11 Nov Top 10 Flowering Trees to Transform Your North Texas Yard into a Blooming Paradise
North Texas offers a unique climate with warm summers and mild winters. This unique climate means we can grow some pretty amazing flowering trees that not only look fantastic but also thrive in the region.
Choosing the right trees for our local USDA Hardiness Zones, specifically 7b to 8a, ensures a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that can handle the Texas heat and soil.
Why Plant Flowering Trees in North Texas?
Flowering trees do so much more than add color to your yard. They provide cooling shade during our hot summers, attract friendly pollinators like bees and butterflies, and even help raise your property’s value.
Plus, when you plant trees suited to North Texas, you’ll save time and energy on maintenance because these trees are adapted to the climate. They’re made for Texas – just like us!
Top Flowering Trees for North Texas Yards
Let’s take a closer look at some top flowering trees that will make your yard the envy of the neighborhood. These trees are hardy, adaptable, and bring their own unique charm to any landscape.
1. Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)
The Texas Redbud is a North Texas favorite, known for its striking pink and purple blooms that appear in early spring, often before the leaves emerge, creating a stunning contrast on bare branches.
This hardy, drought-tolerant tree thrives in clay and sandy loam soils, making it an excellent choice for small yards, urban spaces, and even challenging landscapes. Texas Redbuds adapt well to varying light conditions, thriving in both full sun and partial shade.
Popular varieties like the “Oklahoma” Redbud and “Forest Pansy” bring vibrant color and charm to gardens with minimal upkeep, while also attracting bees and butterflies. With heart-shaped leaves and vibrant blossoms, the Texas Redbud adds both beauty and resilience, making it a long-lasting addition to any North Texas yard.
2. Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
The Mexican Plum is a versatile, medium-sized tree that brings soft elegance to North Texas landscapes, with fragrant white flowers that burst forth in early spring.
This native tree is well-suited to the alkaline soils commonly found in the region and, once established, requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent low-effort choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Mexican Plum trees thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, providing flexibility in placement around the yard.
By fall, this tree rewards you with small, edible plums that attract birds and wildlife, adding both beauty and a touch of functionality to your garden. Its textured bark and seasonal fruit make the Mexican Plum a standout choice that adds character throughout the year.
3. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
The Desert Willow is a resilient beauty that thrives in dry conditions, showcasing orchid-like, purple blooms throughout the hot season, making it a standout choice for North Texas landscapes.
With its long blooming period and low water requirements, the Desert Willow is perfect for sunny spots that need vibrant color. It’s highly tolerant of drought and poor soils, easily adapting to the Texas heat while providing a lush look with minimal care.
Popular varieties like “Bubba” and “Lucretia Hamilton” add a touch of tropical elegance to gardens and attract pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing biodiversity in your yard. With airy, willowy branches, the Desert Willow adds movement and texture to any North Texas garden.
4. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape Myrtle is one of the most beloved flowering trees in North Texas, celebrated for its show-stopping blooms in shades of pink, white, red, and purple that last from mid to late summer.
This low-maintenance tree tolerates a wide range of soil types and thrives in full sun, making it an ideal choice for adding vibrancy and color to any garden. Known for its smooth, mottled bark and long blooming season, the Crape Myrtle also adds interest to landscapes even in the cooler months.
Popular varieties such as “Natchez,” “Tuscarora,” and “Dynamite” are well-suited to the Texas climate, known for their resilience and stunning displays. With minimal care, this hardy tree can be shaped as a shrub or tree, making it versatile enough to suit any North Texas garden layout.
5. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
The Southern Magnolia is an iconic symbol of Southern charm, renowned for its large, fragrant white flowers that bring a touch of elegance to North Texas landscapes year-round.
Its glossy, evergreen leaves provide lush greenery in every season, while its impressive flowers bloom from late spring through summer, filling the yard with a delightful fragrance. This tree flourishes in well-drained soil and full sun, making it well-suited for both large and small spaces in Texas.
Popular varieties like “Bracken’s Brown Beauty” and “Little Gem” are adapted to North Texas and require minimal care, adding timeless beauty to any garden. With its resilient nature and classic appeal, the Southern Magnolia makes a statement while offering shade and visual interest year-round.
6. Cherry Blossom (Prunus × yedoensis)
The Yoshino Cherry Blossom offers a breathtaking display with its delicate pale pink blooms that brighten North Texas landscapes in early spring.
While this non-native tree requires a bit of extra water during the hottest months, it adapts well to our area with some thoughtful care, making it a worthwhile addition to your yard. Adding mulch around the roots helps retain moisture and keep the tree cool, allowing it to flourish even in warmer climates.
