Small trees and flowering trees
Flowering Cherry
Japanese flowering cherry - Prunus serrulata
Higan cherry - Prunus subhirtella
Many species of ornamental cherries exist, but the two most popular and available flowering varieties are the Japanese flowering cherry and Higan cherry. These trees flower prolifically before foliage appears, with a floral display that is spectacular. Because of the many varieties of Japanese flowering cherries that have been developed, plant shapes and flower forms are many. The most common cultivar is probably `Kwanzan,' which produces double, deep pink flowers. It develops an upright, vase-shaped branching habit, and is one of the most hardy cultivars. Japanese flowering cherries are subject to twig or bark damage during severe winters or rapid temperature changes. Cherries of all types need perfect drainage. If they are wanted where only tight soils or poor drainage exists, their durability may be extended by planting them in raised beds or on mounds.
The most popular Higan cherry is the weeping variety pendula, often simply called a weeping cherry. Higan cherries have single pink flowers that are not long lasting. For this reason, cultivars with double flowers, such as `Pendula Plena Rosea' should be preferred when available. The weeping trees are graceful and broad-spreading, which makes them effective for an accent in bloom and also throughout the seasons. A Higan variety called autumnalis also is sometimes available. It flowers in spring, but may again produce some flowers in fall. Unlike the weeping variety and its cultivars, this fall-flowering cherry develops a spreading vase shape with a flat top. Cherries are sometimes produced, which are small and attract birds. A number of pests and diseases may attack cherries, so they are often considered relatively short-lived trees. In our climate, many species begin to decline after about 20 years.
Hardiness Zones: 5-8 (both)
Flowering Crabapple
Malus species and cultivars
Crabapples in bloom are one of our most spectacular small, flowering trees. They are well-adapted to our soils and environmental conditions. Shapes may be columnar, weeping, oval or rounded. Sizes range from about 10 feet to 40 feet in height, but most will grow to be 15 to 20 feet tall. Flowers may be single, semi-double or double in pink, white or red. Fruits may be red or yellow, large or small, but all are attractive to birds and wildlife. Be sure to select a crabapple for planting based on all of its characteristics.
Unfortunately, several diseases attack flowering crabapples. Therefore, selection of species and cultivars regarding disease resistance is as important as ornamental value. The diseases most likely to attack them are apple scab, which causes gray spots on the leaves and summer defoliation; fire blight, which causes die-back of twigs and branches; rust, which causes orange spots on the leaves; and mildew, which causes powdery white growth on new foliage in spring. Apple scab and fire blight are the most damaging in our climate. A few of the more disease-resistant species and cultivars include `Adams,' `Prairifire,' `Snowdrift,' `Callaway,' `Donald Wyman,' `Indian Summer,' `Robinson,' `Sugar Tyme,' `Professor Sprenger,' `Liset' and Malus floribunda.
For those interested in weeping forms of flowering crabapple, `Louisa,' `White Cascade' and `Red Jade' are possible choices. The dwarf crabapple, Malus sargentii, is resistant to apple scab. Those desiring ornamental flowers plus large fruits for making jelly might select `Dolgo,'although it has only fair disease resistance. Insect pests are not a major problem of crabapples. Aphids or scale may attack trees but they can be controlled by prompt action if an infestation develops. Entire books on crabapples are available for more detailed descriptions and pictures of the many cultivars.
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Flowering dogwood is the official state tree of Missouri. From mid- to late-April it provides a show of white or pink flowers. This is a relatively small, spreading tree, and is well-adapted to growing under larger trees where it gets light shade. Although it is an adaptable tree, it is not highly tolerant of pollution or drought. Flower buds form in late summer and fall. If drought or other stress conditions exist during that time, trees will not flower the following spring. Severe stress causes leaf scorch and decline of the trees. Flowering dogwood has attractive horizontal branching, bright red fruits, and good fall color plus its spring flowers. For deeper pink color, the cultivar `Cherokee Chief' is commonly used. A cultivar with very large flower size is `Cherokee Princess.' One cultivar that flowers early and more prolifically than most is 'Cloud 9.' Pest problems include leaf spot disease and stem boring insects. Dogwood anthracnose is a disease causing concern in the eastern and southeastern U.S., but has not yet become a major problem in Missouri.
