What is a late blooming flowering tree that would be good for our yard?
Question:
What would be a good late blooming flowering tree for our yard? We currently have two apple trees and have never been able to eat the apples because of a fungus even after we’ve sprayed the tree. It’s time to cut those down and plant a flowering tree that blooms later in the season.
Answer:
Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant
I’m so sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with the apple trees. In case it might provide you with helpful guidance that would save you some time, energy, and money, let me point you to the UMaine Cooperative Extension homepage for growing tree fruits in Maine. It sounds as though you’ve made your decision, but take a quick peek just in case there is something you haven’t tried that might let you keep the existing trees.
Assuming that’s not an option, there are a few options for plantings that are roughly in the same size wheelhouse as your apples, but that bloom late to keep the garden bright and enticing. The first is slightly on the smaller side, but a showy contender and promoter of local wildlife: pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). You might also consider smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)–it blooms in June, but the spent flowers remain showy and change color through the season. Finally, you might also look into the wide variety of flowering crabapples; while they typically bloom in late May/early June, there are later blooming cultivars available at many nurseries.