How does a gardener’s heart become captivated by trees with white flowers? A single tree with large blooms of white flowers is utterly magical in its ability to enhance an entire landscape.

You may be surprised by the variety of options, whether you’re planning to add just one white flowering tree or several to your yard.

What Makes White So Special?

It can be very beneficial to have blooms of white flowers growing on your property, which includes:

The color white has a calming effect so white blooms would create a sense of peace and serenity in your garden.
White also blends nicely with all other colors, which means that you can add a tree that blooms large white flowers with other trees or plants no matter what color blooms they produce. White also adds contrast, so the other flowers’ colors will be even more noticeable.
If you want your garden to glow in the dark at night naturally, there’s no better way to achieve this than planting trees with large white blooms of flowers.

Selecting the Proper White Flowering Tree

Before choosing a tree, it’s vital that you determine its purpose. Are you looking for something that will provide shade for your backyard patio, or are you planning to place several of it in your front yard along your driveway?

Once you know where your white flowering trees will be planted, you can then determine which variety to buy. You will also need to consider how tall the tree will be when it’s mature, which season the blossoms begin appearing, and how long the blooms last.

Also, you must ensure that the tree’s environmental requirements will be met when it’s planted in your preferred location.

Which Types of Trees Have White Blooms in Spring?

The most common types of trees that reliably produce white blooms in spring are ornamental. These trees range in height from 8 feet to as high as 40-50 feet, which gives you many options.

Trees That Produce Beautiful White Flowers

The following is a list of the types of trees that are known for producing gorgeous white flowers, which should meet just about any landscaping need:

White Dogwood

You may be aware of the White Dogwood tree (Cornus florida) because it is widely known among the trees producing white flowers.

There are actually about 60 different Dogwood species that belong to the Cornaceae family of trees. White Dogwoods are often found in beautifully landscaped yards, either alone or in a grouping.

Blooms: April-May
Height: 15′-30′
Sun: Full to partial shade
Fall: Red foliage
Spread: 15′-30′
Zones: 5-8

Kousa Dogwood

Because Kousa Dogwoods (Cornus kousa) can thrive in cold climates and are strongly resistant to disease, these little trees have become quite popular. They typically don’t grow any higher than 30 feet (10 meters), but they make a great impression with gorgeous white blossoms in May and June.

During summer, you’ll see some stunning red fruit growing on them.

Yoshino Cherry

Yoshino Cherry trees (Prunus x yedoensis) often feature participants in cherry blossom events. They are also commonly referred to as Japanese Flowering Cherry trees.

This particular tree can serve as the focal point of your landscaping or as a great addition planted next to your patio.

Height: 30′-40′
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom: March to April
Zones: 5-8
Spread: 30-40′
Fall: Gold and bronze foliage

Southern Magnolia

Southern Magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) are evergreens that produce huge white flowers measuring 8-12 inches in diameter that contrast nicely against broad dark green leaves. The fragrance coming from these flowers is simply incredible.

These flowers also have cone-shaped fruits growing from them in clusters 3-5 inches in length. There is no doubt that one or more Southern Magnolias can make a spectacular contribution to any landscape.

Height: 60′-80′
Spread: 30′-50′
Sun: Full, partial shade
Bloom: May to June
Fall: Evergreen
Zones: 7- 9

Star Magnolia

The Star Magnolia tree (Magnolia stellata) has the potential to be the most stunning tree in any garden if it’s in the proper environment and being well cared for.

This tree is hardy enough to be a zone 4 on the USDA scale for hardiness. But it must be protected from the wind and have full sun to thrive. In March, the Star Magnolia will start producing giant white blooms with as many as 12-18-inch petals.

Since this tree grows no taller than 20 feet (6 meters), it showcases best in smaller yards.

Natchez Crape Myrtle

natchez crepe myrtle is a white flowering tree

The Natchez Crepe Myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’), commonly known as the Lilac of the South, produces showstopping white flowers from summer well into the fall.

This tree grows quickly, so you’re not going to have to wait years to reap the benefits. Washington DC’s National Arboretum created this hybrid of the Crepe Myrtle, named after a Native American tribe.

These gorgeous trees work well, lining driveways and walkways, but they can also create a beautiful screen or border.

Sun: Full
Zones: 7-9
Bloom: July-September
Fall: Orange to red foliage
Spread: 4′-21′
Height: 4′-21′

Cleveland Pear

The Cleveland Pear tree (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’) also goes by Callery Pear.

