Trees with flowers: 7 essentials for the garden

Virginia tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera

Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is a large tree from America that stands out in several ways. It is highly sought after for its flowering but also for its characteristic foliage. Made up of large lobed leaves shaped like a lyre (hence its Latin name), it turns golden yellow in autumn. Its cup-shaped flowers appear in late spring and summer; they are slightly scented and melliferous. However, note that this flowering requires patience: tulip trees do not flower until they reach around 15 years of age. Finally, bear in mind this is a large tree that can reach 25 metres in height in our climate: think carefully before choosing the best place to plant it.

• Cultivation: full sun or partial shade, in rich, well-drained soil – hardiness: -15 °C

Tulip tree

Davidia, Handkerchief Tree

Davidia is an exceptional tree that offers an astonishing flowering, like small white handkerchiefs suspended in the air. It flowers from a young age, in May–June, and its flowers bear large white bracts that stand out elegantly against its green foliage, sometimes variegated for some varieties such as ‘Lady Sunshine’. Reaching around ten metres in height, this collection tree is not particularly difficult to grow and clearly needs a prime position, planted alone in your garden.

• Culture: in non-scorching sun or partial shade, in humus-bearing soil, cool and well drained – hardiness: -15 °C, at least

Davidia, Handkerchief tree

→ discover our range of handkerchief trees as well as our advice to grow them in our factsheet “Davidia, handkerchief tree: planting, pruning, care”

Paulownia, Imperial Tree

With very large heart-shaped foliage, Paulownia tomentosa makes a very handsome shade tree in summer. It is in spring, in April–May, that it is particularly noticeable, when it bears its long clusters of mauve bell-shaped flowers on its naked wood. This magnificent flowering gives way, in autumn, to small dry fruits (capsules) that are also decorative. With very rapid growth and a spreading habit, Paulownia easily reaches 12 metres high by 10 metres wide. It is therefore more suited to large gardens.

• Cultivation: in full sun or partial shade, in any deep, well-drained soil – hardiness: – 15 °C

Paulownia tomentosa

→ discover paulownias available in our nursery

Magnolias

Magnolias form a large family that includes both bushes and small trees. Their foliage can be deciduous or evergreen and all display admirable flowering, in spring or summer. Main difficulty with Magnolia is certainly making a choice! Among our favourites are the Magnolia grandiflora ‘D.D. Blanchard’, a variety that stands out for its pyramidal habit (15 metres tall at maturity), its evergreen leaves with a reddish-brown underside and above all, its large summer flowers. Tulip-shaped, they give off a delightful lemon scent.

• Cultivation: in full sun in deep, cool soil, preferably neutral to slightly acidic – hardiness: -15 °C

Magnolia DD Blanchard

→ discover our superb collection of magnolias, deciduous or evergreen as well as our tips to grow them in our factsheet “Magnolias: planting, pruning, maintenance”

Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum

Also called “gainier”, Judas tree is a must-have, especially in small gardens. Reaching 8–10 metres at maturity, it fits easily into compact spaces. Its purplish-pink spring flowering is spectacular. It occurs in April–May, on naked wood, on branches and even, over time, directly on the trunk. Its papilionaceous flowers are fragrant. It has heart-shaped foliage, bluish-green in summer then golden in autumn.

• Culture: in full sun in any type of soil, even dry or poor – hardiness: -10 °C

Cercis siliquastrum, Judas tree

→ discover our range of Cercis as well as our tips to grow them in our fact sheet “Judas tree, Cercis: planting, pruning and maintenance”

Albizia, called Bristle Tree

Covered in flowers in summer, Albizia is a small tree much appreciated for its very finely divided foliage, which can be green or purplish. It bears, in July–August, delicate, silky flowers. Its umbrella habit is also an asset: it is the ideal shape for creating shade in the garden. Undemanding, it is easy to grow in mild climate and adapts perfectly well to coastal gardens.

• Culture: in full sun, in light soil even poor and sandy – hardiness: -5 °C to -15 °C, depending on varieties and age of plant

Albizia julibrissin – Silk tree

→ discover our different varieties of Albizia as well as our tips to to grow them in our fact sheet “Albizia, silk tree: plant, prune and maintain”

Cornus florida, American flowering dogwood

Still relatively little known to the general public, Cornus florida is a large bush with a single trunk that forms a small, very ornamental tree. It is loved for its spreading habit, its slightly zen charm and, above all, for its abundant flowering in spring (May to June). As with Judas tree and Paulownia, its flowers appear slightly before the leaves and take the form of large bracts, white or pink, depending on the variety. In autumn, they give way to pretty red berries while its foliage takes on warm colours. This charming small tree thrives particularly well in warm, humid climates. It nevertheless shows very good hardiness, allowing it to be grown in all climates.

• Cultivation: in full sun, in cool, non-calcareous soil – hardiness: – 20 °C

Cornus florida, autumn foliage of Cornus florida “Cherokee Chief” and flowers of Cornus florida rubra

→ discover our superb collection of Flowering dogwoods as well as our advice for growing them in our fact sheet “Flowering dogwoods: planting, pruning and maintenance”