White Flowering Trees Identification (Spring vs Summer) & States They Grow

A blossoming tree with white flowers is a sure sign of spring and warm weather months, but without a white flowering tree identification guide, most of us can’t pinpoint specific species.

But, these lovely landscape additions, from smaller ornamental varieties to large, towering specimens, can be recognized when you know some simple tricks.

Location plays a key role in what types of flowering trees you’ll see in both spring and summer in various states.

This white flowering trees identification guide can help you recognize some of the most common trees that burst forth in glorious splendor each year.

Spring White Flowering Trees Identification (Spring Tree With White Flowers)

A plant with white flowers traditionally symbolizes purity, innocence, spirituality, and sympathy.^18,29 Many of the most beautiful types of white flowers are those which grow on flowering trees.

Ornamental fruit trees and magnolias are among the most popular varieties of white flower trees. The appearance of these white flowers in early spring brings feelings of hope and renewal after sometimes long and bitter winters.

Learn how to recognize each spring-blooming tree with white flowers using the spring white flowering trees identification guide below!

Flowering Trees of Spring: White Flowering Trees Identification

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small, 5-petaled blooms in clusters.
• Fruit: Small, edible, purple berries.

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small, malodorous, 5-petaled flowers occurring in clustered corymbs.
• Fruit: Medium-size pome with yellow/brown hue.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Large flower clusters on red pedicels.
• Fruit: Edible, orange/red, ellipse- shaped drupe.

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White, Pale Pink
• Flowers: Small, bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters.
• Fruit: Dry drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: 5-petaled clusters.
• Fruit: Yellow or red drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: White, Lavender
• Flowers: Small, irregular-shaped flowers in clusters.
• Fruit: Small, dark blue drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Cross-shaped flower with 4 petal-like bracts.
• Fruit: Small, shiny red drupes.

• Size: Small
• Color: White and Yellow
• Flowers: Fragrant and showy large blossoms.
• Fruit: Hard shell, yellowish large round fruit.

• Size: Small
• Color: White, Pink
• Flowers: Bell-shaped, 5-petaled blossoms in clusters.
• Fruit: Small, egg shape fruit that resembles ornaments dangling in groups.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Fragrant and showy, tubular flowers bloom in a dense cyme.
• Fruit: Small black/blue drupe.

• Size: Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Showy, bell-shaped flowers with orange stripes clustered on panicles.
• Fruit: Large, brown capsule.

• Size: Small
• Color: White, Silver
• Flowers: Small, silky/fuzzy catkins
• Fruit: Brown capsule

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Medium, many-petaled, star-shaped flowers with pleasant aroma.
• Fruit: Small, dark fruit.

• Size: Small
• Color: White, Pink
• Flowers: Small, cup-shaped flowers grow in clusters. Corymb.
• Fruit: Small, dark fruit.

* Identification guide information is gathered from various sources.^{2, 8, 31}

Dogwood White Flowering Trees Identification

Though the U.S. native Flowering Dogwood Tree (Cornus florida) is well-known throughout the United States and loved for its beautiful, glossy white blooms, most people do not realize that the flowering dogwood is one of many species of dogwood.

The genus Cornus is made up of at least 30 species of dogwoods, ranging from low-lying groundcover to bushes to fairly robust trees! And nearly 20 of these species (17, to be exact) are native to the U.S.

This dogwood white flowering trees identification guide looks specifically at the trees in this genus which bear white flowers.

Species of Dogwood: White Flowering Trees Identification

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small, malodorous flowers in cymes.
• Fruit: Small, purple drupe.

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: Dull white
• Flowers: Fuzzy flowers forming cyme.
• Fruit: White/Blue

• Size: Small
• Color: White to Pale Yellow
• Flowers: 4 – 6 large bracts around inconspicuous flowers
• Fruit: Edible, sweet, and crimson when ripe

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Cross-shaped flower with 4 petal-like bracts.
• Fruit: Small, shiny red drupes.

