5 Best Flowering Trees for Houston Commercial Landscapes

Searching for a way to help your commercial property stand out? 

Look no further than flowering trees! These trees add splashes of color and fragrance year after year that captivate visitors and enhance the overall visual appeal of your property. Ornamental flowering trees have the power to transform your commercial landscape.

Let’s explore the benefits of ornamental flowering trees, the five best flowering trees for Houston, and some considerations for selecting the best tree for your commercial property or community.  

5 Best Flowering Trees for Houston

While there are types of trees for landscaping commercial properties with attractive and colorful foliage in the Houston area, flowering trees stand out as favorites. 

Their blossoms not only add bursts of vibrant color but also serve as focal points that captivate the eye and enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your property. 

Flowering trees in Houston also offer a beautiful fragrance when guests visit your commercial property and play a vital role in supporting the local ecosystems by attracting birds and pollinators.

Check out our five favorite flowering trees that will help your  Houston commercial landscapes shine:

1. Crape Myrtle

2. Magnolia

With its striking glossy foliage, this evergreen tree is the focal point of many Houston gardens. The Magnolia tree is best known for its large, white, fragrant blossoms. While it thrives in Houston’s warm climate, Magnolia’s do need well-draining soil to survive. 

3. Redbud

This medium-sized tree offers a variety of bloom colors, sizes and foliage features. Depending on the variety you select, Redbud tree blooms can be pink, red, lavender, or white. While blooms only last about a month in the early Spring, they offer a pop of color after the more dormant season in Houston. Foliage after the blooms is striking and can vary from green, burgundy, or even lime-green. While some varieties can handle full sun, Redbuds generally perform well as an under canopy tree. Be sure to check the recommended exposure before planting. 

4. Vitex

The Vitex tree, often called a Texas Lilac, is a common choice for plantings in HOA’s because they are beautiful and easy to maintain. They are typically planted as a single specimen not in a group planting. Their vibrant purple blooms last a good while and they typically bloom a couple of times during the growing season. They attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Like the Crape Myrtle, their blooms can be messy, so be sure not to plant too close to a pool or water feature. 

5. Sweet Olive

The Sweet Olive is a striking ornamental tree with dark, shiny green foliage. It can reach up to twenty feet tall but typically is seen in our Houston landscapes at around six feet tall. These trees bloom with a delicate white flower in the fall and early spring as well as intermittently throughout the summer. The blooms fragrance is lovely so these trees are great to plant near seating areas or walkways where passersby can enjoy the scent. The Sweet Olive is adaptable to most soil types and requires minimal maintenance to keep its lovely appearance.

Considerations & Maintenance Tips for Flowering Trees in Houston

Before planting a flowering tree at your commercial property, there are several things you should consider. Trees for landscaping commercial properties represent a significant investment, so you want to ensure your new addition will thrive. Consider these three elements before selecting ornamental flowering trees.

Location

Choosing the appropriate location for your new flowering tree is crucial. Engage in discussions with your commercial landscaping partner regarding the eventual size of the tree and its impact on the designated planting area. Although the tree might seem well-suited at present, it is important to remember that flowering trees require ample space to thrive and expand. Consider the mature tree size when planting. 

Sunlight and drainage requirements are two of the most important things to consider when planting trees. Inquire how much sunlight your tree needs and if it requires any special drainage needs so you can be sure it is planted in the right location for it to thrive. 

When determining the placement of your flowering tree, take into account the surrounding landscape. Consider not only the hue of the blooms on the tree, but also the color of the foliage covering the ground area. For example, a flowering tree with white blooms planted in a bed with white-blooming Azaleas may  not create the unique focal point you desire. Try choosing contrasting colors to make a statement.

Finally, be sure to consider safety when selecting ornamental flowering trees. Be sure your trees do not:

• Block sight lines for vehicle or pedestrian traffic
• Impede into traffic lanes
• Obstruct signage

Explore Bloom Specifics

With so many options of flowering trees to choose from, it is important to inquire about what the actual flowers on your tree will be like. Many varieties offer varying color choices as well as varying sizes of flowers. For some locations, like near entrances or exits, you may want your ornamental flowering tree to have a fragrance to enhance the overall experience for visitors. While many varieties of flowering trees do have distinct beautiful smells, not all do. 

Additionally, it is important to consider the timing and duration of your chosen tree’s bloom cycle. By selecting trees that bloom at various times throughout the year, you can ensure visual interest year-round.

Maintenance for Flowering Trees in Houston

As with any addition to your landscape, it is necessary to consider the landscaping maintenance implications. Discuss with your landscape designer if the bloom type of the tree you have chosen is messy. While some flowering trees do not require special pruning, many do to maintain health and vibrant blooms year after year. You may need to plan for additional clean-up and pruning in your landscape maintenance budget. 

For any tree to thrive in Houston, irrigation is essential. Some flowering trees perform better with a bubbler added, so just be sure to inquire about your tree's water requirements.

Partnering with a Commercial Landscaping Team in Houston, TX

As Houston’s urban landscape evolves, the strategic placement of flowering trees infuses your commercial property with vitality and charm. With careful consideration of location, bloom specifics, and maintenance requirements, incorporating flowering trees into your commercial property can enhance your landscape. 

As any busy property manager knows, you likely don’t have the time to spend researching which flowering tree is the right fit for your property. That’s why you need an expert. With over twenty years of experience in commercial landscaping in Houston, TX, we know your time is precious. Our experienced account managers are ready to partner with you to elevate your commercial landscape.

Interested in incorporating flowering trees into your Houston commercial landscape? Get started by filling out our contact form. 

Image Source: Crape Myrtle, Magnolia, Redbud, Vitex, Sweet Olive