers full sun.
Other Common Names: Smoke Bush, Royal Purple Smoke Tree
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 15 feet tall with a similar spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
11. Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
What if you could plant a tree whose flowers resemble Chinese lanterns dangling from the branches? The tree gets its name from the spent golden blooms that drop to the ground, creating an illusion of golden rain!
Native to Japan, Korea, and China, Golden Raintree is associated with nobility and strength, as it was present before, during, and after the Civil War.
Today the tree’s flowers are used in medicines, whereas the seeds are used as beads for various bead-related crafts. So if a taste of nobility is what you want, Golden Raintree is the perfect addition to your landscape.
This tree does best in full sun. The golden rain tree does well in most soils and can handle some drought.
Other Common Names: Pride of India, varnish tree, Chinese sumac, Japanese tree, and varnish tree.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with a spread of 15 – 25 feet
Flowering Season: Spring and summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
12. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
If you’ve ever come across essential oil recipes, you’ll almost always find Witch Hazel as one of the main ingredients. The tree’s bark, leaves, and flowers are used in herbal medicines, aromatherapy, cosmetics, oils, soaps, and lotions.
Famous for its long bloom season, clusters of cream, yellow, burgundy, or white flowers adorn the tree’s branches in fall and winter. The tree’s flowers pave the way for edible seeds that taste like nuts, which birds and small mammals like to consume. So add a splash of yellow with Witch Hazel!
Witch hazel can handle different levels of moisture. Full sun and partial shade are equally fine for the tree.
Other Common Names: Winterbloom, Snapping Hazelnut, Tobacco Wood, Spotted Alder
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 25 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring to early summer
Available at: Nature Hills
13. Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
If soaring high is your motto, the Tulip tree, which is also Tennessee’s state tree, will exceed your expectations! In ideal conditions, Tulip Poplar can reach 200 feet in height with a trunk diameter between eight and ten feet. With a lifespan exceeding 250 years, the tree starts producing flowers when they’re at least 15 years old.
The tree’s wood is often compared to white pine and is mostly used for cabinetry, making furniture, and musical instruments. In spring and summer, Tulip trees produce fragrant gold, green, and orange flowers, which attract butterflies and bees to your garden.
This tree does best when it gets full sun. Also, it tolerates a wide range of soils, and works well in humid spots.
Other Common Names: Yellow Poplar, Tuliptree, Canoewood
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 60 – 90 feet tall with a spread of 40 – 60 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
14. Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Mountain Ash is a beautiful flowering tree that grows well in Tennessee’s humid climate. It features clusters of tiny white flowers.
It is an excellent choice of Ash tree for those living in eastern Tennessee’s mountains and hilly regions.
After the flowers have fallen off, clusters of bright orange-red berries come out as a showy last touch. In the fall, the tree’s bright yellow and orange leaves catch a lot of attention.
Mountain ash thrives in moist and well-drained soil.
Other Common Names: Rowan, European Mountain Ash, Dogberry, Quickbeam
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 7
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 30 feet tall with a spread of 8 – 15 feet
Flowering Season: Spring
15. Japanese Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei)
If you want to paint your landscape white, Japanese Crape Myrtle should be your go-to tree! In summer, panicles of fragrant white flowers adorn the tree’s branches, creating a stunning contrast against a backdrop of deep green leaves.
In the fall, the tree’s leaves change color from glossy green to bright orangish-yellow, signifying the beauty behind maturity and things that are past their prime. Japanese Crape Myrtle symbolizes good fortune, love, and beauty, so you wouldn’t be wrong to add it to your landscape.
Japanese crape myrtle grows best in full sun with rich, moist soil. It will probably do well in places with limited or compacted soil space, like streets and parking lots.
Other Common Names: Japanese crape myrtle, Chinese crape myrtle
USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 6 – 8 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Summer
16. Flowering Almond (Prunus glandulosa)
If your main aim is to plant a tree that beautifies your garden and attracts beneficial pollinators, Flowering Almond is the perfect addition to any landscape. Native to China and Korea, the tree isn’t as big as other trees on this list; however, it does an electrifying job of transforming landscapes.
