Magnolia trees are prized for their stunning, fragrant blooms and graceful presence in the landscape. Whether evergreen or deciduous, these trees feature bold, glossy leaves and showy flowers that range from creamy white to soft pinks and vibrant purples, depending on the variety. Magolias are versatile and can be used as an elegant shade trees, focal points, or flowering accents. Many varieties are low maintenance and thrive in southern climates, offering year-round appeal and seasonal splendor.

Type: Evergreen Flowering Tree

Height: 15-40 feet

Spread: 10-30 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-10

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral

Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established 

Foliage: Glossy green with rust colored undersides

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer 

Flower Color: Creamy white

Fragrant: Yes, large, sweetly scented flowers

Low Maintenance: Yes

Features: Deer resistant, Heat tolerant, Great for screening and shade

The Orangeola Laceleaf Japanese Maple is a stunning ornamental tree known for its finely dissected foliage and cascading, weeping habit. New spring growth emerges vibrant orange-red, gradually maturing to deep burgundy through summer, and finishing with brilliant shades of orange and crimson in fall. Its compact, mounded form makes it perfect for small gardens, containers, or as a striking focal point in landscapes. Ideal for partial shade to full sun with well-draining soil, this elegant maple brings year-round interest and timeless beauty to any outdoor space.

Height: 4-8 feet tall

Spread: 6-10 feet wide

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Light: Full sun to part shade (best color in filtered sun)

Water: Regular, especially during dry periods

Soil: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil

Form: Weeping, cascading

Foliage Color: Orange-red in spring, deep burgundy in summer, bright red-orange in fall

Growth Rate: Slow to moderate

The Coral Bark Japanese Maple is a stunning small ornamental tree prized for its vibrant red-pink bark, which glows brightest in winter when the branches are bare. In spring, it leafs out with delicate lime-green foliage, which turns golden-yellow in fall, creating year-round visual interest. With its upright, vase-shaped form and slow growth habit, it's perfect for entryways, small gardens, patios, and Asian-inspired landscapes. This cold-hardy and low-maintenance tree adds elegance, structure, and vibrant color to any setting.

Height: 15-25 feet tall

Spread: 10-15 feet wide

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-8

Light: Full sun to part shade

Water: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred

Soil: Moist, well draining soil; prefers slightly acidic soil 

Growth Rate: Slow to moderate

Bark Color: Coral Red (brightest in winter)

Maintenance: Low

Brighten your garden or patio with the vibrant beauty and sweet fragrance of an Orange Citrus Tree. Known for their glossy green leaves, fragrant white blossoms, and juicy fruit, orange trees are perfect for growing in pots, planters, or directly in the ground in warmer climates. With proper care, they produce abundant blooms followed by delicious oranges, making them both decorative and rewarding to grow.

Mature Height (in ground): 10-20 feet 

Mature Height (in container): 6-10 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-11 (outdoors year-round); container growing recommended in cooler zones (bring indoors during winter)

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Full Sun (6+ hours per day)

Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy; allow top inch to dry between waterings

Bloom Time: Spring, with fruit maturing late fall to winter

Fruit: Sweet, edible oranges; fruiting typically begins 2-3 years after planting

Soil: Well draining, slightly acidic soil

Pollination: Self-pollinating, but outdoor trees can benefit from bees and natural pollinators

The Kumquat Tree, renowned for its compact size and ornamental appeal, produces small, oval or round orange fruits that are uniquely eaten whole - combining a sweet, edible peel with tart flesh. Native to Southeast Asia, kumquats are cherished for their fragrant white blossoms, glossy evergreen foliage, and adaptability to various growing conditions.

Plant Type: Evergreen fruiting shrub or small tree

Height: 6-12 feet tall

Spread: 4-8 feet wide

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-11 (can be grown in containers in cooler zones)

Growth Habit: Compact, upright, and bushy

Light: Full sun

Water: They prefer consistent moisture, they are drought tolerant once established. Water deeply every 10 days during dry periods.

Foliage: Glossy, dark green leaves

Flowers: Fragrant white blooms in spring and summer

Fruit: Small, oval or round orange fruits with sweet peel and tart flesh

Tree with color-changing foliage; pink flowers

Eastern Redbud 'Flame Thrower'

Add a burst of color to your landscape with.the 'Flame Thrower' Redbud, a breathtaking variety of Cercis Canadensis known for its multi-colored foliage and spring blooms. New leaves emerge vibrant burgundy, transitioning to bright yellows, oranges, and greens, creating a layered, flame-like effect that lasts all season. In early spring, it produces rosy-purple flowers on bare branches before the foliage appears.

Compact and upright in form, this deciduous tree is ideal for small landscapes, garden focal points, or mixed borders. It's low maintenance, pollinator friendly, and brings year-round beauty with minimal care.

