Spring is the season of cleansing and renewal, and it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your landscape! Naturally, the growing season is one of the best times for maintenance, such as mulching and fertilizing. However, we encourage you to also consider planting a new tree or shrub this season to brighten up your yard.
Fortunately, there are many tree and shrub options for the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area that can make your lawn a stunning head-turner this spring! To make it easy, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of our favorite trees and shrubs that can add a fresh spring glow to your DFW landscape.
For information about caring for new or established trees and shrubs, check out Tree & Shrub Care Guide.
1. Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
Not only is the Texas native Mexican plum a beautiful, fragrant spring standout, but it is also a handy time teller. In Texas, Mexican plums signal the end of winter and the beginning of a new spring, as they are usually the very first tree to bloom in March. The lovely white spring blooms contrasting against the Mexican plum’s dark gray bark make this tree brighten up any landscape.
- Mature Size: Up to 25' tall
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: White spring blooms appear early in March, even before the yellow-green leaves arrive. In summer, tiny deep purple "plum" fruits grow. Leaves will turn a beautiful yellow or red in the fall
- Tips: In summer, the fruits of these trees can be used to make jams and jellies
2. Flowering Cherry (Prunus spp.)
Flowering cherry trees (also known as cherry blossom trees) have long been spring show-stoppers in the Dallas Arboretum, but they can also be planted to brighten your own home landscape. There are several varieties of these trees available depending on taste. Still, all will produce thick, fragrant white and pink blooms in spring.
- Mature Size: 12-40' tall and 10-30' spread depending on species
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate to high
- Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: Lush, stunning pink and white blooms burst out in spring, then dark green foliage in summer. In fall, these trees put on a gorgeous show of red, orange, and yellow leaves. Leaves will drop in winter, but the bark shines a lovely copper through the season
- Tips: Flowering cherry trees are visually interesting all year long, so consider planting them where you can take in the view from your outdoor seating areas. These trees are also attractive options for lining your property, driveway, or walkways
3. Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)
This Texas native tree provides a grand spring display of lush, pink/purple flowers that are sure to make any passersby stop and admire your landscape. Tough and drought-resistant, the texas redbud flowers early in spring and stays visually interesting all year long.
- Mature Size: 15-20' tall
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun, tolerates partial sun
- Water Needs: Low
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: In spring, these trees show off lovely displays of tiny pink/purple blooms that grow directly on the branches. In summer, leaves are green and heart-shaped, and brown seed pods arrive. In fall, beautiful displays of golden leaves. Seed pods hang on, providing visual interest in winter
- Tips: Plant in full sun for best foliage colors
4. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape myrtles have long been a classic landscape choice of the south – and for good reason! These charming plants are available as small trees or shrubs and produce various beautiful bloom colors ranging from white to red to pink to purple.
- Mature Size: 6-25' tall, 6-20' spread depending on the variety
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Soil Preference: Well-drained, clay soil
- Foliage Colors: In late spring, lush spikes of red, pink, purple, or white blooms appear and last beautifully through summer. In fall, the foliage turns red, orange, or yellow. Visual interest continues in winter as the bark peels off, revealing a pink trunk
- Tips: Avoid pruning the entire top of these plants in the winter. Although this practice is common, it can damage the plant and also cause it to become misshapen
5. Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
The Texas mountain laurel is an excellent choice for brightening up your North Texas landscape in spring. This small tree/large shrub produces stunning blooms of purple flowers in the spring that attract butterflies and smell intensely of grape.
- Mature Size: 8-20' tall, up to 10' spread
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low, moderate – plant is highly drought tolerant
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: In spring, full bloom occurs early on and produces beautiful drooping clusters of purple flowers. In summer, leaves are glossy, dense, and dark green. In late summer, velvety seed pods arrive. Leaves remain green in fall
- Tips: The seed pods on the texas mountain laurel contain small red beans that are toxic. Be sure to keep children and pets away from the seeds of this plant
6. Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
Not only will a vitex (also known as a chaste tree) bring you a glorious spring show of white or lavender flowers, but these blooms will last straight through summer as well. The vitex is easy to care for, drought-tolerant, and the blooms have a pleasant aroma.
