7 White Flowering Trees Native to North America

White flowering trees bring beauty to any landscape with their brave snow white blooms after the cold winter season.There are so many beautiful trees with white flowers! In order to make it somewhat more easy to pick the right tree for you, we have put together a list of our favorite trees with white flowers that are also native to North America. These trees range in height and shape yet they all provide an incredible value to wildlife, especially those that also produce fruit.

7 White Flowering Trees

1. White Flowering Dogwood Tree

The state tree for Missouri and Virginia, the white flowering dogwood provides an ethereal beauty to any landscape with its white blossoms in the spring. Additionally it doesn’t grow too large (it stays around 15-25 feet) so it won’t disturb utility lines and doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. Moreover, this tree is native to North America and Native Americans made medicinal teas with the bark. 

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• Height/Spread: 25′ height with a 25′ spread at maturity
• Bloom Time: 10-14 days from April – May

2. Flowering Crabapple Tree

There are many different varieties of flowering crabapples yet all have a magnificent spring bloom and also bursts of color from their small red fruit in the fall. This is what makes them a great choice throughout the year. Not only will your landscape be a beautiful snow white, but songbirds will also happily come to eat the delicious fruit and sing for you. Although most crabapples are native to Europe and Asia, Malus coronaria, M. fusca, and M. ioensis are native to North America. Others like the popular dwarf tree, the Sargent crabapple tree, were brought to America in 1892. Another benefit of these trees is that once they are established, they don’t require a lot of maintenance.

• Growing Zones: Most can be grown in zones 5-10 but it depends on the variety.
• Height/Spread: Depending on the variety, the trees can have a height and width of 10-20′ at maturity.
• Bloom Time: 6-12 days from mid-spring to late spring

3. Sweetbay Magnolia Tree

The radiant magnolia tree is native to the United States (ranging from the east coast to the south). Moreover different varieties have different flower and tree sizes. Since the Sweetbay magnolia tree doesn’t grow as large as the Southern magnolia which grows 60-80 feet tall, it’s much more manageable for a backyard garden. Also since it prefers moist, wet soils, it is perfect for planting in swampy areas. Additionally it is easy to grow and its red fruits provide sustenance for many animals, including songbirds.

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• Height/Spread: 10-20′ height and width at maturity
• Bloom Time: two weeks from May-June

4. Serviceberry Shrub

Native to North America, the serviceberry shrub produces delicious, healthy, berries and is a great addition to a landscape. The berries contain many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals (more so than blueberries). Additionally, their white clusters of flowers are one of the earliest to bloom. The Saskatoon serviceberry is one of the most popular and most flavorful of the varieties.

• Growing Zones: 4-7
• Height/Spread: At maturity, the size can range from 8–10′ (Saskatoon) and 15-30′ tall with a spread of 15-25′ for other varieties 
• Bloom Time: for 3-4 days in March-April 

5. American Elderberry Shrub

The American elderberry shrub or small tree (sambucus canadensis) produces black berries and beautiful white or cream-colored flowers that are some of the most beneficial and healthy for you. In fact, you can use them to make wine, juice, and syrup. Additionally, these plants are very productive, fast growing, hardy and can tolerate wet and dry sites, which makes them the perfect plant for a home garden.

• Growing Zones: 3-8.
• Height/Spread: 5–12′ height and width at maturity
• Bloom Time: June to August

6. Black Locust Tree

It’s hard to think of a tree that is at once so beautiful, beneficial, and easy to grow. Not only does the black locust offer tremendous wildlife value as it reaches about 40-60′ tall, for bees, mammals, and birds, but it is also helpful for nitrogen-fixing and erosion. Because it grows so fast and is also easily propagated, it is great for land reclamation.

• Growing Zones: 4-8
• Height/Spread: At maturity, 40-60′ tall (space about 20′ apart)
• Bloom Time: 7-10 days from May-June

7. Fringe Tree

The fringe tree is a native Missouri shrub or small tree which creates ethereal blooms with a wide-spreading, round habit. Its characteristic feature is the 6-8 inch long flowers which last for two long weeks. Because of their beautiful shape and size, you can plant them as specimen plants, near buildings, and borders.

• Growing Zones: 4-9
• Height/Spread: 12-20′ in height and width at maturity
• Bloom Time: about two weeks from May to June

Growing white flowering trees can give you privacy, beautiful blooms and summer and fall foliage. If you would like to discover other flowering trees and shade trees, explore our tree catalog or shop page.