• Size: Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small flowers form large clustered cymes.
• Fruit: Small blue/black drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Very small, 4-petaled flowers grown in clusters.
• Fruit: Small white drupe.

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White, Yellow
• Flowers: Blossoms have 4 bracts rather than petals. Blooms are plentiful.
• Fruit: Small, edible pink or red drupe

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Large inflorescence composed of 4 – 8 bracts.
• Fruit: Round clusters of orange/red fruit in the fall.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Very small, 4-petaled flowers in clustered cymes.
• Fruit: Small, sour, blue drupe with single seed.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Very small, 4-petaled flowers in clustered cymes.
• Fruit: Small, white drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Tiny, malodorous, 4-petaled flowers forming cymes.
• Fruit: Small, vibrant blue drupe with 2 seeds.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Flat flower cluster.
• Fruit:

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small, 4-petaled flowers in clusters.
• Fruit: Small, purple drupes

Each of these Dogwood Tree species has its own appeal, and while the Flowering Dogwood is by far the most popular garden variety, there are a few other options which can be a good fit for a home garden or lawn. The Giant Dogwood (Cornus controversa) grows larger than most other varieties and can create shade.

Note, however, that it is not a native species. The Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), while also non-native, has become naturalized in the U.S. and makes a beautiful addition to any lawn or garden.

Its abundance of blooms change colors through the blooming season, giving way to edible fruit and bronze/crimson fall foliage. The Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is a native species that can be an excellent choice.

This unique species displays tiered branching with alternating leaves. The flowers are small but fragrant.

Gardeners may also be interested in the yellow-flowering Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Tree (Cornus mas) or subshrubs such as the Swedish Cornel (Cornus suecica) or Canadian Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) as additions for their home landscape.^5,20

Other Spring Flowering Trees

There are also hundreds of types of flowering trees which produce non-white blooms, and a large proportion of these bloom during the springtime. Spring flowering trees are among the most welcome sights as winter melts away and the weather begins to gradually warm.

From early spring bloomers like the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) and the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) to late-spring beauties like the Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), Fragrant Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), and Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa), spring is a time rich in color and smells.

Explore some of the most colorful flowering trees/large shrubs seen across the U.S. in the springtime in the following table!

Colorful Spring Flowering Trees

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Solitary or paired, 5-petaled, cup-shaped flowers.
• Fruit: Medium to large fleshy drupe with fuzzy skin.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Cup-shaped, fragrant, 4-petaled flowers in drooping clusters.
• Fruit: Brown, hairy capsule.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, Red, White
• Flowers: Cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers appear in clusters.
• Fruit: Large, edible pome.

• Size: Small
• Color: Purple, Blue, Pink, White
• Flowers: Edible, tubular flowers grow in large conical cymes.
• Fruit: Flat, brown capsule.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Small flowers may be single or double.
• Fruit: Small, dark red drupes.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Cross-shaped flower with 4 petal-like bracts.
• Fruit: Small, shiny red drupes.

• Size: Small
• Color: White, Pink
• Flowers: 5-petaled flowers bloom in clusters.
• Fruit: Small, edible, berries. Protected by thorns.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Fragrant and showy, tubular flowers bloom in a dense cyme.
• Fruit: Small black/blue drupe.

* Identification guide information is gathered from various sources.^{6, 7, 8, 26, 28, 30}

Spring-Flowering Trees in Illinois

The state of Illinois is generally considered part of the Midwest region of the United States. With its northeastern corner abutting Lake Michigan, its western border along the Mississippi River, and its small southern boundary carved by the Ohio River, it has a rich history in commerce and agriculture.²²

Most of the land in northern Illinois is flat prairie land giving way to rockier, hilly terrain in the south.¹³ The growing zones for Illinois extend from 5a in the northwest to 7a in the extreme south of the state (see USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map).

Illinois’ flowering trees are a mix of species which grow in northern states like Montana and North Dakota and other Midwestern states such as Indiana and Missouri. To thrive, flowering trees must be able to endure a four-season climate with very cold winters.