- Mature Size: 15-20' tall, 10-15' spread
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low
- Soil Preference: Very well-drained
- Foliage Colors: Gorgeous spike blooms of lavender or white flowers appear in late spring and last through summer till early fall
- Tips: The vitex flowers produce excellent honey and attract a lovely variety of bees and butterflies
7. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Not only is the flowering dogwood sure to make your springtime landscape glow, but this stunning tree will turn heads in autumn as well.
- Mature Size: 20-40' tall, up to 20' spread
- Shade/Sun Preference: Partial to full shade
- Water Needs: Low when planted in shade, moderate when planted in sun
- Soil Preference: Well-drained
- Foliage Colors: In spring, dogwoods typically produce lovely displays of white blooms, but you could also see pink or other colors. Rich green foliage in summer. Stunning fall displays of red berries and shocking crimson leaves. Brilliant red berries persist in winter
- Tips: Wildlife love feeding on the fruits of the flowering dogwood, so expect to enjoy new visitors to your yard, such as squirrels, birds, deer, and other animals
8. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
North Texans are fortunate to be able to plant and enjoy Japanese maples with great success. These plants are widely known for their vibrant fall displays, but they’re perfectly capable of turning heads in a spring landscape as well.
- Mature Size: 3-20' tall depending on the variety
- Shade/Sun Preference: Partial or full shade for most varieties
- Water Needs: Moderate to high
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: There is a multitude of Japanese maple varieties that will all produce different colors. However, generally in spring, these plants start out with green leaves, which then mature into various shades of red. These colors persist in summer, but the real show begins in autumn. Fall produces stunning displays of shocking reds, oranges, and yellows
- Tips: The success of Japanese maples in a landscape depends upon proper species selection, planting location, pruning, and maintenance. Do a little research before selecting a specific Japanese maple – they're well worth the effort
9. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
The desert willow is an excellent Texas native tree to add a colorful spark of charm to your spring landscape. These small trees are easy to care for, drought-tolerant, fragrant, and lovely to look at.
- Mature Size: 15-30' tall
- Shade/Sun Preference: Full sun
- Water Needs: Low – highly drought-tolerant
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: The desert willow will produce beautiful, fragrant, tubular, pink flowers through spring. During summer, the tree has light green leaves and will bloom sporadically after rain. In autumn, the blooms are replaced by long, slender seed pods. Many different color varieties are available for selection, such as white, pink, or purple
- Tips: The flowers of the desert willow are great for attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
10. Magnolia (Magnolia spp.)
The magnolia tree has become a staple of southern style over the years. These beautiful and elegant trees boast prominent features, including height, large leaves, and grand cup-shaped white blooms. There are many varieties of magnolias available, but some of the types that thrive in North Texas are the southern, sweetbay, swamp, and evergreen magnolias.
- Mature Size: 20-90' tall, 20-40' spread depending on the variety
- Shade/Sun Preference: Partial shade to full sun, depending on the variety
- Water Needs: Low
- Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
- Foliage Colors: Most magnolias display large green leaves and thick-petaled white blooms in spring and summer. In fall, the seeds of the magnolia open and make a cheery red display. Some magnolias may retain their leaves through winter
- Tips: In DFW, some types of magnolias will perform better when planted with some afternoon shade
Tree & Shrub Care with Gecko Green
After taking the time to select the perfect trees and shrubs to add a spring glow to your yard, you’ll undoubtedly want to keep them as healthy as possible! Gecko Green’s Tree & Shrub Care Program is the best way to maintain healthy, strong trees and shrubs in the DFW area.
Our continual inspections will ensure that any potential pests and risks are caught before damage is done to your beautiful trees and shrubs. To protect your valuable Texas landscape, have our local specialists start treatment for your Dallas ornamentals today. Let us help keep your landscape looking its best by maintaining your beautiful trees and shrubs!
