Romance and elegance are guaranteed if you have a backyard or garden filled with white flowering trees. A tree loaded with white flowers can add a touch of magic and magnificence to any landscape. And white flowers are among the best signs of spring’s arrival.
Photo Credit There is something magical about a tree with white flowers that wins a gardener’s heart in no time.
However, not all plants with white flowers blossom at the same time when spring arrives. Some produce flowers sooner than others, stealing the whole show. However, one must consider a few things before picking an early white bloomer for their garden.
White flowering trees come in various sizes, foliage colors, and leaf shapes. And when choosing a white flowering tree for your property, one must first learn about the plants that go with local weather and then establish where those flowering trees could be used effectively. Luckily, when it comes to white flowering plants, you have many choices, whether you want an accent tree or grouping for a backyard landscape.
Below are my favorite white-flowering plants that are the first to put on a flowering show.
Ornamental Trees With White Flowers
1. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Photo Credit Bradford pear tree: A white flowering tree that people love to hate.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | China |
| USDA Zones | 5-9 |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Mature Height | 12-15 m (39-50 ft) |
| Mature Spread | 9-12 m (30-39 ft) |
| Foliage Color | Glossy green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval, glossy leaves with finely serrated edges |
| Fall Color | Leaves turn shades of red, orange, and purple |
Overview
The Bradford pear tree sometimes called the Callery pear, is a quick-grower and a fantastic landscaping plant specimen. It can make your garden look like a white fairyland in early spring. However, if you want to add this ornamental tree to your landscape, there is a chance that you might end up with a few grumpy neighbors. The tree has a characteristic rotting fish smell that it gives off when blooming. However, it is a relatively low-fuss and easy-to-care-for tree, so depending on where you live, it might be the perfect plant for you.
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RELATED: 30 Shrubs With Beautiful White Flowers | The Ultimate Guide
2. Yoshino Cherry (Prunus × yedoensis)
Photo Credit Yoshino Cherry: an ornamental tree perfect for adding a splash of color and vibrance to your yard.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Japan |
| USDA Zones | 5-8 |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Mature Height | 10-12 m (30-40 ft) |
| Mature Spread | 8-10 m (25-35 ft) |
| Foliage Color | Bright green in spring and summer |
| Foliage Shape | Oval, finely toothed leaves |
| Fall Color | Leaves turn yellow to bronze in fall |
Overview
Few ornamental trees with white flowers can match the grandeur of the Yoshino Cherry. Known to be among the earliest cherry trees to bloom, Yoshino Cherry is regarded as one of the most popular ornamental trees in the world. Its delicate beauty can make anywhere they are placed calm, colorful, lush, and serene. And while their small berries are too bitter for people to eat, their almond-scented blooms attract plenty of birds and butterflies.
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Yoshino cherry live tree seedlings 7 to 13 inches.
3. Carolina Silverbell (Halesia Tetraptera)
Photo Credit Carolina Silverbell: A deciduous tree valued for its drooping, bell-shaped white flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern United States |
| USDA Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6-9 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 20-30 feet (6-9 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval |
| Fall Color | Yellow to Orange |
Overview
The Carolina Silverbell tree is a fantastic choice for standalone plant specimens for home gardens or in groupings for woodland borders. It naturally forms a rounded crown with multiple stems. Although, you can train it into a single-trunk tree by keeping only one central trunk. Most people, however, grow it in its natural form as a large woody shrub.
Caroline Silverbell makes a beautiful white flowering tree, especially when planted against an evergreen background. It prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils and can be grown with minimal care and upkeep in well-drained soil in full sun to some shade.
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Two-wing Silverbell Halesia Diptera 10 Seeds.
4. White Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
Photo Credit White Redbud: A stunning focal tree with tons of white early spring blooms for your landscape.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern and Central North America |
| USDA Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6-9 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 25-35 feet (7.6-10.7 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Heart-shaped |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
The White Redbud tree is an easy-to-grow, medium-sized ornamental tree perfect for informal gardens and backyards. The plant is popular around American landscapes and is not difficult to come across. You can place it near your house entrance as an extravagant welcome to guests or in groups to create a naturalized border look.
And, in winter, its leafless branches form an attractive silhouette that looks especially pretty against a light-colored wall. The tree performs best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. But, it is adaptable to other soil types, although it will not grow in soggy soils.
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Eastern Redbud ( Cercis Canadensis)
5. Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Photo Credit Saskatoon Serviceberry: A frequently grown woody shrub that blooms in early spring with white flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | North America |
| USDA Zones | 2-7 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Mature Height | 6-20 feet (1.8-6.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 5-12 feet (1.5-3.7 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval |
| Fall Color | Orange to Red |
Overview
The name of the Saskatoon Serviceberry comes from a Cree word (misâskwatômina), meaning “the fruit of the tree of many branches.” Although often referred to as a tree, it is technically a shrub that provides three seasons of visual interest with scented, drooping white flowers. And it is not just pretty; it is practical too. The plant produces berries with a flavor reminiscent of cherry with a hint of almonds. And these berries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and protein. You can use the plant to naturalize landscapes and gardens.
