These Pink Flowering Trees Will Completely Transform Your Garden
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There's nothing quite like a colorful garden on a sunny spring day. Your instinct may be to fill your yard with ground-level blooms and planters full of different spring flower varieties, but we recommend thinking beyond eye level when adding more color to your landscaping. The lush foliage of pink flowering trees isn't just stunning; it also acts as a bright accent among your other spring flowers such as tulips and flowering bulbs. Plus, there are varieties for every type and size garden.
"Flowering trees are a two-for-one: They provide all the benefits of trees (beauty, shade, critical resources for animals and the food web, and cleaner air, just to name a few) plus the benefits of the flowers (beauty, food for pollinators, and curb appeal/neighborhood beautification)," explains Kristin Monji, principal of Birch and Basil Design. "Flowering trees occupy a real sweet spot for gardeners, homeowners, and communities alike."
When shopping for trees with pink flowers, make sure you choose one that will survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zone. Then give it plenty of room to grow! Read the plant tag or description to find its mature size, and consider that when planting. It may not look like much in its gallon-sized pot right now, but it might balloon quickly. You don't want it to grow too close to your home or take over your other plants. “Consider bloom times in your tree selection so you have action in spring, summer and fall,” Monji says. “That’s why I love crepe myrtle trees because of their large long-lived pink/magenta that bloom in late summer when the garden needs a boost.”
To give your new tree a good start in life, dig a hole about two to three times as wide as its container and just as deep. Then place it in the hole at the same depth it was in the pot. If it was a balled-and-burlapped tree, remove the burlap and string or wire (no, the burlap won't biodegrade quickly enough for your growing tree's roots to stretch out!). Then place your tree in the hole, backfill it with soil, tamp it down to remove air pockets, and water it well. Keep it watered well the first season so it establishes a strong root system. Finally, don't add compost or other amendments to the hole itself; that's old-school and is no longer recommended because it causes drainage issues. Your baby tree needs to learn to grow in the native soil!
No matter where you live, planting a pink flowering tree is a great way to add colorful curb appeal that will keep you smiling year after year. Ahead, we break down our top picks for the prettiest pink trees to consider adding to your yard.
Pink Trumpet
Native to equatorial countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, this tree loves warm, dry weather. Unlike other pink trees, this one blooms during the winter, and its sweet scent attracts pollinators.
USDA Hardiness zones: 10 to 11
Gala Apple
Gala apple trees burst with an abundance of pastel pink blooms throughout the spring months. Not only are these flowers visually striking, but they also give way to deliciously sweet fruit come the colder months.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
Pink Flowering Almond
A type of ornamental almond tree, this variety is cultivated for its appearance rather than the edible fruit. Because of this, this tree features double the number of pink blooms as a traditional almond tree. Flowering almond trees are also more cold tolerant than similar-looking cherry trees.
USDA Hardiness zones: 3 to 7
Red Horse Chestnut
Towering as tall as 40 feet at maturity, the red horse chestnut is great for those looking for a subtle way to incorporate pink into their landscaping. This tree is technically a hybrid between red buckeyes and traditional horse chestnuts. The flowers start out bright red, but don't worry, they'll fade into a beautiful pink over time. Just be aware that its seeds are toxic to animals and people.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 8
Redbud
One of the first trees to give color in the spring, the tiny, hot pink blooms of a redbud tree appear before the foliage. It's nicely sized to fit in many gardens, with most varieties topping out at around 15 to 25 feet.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
Magnolia
There are many different types of magnolias, so you can grow one just about anywhere in the U.S. Southern magnolias are the classics, growing in warm regions. But you'll also find saucer magnolias and star magnolias that grow in colder parts of the country. Read the description so you buy one that's suited to your climate.
USDA Hardiness zones: 3 to 10
Weeping Cherry
Elegant arching branches and stunning pink blooms in early to mid spring make this a must-have tree. Many varieties also boast pretty orange, gold, or red fall color.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
Camellia
Camellias have a classic, old-fashioned beauty with glossy green leaves and large, lush blooms. There are numerous cultivated varieties of this broadleaf evergreen that bloom from late fall to early spring. Many types range from pale pink to deepest red.
USDA Hardiness zones: 7 to 9
Weigela
This large shrub, which maxes out at four to five feet tall and wide, is an excellent alternative if you really don't have room for a full-grown tree. It has the most gorgeous trumpet-shaped flowers that pollinators like hummingbirds love. Some types rebloom throughout the season.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
Pink Dogwood
The blooms of this classic tree appear in mid to late spring with large flowers that become showy red fruit the birds love. Most varieties range from 15 to 25 feet tall at maturity.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Crabapple
The branches of crabapple trees are covered in lush pink blooms in mid to late spring. Some varieties also have burgundy foliage. Birds love the berries!
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
Crape Myrtle
There are many different varieties of crape myrtle trees, but the most eye-catching blooms are pale pink, fuchsia, and red! They are super-bloomers, offering beautiful, ruffly flowers all summer long. Some varieties reach only 10 feet tall, so they'll work in smaller landscapes.
USDA Hardiness zones: 7 to 10
Oakleaf Hydrangea
This is another large shrub that reaches only about 5 feet tall, so it works when you don't necessarily have room for a tree. Its stunning flowers go from white to blush to deep red, and the papery blooms remain from mid summer through winter, providing interest in your otherwise faded garden. It's the only type of hydrangea that also offers brilliant fall foliage.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Rhododendron
This is a handsome broadleaf evergreen that has large, beautiful flowers in mid spring. Some varieties become quite large, so they also provide screening and privacy as well as color.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
Pink Japanese Snowbell
This lesser-known flowering tree has blush pink bell-shaped blooms that cover it in late spring to early summer. With its lovely weeping form and cotton-candy-scented flowers, it's a true showstopper!
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 8
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