Flowering Spring Trees for Saint Louis

Besides the chirping of birds and joyous shouts of children, how do we know it is spring in Missouri? The beautiful flowering trees, of course! The “show-me” state has an abundance of gorgeous and aromatic flowers in the springtime, but the blooming native trees put on the most spectacular show of them all. If you’re putting together your spring planting list, consider the following three native tree varieties to add a bit of floral elegance to your property!

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida is a simple species of Dogwood with a surprising twist. This tree generally grows up to 33 feet tall, providing ample shade and windblock for residential areas. The flowers are what gives this species it’s name and popularity: groups of inconspicuous yellow-green buds will grace the branches each spring, only to be replaced by stunningly vibrant red fruits in the fall. The flowering dogwood is a classic Missouri native that will put on a show all year round.

Pawpaw

Hailing from the same family as the custard-apple, sweetsop, and ylang-ylang, the Pawpaw (Asimina) provides the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. The name is often considered to be a derivative of “papaya”, because of the visual similarity of the fruits. The leaves begin to come around in April, bringing with them large, beautiful red-purple flowers. Although this variety isn’t very pleasant smelling, planting this native tree will add a touch of the tropics to your Missouri home.

Hawthorn

Hawthorns have a natural presence in almost every county of Missouri, making this tree the perfect hardy candidate for homeowners who want to avoid the bulk of routine tree maintenance. The Hawthorn’s flowers are so beautiful that they have been adopted as the Missouri state flower. The fruits are certain to attract a variety of cheerful birds.

Native Missouri Trees for Saint Louis

The city of St. Louis forestry department plants up to 5000 trees every year in order to keep air, water, and visual appearance of the city fresh and clean. But what can your average Joe really do in response to such constructive action? Match it! Now, I’m not suggesting that every single citizen goes out and plants thousands of trees, but each neighborhood planting just one tree can really add up and eventually we can double or triple the great start provided by the forestry department. Knowing which trees to plant and how to maintain each variety may seem a little difficult. Fortunately, Missouri provides the perfect home to hundreds of beautiful native varieties. 

Sugar Maple

Sugar maples are responsible for much of the beautiful fall foliage that St. Louis is practically famous for. In fact, the range of colors that the sugar maple is capable of is very nearly a rainbow, some flaunting almost violet leaves. While these trees are slow in growing, they could eventually reach up to 115 feet tall proving a wonderful investment that is sure to increase the value of any home with the space to grow one. Keeping in mind the location will ensure no trimming will be necessary in the future. 

Flowering Dogwood

The cornus florida is the state tree of Missouri, and has always proved a popular choice for homeowners who want to add a bit of soft decoration to existing landscapes. The abundant flowers are usually white, but can be pink or even red depending on the variety you purchase. The fruits produced from flowering dogwoods are an important source of food for hundreds of species of local birds. 

Catalpa

The native catalpa speciosa has found its place around many homes in the area. These beautiful trees feature large flowers, and should not be planted near roadways because of the slick petals. Long pods of fruit hang from the trees and are considered very decorative, although some find them unattractive. The attractiveness of the large whorled leaves is undisputed though, which lends to this species overwhelming popularity.

Whichever variety of native tree you are planning to plant, consider the location of the species. A local tree service should be able to give you information about planting locations so you won’t have to pay tree maintenance fees later. Planning and proper care are both necessary to ensure that your new hardy native variety will remain a part of your home for the years to come.