23 Flowering Trees For Pennsylvania Gardens

Do you want to enhance the curbside appeal of your Pennsylvania home by planting flowering trees in your garden? Well, you will be happy to know that there’s no shortage of blossoming trees in the Keystone State. Read on to find out everything you need to know about 23 exquisite flowering trees in Pennsylvania! 

Pennsylvania is one of the central states in the US. About half of the state’s landscape is covered with forests. The Quaker State is divided into five distinct regions – The Atlantic Coastal Plain Region, The Ridge and Valley Region, The Piedmont Region, The Allegheny Plateau Region, and The Erie Plain Region. It is blessed with numerous striking landforms, including rolling hills, eroded mountains, plateaus, shallow and deep valleys, high and low ridges, and more. 

The Keystone State experiences a humid continental climate characterized by fluctuations in seasonal temperatures. It experiences humid, warm, and at times, hot summers and exceptionally cold winters. The state is partly cloudy and wet throughout the year and experiences four distinct seasons with snowy winters, scenic autumns, blossoming springs, and hot summers. 

Due to Pennsylvania’s ideal climate, spread across USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 7, the state accommodates and grows a wide range of trees. The most commonly grown trees in Pennsylvania include Eastern Hemlock, which is also the state tree, Sugar Maple, Oak, Sumac, Eastern Red Cedar, and Eastern White Pine

Pennsylvania has the ideal landscape and climate for growing multiple flowering trees as well. These include the Royal Empress Tree, Chaste Tree, Purple Prince Crabapple, Star Magnolia, Hawthorns, Red Buckeye, and Golden Rain Tree. These flowering trees can be grown as small accent plants or massive shade providers. Most of them yield striking blossoms, edible fruits, and spectacular autumn foliage. 

So, without any ado, let’s take a look at 23 breathtaking flowering trees in Pennsylvania! 

Purple Flowering Trees in Pennsylvania

1. Royal Empress Tree

  • Paulownia tomentosa
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 20 ft
Paulownia tomentosa Empress Tree
treehelp.com Paulownia tomentosa – Empress Tree

Royal Empress Trees are Eastern Asian natives. These rapidly-growing, invasive trees have brittle wood. It produces big, upright clusters of tubular, pale violet, aromatic blossoms. This tree features exceptionally large, heart-shaped, rich green leaves that offer dense shade. Even though it’s a drought-hardy tree, it thrives in well-drained, moist, and deep soils and sunny or partially speckled spots

2. Common Purple Lilac

  • Syringa vulgaris
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 20-23 ft
Syringa vulgaris.
James Bowe Syringa vulgaris.

Native to Southeastern Europe, Common Purple Lilac or Lilac Tree is a multi-stemmed shrub. It features lilac, lavender, or light purple clusters of exceptionally aromatic, 4-petaled blossoms that are surrounded by lush green shrubbery. These trees grow well in well-drained, moist soils and sunny areas. However, they don’t tolerate hot, humid conditions.

3. Black Diamond® Purely Purple™ Crape Myrtle

  • Lagerstroemia indica
  • Flowering in: Summer and Fall 
  • Height: 10-12 ft
crape myrtle lagerstroemia flowers
Yay crape myrtle – lagerstroemia indica flowers

Black Diamond® Purely Purpleâ„¢ Crape Myrtle gorgeous, shrubby, low-maintenance flowering tree that yields clusters of elegant, clear purple blooms. It features dark black foliage that contrasts wonderfully well with the amethyst blooms. This disease-resistant tree thrives in medium-moist, well-drained soils and sunny locations. Once established, this tree becomes fairly drought-tolerant. 

4. Chaste Tree

  • Vitex agnes-castus
  • Flowering in: Late Spring to Early Fall
  • Height: 10-15 ft
Vitex agnus castus
Manuel m. v. Vitex agnus-castus

Chaste Trees are attractive, multi-trunked, small-sized flowering trees that yield large, spike-shaped, upright clusters of lavender blossoms. These flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Chaste Trees are central Asian and southern European natives that feature fragrant green foliage separated into five to seven narrow leaflets. These trees grow well in well-drained, moist soils and sunny spots. 

5. Newport Plum

  • Prunus cerasifera newportii
  • Flowering in: Late Winter to Early Spring
  • Height: 15-20 ft
Prunus cerasifera Newport
Lauren Anstey Prunus cerasifera ‘Newport’

Newport Plum is a small-sized, rounded, deciduous flowering tree with light bronze-purple, obovate to elliptic foliage that turns dark purple in maturity and then reddish in fall. It yields mostly solitary, sweetly fragrant, and white to pale pink flowers that give way to small, purple, edible fruits. Newport Plum Trees thrive and flower magnificently in well-drained, medium-moist soils and sunny areas. 

