Despite there still being snow on the ground here in the Northeast, we’re thinking spring. Yes, there are daffodils and tulips to look forward to, but perhaps even more impressive is the show of spring-flowering trees. It’s an incredible sight to see a woody plant that was nothing but bare, brown branches a few weeks earlier explode into a flurry of pastel blooms. Our selections today are impressive, and most are moderately sized, so they are easy to include in the smallest of properties. Are you suffering from the winter doldrums still? Then give this episode a listen and you’ll soon be dreaming of more colorful days to come.

Expert testimony:

Matt Lobdell is the curator at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.

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Steve’s  Trees

Dove tree (Davidia involucrata, Zones 6–8)

Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina syn. Halesia tetraptera, Zones 4–8)

White fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus, Zones 4–9)

‘Cherokee Chief’ flowering dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Chief’, Zones 5–9)

Danielle’s Trees

‘Elizabeth’ magnolia (Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’, Zones 5–8)

‘Hally Jolivette’ flowering cherry (Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’, Zones 5–8)

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia, Zones 4–8)

‘Summer Snow’ Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata ‘Summer Snow’, Zones 3–7)

Expert’s trees:

Matt Lobdell is the curator at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.

‘Louisa’ crabapple (Malus ‘Louisa’, Zones 4–8)

‘Butterflies’ magnolia (Magnolia ‘Butterflies’, Zones 5–9)

Japanese snowbell  (Styrax japonicus, Zones 5–9)

Fragrant snowbell  (Styrax obassia, Zones 5–8 )