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Seeds for planting Amelanchier alnifolia seeds.
6. Flatwoods Plum (Prunus Umbellata)
Photo Credit Flatwoods Plum: A round-topped, deciduous tree often planted for its spectacular display of white blooms
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Southeastern United States |
| USDA Zones | 6-9 |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Mature Height | 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 10-15 feet (3-4.6 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval to lanceolate |
| Fall Color | Yellow to orange-red |
Overview
Also known as a sloe plum and hog plum, the Flatwoods plum is a variety of plums that grows in the wild. It typically flowers in March (early spring), when its entire rounded crown is covered in umbels of lovely white flowers that attract lots of bees, butterflies, and birds. The half-inch blooms are followed by edible, purple fruits, which taste very tart to sweet.
The plant is often also mistaken for its sister plum, the Chickasaw. Nevertheless, if you decide to grow it in your backyard or garden, ensure your soil is sandy or loamy, dry to slightly moist, and well-drained. Also, the plant needs full sun to perform best.
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Flatwoods Plum Tree Seeds (Prunus Umbellata) (Wild Plum)
7. Anise Magnolia (Magnolia Salicifolia)
Photo Credit Anise Magnolia: A small tree with showy, pure white, narrow-petaled blooms that open in early spring.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Southeastern United States |
| USDA Zones | 6-9 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Mature Height | 20-40 feet (6.1-12.2 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 15-30 feet (4.6-9.1 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Narrow, willow-like |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
The trees of the genus Magnolia make you want to breathe all the surrounding air in; some can even take your breath away with their dazzling beauty. And Anise Magnolia does both. It produces white, fragrant flowers that are sometimes pink at the base.
The leaves of the plant and gray trunk are also aromatic when scratched. For best results, you should grow it in well-drained, humus-rich, neutral-to-acid soil in the sun or part shade. You can even plant it in a large container if you want it as a specimen plant.
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Magnolia Kobus, stellata star estrellada / Magnolia.
8. Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia X Soulangeana)
Photo Credit Saucer Magnolia: A handsome early spring blooming tree with elegant, goblet-shaped flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Hybrid |
| USDA Zones | 5-9 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Dark green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval to oblong |
| Fall Color | Yellow to bronze |
Overview
Saucer magnolia is a famous white & pink flowering tree created through a cross between lily magnolia (a shrub-like plant) and lily tree, both found in Japan.
The Saucer Magnolia is sometimes referred to as the tulip magnolia.
However, it should not be confused with tulip trees. They are somewhat fussy when it comes to caring and growing conditions. However, the effort is worth it, and they can brighten up any landscape. Plant them in moist, deep, acidic soil and full sun for best results.
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Saucer Magnolia, 1-2′ tall, live plant, ornamental tree.
9. Florida Dogwood (Cornus Florida)
Photo Credit Florida Dogwood: A small Maryland native that produces colorful red to burgundy foliage in the fall.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern United States |
| USDA Zones | 5-9 |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval to ovate |
| Fall Color | Red to burgundy |
Overview
Florida dogwood is a famous spreading tree that does best in part or filtered sun. The plant should be grown in well-drained, slightly acidic soils for best results.
However, if you live in an area with water shortages, do not plant them. They are not drought-tolerant and need plenty of water. Their blooms range in color from white to pink or red, but they are short-lived and bloom early in the spring.
The plants also attract native birds increasing the biodiversity of the area.
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1 White Dogwood Tree(Cornus Florida) 4″ Container
10. American Fringe (Chionanthus virginicus)
Photo Credit American Fringe: A native tree that produces unusual shaggy white flowers in early spring.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern United States |
| USDA Zones | 3-9 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Mature Height | 12-20 feet (3.7-6.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 10-15 feet (3-4.6 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval to ovate |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
Fringe trees are outstanding landscape trees with many features. For instance, they live longer than white-flowering cherry trees, are more dependable than white-flowering saucer magnolia, are tougher than white-flowering dogwood, and have wonderfully fragrant blooms. However, these plants grow somewhat slowly and will need time to establish.
The wait is worth it, though. When spring arrives, they produce many feathery flowers, providing a showy display of white flowers that can perfume any space.