See the table below for some common spring-flowering trees in Illinois.

Spring-Flowering Trees in Illinois

• Size: Small
• Color: Cream/White
• Flowers: Clustered blooms with rays up to 8 inches

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Small but showy, multi-petaled flowers bloom in racemes
• Fruit: Edible

• Size: Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Fragrant flowers with fused petals bloom in long racemes.
• Fruit: Brown seed pods. Poisonous.

• Size: Small to medium
• Color: White, pink-tinged
• Flowers: Small, bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters.
• Fruit: Green to brown drupe with seed.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, Red, White
• Flowers: Cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers appear in clusters.
• Fruit: Large, edible pome.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Star-shaped flowers hang in large, drooping racemes.
• Fruit: Edible. Small, apple-like.

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Cross-shaped flower with 4 petal-like bracts.
• Fruit: Small, shiny red drupes.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Fragrant, star-shaped flowers with many petals.
• Fruit: Cone-like follicle with orange seeds inside.

* Identification guide information is gathered from various sources.^{1, 8, 21, 27, 34}

Summer Flowering Trees

Although summer flowering trees are not quite as abundant as their springtime counterparts, they are notable for their beauty, vibrant colors, and hardiness. Many types of trees which bloom in the summer can tolerate periods of drought and intense heat, and some tree species which typically bloom year-round in tropical climates may burst into color in cooler climates during the hot summer months.

Summer White Flowering Trees Identification (Summer Tree With White Flowers)

There are not nearly as many white trees flowering during the summer as can be seen throughout the spring months. Fortunately, that makes white flowering trees identification in the summer even simpler!

Although a summer-blooming tree with white flowers is less common, these plants are perhaps more remarkable as a result.

• Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus): This Eurasia native prefers hot weather. It can grow freely as a shrub or be trained to grow as a small tree.
  It needs ample growing room as it grows quickly and blooms profusely when properly pruned. The Chaste Tree has a long lifespan, some cultivars can reach a maximum height of 30 feet.
  Flowers grow on panicles and come in many colors, including white.³⁶
• Franklin Tree (Franklinia altamaha): The Franklin Tree, native to the state of Georgia, is now extinct in the wild but grown in botanical gardens worldwide. It produces large, fragrant, cup-shaped flowers in the months of July and August which provide a striking contrast against its long glossy leaves.^36,15
• Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum): This medium large tree is native to central and southern China but is now distributed worldwide. These trees are also known as “scholar trees.”
  It produces small, lightly fragrant flowers which hang in long panicles. Poisonous seeds are produced in bean-like pods.³⁶

Other Summer Flowering Trees

Many summer flowering trees, such as the Jacaranda Tree, exhibit breathtaking color when they bloom. Some summer flowering trees have also developed a reputation for being quite unique in their appearance.

Explore the most beautiful summer flowering trees in the following guide!

Summer Flowering Trees

• Size: Small
• Color: Pink, Purple, White
• Flowers: Fragrant, 5-petaled, tube-shaped blooms in loose clustered panicles.
• Fruit: Small, purple drupe.

• Size: Small
• Color: White
• Flowers: Cup-shaped flowers with 5 petals and yellow stamens.
• Fruit: Small, woody capsule.

• Size: Very small (shrub)
• Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, White
• Flowers: Saucer-shaped flowers in dense, corymb clusters.
• Fruit: Capsule

• Size: Medium to Large
• Color: White
• Flowers: Fragrant, small flowers clustered on panicles
• Fruit: Long seed pods

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Solitary, cup-shaped, 5-petaled flowers
• Fruit: Hard capsule, usually green or brown

• Size: Small to Medium
• Color: White
• Flowers: Fragrant flower clusters on long panicles
• Fruit: Dry, green/yellow capsules

• Size: Medium
• Color: Pink, White
• Flowers: Fragrant clusters of silky threads
• Fruit: Long, flat, brown seed pods

• Size: Small
• Color: Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White
• Flowers: Funnel-shaped, 5 – petaled flowers
• Fruit: Pairs of long, slender follicles

• Size: Small
• Color: Yellow, Pink, Purple, White
• Flowers: Medium-Large, 5-petaled flowers.
• Fruit: Brown capsule

* Identification guide information is gathered from various sources.⁸

State-By-State White Flowering Trees Identification (Tree With White Flowers by State)

The United States is a fairly large country, and its territory is spread across many different growing zones, particularly when considering the frigid climate of northern Alaska and the tropical island of Hawaii. Yet, even within the continental U.S., there is incredible diversity in plant life.

