Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

Ornamental Trees in Utah

...
ginkgo biloba tree leaves with sun shining through image by niels kop jansen from Fotolia.com

Trees in Utah may find themselves subjected to freezing temperatures, blistering heat, drought, alkaline or clay soils, and pollution. The landscape may be covered in ice and snow for several months of the year. Ornamental trees are instrumental in brightening this desert climate with their flowers, bark and leaves that provide interest in the garden.

Bigtooth Maple

The bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum) is native to Utah. The large leaves can be up to 5 inches across and will turn from green to red in the fall. It is one of the maple trees that is most tolerant of Utah's alkaline soil.

Colorado Blue Spruce

The Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is the state tree of Utah. The blue-green needles will provide an interesting contrast to nearby plants.

  • Trees in Utah may find themselves subjected to freezing temperatures, blistering heat, drought, alkaline or clay soils, and pollution.
  • The landscape may be covered in ice and snow for several months of the year.

Desert Willow

The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is covered with a profusion of pink or purple blossoms from spring until fall, though in drought conditions it will only bloom in the summer, as the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service noted in its desert willow fact sheet. It is not a member of the true willow genus, Salix.

Flowering Dogwood

Plant the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) if you need a shade tree that is also ornamental. The blossoms can be red, pink or white.

Ginkgo

The ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) features fan-shaped leaves that quiver in the wind. Plant male trees to avoid the messy, foul-smelling fruit on female trees.

Paperbark Birch

The paperbark birch (Betula papyrifera) is renowned for its trunk that features peeling white bark. The leaves also change from green to yellow in the fall.

  • The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) is covered with a profusion of pink or purple blossoms from spring until fall, though in drought conditions it will only bloom in the summer, as the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service noted in its desert willow fact sheet.
  • The paperbark birch (Betula papyrifera) is renowned for its trunk that features peeling white bark.

Paperbark Maple

The paperbark maple (Acer griseum) will change leaf color from green to red in the fall. The most distinctive feature of this tree, though, is the reddish-brown peeling bark that will provide color in the garden year-round.

Saucer Magnolia

The saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) will start producing its white, pink or purple blossoms at the beginning of spring.

Tricolor Beech

The tricolor beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Roseo-Marginata') features leaves that are combinations of purple, green, pink and white. As the tree matures, it will start to produce red beechnuts.

Tuliptree

The tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) has unusual leaves and yellow/orange flowers that have the shape of a tulip. It also works well as a shade tree.

  • The paperbark maple (Acer griseum) will change leaf color from green to red in the fall.

Weeping Birch

The weeping birch (Betula pendula 'Youngii') has drooping branches with leaves that turn yellow in the fall. Like most birches, it is prone to attack from the bronze birch borer, so spraying may be necessary to control this insect.

White Star Magnolia

The white star magnolia (Magnolia kobus, var. Stellata) is tolerant of Utah's cold temperatures and is a popular choice among the state's gardeners, according to the Utah State University Cooperative Extension.

Related Articles

Drought Resistant Trees in Utah
Drought Resistant Trees in Utah
Flowering Trees in Utah
Flowering Trees in Utah
Can Maple Trees Grow in Montana?
Can Maple Trees Grow in Montana?
Maple Trees for Texas
Maple Trees for Texas
How to Identify Silver Maple Trees
How to Identify Silver Maple Trees
Flowering Trees for Minnesota
Flowering Trees for Minnesota
Information on New England Flowering Trees
Information on New England Flowering Trees
How to Plant a Redbud Tree
How to Plant a Redbud Tree
Types of Sycamore Trees
Types of Sycamore Trees
Arkansa Tree & Leaf Identification
Arkansa Tree & Leaf Identification
Trees With Purple Bell-Shaped Flowers
Trees With Purple Bell-Shaped Flowers
The Best Time to Plant a Magnolia Tree
The Best Time to Plant a Magnolia Tree
Pros & Cons of Red Maple Trees
Pros & Cons of Red Maple Trees
The Best Trees for East Texas
The Best Trees for East Texas
Garden Guides
×