# Uncommon Yard Trees

> Native shade and flowering trees that deserve far more use than they get.

Blue Whale Trees, a native tree nursery in the United States. Web version: https://bluewhaletrees.com/shop/yard-trees/?want=flowers

104 native shade and flowering trees for yards, from small trees such as [flowering dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/flowering-dogwood/index.html.md), [eastern redbud](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/eastern-redbud/index.html.md), serviceberry and [white fringetree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/white-fringetree/index.html.md) to canopy trees such as [black gum](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-gum/index.html.md), [American basswood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/american-basswood/index.html.md), [bald cypress](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/bald-cypress/index.html.md) and [Kentucky coffeetree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/kentucky-coffeetree/index.html.md). Mature heights run from about 10 to 120 feet and hardiness from USDA zone 2 to zone 10 depending on the species. All are sold as saplings, and 100 of them as seed to sow. Most saplings ship while dormant, in spring and fall. A few ship in spring only, among them black gum and most of the magnolias, and sand pine ships in fall only. Each plant's page gives its own season. Which of them belongs near a house is its own question: see [six trees not to plant near a house, and what to plant instead](https://bluewhaletrees.com/articles/trees-not-to-plant-near-a-house/index.html.md).

43 of 428 plants matching Showy flowers. Each plant links to its own Markdown page with the full facts, description and growing guide.

Columns: Zones are the USDA hardiness zones the plant takes, from the coldest to the warmest it is rated for (zone 2 is the coldest, 10 the warmest); Height is mature height in feet; Sun and Soil list every condition the plant takes; Grown from is what the nursery offers it as (saplings, or acorns, nuts or seed to sow); Price is the lowest price for sale, a plant size's first and a packet's apart, or Sold out for a priced plant with nothing for sale, or "ask" when the plant is not yet priced online (email captain@bluewhaletrees.com or join the waitlist on the web page).

This table accepts the shop's filters as query parameters on this address: size (shrub, small-tree, medium-tree, large-tree), sun (full, part, shade), moisture (dry, average, wet), zone (2 to 10), native (a state's two-letter code in capitals, such as PA: the plants native to that state by the USDA PLANTS records), want (a trait: flowers, fall-color, wildlife, honey, edible, evergreen, rare, drought, wet-tolerant, shade, early-bearing, screening, nitrogen-fixing, salt, winter-interest, street-tree, erosion-control; rare means uncommon in the wild or in nurseries, honey a nectar source for bees), as (acorns, seed, nuts, saplings) and q (a search word). Several values may be joined with commas.