This makes it more interesting to explore the types of white flowers and white flowering trees in the various states and regions.

White Flowering Trees in Kentucky

The landscape of the bluegrass state is truly a marvel. Though Kentucky is entirely landlocked, it boasts large lakes and river systems.

It is also home to rolling knobs, gentle mountains, and large forests (Ex. See Daniel Boone National Forest). In fact, Kentucky’s large variety of tree species may be one of things it is most known for.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Kentucky’s growing zone is 6-7, making it the ideal climate for most temperate plants.

(Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture³⁷)

One example of a species thriving in the state is the well-loved Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Kentucky has some of the largest and most abundant specimens of Tulip Poplar, which also happens to be the state tree.

The Tulip Poplar can grow up to 200 feet, making it the tallest North American hardwood tree. Given its impressive height, the blooms sometimes appear white from a distance, but they are actually a green/yellow hue with an interior orange ring.

Even though Kentucky’s Tulip Poplar does not bear true white blooms, Kentucky is home to several other species which certainly do. Some white flowering trees in Kentucky are:³⁵

• Alternate-Leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
• American Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
• American Plum (Prunus americana)
• Apple (Malus domestica)
• Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium)
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
• Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina)
• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
• Cockspur Hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli)
• Downy Hawthorn (Crataegus mollis)
• Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
• Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
• Fraser Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri)
• Mountain Camellia (Stewartia ovata)
• Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
• Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
• Pear (Pyrus communis)
• Perfumed Cherry (Prunus mahaleb)
• Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
• Rusty Blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)
• Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
• Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetala)
• Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
• Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)
• Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)

White Flowering Trees in Virginia

Virginia is adjacent to Kentucky to the east. Although these states sit along similar latitude lines, Virginia has a much larger hardiness zone range (5-8) with a small cold area in the Appalachian mountains and warmer climate along the Atlantic coast.

Nonetheless, many of the same plants can be seen in each of these states.

(Image: U.S. Department of Agriculture³⁷)

A few of the white flowering trees in Virginia are listed here:^{9, 16, 23, 33}

• American Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
• American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)
• American Plum (Prunus americana)
• Apple Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
• Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium)
• Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
• Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina)
• European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
• Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
• Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
• ‘Natchez’ Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’)
• Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
• Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
• Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
• Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
• Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)

White Flowering Trees in Idaho

Unlike Kentucky and Virginia, Idaho is in the northwestern part of the country. It has a varied terrain of open farmland in the south, rugged peaks in the interior and rolling hills and lakes in the north.¹²

This topography is reflected in the state’s USDA hardiness zone. It has a rather large range for a single state, from 3 through 7, as the mountainous areas typically reach much colder temperatures.

Idaho’s naturescape mirrors the land. Most of its native trees are non-flowering conifers, but it does have several flowering varieties which can be seen in the springtime and summer.

Some of the white flowering trees in Idaho may include:^{3, 11, 17, 19, 32}

• American Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
• Amur Cherry (Prunus maackii)
• Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
• Apple Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
• Barton’s Raspberry (Rubus bartonianus)
• Chanticleer Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
• Crabapple (Malus)
• English Hawthorn (Crataegus rhipidophylla)
• European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
• Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
• Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
• Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
• Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
• Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

Although many of the most familiar and common flowering trees make their appearance in spring with the first waves of warm weather and longer daytime hours, there are several species that wait until the heat of the summer to show their blooms.

The white flowering trees identification charts in this article help to understand and appreciate each and every tree with white flowers that graces landscapes across the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions About White Flowering Trees Identification