Pink Flowering Trees in Wisconsin

Cercis

• The eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) blooms with bright pink flowers in spring, leading to its popularity as a yard and street tree in Wisconsin. Though its natural range stretches from Florida to New Jersey and east to Texas, it only grows in the wild in southwestern Wisconsin. The eastern redbud grows to 30 feet tall and has dark-green, heart-shaped foliage that turns yellow in autumn. It's hardy in USDA zones 4b to 9a. Pink-flowering varieties include "Flame," a cultivar that grows to 35 feet tall and produces double blossoms. "Silver Cloud" grows to 25 feet and produces less-showy pink flowers. For warmer regions of the state, the Texas redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. This tree has glossy foliage and grows to 40 feet tall.

Malus

• Several cultivars of the Malus genus, also known as crabapples, produce pink flowers. These deciduous trees also bear edible fruits. Crabapples grow best in sunny, well-drained soil; most reach heights of 10 to 25 feet. They come in a range of cultivars, all hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8a. Pink-blooming varieties include "Barbara Ann," which produces double blossoms; "Velvet Pillar," which has purple foliage; and "Mount Arbor Special," a disease-resistant cultivar that bears bright red fruit. Malus species that grow naturally in Wisconsin include prairie crabapple (Malus ionesis), a frost-tolerant tree that's hardy to USDA zone 2.

Prunus

• Long valued as accent plants and for their tasty fruits, several members of the Prunus genus bloom with pink flowers. These include peach trees (Prunus persica), which grow to 24 feet tall and produce pink, red and white flowers. Hardy in USDA zones 5b to 8, peach trees grow in southern Wisconsin. Another member of the Prunus genus, the flowering almond (Prunus triloba var. multiplex) blooms with double blossoms in mid-spring. Flowering almond trees only grow to 12 feet tall, but their gorgeous blooms and striking fall color make this little tree an attractive accent for the Wisconsin landscape. Flowering almonds are hardy in USDA zones 3b to 6.

Other Pink Bloomers

• The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) grows across much of Wisconsin. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, this North American native grows to 50 feet tall and blooms in late spring with long clusters of aromatic blossoms. While the species grows aggressively and may be considered invasive in some areas, the "Purple Robe" variety produces deep pink blossoms that attract bees. The white pine (Pinus strobus) grows across northwestern Wisconsin. This evergreen reaches heights of 80 feet and is hardy in zones 3b to 7. Though its flowers are inconspicuous, it produces pink and yellow blooms in spring. Another evergreen, the Norway spruce (Picea abies), also produces inconspicuous pink flowers. This Eurasian native grows in home landscapes across Wisconsin. It's hardy in zones 2b to 7a and can reach heights up to 100 feet.