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Liven Up Your Yard with Trees & Shrubs that Bloom in Cooler Months

  • Writer: Caroline Wilson
    Caroline Wilson
  • Mar 9, 2022
  • 3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

After a long winter, early March blooms are always a welcome treat. Trees & shrubs that bloom in cooler months are a great way to incorporate late-winter flowers into your yard for years to come. Below are some of our favorite trees & shrubs that typically bloom this time of year.



Close-up of white flowers with yellow centers and lush green leaves of variegated Winter Daphne in sunlight. Background shows blurred foliage, creating a serene mood.
Winter Daphne

Winter Daphne

An evergreen shrub with VERY fragrant blooms - a great shade garden option.



Ann japanese magnolia flower blooming among lush green leaves, set against a dark green background, creating a serene and vibrant scene. Photo credit NC State Extension.
Ann Japanese Magnolia (Photo: NC State Extension)

Japanese Magnolias

We carry both Ann (with slightly fragrant red-purple blooms) and Star Magnolias (with fragrant white blooms), which both bloom before leafing out. These large shrubs are a beautiful statement to the yard!



A bee hovers near vibrant pink blossoms of an eastern redbud against a clear blue sky, conveying a serene springtime mood. (Photo: NC State Extension)
Eastern Redbud (Photo: NC State Extension)

Eastern Redbud

This native small understory tree blooms pinkish-purple flowers on old wood and all along the branches. The blooms are rich in nectar and pollen - an important food source for early bees!



Close-up of a pieris plant with vibrant red and green leaves, set against a lush green background. The leaves have a glossy texture.

Japanese Andromeda, aka Pieris

A small to medium sized evergreen shrub in the heath family with long chains of blooms. A bee magnet, the blooms have a light, sweet smell.



White dogwood flower with four petals and green leaves against a dark blurred background, conveying a serene and natural atmosphere.

Flowering Dogwood

We carry many varieties including 'Spring Grove' (large white blooms) and 'Cherokee Brave' (red blooms that fade to soft pink with white center). Check our Tree and Shrub Availability page to get specifics for any season: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/tree-shrub-availability These showy native trees are a favorite for people and animals alike - in addition to the amazing spring blooms, they provide bright red berries for birds and the foliage turns a lovely deep red in fall.



Evergreen Azalea with bumble bee (Photo: Missouri Botanic Garden)
Evergreen Azalea (Photo: Missouri Botanic Garden)

Evergreen Azalea

A great foundation plant with many different blossom colors to choose from. The south's favorite shrubs!



Just blooming small forsythia shrubs bloom yellow flowers among mulch in black nursery pots at Painters Greenhouse, with blurred rows of similar pots in the background, creating a vibrant, lively scene.

Forsythia

A deciduous shrub with early yellow blooms, this is a tough and reliable option and a wonderful harbinger of spring!


Branches with delicate white serviceberry flowers against a blurred green-brown background, creating a serene and natural setting. (Photo: NC State Extension)
Serviceberry (Photo: NC State Extension)

Serviceberry

Any given season Painters carries Allegheny Serviceberry, Shadblow Serviceberry, and/or Downy Serviceberry. All are small trees with lovely white blooms. The fruits are reminiscent of blueberries and quite tasty for humans as well as birds!



Pink camellia flowers bloom with glossy green leaves in sunlight, set against a lush garden background, evoking a serene mood.

Camellia

This evergreen shrub is prized for its stunning blooms reminiscent of peonies, and we love it for the glossy foliage as well as such large showy blooms when most surroundings are still brown! Some varieties bloom late fall into early winter while others start in late winter to early spring.



Pink cherry blossoms on branches against a cloudy blue sky, evoking a serene and peaceful springtime mood.

Flowering Cherry

Painters is carrying several ornamental flowering cherry options this season. All bloom before leafing out and attract a wide range of pollinators. Loose blooms often "snow" down on the landscape on breezy days. The leaves of cherries turn shades of yellow/orange in the fall. A great specimen to add to your yard!


  • Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' - Some of the showiest blooms of all the flowering cherries, deep pink double-blossoms. Upright tree form.

  • Prunus serrulata 'Snowgoose' - Clusters of fragrant white blooms. Upright tree form.

  • Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis' (aka Higan Cherry) - White/pink blooms on upright tree form.

  • Prunus x 'Okame' - One of the most desirable flowering cherries - this is the star of the "Cherry Blossom Festival" in Washing D.C.! Clusters of pink blooms with a soft fragrance on upright tree form.

  • Prunus x yedoensis 'Shidare-Yoshino Weeping Cherry' - Graceful weeping habit with clusters of bright white blooms.

  • Prunus subhirtella var. pendula 'Weeping Higan Cherry' - Graceful weeping habit with clusters of soft pink blooms.



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