Height: 15-20 feet

Spread: 12-15 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Common Name: Flame Thrower Redbud

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering tree

Growth Habit: Upright, rounded

Bloom Time: Early spring

Flower Color: Rosy-purple

Foliage: Burgundy, yellow, orange, chartreuse (simultaneously)

Light: Full sun to part shade (best color in full sun)

Soil: Well-drained, average to rich soil

Water: Moderate; needs regular watering until established 

Deer Resistant: Moderately (flowers may be browsed, but tree is usually avoided)

Pollinator Friendly: Yes - attracts bees

This stunning Acer palmatum 'Emperor I' Japanese Maple offers deep burgundy foliage and an elegant, upright form - expertly trained into a living screen with a 7-foot spread. Ideal for adding year-round beauty, shade, privacy, this boxed specimen is perfect for patios, courtyards, or along fences where space-saving vertical design is desired.

'Emperor I' is a hardy, low-maintenance Japanese maple known for its brilliant fall color, late bud break (protecting it from spring frost), and excellent branching structure. Grows well in full sun to part shade and adapts beautifully to containers or landscape beds.

Height (currently): 6-7 feet tall

Spread (currently): 7 feet wide

Growth Rate: Moderate

Mature Height: 12-15 feet

Mature Spread: 10-12 feet

Light: Full sun to part shade

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-8

Foliage Color: Deep red to burgundy (holds color well through summer)

Fall Color: Bright crimson red

Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

Water Needs: Moderate - prefers consistent moisture

Features: Hand trained into screen shape for instant impact, Excellent for tight spaces or container growing, Later bud break (less frost damage)

The Chinese Fringe Tree is a beautiful, small to mid-sized tree prized for its cloud-like clusters of fragrant, white fringe-like flowers that bloom in late spring. With its rounded canopy, peeling bark, and glossy green foliage, it adds charm and elegance to gardens, courtyards, or landscape borders.

Very adaptable, tolerates pollution, compacted soils, and drought once established. It's a standout specimen tree with exceptional ornamental value from spring through fall. 

Height: 15-25 feet

Spread: 15-20 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Growth Rate: Moderate

Form: Rounded to oval canopy

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Well-drained; tolerant of a wide range of soils

Water Needs: Moderate; drought tolerant once established 

Bloom Time: Late spring

Flower Color: White, airy, fringe-like clusters

Fragrance: Yes - sweet and light

Foliage: Glossy green, turning golden yellow in fall

Maintenance: Low

Pollinator-Friendly: Yes

The Fort McNair Red Horse Chestnut is a majestic ornamental tree known for its upright, rounded canopy and show-stopping clusters of bright pink to red flowers with yellow centers in late spring. Its rich, glossy green foliage provides excellent summer shade, followed by large, decorative seed capsules in the fall.

This cultivar is prized for its resistant to leaf scorch and leaf blotch, offering cleaner summer foliage than traditional varieties. Ideal for lawns, large gardens, parks, or street plantings, Fort McNair brings both structure and beauty to the landscape with minimal maintenance. 

The Babylon Weeping Willow is one of the most iconic and graceful landscape trees, known for its arching, pendulous branches that sway in the breeze and create a soft, romantic canopy. Its bright green, lance-shaped leaves flutter gently from spring through fall, turning golden yellow before dropping in autumn.

Fast growing and elegant, this tree is ideal for large open spaces, water features, and low-lying areas where its roots can access consistent moisture. Its timeless silhouette makes it a stunning specimen tree with high visual impact.

Height: 30-50 feet

Spread: 30-40 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-9

Growth Rate: Very fast

Form: Graceful, wide-spreading with weeping branches

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; tolerates clay and occasional flooding

Water Needs: High; thrives near water but tolerates brief dry periods

Foliage: Narrow, bright green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall

Maintenance: Moderate - may require pruning to manage size and shape

Features: Heat tolerant

The Bosque Elm is a fast-growing, upright shade tree known for its graceful, vase-shaped form, deep green foliage, and excellent adaptability. A cultivar of Chinese Elm, it features glossy leaves that turn a rich reddish-purple in fall, along with attractive, mottled bark that provides winter interest. 

Highly tolerant of drought, heat, and poor soils, Bosque Elm is ideal for street plantings, large landscapes, and shade canopies. It is also resistant to Dutch elm disease, making it a reliable and long-lasting choice for modern landscapes.

Height: 50-60 feet

Spread: 35-45 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Growth Rate: Fast

Form: Upright, vase-shaped

Light: Full sun

Soil: Adaptable to a variety of soils; prefers well drained

Water Needs: Low to Moderate; drought tolerant once established 

Foliage: Glossy green leaves turning reddish-purple in fall

Bark: Exfoliating bark in shades of gray, orange, and brown - very ornamental

Maintenance: Low

Features: Disease Resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, moderately deer resistant

Oleander is a fast growing evergreen shrub or small tree known for its lush green foliage and clusters of hot pink, fragrant flowers that bloom from spring through fall. This sun loving beauty brings a clean, tropical feel to yards, hedges, and containers. 

