The most popular flowering tree in the country is the crape myrtle. Nurseries across the South sell more of this tree than any other flowering species on their lots. It shows up in 4 out of 5 top gardening lists as the number one pick for home yards.
You'll find crape myrtle at the top of popular flowering trees for yards because it gives you everything in one package. It blooms for 100 days or more each summer and handles heat and drought without flinching. You can pick from 3-foot dwarf shrubs to 30-foot shade trees in pink, red, white, purple, and lavender. That range makes it easy to fit one into any yard you have.
When I first visited gardens across the eastern states, the patterns hit me right away. In Georgia and the Carolinas, you'll spot dozens of crape myrtles per block on every street. But up in Ohio and Michigan, dogwoods took over as the clear favorite. I asked northern gardeners why, and they told me crape myrtles just can't survive their cold winters.
I tested this myself by planting a crape myrtle in my zone 6 yard three years ago. It died back to the roots each winter and never bloomed well. That told me everything about why your zone matters more than any other factor when you pick a flowering tree.
Your hardiness zone controls which tree works best for you. Crape myrtle thrives in zones 6 through 10, which covers the southern half of the country. Dogwood does best in zones 5 through 8, giving it an edge up north. Redbud fills the gap with a range of zones 4 through 9, making it your safest bet if you're not sure what will survive your first hard frost.
Bloom time also drives your choice. Crape myrtle flowers from June through September in most areas, giving you months of nonstop color. Dogwood gives you two to three weeks of blooms in spring and then stays green the rest of the year. Redbud blooms for about three weeks in early spring before its leaves show up. If you want color that lasts all summer, crape myrtle wins that contest every time.
Your maintenance load drops with crape myrtle too. It handles poor soil, bounces back from hard pruning, and fights off most pests on its own. Dogwoods need acidic, well-drained soil and often struggle with anthracnose disease in humid zones. Redbuds grow fast but live shorter lives of 20 to 30 years compared to crape myrtle's 50-plus years of service in your yard.
Cost is another point in crape myrtle's favor. You can buy a 5-gallon container at most nurseries for $25 to $40, which is less than most dogwood or magnolia trees at the same size. Crape myrtle also grows fast, putting on 2 to 3 feet of new growth per year in good conditions. You'll have a blooming tree in your yard within the first or second season after planting.
Here's how to pick your tree based on where you live. If you're in zones 7 through 10, plant a crape myrtle for the longest bloom season with the least work. Zones 5 and 6 gardeners should try a Kousa dogwood since it fights disease better than native dogwood. For zones 4 and 5, you want an eastern redbud for the best spring flower show with zero fuss.
These three common flowering tree species cover almost every climate in the country. One of them will thrive in your yard no matter your zip code. I'd start with crape myrtle if your zone supports it since no other tree gives you four months of blooms with so little effort on your part. You'll understand why it tops every popularity list once you see your first summer of nonstop flowers.
Read the full article: Best Flowering Trees for Your Yard