In spring, clusters of stunning white or pink flowers dress the tree’s branches, creating a beautiful contrast against its bright to deep green leaves. The tree attracts butterflies and bees but is problematic for cats, dogs, and horses. Accidentally ingesting leaves, stem, and seeds can cause a mild allergic reaction.
Flowering almonds grow best in full sun and moist, well-drained loamy soil. Full sun is necessary for maximum flowers. The tree does well in a wide range of soil types.
Plant flowering almond saplings in the spring and ensure to water them often during their first year of growth.
Other Common Names: Tibetan Cherry
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: Up to 8 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Early spring
Available at: Nature Hills
17. Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Japanese lilac is a small tree with an oval to rounded crown. It features large clusters of musky-scented, tiny creamy-white flowers that appear in early summer. The flowers stay on the tree for only two weeks each year. After that, tan capsules appear on the tree and last through the winter.
The attractive deciduous leaves are dark green. In addition, the bark is reddish brown and exfoliating, which is beautiful in the winter landscape.
Japanese lilac does best in full sun. But you can plant it in a light shade too. It works well in medium moisture and well-drained soils.
Other Common Names: Japanese Tree Lilac, Japanese Mock-Orange
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 7
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall and 10 – 15 feet wide
Flowering Season: Early to mid-summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
18. Seven-Sons Tree (Heptacodium miconioides)
Native to China, Seven-Sons is a rare tree that deserves recognition because it’s susceptible to becoming extinct. The tree gets its name from the Greek word “Heptacodium,” which means “seven heads,” because the flowers come in clusters of seven.
In fall and summer, panicles of fragrant white flowers adorn the tree’s branches, which then pave the way for inedible lavender fruits. This tree can be containerized for an indoor woodland!
The Seven-sons tree does well in full sun. They only require a little maintenance and do well in many soil types.
Other Common Names: Chinese Snowball, Heptacodium
USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with a spread of 8 – 10 feet
Flowering Season: Late summer through fall
Available at: Nature Hills
19. Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
Amur maple produces fragrant, white flowers. This small tree is multi-stemmed with a rounded crown. The leaves are bright green in spring and summer, turning deep red or yellow in the fall.
The tree’s bark is smooth and gray. Amur maple makes an excellent specimen tree but works well in containers or patios.
Amur maple does well in full sun or partial shade. It does well in moist and organically rich soil. This is one of several maple trees that grow in Tennessee, it is not a fan of a lot of heat and works better for those who live in the mountainous areas of eastern Tennessee.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 – 7
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
20. Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Like flowering almond trees, star magnolia is one of the first trees to bloom in the spring. They produce drooping white flowers with multiple narrow petals.
These slow-growing small trees grow on multiple trunks, but you can train them to grow on a single trunk. Star magnolia is an excellent specimen tree in landscape or woodland-themed gardens. Some landscapers prune them aggressively and use many of these trees as informal hedges.
Star magnolia grows well in full sun to partial shade. It prefers loamy, well-drained soil that is organically rich.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 – 14 feet
Flowering Season: Early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
Expert Recommendation
TN Nursery recommends the White Princess Dogwood Tree (Cornus Florida) for its breathtaking spring display of large, showy white or pinkish flowers, colorful fall foliage and adaptability in landscaping.
– TN Nursery: 12847 State Route 108, Altamont TN 37301
Choosing the Right Flowering Tree in Tennessee
Flowering trees add an undeniable amount of beauty to any landscape.
Some, like flowering dogwood and seven-son trees, are low maintenance. For blooming trees that offer fall color consider amur maple, hawthorn, or serviceberry. You can also pick the winter-blooming witch hazel with its unique yellow flowers.
It is essential to check your Tennessee USDA hardiness zones. Doing so is vital to make sure that your tree thrives. For example, amur maple and mountain ash do better in the mountains than in hot and humid areas such as Memphis.
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