Hardiness Zones: 5b-8
Goldenrain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata
Goldenrain tree is an excellent choice for summer flowers. It grows fast to form a round-headed,wide-spreading tree. The showy large clusters of small yellow flowers are produced when few other landscape trees or shrubs are flowering. Falling flowers inspired its common name. This tree adapts to many climatic conditions, is tolerant of many soil types and endures air pollutants in urban sites. For fall and winter interest, the seed structures are large and showy. These are inflated capsules that turn from green to chartreuse, and finally to brown. Goldenrain tree is pest free and requires little care. Severe winters may cause some twig or bark damage, but trees usually recover well. This tree develops best in a sunny location although it tolerates light shade. Fall leaf color is not outstanding; usually it's dull yellow. Seeds of goldenrain tree germinate readily. It can invade surrounding areas and has the potential to become a pest.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Hawthorn
Washington hawthorn - Crataegus phaenopyrum
Green hawthorn - Crataegus viridis
Many species of hawthorn are native to Missouri, and because of the abundance of hawthorns in the natural landscape, it has been named the official state flower. (The species deserving this recognition is downy hawthorn, Crataegus mollis.) Insect and disease pests can ruin the ornamental value of many hawthorns, although the trees usually survive. For landscape plantings, the Washington hawthorn and a cultivar of green hawthorn called `Winter King' have become the most frequently used. Washington hawthorn is somewhat disease resistant but the leaves and fruits of `Winter King' can be damaged by cedar-quince rust fungus. Lacebug is an insect that may feed on hawthorn leaves, causing serious leaf browning by mid- to late-summer.
The Washington hawthorn grows upright when young, but develops a broad canopy and a rounded form with age. The tree is thorny and sometimes used as a barrier hedge by allowing or encouraging low branching. As single specimens, hawthorn trees may be shaped with single or multiple trunks. Attractive small red-orange fruits are produced in late fall and persist into the winter until severe cold turns them black or birds eat them.
'Winter King' hawthorn develops into a broad, flat-headed tree. It derives its cultivar name because the red-orange fruits persist with good color long into winter, often until March or when waxwings or other birds eat them. Hawthorns are tolerant of urban conditions. They can grow well in many soils and tolerate drought, wind and heat. They do not endure heavy shade or poor drainage.
Hardiness Zones: 4-8 (both)
European Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
European hornbeam is a medium-sized tree that often is overlooked for use in stressful climates and urban sites. Besides being very adaptable to different soils and environmental conditions, it is essentially pest free. Leaves are dark green and develop a good yellow fall color. Although several cultivars exist, the most available and most often used is an upright growing form called 'Fastigiata'. It has a dense growth that makes it useful for a tall screen. Small trees planted close together may be used to form a tall hedge since this plant tolerates shearing. Single trees make excellent specimens with low maintenance. A close relative, the American hornbeam or musclewood, Carpinus caroliniana, is also a durable and well-adapted tree. It has attractive smooth gray bark and leaves that turn yellow or orange in fall. While not widely available, these trees deserve more use.
Hardiness Zones: 4b-7
Magnolias
Southern magnolia - Magnolia grandiflora
Saucer magnolia - Magnolia x soulangiana
Sweetbay magnolia - Magnolia virginiana
These three magnolias are part of a large group of useful landscape trees and shrubs. The southern magnolia makes an excellent large evergreen specimen tree in thƒe southern portions of the state. In summer it produces huge, white, fragrant flowers. In northern areas it grows smaller and often suffers winter damage. The saucer magnolia can be grown state wide. It is slow growing and eventually forms a small multi-stemmed tree. It flowers very early in spring with lavender or pink tulip-shaped flowers. The slow growth allows its use as a large shrub for many years. Sweetbay, or swamp magnolia, is evergreen in southern areas and deciduous in more northern areas. It also is grown as a multi-stemmed shrub and can reach 15 feet or more in height. Sweetbay magnolia produces fragrant white flowers among the leaves in late spring and early summer. Magnolias grow best in deep, acid soils with adequate soil moisture. They have few pests or problems.
