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Trees and Shrubs with Seasonal Interest: Spring Interest

Pink blossoms of Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese flowering quince); photo courtesy of Flickr cc/harum.koh
Pink blossoms of Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese flowering quince); photo courtesy of Flickr cc/harum.koh
 

Here are just a few of the trees and shrubs that can be planted for spring interest in the northeastern United States. The month of interest may vary from year to year with environmental conditions.
 

April:

BOTANICAL NAME
COMMON NAME
Amelanchier spp.
serviceberry
Chaenomeles japonica
Japanese flowering quince
Forsythia suspensa
weeping forsythia
Lonicera fragrantissima
winter honeysuckle
Mahonia aquifolium
Oregon holly-grape
Magnolia spp. and vars.
magnolia
Pieris japonica
Japanese andromeda
Pyrus calleryana
Callery or Bradford pear
Prunus spp. and vars.
flowering cherry
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Korean azalea
Skimmia japonica
Japanese skimmia
Spirea thunbergii
Thunberg skimmia
Viburnum carlesii
Korean spice viburnum
Halesia tetraptera 'Rosea' (Carolina silverbell) in bloom; photo by Ivo Vermeulen
Halesia tetraptera 'Rosea' (Carolina silverbell) in bloom; photo by Ivo Vermeulen

May:

BOTANICAL NAME
COMMON NAME
Acer saccharum
sugar maple
Aesculus spp.
horse chestnut
Aronia spp.
chokeberry
Berberis spp. and vars.
barberry
Cercis canadensis
eastern redbud
Cornus florida
flowering dofwood
Cotoneaster spp. and vars.
cotoneaster
Crataegus spp. and vars.
hawthorn
Cytisus spp. and vars.
Scotch broom
Daphne x burkwoodii
Burkwood daphne
Deutzia gracilis
slender deutzia
Elaeagnus spp. and vars.
ealaeagnus
Halesia tetraptera
Carolina silverbell
Kalmia latifolia
mountain laurel
Liriodendron tulipifera
tulip tree
Lonicera spp.
honeysuckle
Malus spp. and vars.
flowering crabapple
Magnolia spp. and vars.
magnolia
Paulownia tomentosa
princess tree
Philadelphus spp.
mock orange
Quercus spp.
oak
Rhododendron spp. and vars.
rhododendron and azalea
Spirea spp.
bridlewreath
Syringa vulgaris
common lilac
Viburnum spp.
viburnum
Weigela spp.
weigela
Wisteria spp.
wisteria

June:

BOTANICAL NAME
COMMON NAME
Catalpa speciosa
northern catalpa
Cornus kousa
kousa dogwood
Ilex spp. and vars.
holly
Kolkwitzia amabilis
beautybush
Ligustrum spp. and vars.
privet
Rhododendron spp. and vars.
rhododendron and azalea
Rosa spp. and vars.
rose
Styrax japonica
Japanese snowbell
A large Paulownia tomentosa (princess tree) in bloom at NYBG; photo by Ivo Vermeulen
A large Paulownia tomentosa (princess tree) in bloom at NYBG; photo by Ivo Vermeulen

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Noteworthy Books on Seasonal Trees and Shrubs