The Best Trees for a Flower Bed

Flowering Dogwood

• Dogwoods are a favorite, especially in the Northeast and Southeastern states. Truth is, their spring blossoms of white, pink and red are actually bracts of leaves and not flowers. Nonetheless, their arrival is anticipated each year. The dogwood is a short tree, only growing from 15 to 25 feet in height. This makes it a good selection for a flowerbed that is close to a home structure or for flowerbeds near driveways and property borders.

American Hornbeam, Musclewood, Ironwood

• These trees grow a bit taller and span a bit broader. All reach a mature height of 20 to 30 feet. What makes them a best choice is that they can tolerate sun and shade, and wet and dry soil conditions. They are not flowering trees, but they make up for that with a continuous show of green foliage. None of these trees will compete with the flowerbed for attraction and you can choose whatever species and color scheme you wish. They are best suited for beds planted farther away from the home.

Star Magnolia

• The "Star Magnolia" is a Southern favorite for anchoring a flowerbed. It grows short, only reaching 15 to 20 feet, so it can be placed closer to your home or planted to serve as a focal point in your front yard. It is also sun tolerant, making it a good choice for a ring-design flowerbed to help shade the flower plantings. White or pink blooms announce spring's arrival with a hearty fragrance. After blooming, the tree continues to provide interest with colorations in the bark.

Amur Maple

• Amur maple is a best choice for colder regions to enhance a flowerbed that focuses on spring and summer blooming annual and perennial flowers. The maple tree will allow the flowers to take "center stage" during the warm months. As the flowers take their bow at the end of summer, the maple will then take center stage with a vivid show of red, orange and gold leaves during the fall.

Evergreens

• Evergreens are a best choice to define the bed and give it height and structure. They won't compete with the flowers but, instead, stay true to their name and heritage by providing an ongoing display of greenery to the landscape. The wonderful thing about evergreens is that there is a cultivar to thrive in just about any zone and any soil condition as well. For example, Austrian pine will grow in clay soil, Scotch pine will thrive in sandy soil, and Canadian or Japanese yew will thrive in shade. Consider evergreen trees as a no-fuss selection for a yearlong greenery to grace a flower garden bed.