6. Purple Prince Crabapple

  • Malus purple prince
  • Flowering in: Mid Spring 
  • Height: 18-20 ft
Purple Prince Crabapple Malus Purple Prince
Bruce J. Marlin Purple Prince Crabapple – Malus ‘Purple Prince’

Developed in Ohio, Purple Prince Crabapple is a small-sized, rapidly-growing, rounded, hybrid flowering tree with upward spreading branches. It features ovate, purple-bronze foliage that turns green in maturity and then golden in fall. This tree yields rosy-red single flowers that give way to round, purple fruits. Purple Prince Crabapple grows well in well-drained, acidic, medium-moist loams and sunny locations. 

White Flowering Trees in Pennsylvania

7. Star Magnolia

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

Star Magnolias are highly ornamental, pest-resistant, flowering trees. These Japanese native trees have glossy, oblong leaves and large, scented, star-shaped, white blossoms that grown on their naked branches. These unique and beautiful flowers have 25 to 30 elongated, ribbon-shaped petals and pale-yellow centers. This tree thrives in well-drained soils and sunny or partially speckled spots. 

8. Ornamental Pears 

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

Also known as Callery Pears, Ornamental Pears are Chinese and Vietnamese natives. They are fast-growing glowering trees with narrow, upright, and naturally beautiful crowns. These trees yield gorgeous clusters of pure white blossoms that grow on their upright branches. They have alternate, dark green, ovate foliage that turns plum, red, orange, and mellow golden yellow in fall. Ornamental Pears are drought-tolerant trees that grow well in organically rich, well-drained, adequately moist, somewhat alkaline loams and sunny areas. 

9. Hawthorn 

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

Hawthorns are drought-resistant, small to medium-sized trees with lobed, toothed, deciduous, green foliage. These flowering trees are native to the temperate regions of North America, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. They have an upright, spreading crown that is decorated with scented, white or pink, 5-petaled flowers that look like apple blossoms. The blooms give way to edible pomes that attract songbirds. Hawthorn Trees thrive in sunny spots and various soil conditions. 

10. Fringe Tree

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

Fringe Trees are small-sized flowering trees that feature deciduous, spear-shaped foliage. These eastern US natives have a spreading, rounded crown and gorgeous yellow fall foliage. Fringe Trees yield drooping clusters of creamy-white, fringe-shaped blossoms that give way to olive-like, bluish-black fruits. These trees grow well in moist, fertile, well-drained soils and sunny or speckled spots. 

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 southeastern United States natives. These multi-stemmed shrubs have a spreading, rounded habitat that is covered with shiny green foliage with silvery bottoms. This tree yields slightly aromatic, waxy, 9-petaled, cup-shaped, creamy-white blossoms. Sweet Bay Magnolia thrives in well-drained, acidic, organically rich, moist soils and sunny or partially shaded spots. 

12. Serviceberry 

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

Serviceberry or Downy Serviceberry Trees are small-sized flowering trees with oval green, deciduous leaves that turn yellow, orange, and red in fall. These northeastern United States natives yield abundant drooping clusters of slightly aromatic, 5-petaled, white flowers that give way to tiny, rounded, delightful dark purple and black-colored berries. Serviceberry Trees grow well in well-drained, acidic, moist soils and sunny areas. 

13. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

  • Cornus mas
  • Flowering in: Late Winter to Early Spring
  • Height: 15 ft
Cornus mas Cornelian cherry
Plant Image Library Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry)

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Trees are native to central and southern European and western Asia. These small-sized, deciduous trees have dense, elliptic to ovate, dark green foliage. They yield minute, yellow flowers that grow on its stout stalks. The blooms are enclosed in petal-shaped, yellowish bracts. Cornelian Cherry Trees thrive in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils and sunny or speckled spots.

14. Japanese Stewartia

  • Stewartia pseudocamellia 
  • Flowering in: Mid-Summer 
  • Height: 15-20 ft
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Sen Itto Stewartia pseudocamellia

Native to the mountains of Japan and the Korean peninsula, Japanese Stewartia is a slow-growing, small-sized, deciduous tree with a narrow, pyramidal crown. It yields cup-shaped, camellia-like white flowers with pretty orange-yellow anthers. It features dark green, elliptic foliage that turns burgundy and reddish-orange in fall. Japanese Stewartia grows well in organically rich, evenly moist, moderately acidic, well-drained sandy loams and sunny or partially shaded areas. 

15. 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 small-sized, award-winning flowering tree. This urban-tolerant, multi-trunked tree yield profuse, massive, foot-long clusters of miniature, fragrant, beautiful, creamy white blossoms grow in tandem with dark green leaves. Japanese Tree Lilac is a low-maintenance, hardy tree that thrives in medium-moist, well-drained soils and sunny areas. 

16. Little-Leaf Linden/Small-Leaved Lime

  • Tilia cordata
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 50 ft 
Littleleaf Linden tilia cordata
Frank Richards Littleleaf Linden (tilia cordata)

Little-Leaf Linden, also known as Small-Leaved Lime, is a European native. It’s a medium- to large-sized flowering tree with a dense, rounded crown. It yields drooping clusters of intensely aromatic, pale-yellow or creamy-white blossoms. This tree features dark green or bluish-green, heart-shaped foliage. It grows best in fertile, well-drained, deep soils and sunny locations. 

