Growing Trees in Zone 5
Since there are a number of trees that can easily be grown in zone 5 gardens, here are some of the more commonly planted types: Crabapple – While you might not get the tastiest fruit off of them, crabapple trees are very low maintenance and can be visually stunning with brightly colored flowers, fruits, and leaves. Japanese Tree Lilac – A showy tree all year-round, the Japanese tree lilac has fragrant white blossoms in summer after all other lilacs have faded. In the winter, it loses its leaves to reveal attractive red bark. Weeping Willow – A distinctive and beautiful shade tree, the weeping willow can grow as much as 8 feet (2 m.) per year. It absorbs water very well and can be planted strategically to remove problem damp spots in a yard. Red Twig Dogwood – Perfect for winter interest, red twig dogwood gets its name from the vivid red bark. It also produces attractive white flowers in the spring and bright red foliage in the fall. Serviceberry – A very low maintenance and hardy tree, the serviceberry looks good all year long with attractive white flowers, edible blue berries, bright fall foliage, and pleasant smooth bark. River Birch – The river birch tree has remarkable bark that peels away naturally to create a striking textured appearance. Magnolia – Magnolia trees are famous for their dazzling array of pink and white flowers. Many magnolias aren’t hardy to zone 5, but some cultivars perform very well in this cold climate.
