Flowering Trees That Grow Well in Zone 7
- The crape myrtle is one of many flowering trees that grows well in USDA zone 7.white crape myrtle image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com
Soil or climate zones defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture help gardeners, farmers and landscapers decide what plants to grow in their area. Information about most flowering trees can be found online, including the range of USDA zones for each one. Zone 7 comprises much of the South and Midwest, including cities like Oklahoma City and Little Rock. Most flowering trees will grow in a range of zones, though certain varieties thrive particularly well in zone 7. - This deciduous flowering dwarf tree grows particularly well in zone 7 and produces fragrant white, pink and red flowers during early spring each year. A common specimen tree throughout the south, sargents crabtree, or malus sargentii, is effective at attracting wildlife due to its sweet red berries. Water requirements are moderate, and the tree is somewhat tolerant to salty, alkaline soils. Sargents crabapple prefers well-drained, rich, slightly acidic soil in a place with plenty of sunlight. Avoid overwatering or placing in extremely moist soils because the Sargents crabtree does not like having wet feet. This tree starts out looking more like a shrub but will grow to over 10 feet with proper care.
- A common tree in the South, the crape myrtle grows well in zone 7 and has a long flowering season that lasts between 60 and 120 days. There are many varieties and cultivars of the crape myrtle, with some as short as 18 inches and others as tall as 40 feet. Flowers appear in early summer and come in a wide range of colors, including purple, pink, red, white and lavender. Originally from Asia, the crape myrtle first arrived to the United States with European settlers in the 18th century. The tree prefers moist but well-drained soils, though it can tolerate dry conditions. Pruning is recommended to remove the crape myrtle's branches when they become overly dense. The crape myrtle needs plenty of sun to thrive.
- This small, wide tree grows between 15 and 20 feet tall and has a width of between 10 and 20 feet. The star magnolia thrives in zone 7 and produces star-shaped white blossoms with around 12 petals during late spring and early winter. Though native to Japan, the star magnolia arrived in the United States during the 1860s and today is a common landscaping or ornamental tree in the South and Midwest. The ideal light for a star magnolia is morning sun with light shade during the midday heat. This tree prefers organic, deep, acidic soil with lots of leaf mold and mulch around the roots. Prune the star magnolia shortly after flowering so as not to cut the next season's buds.