17. Seven-Son Flower

  • Heptacodium miconioides
  • 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 Chinese natives. They are deciduous, multi-stemmed shrubs with a fountain-shaped crown. You can also grow them as single-trunk, small flowering trees. These trees yield seven-branched clusters of scented, creamy-white blossoms. Each branch holds six blooms that give way to striking, small, purplish-red fruits. Seven-Son Flower features slender, shiny, ovate-oblong, medium-green leaves. It thrives in adequately moist, well-drained soils and sunny spots. 

Pink Flowering Trees in Pennsylvania

18. Magnolia

  • Magnolia grandiflora
  • Flowering in: Summer
  • Height: 40 ft
Magnolia grandiflora.
KENPEI Magnolia grandiflora.

Magnolias are dense, medium-sized flowering trees that yield large, aromatic, cup-shaped, creamy-white blossoms. These flowers grow at the tip of this tree’s sturdy stems that also feature dark green, leathery, evergreen foliage with rusty brown undersides. These US natives grow well in organically rich, moderately-watered, well-drained soils and sunny or speckled spots. 

19. Autumn Flowering Cherry

  • Prunus subhirtella
  • Flowering in: Autumn
  • Height: 20 ft 
Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis.
David J. Stang Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis.

Also known as Higan Cherry, Autumn Flowering Cherry is a small-sized, deciduous, hybrid tree with non-fragrant, double, pale pink to white blossoms that give way to pea-sized blackish fruits. This tree features ovate to lanceolate green leaves that turn yellow in fall. Autumn Flowering Cherry thrives in well-drained, fertile, moist loams and sunny or partially shaded spots. It flowers best in full sun. 

20. Prairifire Crabapple 

  • Malus prairifire
  • Flowering in: Mid Spring to Late Spring 
  • Height: 20 ft
Malus Prairifire Crab Apple
Frank Richards Malus ‘Prairifire’ Crab Apple

Native to Asia, Europe, and North America, Prairifire Crabapple Trees are small-sized, deciduous trees with a dense, rounded habitat. They yield pinkish-red buds that bloom into slightly aromatic, deep pink-red flowers that give way to clusters of small, persistent, purplish-red crabapples that attract birds. This tree features ovate dark green leaves with reddish veins. It has orange fall foliage. Prairifire Crabapple is an adaptable tree that grows well in well-drained, acidic, medium-moist loams and sunny locations.  

21. Redbud

  • Cercis canadensis
  • Flowering in: Summer
  • Height: 20-30 ft
Redbud Tree cercis canadensis
Dcrjsr Redbud Tree (cercis canadensis)

Redbuds are wildly popular US and Mexican natives. These multi-trunked, medium-sized flowering trees have a rounded crown of horizontally growing branches adorned with deciduous, heart-shaped, dark green leaves. This tree features canary yellow fall foliage. Redbuds yield stunning clusters of small, magenta shoots that blossom into long-lasting, rosy-pink flowers. This low-maintenance tree thrives in various soil and sun conditions. 

22. 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 North American, Asian, and European natives. These medium-sized trees have an upright, oval crown adorned with dark green, slender, ovate, deciduous, and indented foliage. Flowering Crabapple yields scented pale pink flowers. This drought-tolerant tree grows best in acidic, medium moist, well-drained loams and sunny spots. 

23. Flowering Dogwood

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

Flowering Dogwoods are low-branching, medium-sized trees with deciduous, oval green leaves that make a flat-topped, rounded or pyramidal crown. These eastern North American and northern Mexican natives have reddish-purple fall foliage. They yield compact, small, white flowers that grow from pink bracts. Dogwoods thrive in organic, well-drained soils and speckled spots. 

24. Red Buckeye 

  • Aesculus pavia
  • Flowering in: Spring
  • Height: 10-20 ft

Native to southeastern Missouri, Red Buckeyes are clump-forming, small-sized trees with an irregular, rounded crown. They yield ornamental, erect clusters of narrow-tubular, orange-red to red blossoms that give way to smooth and globular seed capsules. These trees feature compound, deciduous, shiny, dark green foliage. Red Buckeyes grow well in medium moist, fertile, well-drained soils and sunny or partially shaded areas. 

Yellow Flowering Tree in Pennsylvania

25. Golden Rain Tree

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

Golden Rain Trees are Korean, Chinese, and Japanese natives. They have open branches that make a rounded crown. These trees have a feathery, purplish pink, pinnate, and deciduous foliage that turns apple-green in maturity. They have stunning golden-yellow foliage in the fall. Golden Rain Trees yield long clusters of gorgeous rich yellow blooms. This tree thrives in sunny areas and well-drained soils.