20 Stunning Ornamental Trees to Bring Style to Your Yard

A lush, vibrant green yard with healthy grass is bound to attract attention. However, to truly make an impression, consider adding ornamental trees to elevate your landscaping and curb appeal. Depending on your region, choose a tree that suits your climate's water and sunlight requirements.

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Also, take into account your yard’s size and layout: Your new tree should enhance the existing plants and architecture, rather than overpower them.

Choosing the right tree for your region is essential for its growth and long-term health. Maureen Wright, a plant expert at Fast Growing Trees, emphasizes that selecting a tree suited for your growing zone is key because it ensures the tree thrives in your climate's specific temperature and seasonal changes. 'Trees suited to your growing zone are more likely to establish strong root systems, resist pests and diseases, and endure extreme weather,' says Wright.

If you're ready to start planting, here are some top expert-recommended ornamental trees for you to consider.

1. Royal Poinciana

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This rapidly growing, large deciduous tree stands out as one of the most stunning flowering trees in tropical regions. Be sure your yard can accommodate it, as it requires a lot of space due to its expansive canopy. "The royal poinciana thrives in full sunlight, with moderate water and well-draining soil," recommends Stephen McFarlane, regional landscape manager for Sandals Resort International.

2. Frangipani

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This tree, used in Hawaii to create leis, is famous for its strong fragrance. Its striking red flowers bloom on the tips of branches from June through November and are quite tolerant of drought and salt, as McFarlane notes. This makes it an excellent choice for coastal gardens and can serve as a specimen tree or as part of a shrub border. Frangipani trees thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil.

3. Eastern Redbud Tree

Rapid Growing Trees

Budding ornamental trees will undoubtedly steal the spotlight in your spring garden. Wright suggests the Eastern Redbud for its stunning springtime display, boasting pink or purple blossoms, and its brilliant yellow foliage in the fall. 'I enjoy gathering the edible flowers and placing them atop vanilla ice cream,' says Wright.

The Redbud is beloved by pollinators and grows to a moderate height of 20 to 30 feet.

4. Golden Trumpet Tree

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This deciduous tree, which reaches up to 40 feet in height, is a small to medium-sized beauty that bursts into vibrant yellow flowers each spring as the leaves fall. "Though the main bloom occurs in the spring, you may spot sporadic flowering all year round—so stay alert," McFarlane says. "The golden trumpet requires full sunlight and is remarkably drought-tolerant once it is well-established."

5. Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac

Fast Growing Trees

For those seeking to add fragrance to their garden

, the Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac is the perfect choice. It showcases creamy white blooms with a delightful scent that appear in late spring to early summer. Wright mentions that this tree is fairly low-maintenance and adapts well to various soil types, thriving in zones 4 to 7.

6. Colorama Scarlet Crape Myrtle

Fast Growing Trees

For gardeners seeking lasting color, the Colorama Scarlet Crape Myrtle is a fantastic choice. "Its vibrant red blossoms emerge from mid-summer to fall, bringing a burst of color to your garden long after other plants have finished blooming," Wright explains. This tree's ability to endure heat, drought, and poor soil makes it an easy-care, resilient option for those who want beauty with minimal maintenance.

7. Hong Kong Orchid Tree

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This small tree can grow up to 30 feet tall and wide, offering a striking appearance with its rose-pink flowers that resemble orchids (though they belong to a different family). "This variety is sterile, meaning it won't drop seed pods like other orchid trees," McFarlane explains. "The Hong Kong orchid tree thrives in full sun to light shade and prefers well-drained soils."

8. Jane Magnolia

Fast Growing Trees

The Jane Magnolia boasts tulip-shaped blooms in early spring and is a compact tree that grows only 10 to 15 feet tall. "This makes it an ideal choice for smaller gardens or as a focal point in mixed borders," Wright notes. It thrives in zones 4 through 8 and flourishes in both full and partial sunlight.