| Plant | Botanical name | Group | Type | Height (ft) | Zones | Sun | Soil | Grown from | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [American Basswood (Linden)](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/american-basswood/index.html.md) | *Tilia americana* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 60–90 | 2–8 | Full, Part, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Yellowwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/yellowwood/index.html.md) | *Cladrastis kentukea* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 30–50 | 4–8 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Northern Catalpa](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/northern-catalpa/index.html.md) | *Catalpa speciosa* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 40–70 | 4–8 | Full, Part | Dry, Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Allegheny Serviceberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/allegheny-serviceberry/index.html.md) | *Amelanchier laevis* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–25 | 3–9 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Sourwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/sourwood/index.html.md) | *Oxydendrum arboreum* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 25–50 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Eastern Redbud](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/eastern-redbud/index.html.md) | *Cercis canadensis* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 20–30 | 4–9 | Full, Part | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Sweetbay Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/sweetbay-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia virginiana* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–35 | 5–10 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Washington Hawthorn](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/washington-hawthorn/index.html.md) | *Crataegus phaenopyrum* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 20–30 | 3–8 | Full | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Carolina Silverbell](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/carolina-silverbell/index.html.md) | *Halesia tetraptera* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 30–40 | 4–8 | Part, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Ashe's Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/ashe-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia ashei* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–30 | 5–9 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Yellow Buckeye](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/yellow-buckeye/index.html.md) | *Aesculus flava* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 50–75 | 3–8 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Loblolly Bay](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/loblolly-bay/index.html.md) | *Gordonia lasianthus* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 35–60 | 7–9 | Full, Part | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Devilwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/devilwood/index.html.md) | *Cartrema americana* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 5–10 | Part, Full, Shade | Average, Wet, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Bigleaf Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/bigleaf-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia macrophylla* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 30–40 | 5–9 | Part, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Umbrella Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/umbrella-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia tripetala* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 4–9 | Part, Shade, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Franklin Tree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/franklin-tree/index.html.md) | *Franklinia alatamaha* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–25 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Fevertree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/fevertree/index.html.md) | *Pinckneya bracteata* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–20 | 7–9 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Fraser Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/fraser-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia fraseri* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 30–50 | 5–9 | Part, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Gum Bumelia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/gum-bumelia/index.html.md) | *Sideroxylon lanuginosum* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–45 | 5–10 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Swamp Privet](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/swamp-privet/index.html.md) | *Forestiera acuminata* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 8–30 | 6–9 | Part, Full | Wet, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Ohio Buckeye](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/ohio-buckeye/index.html.md) | *Aesculus glabra* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 20–40 | 3–7 | Part, Full, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Sweetleaf](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/sweetleaf/index.html.md) | *Symplocos tinctoria* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 7–9 | Part, Shade, Full | Average, Wet, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Clammy Locust](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/clammy-locust/index.html.md) | *Robinia viscosa* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 30–40 | 3–8 | Full, Part | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Southern Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/southern-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia grandiflora* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 60–80 | 6–10 | Part, Full | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Red Buckeye](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/red-buckeye/index.html.md) | *Aesculus pavia* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–25 | 4–9 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Carolina Laurelcherry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/carolina-laurelcherry/index.html.md) | *Prunus caroliniana* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–40 | 7–10 | Full, Part, Shade | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Southern Catalpa](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/southern-catalpa/index.html.md) | *Catalpa bignonioides* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 30–60 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Average, Wet, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Georgia Plume](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/georgia-plume/index.html.md) | *Elliottia racemosa* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–16 | 6–9 | Full, Part | Average, Dry | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Tough Bully](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/tough-bully/index.html.md) | *Sideroxylon tenax* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 12–30 | 8–10 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Showy Mountain Ash](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/showy-mountain-ash/index.html.md) | *Sorbus decora* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 20–40 | 2–6 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Eve's Necklace](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/eve-necklace/index.html.md) | *Styphnolobium affine* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 7–9 | Full, Part, Shade | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Pyramid Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/pyramid-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia pyramidata* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–30 | 6–9 | Part, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Black Locust](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/black-locust/index.html.md) | *Robinia pseudoacacia* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 40–70 | 4–8 | Full | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Cucumber Magnolia](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/cucumber-magnolia/index.html.md) | *Magnolia acuminata* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Large tree | 50–80 | 3–8 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Flowering Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/flowering-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus florida* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 5–9 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Downy Serviceberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/downy-serviceberry/index.html.md) | *Amelanchier arborea* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–25 | 4–9 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [American Smoketree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/american-smoketree/index.html.md) | *Cotinus obovatus* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 20–30 | 3–8 | Full | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [White Fringetree](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/white-fringetree/index.html.md) | *Chionanthus virginicus* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 12–20 | 3–9 | Full, Part | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [American Mountain Ash](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/american-mountain-ash/index.html.md) | *Sorbus americana* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 2–7 | Full, Part | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Two-wing Silverbell](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/two-wing-silverbell/index.html.md) | *Halesia diptera* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–30 | 4–9 | Part, Full, Shade | Average, Wet | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Painted Buckeye](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/painted-buckeye/index.html.md) | *Aesculus sylvatica* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 10–20 | 6–8 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Pagoda Dogwood](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/pagoda-dogwood/index.html.md) | *Cornus alternifolia* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Small tree | 15–25 | 3–8 | Part, Full, Shade | Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |
| [Western Soapberry](https://bluewhaletrees.com/plants/western-soapberry/index.html.md) | *Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii* | Uncommon Yard Trees | Medium tree | 20–50 | 5–9 | Full, Part | Dry, Average | Saplings, Seed | ask |