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Chionanthus virginicus | Fringe Tree | Grancy Graybeard | 5_Seeds
11. Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
Photo Credit Japanese Snowbell: A well-known tree plant by gardening enthusiasts admired for its white blooms.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | China, Japan, Korea |
| USDA Zones | 5-8 |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Heart-shaped |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
Japanese Snowbell is a low-maintenance, moderately sized, beautifying plant that fits amazingly in places such as along property borders or parking lot islands. It is an easy-to-care-for, compact, and early spring-blooming tree. The Japanese Snowbell also bears small fruits in the late spring that attract songbirds and other wildlife.
However, the plant needs partial to full sun, so ensure it isn’t placed in a shade. Also, the soil should be rich in organic matter and moderately moist for the best results.
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Japanese Snowbell Tree (Styrax japonicus) 5 fresh seeds
12. Japanese Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Photo Credit Japanese Lilac: One of the earliest spring bloomers, it produces large clusters of creamy-white flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Japan, Korea, China |
| USDA Zones | 3-7 |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Heart-shaped |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
The Japanese lilac is a tree-form lilac beautiful enough to act as a standalone specimen in homes and gardens. It has a rounded shape, an upright growth habit, and a moderate growth rate. The plant produces beautiful clusters of fragrant, cream-colored flowers each spring; their scent is fantastic. Furthermore, the plant has reddish bark with white markings and a naturally attractive shape that gives it interest almost all year around. Lastly, the plant tolerates many environments, making it well-suited as a landscape tree.
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Japanese Tree Lilac Seeds ( Syringa reticulata) 20+Seeds
13. Weeping Cherry Tree (Prunus x ‘Snofozam’ White)
Photo Credit Weeping Cherry Tree: A whit-flowering tree valued year-round for its form and in spring for its flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | A hybrid of Prunus subhirtella and Prunus pendula |
| USDA Zones | 5-8 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast |
| Mature Height | 20-30 feet (6.1-9.1 meters) |
| Mature Spread | 15-25 feet (4.6-7.6 meters) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Ovate |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
Few plants are more graceful in the landscape than Weeping Cherry Tree. And it looks its best in spring when its drooping branches are covered with white and pink flowers. It makes lovely plant specimens to grow in a lawn or a courtyard. However, if you want to plant it, please remember that it needs regular care, and if it does not relieve proper growing conditions, the plant dies very quickly. Aside from its flowers, its branches are covered in green leaves that turn a flashy yellow in autumn before dropping to the ground.
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14. White Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Photo Credit White Rose of Sharon: A bushy deciduous shrub noted for its sleek, pristine white, big, double flowers.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern Asia |
| USDA Zones | 5-9 |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Mature Height | 8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m) |
| Mature Spread | 6-10 ft (1.8-3.0 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Rounded |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
The crisp white flowers of this plant make a calm, refreshing oasis in the landscape that is particularly stunning at night when they seem to shine. And if that is not enough, their fluffy centers make the blooms extra showy and give the plant a unique and classic look.
And it produces little to no seed, ensuring you don’t have to clean your yard repeatedly. Furthermore, adding to its advantages, the plant is no fuss and is easy to care for. You can plant it alongside shrubs or a few hotly colored perennials to amplify the impact.
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25 White & Hot Pink ROSE Of SHARON Seeds
15. Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Photo Credit Washington Hawthorn: despite its name, it originates from nearby North Carolina.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | North America |
| USDA Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Mature Height | 20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) |
| Mature Spread | 20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Lobed |
| Fall Color | Red-orange |
Overview
These plants are cultivated for their showy flowers, bright-colored fruit, and lovely fall colors. Its flowers are also known for their distinctive odor, giving rise to red berries that persist throughout winter. It provides four-season ornamental interest and has a sturdy nature.
Robins also sometimes line their branches, harvesting the fruits. Another plus point of this plant is that it is thorny and tolerates extensive pruning. Therefore, you can plant it as a hedge for a screen or grow it in small groups around your patio, walkway, or driveway.
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Washington hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) 1-year-old plant
16. Snow Crabapple Tree (Malus ‘Spring Snow’)
Photo Credit Snow Crabapple Tree: A fast-growing, low-maintenance flowering tree with a classic upright oval form.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Asia |
| USDA Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Mature Height | 20-25 ft (6.1-7.6 m) |
| Mature Spread | 15-20 ft (4.6-6.1 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Ovate |
| Fall Color | Yellow |
Overview
‘Spring Snow’ gets its name from the fragrant white blossoms that appear in early spring and contrast dazzlingly with its lush green leaves. The flowers, however, only stay for one to two weeks, and then their petals fall to the ground hence the tree’s common name.
These trees are generally planted from potted nursery specimens, and a potted tree can take up to three to four years or even longer before it flowers heavily.
