White flowers are found on many trees, and you have plenty to pick from. These trees grow well across the United States. They’re easy to grow and produce lots of white flowers. Plus, they have beautiful fall colors. Here are some white flowering trees of different sizes and shapes that make your yard look great and help wildlife like bees and birds.
Southern Magnolia
The Southern Magnolia tree is famous for its big leaves and huge white flowers. It can grow up to 70 feet tall and needs a lot of space. These trees grow best in USDA Zones 7-10. If you have limited space, you can try growing the smaller ‘Little Gem’ variety, which only grows about 20 feet tall.
Flowering Dogwood
If you want a flowering tree for a wet area in your yard, consider the flowering dogwood. It’s tough and can grow in Zones 5-9. It grows to about 30 feet tall and has beautiful white flowers in spring.
Serviceberry
The serviceberry tree is native to the eastern US and is small in size. It looks good when planted together or alone. It grows in Zones 4-9 and has white flowers and dark purple fruits. Birds love this tree and eat its fruit before it falls to the ground. If you have a small yard, consider the ‘Standing Ovation’ cultivar.
Carolina Silverbell
The Carolina silverbell is a beautiful tree with bell-shaped flowers similar to cherry trees. It’s small to medium-sized and grows well in both sunny and partially shaded areas. It’s found in Zones 4-8 and is usually not affected by disease. These trees are like soil that drains well and is rich in organic matter. They don’t need much pruning to keep their shape.
Ohio Buckeye
This tree grows to about 40 feet tall and needs a lot of space, so it’s not good for planting near houses. It does well in Zones 3-7, especially in large yards. Buckeyes are striking when they bloom, with creamy white flowers in spring and big, dark brown nuts afterward.
Yellowwood
This tree can grow up to 55 feet tall. It’s related to beans and peas. In late spring, it has big bunches of very fragrant flowers that look like peas. After that, it gets seed pods, and its leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. Because it’s not too big and smells really good, it’s great for planting near decks and patios where you can enjoy it fully. It’s best to grow it in Zones 4-8.
White Eastern Redbud
Just like the pink-flowered kind, the white Eastern redbud has lots of small flowers all over its branches, which makes it look almost like it’s from the tropics. This small tree can grow in Zones 4-9. It’s great for smaller yards because you can see its white flowers up close in the spring, and it has heart-shaped blue-green leaves all through the growing season.
Fringe Tree
It’s quite a sight when the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is fully bloomed. It has lots of long, white petals that make it look like it’s covered in smoke. It’s a small but wide tree, so it needs a lot of space. Fringe trees like to be in full sun or part shade and can grow in Zones 3-9. They hardly need any maintenance, and they can handle air pollution and thick soils better than other trees.
Franklin Tree
If you want a special white flowering tree, consider the Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha). It’s named after Benjamin Franklin and comes from Georgia, growing in Zones 5-9. Sadly, it’s no longer seen in the wild. It can grow up to about 20 feet tall and looks similar to a big white camellia. You can grow it with one trunk or several.
Catalpa
If you want a big, fancy tree for a big yard, consider the catalpa. Catalpas (Catalpa speciosa) have really big, light-green leaves and stand out with white, orchid-like flowers in late spring to early summer. After that, they grow long, bean-like pods. Plant these tall, fast-growing trees where you can see their leaves, flowers, and twisted branches from far away in Zones 4-8.