Hardiness Zones: 6-9
Hardiness Zones: 4b-8
Hardiness Zones: 5b-9
Japanese Pagodatree
Sophora japonica
A good tree for midsummer flowers is the Japanese pagodatree. Its clusters of cream-white pealike flowers provide conspicuous color during the heat of summer. Young plants grow fast to form trees with wide-spreading crowns. Bean-like fruits are tubular and long with swollen sections for each seed. Pods may become a nuisance if trees are planted near walks or drives, but are decorative in other areas. Twigs of this tree remain green to provide winter color, but may be damaged during severe winters or rapid temperature fluctuations. Japanese pagodatree is tolerant of urban conditions, poor soils, heat and drought. The compound leaves are bright green, giving a good summer display, although without colorful fall foliage. It may be attacked by a few insects or diseases, but none serious, so it may be considered essentially pest free.
Hardiness Zones: 4b-8
Callery Pear
Pyrus calleryana
Sometimes the variety name of a tree becomes so popular that the species is known almost solely by that name. This is the case with the widely planted `Bradford' callery pear. Other cultivars such as `Aristocrat' `Capital,' `Redspire,' and `Cleveland Select' are now available. White flowers are produced abundantly in very early spring. Glossy green leaves turn wine-red in fall. The overall shape of these trees is compact and symmetrical. Callery pears are generally adaptable to a wide variety of growing conditions. The cultivar `Bradford' gained original popularity because it is resistant to fire blight, a serious disease of pears in our area. Not all newer cultivars are as resistant, although `Redspire' and `Cleveland Select' have performed well. The pea-sized pear fruits are not messy in the lawn or garden. `Bradford' tends to produce heavy limbs with narrow branch unions that may fail under an ice or wind load.
Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Purple-leaf Plum
Prunus cerasifera
Purple-leaf plum is best known for its dark reddish foliage. Trees are easy to transplant and are tolerant of many soils and growing conditions, including heat and drought. They are not pollution or salt tolerant. Plums are subject to cankers, leaf spots, borers, tent caterpillars and a number of other problems that may make them short-lived. The small, fragrant white to pale pink flowers bloom in early spring and produce small plums that are edible. The small size of the plum gives them another common name, cherry-plum. `Newport' and `Thundercloud' are the most popular cultivars because of their vigor and good purple leaf color that is retained well during the summer. These trees are usually small and low branching. The purple-leaf sand cherry, Prunus x cistena, is a related plant also used for its purple leaf color.
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Eastern redbud is well-known for its rosy-pink spring flowers in Missouri woodlands. It also can be found growing in the open in old fields and fencerows. It grows best in rich soils, but can tolerate poor sites if they are well-drained. Redbud is relatively pest free, although verticillium wilt sometimes shortens the life span. Foliage develops well after flowering, and the pealike pods often persist through the winter. A white variety is available that makes an outstanding specimen against an evergreen or dark background. The cultivar `Forest Pansy' produces new foliage that is deep red-purple, but later turns green. Redbud trees are abundant seed producers. Many seedling trees may appear in some gardens to the point of being weedy.
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Among the many species of serviceberries, downy serviceberry is the largest and most tree-like. Most others develop as large shrubs. All the serviceberries make useful small trees. Leaves are gray-green and turn yellow, red or orange in fall. Showy white flowers are produced very early in spring before the leaves. Bark on the trunk is smooth and light gray. Serviceberries tolerate light shade, but flower and fruit best in full sun. They are adapted to many soil types and environmental conditions and are fairly pollution tolerant. Fruits are dark purple with a bluish bloom, with a resemblance to blueberries. Birds are fond of them. They are edible and flavorful, but rather seedy. Cultivars exist, but are not common. `Autumn Brilliance' is perhaps the most popular, and is grown mainly for its red-orange fall foliage.
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
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