Flowering Trees Complete a Landscape
As an avid gardener, plant person, and through my many years working and being amongst great plants daily, I am hard pressed to consider a landscape without the many attributes flowering trees offer. A landscape is not truly complete unless it has at least one of these magnificent trees within its boundaries.
When meeting with clients to discuss their landscape needs often times the discussion turns to the need for the introduction of at least one flowering tree and at times that is the sole reason we are together. By the single attribute of their ability for prolific flowering they are the true calling cards that spring is in full gear. This period of time always prompts many phone calls from clients to add another of these beauties.
Different Landscape Possibilities
These trees offer many different design possibilities. When used in the shrub border they become the vertical bones of the garden. As border understory trees at the edge of a wood line they invite you to see what lies beyond. And when used as a specimen they anchor the corners of front foundations and provide color and shade over decks and patios. They can also stand out all by themselves in the lawn setting.
Although most people only recognize these trees when they are flowering most varieties offer two if not three seasonal characteristics including fruit and fall color and range in size from 20’ to 30’ tall at maturity and are grown in both single trunk and multi stem (shrub) form. Along with extending the seasonal beauty of the landscape these characteristics provide food and in some cases shelter for wildlife, especially birds. These additional attributes further encourage one to find a location for at least one.
Although this spring season offered up all of her wonderful flowers all at once, in general flowering trees usher in the spring season with a dedicated sequence beginning with Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) in late March followed closely by Magnolia, Prunus (Cherry), Cornus florida (Dogwood) and Amelanchier (Serviceberry) in April and ending with Malus (Crabapple), Crataegus (Hawthorn) and Syringa reticulata (Tree Lilac) in May and early June.
Spring – Nature’s Greatest Paintings
Spring is a wonderful time of the year as we transition from the dreary cold days of winter to the awakening of the landscape to the early days of summer, flowering trees provide the colorful back drop to one of Mother Nature’s greatest paintings!