Oleander is drought tolerant, heat loving, and thrives in poor soil, making it a go to for low maintenance color in warm climates. Its upright, bushy growth can be pruned to form a dense screen, small tree, or formal hedge

Light: Full sun

Height: 6-12 feet (can be pruned lower or grown taller as a tree)

Spread: 4-8 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-11

Foliage: Evergreen

Bloom Time: Spring to fall

Water: Low once established 

Maintenance: Low

Deer Resistant: Yes

Fragrant: Yes

Toxic if Ingested: Yes, not for pets or livestock areas

The Shoal Creek Chaste Tree is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree prized for its aromatic, gray-green foliage and long spikes of vibrant lavender-blue flowers that bloom from summer into early fall. Loved by pollinators and gardeners alike, this sun-loving plant adds bold color, fragrance, and texture to warm-climate landscapes.

'Shoal Creek' is one the most vigorous and mildew resistant varieties of chaste tree, making it ideal for low-maintenance, drought tolerant, and pollinator friendly gardens. Whether grown as a large shrub or small ornamental tree, it delivers standout beauty and seasonal interest. 

Type: Deciduous flowering shrub or small tree

Height: 10-15 feet

Spread: 8-12 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-9

Growth Rate: Fast

Light: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained; tolerates poor or sandy soil

Water Needs: Low once established; drought tolerant

Bloom Time: Summer to early fall

Flower Color: Lavender-blue flower spikes

Maintenance: Low; prune in late winter for shape

Features: Fragrant-both foliage and blooms, deer resistant, pollinator friendly, mildew resistant.

This is an ornamental tree known for its lavender-purple blooms, exceptional mildew resistance, and extended flowering period that lasts up to 120 days. This fast-growing, upright tree adds vibrant summer color and elegant bark texture to landscapes, while its smooth, peeling trunk and rich green foliage bring year-round interest. 

Ideal for driveways, privacy screens, or focal points, Muskogee thrives in heat and sun, making it one of the best choices for Southern gardens. Low maintenance and drought tolerant once established, it brings both beauty and resilience to the garden.

Height: 20-25 feet

Spread: 15-20 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-10

Growth Rate: Fast

Light: Full sun

Water Needs: Low once established 

Bloom Time: Summer through early fall (up to 4 months)

Flower Color: Lavender-Purple

Foliage: Dark green leaves turn reddish-orange in fall

Bark: Smooth, cinnamon-colored and peeling - highly ornamental

Maintenance: Low

Deer Resistant: Yes

Pollinator-Friendly: Yes

A true multipurpose gem, Pineapple Guava offers beauty, flavor, and function all in one plant. This evergreen shrub or small tree feature silvery green foliage, striking red and white edible flowers in spring, and delicious, tangy-sweet fruit in late summer to fall that tastes like a blend of pineapple, mint, and banana.

Highly ornamental and low maintenance, it's ideal for use as a hedge, privacy screen, or fruiting accent tree. Drought tolerant and heat loving, Pineapple Guava thrives in full sun and well drained soil, making it a perfect choice for edible landscapes or Mediterranean style gardens.

Edible petals & Edible green fruit with soft, aromatic flesh (ripens late summer to fall)

Height: 8-15 feet

Spread: 6-10 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-11

Growth Rate: Moderate

Light: Full sun to part shade (more fruit production in full sun)

Water Needs: Low to moderate

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Maintenance: Low - prune for shape or size as needed

Features: Pollinator-Friendly, deer resistant, edible

The Pond Cypress is a graceful, deciduous conifer known for its narrow, upright form and soft, feathery foliage that turns a warm coppery orange in fall. A close relative of the bald cypress, it thrives in both wet and average soils, making it ideal for pond edges, rain gardens, or low-lying areas. Unlike bald cypress, it typically grows more columnar and produces fewer 'knees' (exposed roots).

Resilient and long-lived, Pond Cypress is both flood and drought tolerant once established. Its sculptural shape and seasonal color make it a striking choice for naturalistic and formal landscapes alike. 

Height: 50-70 feet

Spread: 10-15 feet

Growth Habit: Upright, narrow pyramidal form

Light: Full sun

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-9

Foliage: Soft green needles; turn coppery-orange in fall

Water Needs: Moderate to High; flood tolerant once established 

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast

Maintenance: Low

This plant lives up to its name with an explosion of vibrant cherry red blooms that last from midsummer into early fall. This deciduous ornamental tree offers four-season appeal - with showy flowers, attractive peeling bark, glossy green foliage, and stunning orange-red color. Its upright, rounded form makes it perfect as a specimen tree, accent, or in grouping along fences and driveways. 

Drought tolerant, heat-loving, and resistant to powdery mildew, Dynamite is a low maintenance favorite for southern landscapes.

Height: 15-20 feet

Spread: 10-15 feet

Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-9

Growth Habit: Upright, rounded canopy

Light: Full sun

Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall

Flower Color: Bright cherry red

Foliage: Glossy green, turning orange-red in fall

Bark: Light brown to gray, exfoliating for multi-season interest

Water Needs: Low once established 

Maintenance: Low - prune in late winter if shaping is needed

Deer resistance: Yes