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17. Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’)
Photo Credit Crape Myrtle Tree: A beautiful addition to any garden with white, pink, mauve, and red blooms.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | United States |
| USDA Zones | 7-9 |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Mature Height | 20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) |
| Mature Spread | 15-25 ft (4.6-7.6 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Lanceolate |
| Fall Color | Orange-red |
Overview
Crape myrtle is a group of 50 tree and shrub cultivars, some deciduous while others evergreen. However, what they all share and make all crape myrtles desirable and stunningly beautiful are their stunning frilly and rippled blooms and peeling bark.
And, if you want white flowers, I recommend you go with Natchez Crape Myrtle Tree.
They perform best in full sun and require at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Furthermore, you must ensure the soil is well-drained and not too alkaline, or they will die.
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Natchez Crape Myrtle Trees – Spectacular White Blooms
18. Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp)
Photo Credit Angel’s trumpet: A dramatic tree with pendulous floral bells sway gracefully from sturdy branches.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | South America |
| USDA Zones | 9-11 |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Mature Height | 6-20 ft (1.8-6.1 m) |
| Mature Spread | 6-10 ft (1.8-3.0 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Oval |
| Fall Color | N/A |
Overview
Grown as a woody shrub or small tree, angel’s trumpet can steal the garden show with its hanging trumpet-shaped flowers that delight this plant in any landscape.
However, please remember that though showy, these blooms are part of the nightshade family, which is poisonous. Also, these plants are not winter-hardy. However, if you want, you can grow them in northern regions as annual trees in the summer.
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White Angel Trumpet Flower Seeds in Packet
19. Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Photo Credit Black Chokeberry is becoming increasingly popular due to its attractive autumn color and vitamin-rich fruit.
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Eastern North America |
| USDA Zones | 3-8 |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Mature Height | 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) |
| Mature Spread | 3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Ovate |
| Fall Color | Red |
Overview
Black chokeberry ( is a deciduous shrub with an upright growth habit and somewhat rounded shape. It has glossy, dark green leaves which turn red to reddish-purple in the fall, providing a striking color to the landscape. The tree is often used in naturalized and woodland gardens in mass planting as windbreaks and to prevent erosion control. The plant also produces small clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by small black fruit.
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Black Chokeberry 20+ PCS fresh seeds, Aronia melanocarpa seeds
20. Bridal Wreath Spirea (Spiraea prunifolia)
Photo Credit The Bridal Wreath Spirea is a true showstopper – a fountain of flowers in the spring!
Quick Facts
| Geographical Origin | Japan |
| USDA Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Mature Height | 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Mature Spread | 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Shape | Elliptic |
| Fall Color | Orange-red |
Overview
Bridal wreath spirea is an upright, arching deciduous shrub with thick sprays of white flowers that can create unique focal points in backyards and gardens. This tree reaches 4 to 8 feet high, and most of the year, it is covered with green foliage. However, in spring, clusters of double white flowers appear that never fail to draw comments from passers-by!
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Bridal Wreath Spirea/Double White May/May Bush
RELATED: Top 10 Types of Elm Trees| Elm Tree Uses, Pictures and Identification Guide
The Bottom Line
As you must have figured out by now, there are many beautiful white-flowering trees, and with so many types, there are bound to be some that will thrive on your property.
But, once again, before you pick a plant with white flowers to grow in your garden, it is essential to understand its care needs and whether or not it can thrive in your area.
And with that, happy gardening!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the white flower of early spring?
The white flowers you see in early spring are often spring-blooming snowdrop bulbs. Besides, crocuses are also one of the best early spring flowers, announcing the departure of winter and the arrival of spring with their lovely pink, purple, yellow, or white petals.
What is the most beautiful flowering tree?
Beauty is subjective and can vary based on personal preferences, so it is hard to say what is the most beautiful flowering tree. However, several flowering trees, such as Dogwood Tree, Magnolia Tree, and Cherry Blossom Tree, are widely considered beautiful.
Which is the king of flowering trees?
Saraca is known for its attractive foliage and sweet-smelling flowers and is sometimes known as the King of Flowering Trees. However, since beauty and cultural significance are subjective, there is no one true universally accepted “king” of flowering trees.
Which is the queen of all flowering plants?
Rose, an ornamental flowering plant, is often called the queen of all flowering plants.
What flower blooms for 100 years?
There is no known flower that blooms for 100 years. Most flowers have a relatively short blooming period, ranging from a few days to several weeks.
Sources for Further Reading
Early Blooming Trees Herald Spring’s Arrival | Mississippi State University Extension Service. (2023). Retrieved 23 March 2023, from http://extension.msstate.edu/news/southern-gardening/1998/early-blooming-trees-herald-springs-arrival
Winter-flowering Trees and Shrubs – The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (2023). Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/winter-flowering-trees-and-shrubs.html
The top four spring-flowering trees to plant. (2021). College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension. Retrieved 23 March 2023, from https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2021-04-24-top-four-spring-flowering-trees-plant
What are your favorite early spring white flowering trees? Comment below. Also, check out our other articles:
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