9. Milky Way Tree

Sunshower Shots

A stunning small tree, closely related to the frangipani, the milky way tree can be harder to find at nurseries. However, if you’re fortunate enough to come across one, you’ll enjoy a display of fragrant, tubular white flowers all year long. Once the blooms fade, it produces unique orange, double-horned seed pods. This tree can grow up to 20 feet tall, McFarlane explains. "Milky Way Trees thrive in partial shade in hotter climates and prefer well-drained soil," he adds.

10. Flowering Plum Tree

Trees that experience rapid growth

Flowering plum trees, such as the Krauter Vesuvius, are known for their striking pink blossoms and purple leaves, along with plums that ripen in the summer. These trees are hardy in zones 4 through 9.

11. Fringe Tree

Tree with rapid growth

This graceful tree blooms with fragrant white flowers during the spring and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. It can become a prominent feature in your garden, growing up to 20 feet tall and spreading as wide as 25 feet.

12. Japanese Maple

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Japanese maples are admired for their breathtaking foliage, which displays a brilliant spectrum of colors year-round. “These trees have a delicate, lace-like structure and are well-suited for smaller yards due to their compact nature,” says Zahid Adnan, a gardener and the founder of The Plant Bible, a plant care website. “Regular trimming helps preserve their form and boost their visual charm. Provide them with well-draining soil and consistent moisture to keep them thriving.”

13. Dwarf Flowering Cherry

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With its stunning pink or white flowers, the dwarf flowering cherry tree brings vibrant color to both spring and fall. “Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller yards, and regular pruning ensures it grows in a neat, manageable pattern,” says Adnan. “Proper sunlight and watering are key to maintaining its health.”

14. Little Gem Magnolia

Rapidly growing trees

If you're seeking the elegance of a magnolia tree in a smaller space, the Little Gem variety is an excellent option, according to Wright. "Its lush, evergreen foliage offers year-round beauty and adds a refined touch to any outdoor area," Wright explains. The large, aromatic white blossoms appear in the spring and intermittently through the summer.

15. Crabapple

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Crabapples are known for their delightful springtime flowers and ornamental fruit, which remains through the winter months. As Adnan suggests, "Compact varieties are perfect for smaller areas, bringing an air of sophistication." Regular pruning and pest control are key to healthy growth, while well-drained soil and sufficient sunlight ensure their well-being.

16. Hibiscus Tree

Rapidly growing trees

Hibiscus trees boast vibrant, long-lasting tropical flowers in an array of colors, blooming from midsummer to October. These trees can be grown in containers, making them easy to move indoors during the colder months, or planted in the ground if you're located in zones 9 through 11. It's a compact tree, typically reaching around eight feet tall.

17. Dogwood

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Renowned for their splendid spring blooms, dogwoods feature showy bracts in shades of pink or white. “They are a superb choice for small yards due to their modest height and appealing branching structure,” Adnan says. “Prune selectively to maintain shape and encourage airflow. Moist, well-drained soil is essential for their vitality.”

18. Wisteria Tree

Fast Growing Trees

Wisteria may be known as a vine, but it can also be grown in a tree form, to add its beautiful, trailing violet-blue flowers to your landscape. It's a petite tree that only reaches up to 10 feet tall, and blooms from late spring until early summer. You'll need to add pruning to your to-do list for this tree to help it maintain its shape.

19. Mimosa Tree

Quick-growing trees

If you're in search of a tree that blooms in the summer and adds a touch of beauty to your garden, mimosa trees are definitely worth considering. They showcase vibrant pink flowers that flourish from June through October.

20. Serviceberry

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Serviceberry trees are adaptable ornamental trees that produce graceful white flowers in the spring and display vibrant foliage during the fall. Their compact size and appeal throughout multiple seasons make them an ideal choice for smaller yards. Adnan recommends consistent pruning, sufficient watering, and adequate sunlight to ensure healthy growth and a striking visual effect.