Carol Klein's favourite trees for spring blossom
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Monday, 24 April 2023 at 3:40 pm
Who doesn't love a bit of spring blossom? Carol picks her favourite blossoming trees to grow.
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One of the most uplifting experiences in the natural world is the sight, and sometimes the scent, of blossom. Whether you live in the heart of the city or in the countryside, you're bound to come into contact with beautiful blossoming trees in spring.
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Even if you have a tiny garden, you need not be without blossom’s gracious presence. We have two small flowering cherries that have spent their lives in pots. They are Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’, which roughly translates as ‘flight of the butterflies’ and is one of the prettiest of cherry trees. They are about 12 years old, but just a couple of feet high – perfect miniatures. Every year during March and April, they're covered in tiny, pale-pink flowers. In winter, the twiggy branches make an engaging silhouette while in autumn the leaves take on a range of reds, oranges and russets.
More on spring displays:
- 10 trees with beautiful spring blossom
- 10 cheerful spring posies
- Seven spring container displays for indoors
No matter the size of your garden, there's a blossoming tree or shrub to suit your space. Browse my list of eight blossom trees to grow, below.
Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas
Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas
The Cornelian cherry is one of the first shrubs to flower. Its brilliant yellow flowers have prominent anthers that provide pollen for early insects. Bright-red fruit follows a hot summer.
Flowers: Jan-Mar
Height x Spread: 4m x 4m
Pearlbush, Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’
Pearlbush, Exochorda x macrantha
Arching branches are smothered in masses of white blossom. Its buds are spherical, giving it the vernacular title of pearlbush.
F: Apr-May
H x S: 2m x 3m
Dogwood, Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’
Dogwood, Cornus 'Norman Hadden'
Our tree at Glebe Cottage is 40 years old now and makes a fine spectacle when covered with huge, white bracts that turn pink in warm weather.
F: May-Jun
H x S: 8m x 8m
Crab apple, Malus hupehensis
Malus hupehensis. Getty images
This Chinese crab apple has ascending branches covered in fragrant blossom, followed by deep-red fruit. Most have white blossom, but there are also fuchsia pink varieties.
F: Apr-May
H x S: 12m x 12m
Ornamental quince, Chaenomeles ‘Toyo-Nishiki’
Ornamental quince, Chaenomeles speciosa
An unusual ornamental quince growing taller than many, with elegant single flowers in white, flushed with pale pink.
F: Mar-Apr
H x S: 3m x 3m
Magnolia, Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Magnolia 'Leonard Messel'
An outstanding tree, one of whose parents is the ever-popular Magnolia stellata. Ideal for smaller gardens, flowering prolifically.
F: Apr
H x S: 8m x 6m
Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum
Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum
The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) produces masses of its magenta flowers and is always part of the blossom event.
F: Mar-Apr
H x S: 10m x 10m
Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
The hawthorn is an ubiquitous feature of the countryside and one of the most bountiful of trees for flowers and fruit.
F: May
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H x S: 10m x 8m
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