flowering tree?

would like to plant a flowering tree in our front yard.  plenty of sun.  cherry?  plum?  any other recommendations?  

Dogwoods are natives and have pretty if simple flowers as well as providing fruits that local birds love.

(Full disclosure: I regret not planting one in my front yard and instead planting some dumb non-native shrub!)  

There are so many wonderful choices!

Weeping Cherry

https://www.google.com/search?q=flowering+weeping+cherry+tree&espv=2&biw=1714&bih=910&tbm=isch&imgil=VNhK1tVKTfmHvM%253A%253Bex_DKR4fKb-OlM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.dcgiftshop.com%25252Fitems%25252FLive-Weeping-Japanese-Cherry-Tree.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=VNhK1tVKTfmHvM%253A%252Cex_DKR4fKb-OlM%252C_&usg=__EvCXrh04tp8l30GNwvdo3M_0n5w%3D&dpr=0.75&ved=0ahUKEwjT7-yH-vXLAhWLHx4KHd-kBCUQyjcIUg&ei=KuACV9OyCYu_eN_JkqgC#imgrc=VNhK1tVKTfmHvM%3A

Crabapple

Sand Cherry

Pear

There is a living social coupon right now for Orange Garden Supply.  Would save you a few dollars and they have a large selection.

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

The Secret Garden @ 377 S. Harrison Street!

Though pretty, many flowering trees have short spans when they're actually in flower.  Put that together with rain and wind, the flowers could disappear quickly.  I have a lovely flowering plum in my backyard.  It maybe lasted for 2 weeks but, the leaves are also a pretty dark maroon color so leaf interest should also come in to play.  Magnolias and the possibility of frost can kill blossoms overnight.  When determining placement, mature size should be a consideration and root structure should also be taken into consideration - where are the water lines?  Lilacs with their many different colors and sizes are great as are Korean Spice Viburnum (shrub) - heavily scented. Love Dogwoods, too.  Kousa, especially.  Shadblow/serviceberry is a native tree which provides blooms early in the season but also supplies berries for birds.  Lots to consider for sure.

Get yourself a good reference book at the library.  Maplewood has a very extensive collection, many of which have been donated by the Maplewood Garden Club.  Then, go to a good garden center and speak to the person who knows what they're talking about!

I'm with Cats- agree with Dogwood, lilac, serviceberry, korean spice viburnum which is more of a shrub, but lOVE the scent.

also, I love Red Bud (cercis canadensis) (they come in green leaves, gold, or maroon.  there are several varieties)

I'd stay away from the Bradford pear (http://growingthehomegarden.com/2008/04/why-you-shouldnt-plant-bradford-pear.html)

and, not a fan of the plum. they seem to get disease easily - often lots of dying branches.  If you like the dark red leaf, I'd go with the Red Bud (Merlot or Forest Pansy).

How about hibiscus trees?  I have 3 in my backyard that bloom from spring to end of summer.

Consiider a fall flowering cherry.  

Many of us break out of cabin-fever and rush to buy/plant something right away.  This means that there are huge numbers of spring flowering trees.  I love our dogwood and cherry(spring), but will think inn terms of fall flowering trees next time.

Or trees with great fall leaf color.  Red Bud's are gorgeous in the fall.  And Crape myrtles have beautiful fall foliage too (if they make it through the winter!  altho there are some more hearty than others, like 'Nachez')  Crape myrtles also have beatiful bark for winter interest.

Stewartia, Rutgers dogwood, Appalachian snow dogwood.  Both these dogwoods are anthracnose resistant.

I am also a fan of the redbud.  I planted it a few years ago when my beautiful plum, which was at least 40 years old, succumbed to black knot disease. Nothing can surpass the exotic beauty of the Plum in bloom,(pictured below at night) but the fruit stains and  mine was right next to my patio, so when the fruit fell, it was a mess.  The Redbud is completley different, but has graceful, perfectly heart shaped leaves, so there is visual interest all year round, too.

The Redbud's hearts of gold in a blue sky

great advice!  thanks all!  

Check out:

Plantnative.org

Npsnj.org  these are 2 sites that, as the names imply, foster concern for flora native to our region.

Another place to check is:  arborday.org

Dogwoods, as many have already suggested, they have a wonderful and elegant look and beautiful flowers. I planted one in my backyard after cutting down a cherry tree that was too close to the house. Mature dogwoods are not cheap (I paid $420 for mine), but it is a slow growing tree so try to get one that is not a baby

They come in a multitude of colors, most common being pink and white. The one I got is a cherokee princess (white) like the one in the pic below (although mine is not nearly as mature):

http://d1jrw5jterzxwu.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/default/files/uploads/dogwood.jpg

PS - not only do they look gorgeous in spring, in the fall their leaves turn a beautiful crimson red!

I would not recommend stewartia. It is a lovely blossom, and great, interesting bark, however they are finicky. Our first one died. We will see about the second one. A lot of online people complain about them. 

ellenlynn said:

How about hibiscus trees?  I have 3 in my backyard that bloom from spring to end of summer.

Yes!  I was also going to similarly suggest roses of sharon.  They grow like weeds and flower almost 6 months of the year.

If you want a Rose of Sharon to plant, I have plenty.  It would need to be dug up.  PM me if you're interested.

I can also offer Rose of Sharon if you'll come dig or even just pull the foot tall seedlings that will bloom next year.  

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

973202 4728

rose of sharon is invasive on my yard. i consider it a shrub, not a tree

ffof said:

rose of sharon is invasive on my yard. i consider it a shrub, not a tree

It depends on how you let it grow.  I've groomed mine into individual trees, and planted clumps of the seedlings together to form a shrub.

Go native no matter what! 

That said, we love our dogwoods and our amalanchier (service berry) trees!