It is shaped like a pyramid and grows into more of an oval shape. Because of its beauty, it’s become a widely used ornamental tree, often seen lining property borders, driveways, walkways, roadways, and medians.

Height: 25′-35′
Spread: 13′-16′
Sun: Full sun
Bloom: April
Fall: Reddish-purple
Zones: 5-9

CAUTION: This tree has been known to smell bad when blooming.

Spring Snow Crabapple

The Spring Snow Crabapple tree (Malus ‘Spring Snow’) is often referred to as a Crabapple tree. It’s become a popular choice for ornamental purposes since the Spring Snow doesn’t grow fruit.

Homeowners typically use a single Crabapple tree as an accent, but they look great in a grouping.

Height: 20′-25′
Spread: 15′-20′
Sun: Full
Bloom: April
Fall: Yellow foliage
Zone: 4- 8

Washington Hawthorn

The Washington Hawthorn tree (Crataegus phaenopyrum) has densely packed foliage. What makes this tree different is that its leaves start out being a reddish-purple color in springtime, but they turn a rich, vivid green later on.

The white flowers grow in clusters, and when they fall off, they’re replaced with bright red berries. Because thorns are growing up and down the branches, property owners often plant them for security and privacy.

Washington Hawthorns can be grouped and pruned to create a hedge to keep most trespassers out. Some people are happy with just one tree, whereas others prefer a grouping.

Fall: Mix of orange, red, and possibly purple foliage
Sun: Full
Zones: 3′-8′
Height: 25′-30′
Bloom: Late spring to early summer
Spread: 25′-30′

White Rose of Sharon

The White Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodtwo’-White Chiffon)* is a shrub that can grow into a multi-stemmed short tree shaped like a vase. This tree works well with a variety of landscaping designs.

*Many states consider this to be an invasive type of shrubbery.

Bloom: June-September
Height: 5′-8′
Zone: 5-8
Spread: 4′-6′
Sun: Full or partial
Fall: None

CAUTION: It can be considered invasive by many states.

White Eastern Redbud

Several varieties of White Eastern Redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) come in several different, all with white flowers. These include the ‘Alba’ and ‘Royal White,’ which bloom in springtime.

Eastern Redbuds are small trees commonly multi-trunked with a round-shaped canopy populated with an abundance of flowers growing directly on the branches.

Both varieties grow pure white blooms, with the Royal White being a little more compact and smaller than the Alba. This hardy species falls into zones 4 to 9 on the USDA hardiness scale.

Height: 15′- 25′
Spread: 15′-25′
Bloom: April
Sun: Full, partial
Fall: Pale yellow, yellow-green
Zone: 4- 9

Royal White Redbud

The Royal White Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis f. alba ‘Royal White’) fits beautifully in large and small yards. These are beautiful vase-shaped trees that produce an abundance of large white flowers.

After the flowers cease blooming, you are left with gorgeous green heart-shaped leaves. The Royal White Redbud grows quickly at about two feet per year.

White Snow Fountains® Weeping Cherry

The White Snow Fountains® and Weeping Cherry tree (Prunus x ‘Snofozam’ White) grows into an exquisitely graceful cascade of flowers that emit a wonderful fragrance. This flowering tree has a look that can add elegance to any patio or garden.

This tree should be showcased in all its glory with its “waterfall” of beautiful white flowers and emerald-colored leaves.

Zones: 5-9
Height: 8′-15′
Spread : 8′-10′
Bloom: April
Fall: Orange, Red
Sun: Full

Japanese Lilac

The Japanese Lilac tree (Syringa reticulata) usually grows into a relatively short tree, but many people like keeping it pruned to be more of a shrub than a tree.

Some landscapers create beautiful hedges with these trees since they produce lovely, sweet-smelling, cream-colored flowers with dark green leaves that grow up to six inches in length.

Japanese Lilac trees can enhance any lawn, patio, or deck and look great lining a street. Landscapers love placing these trees in small groupings, and they also work well as a privacy screen if pruned into a hedge.

Fall: None
Zones: 3′-7′
Spread: 15′- 20′
Height: 20′-30′
Sun: Full
Bloom: June

Japanese Snowbell

Japanese Snowbell trees (Styrax japonicus) grow their branches horizontally to form a round crown. If properly cared for in the right environment, these trees can grow 50 feet tall.

