Arricca Elin SanSone is a freelance writer, editor, and digital content developer. She specializes in lifestyle and interior design content with a focus on gardening. Arricca earned dual bachelor’s degrees summa cum laude in English and classics from Hiram College, as well as an MBA cum laude from Georgia Southern University. Before writing full-time, Arricca studied in Rome, traveled in Europe, and taught school in Asia. With over a decade of experience, Arricca has pitched, researched, and crafted fresh story ideas and content to appeal to national audiences. She has written thousands of articles for print and digital publications such as Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, House Beautiful, and more. 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Flowering trees are a smart investment on many levels: They add beauty and shade, support pollinator and bird populations, and provide an eye-catching focal point.
Many also flower in the spring to welcome warmer days, and many are small trees, which fit well in even compact spaces.
When choosing a white flowering tree, make sure it can survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). Most flowering trees require full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day.
Also, consider a tree’s mature size; it may not look like much now in its gallon-sized container, but don’t plant it too near your house or under overhead wires. You don’t want to create a maintenance nightmare that will require intensive pruning or removal of the tree a few years down the road.
Water deeply when planting, then regularly for the first season to help establish a strong root system.
Finally, before you go shopping, be aware that there’s at least one white flowering tree you shouldn’t plant: Braford pear (Pyruscalleryana). Once a favorite of developers, this ornamental tree was planted everywhere until its weaknesses became apparent: The trees have stinky flowers (some say they smell like rotting fish or cat urine—which is not something you want in your front yard).
They also have weak wood, which tends to split down the middle—which can be dangerous as well as unsightly. To top it off, it's actually considered an invasive species in some parts of the country.
Ahead, our top picks for the best white flowering trees for your lawn or garden:
1
Kousa Dogwood
MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images//Getty Images
More than just an inspiration for punch, dogwood trees offer a ton of curb appeal throughout the year. White springtime blooms are followed by red berries and burgundy fall foliage.
The horizontal branching and unique vase-like shape of this type of dogwood are especially appealing qualities. It’s one of the few flowering trees that likes part shade, though it can take full sun in cooler climates.
Scientific name: Cornus kousa
Mature Size: 15 to 25 feet tall, 15 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 8
2
Crab Apple
skydie//Getty Images
Crab apple trees are available with pink or white blooms. The masses of white springtime flowers are followed by glossy red berries, which the birds love.
Some varieties also have attractive yellow fall color. These are relatively small trees, but if you’re tight on space, look for an even more compact variety, such as ‘Lollipop,’ which maxes out at 8 to 10 feet tall.
Scientific name:Malus
Mature size: 8 to 20 feet tall, 15 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 3 to 7
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3
Serviceberry
Iva Vagnerova//Getty Images
This lesser-known ornamental tree (also known as shadbush, juneberry, or saskatoon) is truly a stand-out with a cloud of white blooms in spring, followed by gorgeous blue-red berries, which you can use to make jam, if you can beat the birds to them.
The variety ‘Autumn Brilliance’ also has outstanding red-orange fall foliage.
Scientific name:Amelanchier
Mature size: 15 to 25 feet tall and wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
4
Fringe Tree
Wirestock//Getty Images
The fringe-like flowers on this lovely tree have a sweet fragrance, while its upright branches and full form make it an eye-catching specimen tree. Eventually, it becomes slightly wider than it is tall.
Scientific name: Chionanthus
Mature size: 15 to 20 feet tall, 20 to 25 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Star Magnolia
AYImages//Getty Images
Huge star-shaped blossoms appear on this tree in spring before it leafs out. It is a more cold-hardy type of magnolia, and it also fits better in most garden spaces.
The larger (and messier) Southern magnolia, which can grow 90 to 100 feet tall, is often not ideal for many smaller yards.
Scientific name:Magnolia stellata
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall, 8 to 15 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
6
Cherry blossom
VICUSCHKA//Getty Images
Although many cherry blossom trees have pink flowers, there are some striking white-flowered cherry trees.
Yoshino cherry trees have an abundance of horizontal branches, which means an outstanding display of spring flowers. Weeping cherries have a graceful, draping form with a more compact mature size. Either make a stunning specimen tree.
Scientific name:Prunus
Mature size: 20 to 50 feet tall, 15 to 40 feet wide
You may know lilacs have exquisite purple-blue blooms in late spring, but the white varieties are just as lovely. This large shrub, which can grow to tree-like heights, is worth planting somewhere that you can enjoy its delightful scent. It also makes a good privacy screen.
Redbuds are covered in blooms in early spring before the plant leafs out for the season. Although red and pink varieties are most common, white types also are available. This small tree boasts cute heart-shaped leaves.
Scientific name: Cercis
Mature size: 10 to 12 feet tall, 8 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9
Crape Myrtle
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty Images
Also called crepe myrtle, these trees come in every color you can imagine, including bright white.
They show off with hundreds of flowers from early summer to early fall and are generally easy-care plants.
Scientific name:Lagerstroemia
Mature size: 20 to 30 feet tall, 20 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 7 to 10
10
Japanese Snowbell
DigiPub//Getty Images
Japanese snowbells are not particularly well-known, but they should be! With darling bell-shaped blooms in spring and hundreds of fragrant flowers, this distinctive tree will definitely stand out in any garden.
Scientific name: Styrax japonicus
Mature size: 20 to 30 feet tall, 15 to 25 feet wide
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 8
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
Camellia
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty Images
These evergreen shrub-like trees have waxy blooms that are so lush that they almost don’t look real. They come in many colors, including red, pink and white.
Unlike many white flowering trees, which bloom in spring, most types of camellias bloom in fall or late winter, so you can extend your garden’s flowering season with this beautiful plant.
