Redbud will be on most spring-flowering tree lists. I would pick this one for its color and impact. New cultivars with novel growth forms or foliage have entered the market, but flower color varieties are rare.
On gray-sky days in late January, this early bloomer brightens my day. Described as “underutilized,” this delightful tiny tree should be grown more extensively.
‘Humilis’ starts off as a shrub but matures into a tiny deciduous tree. Its early-season leaves precede the 4- to 8-inch panicles of blooms that appear to float above the foliage.
Bigleaf magnolia appears tropical with 16-inch blossoms and 2–3-foot foliage. It boasts the largest simple leaves and blooms of any North American deciduous tree.
Witnessing a full-blown American smoke tree is unforgettable. Small blooms aren't special, but dead flower clusters become huge, smokelike pink puffs as the season develops.
Surprise yourself with Empress of China® dogwood. First, it is almost fully evergreen in winter, losing its leaves in April as new growth appears.
I'm always stopped by variegated Japanese aralia, which may be a sinful pleasure and more diva than other plants.
Sweetheart tree blooms early summer with large panicles of yellowish-white flowers. But what happens next will grab your attention.
In the Southeast, sourwood blooms in early July with huge, drooping panicles of bell-shaped flowers for weeks. These are delightful, and after they fade, the seeds will provide ongoing interest.