They make a beautiful addition to any property as they produce an abundance of small white bell-shaped flowers that give off a pleasant fragrance.

These trees have a gray-colored bark that develops cracks over time, revealing a bright orange inner bark that only adds to their beauty.

You can plant this tree just about anywhere, in your front or back yard, along the property line, in your garden, or beautify a wooded area.

Height: 20′-30′
Spread: 20′-30′
Sun: Full, partial
Bloom: May-June
Fall: May turn red or yellow
Zones: 5 to 9

Sweet Tea

The Sweet Tea tree (Gordlinia Grandiflora) is also called the Mountain Gordlinia. The Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University created this tree in 2002 as an intergeneric hybrid.

This hybrid grows quickly as a tree, but it can also be pruned into a multi-stemmed shrub. The flowers resemble white camellias and have bright yellow stamens in the center. Sweet Teas work beautifully as an accent in a landscaped yard.

Sun: Full or partial
Bloom: July-September
Fall: Yellow, red
Height: 20′-30′
Spread: 8′-15′
Zones: 7- 9

American Fringe

American Fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus) produce creamy white flowers with blueberries set against pointy green leaves eight inches long. As you can imagine, these trees can make a stunning addition to any garden or yard. Many property owners place American Fringe trees along property lines, ponds, and streams.

Fall: Yellow
Spread: 12′-20′
Zone: 3 to 9
Sun: Full or partial
Height: 12′-20′
Bloom: May-June

Catalpa

Catalpa trees (Catalpa speciosa) are quite large, growing up to 60 feet (18 meters) tall. They produce spectacularly large white flowers with yellow or purple-colored throats at the start of summer.

Long green pods will start forming once the flowers are in bloom, adding a decorative touch. Catalpa trees are fast-growing and very hardy, placing in zones 4 to 8 of USDA hardiness.

Seven-Son Flower

The Seven-Son flower tree (Hepatacodium micro nodes) blooms later than most flowering trees – towards the end of August.

Pollinators like butterflies, bees, and wasps are attracted to their lush clusters of gorgeous white flowers.

What makes these flowers so beautiful is that their petals turn a rosy shade of pink after blossoming.

These trees fall in zones 5 to 9 in USDA hardiness and can grow as tall as 30 feet (9 meters).

Flowering Mazzard Cherry

Flowering Cherry trees (Prunus sp.) are fabulous trees that produce white flowers, but the blossoms are often pink. The species with white flowers is the double-flowered Mazzard, and it blossoms in spring.

Although these blossoms don’t last long, cherries start appearing soon after, attracting plenty of wild birds.

Serviceberry

Serviceberry trees (Amelanchier spp.) are relatively small trees that grow primarily in North America.

These trees typically bloom in early spring before most flowering trees, with branches smothered in clusters of small white blooms. Although these flowers make a spectacular presentation, they don’t last long and soon give way to little berries that birds like robins, blue jays, and waxwings love dining on.

This tree also acts as a larval host for viceroys and butterflies.

Serviceberry trees are in zones 4 to 8 in USDA hardiness and grow best when planted in partial shade rather than full sun.

Chinese Fringe

Chinese Fringe trees (Chionanthus retusus) are similar to American Fringe trees in that they’re small deciduous trees that produce blossoms of flowers in springtime.

When they’re in full bloom, these trees look incredibly beautiful as they’re covered in flowering clouds of bright white clusters.

Chinese Fringe trees are known to reach 40 feet tall but usually grow to just 15-20 feet. This tree forms a rounded shape that makes a lovely accent to any landscape when it matures.

Sourwood

Sourwood trees (Oxydendrum arboretum) are commonly known as Lily of the Valley trees as they produce tiny white flowers in delicate panicles that start appearing in early summer.

These pretty little flowers attract bees and other pollinators from far and wide. Sourwoods are hardy trees that fall in zones 5 to 9 on the USDA scale. They flourish in part shade to full sun and resist disease and pests.

Sourwood trees can grow to 30 feet with a width of 15 feet. Once autumn arrives, the leaves will become a vivid reddish-purple color.

Final Thoughts

That does it for our list of 23 beautiful white flowering trees. Be sure to pick one that is the right size (when mature) and for your correct growing zone.

Enjoy those white blossoming beauties!

Also, if you love white-flowering plants, check out our article on white-flowering shrubs for something smaller.

References

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Trees With White Flowers: 23 Beautiful Choices