With its graceful branches and iconic springtime blooms, the Yoshino Cherry Blossom brings a touch of elegance and seasonal beauty that transforms any garden into a picturesque scene.
7. Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
Vitex, also known as Texas Lilac, adds a lively burst of color to North Texas landscapes with its clusters of blue-purple flowers that bloom all summer long.
This drought-tolerant tree thrives in full sun and withstands the Texas heat with ease, making it a great choice for adding vibrancy to local gardens without high water demands. The Vitex’s aromatic foliage and pollinator-friendly blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, enhancing the biodiversity of your yard.
With its hardy nature and low-maintenance needs, the Vitex is a fantastic option for those seeking a long-lasting, colorful addition that complements the North Texas climate beautifully.
8. Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
The Texas Mountain Laurel is a standout native tree, celebrated for its cascading clusters of purple, grape-scented flowers that bloom in early spring, filling North Texas yards with fragrance and color.
This hardy, drought-tolerant tree is evergreen, making it an excellent choice for smaller yards and low-maintenance landscapes where year-round greenery is valued. Popular varieties like the “Silver Peso” add visual interest with their striking silvery foliage, enhancing the tree’s appeal even further.
Known for its resilience to Texas heat and low water needs, the Texas Mountain Laurel is a beautiful and reliable option for bringing natural beauty and fragrance to your garden with minimal upkeep.
9. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
The Japanese Maple brings elegance and year-round interest to North Texas gardens, with its vibrant foliage that transitions from green to deep red, creating a stunning display in every season.
This graceful tree thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, making it a versatile choice for adding color and texture to both intimate garden spaces and larger landscapes. Varieties like “Bloodgood,” with its rich, burgundy leaves, and “Coral Bark,” known for its striking red branches in winter, add a unique, sophisticated touch to any yard.
With its delicate leaves and compact form, the Japanese Maple is a perfect choice for those looking to enhance their garden with beauty and seasonal color shifts, all while requiring minimal care.
10. Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana)
The Saucer Magnolia is a true showstopper, known for its large, cup-shaped flowers that bloom in early spring in beautiful shades of white, pink, and purple, creating a striking display.
This deciduous tree thrives in well-drained soil and partial sun, making it both adaptable and elegant for North Texas gardens. Varieties such as “Lennei,” with its rich pink flowers, and “Alexandrina,” offering a blend of pink and white blooms, add vibrant color and charm to gardens of any size.
The Saucer Magnolia not only brings seasonal beauty but also adds a touch of sophistication, providing year-after-year interest with minimal maintenance needed to keep it flourishing.
Caring for Your Flowering Trees in North Texas
Planting flowering trees is just the first step. With a bit of care, you can help them not only survive but thrive in your North Texas yard.
Here are some care tips to keep your trees healthy and beautiful.
- Choosing the Right Location: Flowering trees generally love the sun, so find a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Proper drainage is essential, especially for our clay-heavy soils. If you’re dealing with a low-lying area, consider raising the planting bed to avoid root rot.
- Planting Techniques: Dig a hole that’s twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper. This encourages the roots to spread out without sinking the tree too deep, which can cause problems later on. Give it a good start, and it’ll pay off down the road.
- Watering Needs: Water is crucial, especially in the first few years and during dry spells. Aim for deep, infrequent watering to encourage strong root growth. This approach helps the tree develop drought resistance, which is handy during our hot Texas summers.
- Mulching: Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree, extending to the drip line. This keeps the soil cool and moist, helps prevent weeds, and adds nutrients as it decomposes. Just remember to keep the mulch away from the trunk to avoid rot.
- Fertilization: A balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring helps support flowering and growth. Since every yard’s soil is different, consider getting a soil test done to tailor the fertilization to your specific needs.
- Pruning: Late winter, when the tree is dormant, is the best time to prune. Trim off any dead or unhealthy branches to keep the tree in top shape. Pruning also encourages a fuller, healthier bloom in the spring.
- Managing Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye on your trees for any signs of pests or diseases. Catching problems early can make a big difference in managing them before they become serious.
Bring Your North Texas Yard to Life
By choosing the right flowering trees, you’re not just adding beauty to your yard – you’re creating a sustainable, welcoming space that thrives in our Texas climate.
At Price Right Trees, we’re here to help you select the ideal trees for your yard. We’re dedicated to making North Texas greener, one garden at a time. Let us help you transform your yard into a beautiful, sustainable haven! Don’t hesitate to contact us today!
