Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Trees 10 Best White Flowering Trees to Brighten Up Your Landscape Add a dazzling showstopper to your front yard. By Derek Carwood Published on February 10, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Alpamayo Photo / Getty Images White flowers are especially common on trees and there are many options to choose from. In fact, many white flowering trees are native and perform well throughout the continental United States. No matter where you live, you’ve got choices to plant in your yard. Many of these easy-to-grow trees not only produce an abundance of white blooms but are also followed by gorgeous fall colors. Below, you’ll find white flowering trees of all shapes and sizes that create an eye-catching landscape while promoting pollinators and other wildlife. 01 of 10 Southern Magnolia Better Homes & Gardens A symbol of the South and cherished throughout the world for its large, thick leaves and giant white flowers, the Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a sight to behold. Reaching upwards of 70 feet, these stately trees need room but give an impressive display when full-grown. These white flowering trees are best grown in USDA Zones 7-10. For locations with less room, try the smaller cultivar ‘Little Gem’ that only reaches about 20 feet. 02 of 10 Flowering Dogwood Peter Krumhardt For those looking for a flowering tree for a wet location in the yard, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) might be a good choice. This gorgeous tree is hardy in Zones 5-9. Rising to about 30 feet and bearing sweeping branches full of white flowers in spring, this easy-to-grow dogwood is also eye-catching. 03 of 10 Serviceberry Dean Schoeppner Native to the eastern half of the US, the serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a small tree that looks great when planted en masse or as a single specimen. Often grown with multiple trunks in Zones 4-9, the small tree produces small white flowers followed by dark purple fruits. But don’t worry about a mess—this tree is a bird magnet. Birds will pick a serviceberry tree clean well before it gets the chance to drop its fruit to the ground. For compact yards, check out the cultivar ‘Standing Ovation.’ The 15 Best Bird Feeders to Attract Cardinals, Hummingbirds, Finches, and More to Your Yard 04 of 10 Carolina Silverbell Maria Mosolova / Getty Images This white flowering tree deserves a far greater following. With bell-like blooms that rival cherry trees, the Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina) is a small to medium tree that thrives in both full sun and part shade. Grown in Zones 4-8, it's rarely impacted by the disease. Carolina silverbells prefer well-drained, organically rich soil. Aside from an occasional touch-up, they’ll never need pruning to maintain their form. 05 of 10 Ohio Buckeye Lesichka Design / Getty Images Topping out around 40 feet, this beautiful tree needs room and is not recommended for planting around homes. In Zones 3-7, this tree shines in a large yard with plenty of space. Buckeyes (Aesculus glabra) demand attention when in full bloom. They produce creamy white flowers in spring followed by large, dark brown nuts. 06 of 10 Yellowwood Montes-Bradley / Getty Images Growing to a maximum height of 55 feet or so, this legume (related to beans and peas) produces large clusters of extremely fragrant panicles of pea-like flowers in late spring followed by seed pods and bright yellow leaves in the fall. Because of its small size and excellent perfume, yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a good choice for planting near decks and patios where they can be fully appreciated. It's best grown in Zones 4-8. 07 of 10 White Eastern Redbud Alpamayo Photo / Getty Images Similar to the standard pink-flowered form, the white Eastern redbud has a profusion of small flowers that cover its branches, giving it an almost tropical effect. This small tree can be grown in Zones 4-9. Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensis f. alba) are perfect for smaller lots, where their white flowers can be seen up close in spring and heart-shaped blue-green leaves can be enjoyed throughout the growing season. 08 of 10 Fringe Tree Andrea Astes / Getty Images The fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a sight to see when in full bloom. Producing thousands of long, white petals, a full-grown tree creates an almost smoky white effect with its clustered flowers. The fringe tree is another small but wide white flowering tree. It requires plenty of space to fill out. Fringe trees prefer full sun to part shade in Zones 3-9. Maintenance is basically non-existent, and they can even withstand air pollution and thick soils where other trees might struggle. 09 of 10 Franklin Tree Doug Hetherington If you’re looking for a rare white flowering tree, look no further than the Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha). Named after Benjamin Franklin, this flowered beauty is native to Georgia in Zones 5-9. Unfortunately, it is no longer found in the wild. Growing upwards of about 20 feet, this tree looks a lot like a large, white camellia and can be grown either with a single trunk or multiple. 10 of 10 Catalpa Denny Schrock If you’re looking for a large, whimsical tree for a large yard, the catalpa might just be what you’re looking for. Catalpas (Catalpa speciosa) produce huge, light-green leaves and conspicuous white, orchid-like flowers in late spring to early summer followed by long, bean-like pods. Plant these large, fast-growing trees where they can show off their leaves, flowers, and twisted branches from a distance in Zones 4-8. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit