21 Great Flowering Trees For Kansas

Are you searching for the perfect trees to plant in your Kansas home garden? Well, you have come to the right place! The Sunflower State has the perfect soil and weather conditions to grow a large variety of ornamental blossoming trees. Read on to discover the most exquisite flowering trees in Kansas! 

Even though Kansas can be divided into eleven distinct regions, it’s often divided into three noteworthy geographic regions – the Southeastern Plains, the Dissected Till Plains, and the Great Plains. Famous for its seemingly endless plains and fields of ripe golden wheat, Kansas doesn’t just comprise flatlands. It also features forests and gentle hills with pastures in the northeast. That, combined with its famously rich, fertile soils, makes Kansas the ideal state to grow a wide array of flowering trees.

Moreover, Kansas enjoys a temperate but continental climate and four distinct seasons with various shades of humidity and semi-arid, warm, and somewhat cool climates. The state experiences warm to hot summers and mild winters, with July being the hottest and January being the coldest month. 

The Sunflower State has the ideal climate, soil, and landforms to grow many flowering trees, including the ever-popular Magnolia varieties and the Dogwoods. You can also grow the striking Common Smoke Trees and Seven-Son Flowers. Choke Cherry Trees and Flowering Crabapples are also popular choices among Kansas residents. Similarly, you can also plant the white-flowered Serviceberry or the breathtaking Callery Pear with its striking fall foliage. 

These trees and many other flowering trees and shrubs can significantly boost your home’s curbside appeal and make your garden the hotspot in your neighborhood. If you take care of the specific growing requirements of the blossoming trees growing on your lawn, you will be able to reap the benefits in the form of attractive blossoms and eye-catching fall foliage. 

Let’s take a look at the flowering trees that you can grow in your Kansas home! 

1. Kentucky Coffeetree

  • Gymnocladus dioicus
  • Flowering in: Late Spring to Early Summer
  • Height: 60-75 ft
Kentucky Coffee Tree Gymnocladus dioicus.
Leonora (Ellie) Enking Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus).

Kentucky Coffeetree is a tall flowering tree native to the Central and Northeastern United States. It yields greenish-white blossoms that grow in spike-shaped clusters. This drought-tolerant tree has an upright crown and spreading branches decorated with compound, bluish-green leaves. Kentucky Coffeetree has yellow fall foliage. This tree thrives in sun-kissed locations and well-drained, clay, sandy, moist, and deep soils. 

2. Choke Cherry Tree

  • Prunus virginiana
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 20-30 ft
Chokecherry Tree prunus virginiana.
Matt Lavin Chokecherry Tree (prunus virginiana.)

Choke Cherry Trees are small-sized flowering specimens native to the United States. These trees feature an oval-rounded crown decked with elongated clusters of 5-lobed, cup-shaped, scented, white blooms. They also bear globular, dark-purple, pea-sized berries. Choke Cherry Trees have ovate to elliptic, dark green, sharply toothed leaves with grey-green undersides. These trees thrive in sunlit or speckled sites and dry to medium, well-drained soils. 

3. Flowering Crabapple

  • Malus sutyzam sugar tyme
  • Flowering in: Mid Spring to Late Spring
  • Height: 20-40 ft
A Flowering Crabapple Tree
Apple Cat A Flowering Crabapple Tree

Flowering Crabapple Trees are small to medium-sized ornamental specimens that yield pale pink, scented flowers. These deciduous Asian, North America, and European natives also feature indented, ovate, dark green, slender leaves that grow on their upright, oval-shaped crown. Although drought-tolerant, Flowering Crabapple Trees grow best in medium moist, well-drained, acidic soils and sun-kissed areas. 

4. Flowering Dogwood

  • Cornus florida
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 25 ft
Cornus florida.
H. Zell Cornus florida.

Flowering Dogwoods are exceptionally popular northern US and Mexican natives. These small-sized, deciduous, ornamental trees feature a pyramidal crown that matures into a rounded shape. Their crown is covered with oval-shaped, green leaves that develop a reddish-purple hue in autumn. Dogwoods also yield miniature, white blossoms that bloom in compact clusters. The flowers develop from pink bracts. These flowering trees thrive in partially shaded sites and rich, well-drained soils. 

5. Fringe Tree

  • Chionanthus virginicus
  • Flowering in: Late Spring and Early Summer
  • Height: 20 ft
A white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus
Cephas A white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)

Native to the eastern United States, Fringe Trees or Chinese Fringe Trees are small-sized ornamental specimens adorned with creamy-white, fragrant, fringe-like blossoms that grow in flopping clusters. These deciduous trees feature waxy, dark green, oblong/elliptic-arrow leaves that grow on their spreading, rounded crowns. They have beautiful yellow fall foliage. Fringe Trees bear olive-like, bluish-black-hued fruits. They grow best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils and sun-kissed or speckled sites. 

6. Golden Rain Tree

  • Koelreuteria paniculata
  • Flowering in: Summer
  • Height: 30-40 ft 
Koelreuteria paniculata
H.Zell Koelreuteria paniculata

Golden Rain Trees are medium-sized flowering specimens with a rounded crown. These deciduous trees feature open branches decked with pinnate, feathery, purplish-pink leaves that develop an apple-green hue in maturity. Native to China, Japan, and Korea, these trees propagate long clusters of gorgeous rich yellow flowers. They also have striking yellow-gold autumn foliage. Golden Rain Trees thrive in sunlit sites and well-drained soils. 

7. Japanese Tree Lilac

  • Syringa reticulata ivory silk
  • Flowering in: Early Summer
  • Height: 15-25 ft
28562804 view of japanese tree lilac or syringa reticulata full of flowers in the springtime popular zaimov park district oborishte
Yay Japanese tree lilac (syringa reticulata) full of flowers in the springtime.

Japanese Tree Lilac is a multi-trunked flowering shrub that you can also grow as a small-sized, single-trunk blossoming tree. This tree features wonderful dark green foliage that contrasts amazingly well with its profuse, dense, massive, pendulous clusters of creamy-white, miniature, and fragrant flowers. Japanese Tree Lilac is an award-receiving tree that is super low-maintenance and hardy. It grows well in well-drained, medium moist soils and sunlit locations. 

8. Serviceberry 

  • Amelanchier arborea
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 10-25 ft
Downy Serviceberry
Dan Mullen Downy Serviceberry

Serviceberry or Downy Serviceberry is a small-sized flowering specimen frown popularly across the US. It features an abundance of drooping clusters of white, 5-petaled, slightly scented blossoms. The flowers give way to purple or black-hued, miniature, rounded berries. This northeastern US native also features ovate, dark green, small-sized leaves that develop a yellow, red, or orange hue in autumn. Serviceberry grows best in moist, acidic, well-drained soils and sunlit spots. 

9. Seven-Son Flower

  • Heptacodium miconiodes
  • Flowering in: Summer
  • Height: 10 ft
Heptacodium miconioides Seven Son Flower Tree
K M Seven-Son Flower Tree( Heptacodium miconioides )

Seven-Son Flower Trees are small-sized, deciduous flowering specimens native to China. This multi-stemmed blossoming shrub features a fountain-shaped crown decked with medium-green, glossy, oblong-ovate, slender leaves. It also yields creamy-white, scented blossoms that grow in seven-branched clusters. Each branch produces six flowers that give way to minute, reddish-purple fruits. Seven-sun Flower grows well in well-drained, medium moist soils and sun-kissed spots. 

10. Common Smoke Tree

  • Cotinus coggygria
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 10-15 ft

Common Smoke Trees are small-sized, deciduous flowering specimens with a spreading, upright crown. You can also grow them as medium-sized shrubs. These central Chinese and southern European natives feature minute, yellowish blossoms that grow on their distinctive stalks. The stalks have purplish-pink or smoky pink fine hair that gives the appearance of smoke, hence the name. Common smoke Trees have greenish-blue, ovate leaves that turn purplish-red, orange, and yellow in autumn. These trees thrive in sunlit spots and well-drained, moist, somewhat infertile soils. 

11. Sweet Bay Magnolia

  • Magnolia virginiana
  • Flowering in: Late Spring to Early Summer
  • Height: 10-20 ft
jumpstory download20210201 073751
JumpStory Sweetbay Magnolia

Sweet Bay Magnolia Trees are x multi-stemmed blossoming shrubs or small-sized trees with a spreading, rounded habitat. Native to the southeastern US, these shrubs have cup-shaped, waxy, slightly fragrant, creamy-white, 9-petaled blossoms. They also have glossy green leaves with distinctive, silvery undersides. Sweet Bay Magnolia Trees can thrive in sunlit and partially shaded spots and well-drained, acidic, moist, rich soils. 

12. Star Magnolia

  • Magnolia kobus var. Stellata
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 20 ft
Star Magnolia.
Katja Schulz Star Magnolia (magnolia stellata)

Star Magnolias are spectacular, small-sized flowering trees grown popularly across the US. Native to Japan, these blossoming specimens feature glossy, oblong leaves and star-shaped, large, white, fragrant flowers that grown on their naked branches. Each breathtaking bloom features 25 to 30 distinctive, ribbon-shaped, elongated petals with pale yellow centers. Star Magnolias are pest-resistant trees with a versatile nature that enables them to grow in various soil conditions and sunlit and speckled locations. 

13. Weeping Cherry

  • Prunus subhirtella pendula
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 15-25 ft
11826730 weeping sakura tree
Yay Weeping cherry tree

Weeping Cherry Trees are small-sized, grafted flowering specimens. These Japanese natives have pendulous branches decked with white and pale pink, non-fragrant blossoms that appear in clusters. The blooms grow in double form and are followed by pear-sized blackish fruits. Weeping Cherry Trees also have ovate or lanceolate green leaves. These trees grow best in sun-kissed spots and well-drained, moist, fertile soils.  

14. Honey Locust

  • Gleditsia triacanthos
  • Flowering in: Late Spring
  • Height: 40-50 ft
Gleditsia triacanthos Honeylocust
Plant Image Library Gleditsia triacanthos (Honeylocust)

Native to Central and eastern North America, Honey Locust is a medium to tall-sized flowering tree with a spreading, rounded habitat and trunk and branches with stout thorns. It features compound, bipinnate, lanceolate to elliptic leaves that turn bright yellow in fall. Honey Locust Trees have inconspicuous, greenish-white to greenish-yellow blossoms that grow in racemes and are followed by long, flattened, and twisted dark purplish-brown seedpods. These trees thrive in sunlit areas and moist, well-drained, rich soils. 

15. Eastern Redbud

  • Cercis canadensis
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 30 ft
jumpstory download20210211 144057
JumpStory Eastern Redbud

Eastern Redbuds are popular medium-sized flowering specimens grown throughout the country. These Mexican and American natives have a rounded crown and horizontally growing branches decked with dark green, deciduous, heart-shaped leaves that develop a canary yellow hue in fall. Redbuds are multi-trunked blossoming trees that feature rosy-pink, long-lasting flowers that grow from minute magenta shoots. They are brilliant, low-maintenance trees that can thrive in different growing conditions. 

16. Hawthorn 

  • Crataegus spp.
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 20-30 ft
hawthorn flower
Yay Hawthorn flower

Hawthorn is a species of small to medium-sized flowering trees found growing naturally in the temperate regions of Asia, North America, Europe, and North Africa. These deciduous trees have a spreading, upright crown decked with finely toothed, green-lobed leaves. They also feature scented, white or pink-colored, 5-petaled blossoms that have a striking resemblance with apple blossoms. The flowers give way to edible, songbird-attracting pomes. Hawthorns are drought-tolerant trees that grow best in sunlit spots and varied soils. 

17. Carolina Silverbell

  • Halesia carolina
  • Flowering in: Spring 
  • Height: 30 to 40 ft
Halesia carolina.
Meneerke Bloem Halesia carolina.

Carolina Silverbell Trees are gorgeous, low-maintenance, understory flowering specimens with a rounded, spreading crown. These southeastern US native blossoming trees have finely toothed, dark greenish-yellow, ovate leaves. They also yield clusters of two to five bell-shaped, white flowers. These trees thrive brilliantly in sunlit areas and well-drained, acidic, rich, moist soils. 

18. Callery Pear

  • Pyrus calleryana
  • Flowering in: Spring 
  • Height: 30-50 ft
Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana
Frank Richards Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Callery Pear, known widely as Flowering Pear or Bradford Pear, is a medium-sized blossoming specimen native to Vietnam and China. It’s a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree with a narrow, upright crown and upright branches decked with alternate, dark green, ovate leaves that develop stunning orange, red, plum, and mellow yellow fall colors. Callery Pear also produces attractive pure white blossoms that grow in clusters. This tree grows best in medium moist, somewhat alkaline, well-drained, organically rich soils and sunny spots. 

19. Black Locust

  • Robinia pseudoacacia
  • Flowering in: Spring to Early Summer
  • Height: 70-80 ft
Robinia pseudoacacia
AnRo0002 Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Also known as Idaho Flowering Locust, Black Locust is a central and eastern US native flowering tree. This tall-sized blossoming specimen features a broad-columnar single trunk and oblong-narrow crown. Black Locust Trees bear smooth, purple-brown-hued, flat seed pods. They produce wisteria-like, fragrant flowers that grow in clusters. This tree also features deciduous, dark blue-green, compound, pinnate leaves that turn yellow in autumn. These specimens thrive in sunny areas and well-drained, moist, organically rich loams. 

20. Japanese Pagoda Tree 

  • Styphnolobium japonicum
  • Flowering in: Late Summer to Fall 
  • Height: 40-60 ft
Japanese Pagoda Styphnolobium japonicum
Jean-Pol GRANDMONT Japanese Pagoda (Styphnolobium japonicum)

Japanese Pagoda Tree, also called the Chinese Scholar Tree, is a medium to tall-sized, ornamental tree with a broad rounded crown. This deciduous tree has pinnate, compound leaves with dark green, oval leaflets. This Chinese and Korean native yields tiny, pea-shaped, creamy-white, fragrant flowers that bloom in massive, terminal, sweeping panicles. Japanese Pagoda grows well in sandy, well-drained, rich, medium moist loams and sun-kissed areas. 

21. Silver Linden

  • Tilia tomentosa
  • Flowering in: Late Spring to Mid-Summer
  • Height: 50-70 ft
Tilia tomentosa.
Teresa Grau Ros Tilia tomentosa.

Native to Southeast Europe to Asia Minor, silver Linden is a tall, deciduous, flowering tree with upright branches and a broad-columnar crown. It features glossy, dark green, acuminate-tipped, serrate-margined, ovate leaves with silvery-white undersides. This ornamental tree has pale yellow-colored, bee-attracting fragrant blossoms that grow in drooping cymes. The flowers give way to small nutlets. Silver Linden grows best in dry to medium, well-drained, moist, fertile loams and sunlit or speckled locations.