Best Front Yard Trees: Our Top 5 Favorites

Sep 21, 2021Last updated: Jul 15, 2026

Choosing the best trees for your front yard is important because it’s a long-term decision. Given the long lives of trees, you should make sure you understand the purpose you want your front yard trees to serve, as well as the details of the trees you choose.

For example, you need to know the tree’s size, its care plan, its leaf color and details, and more. Also, you will need details about your yard to see which is the best tree to fit – i.e. is it a small yard? is it a big yard? Space for the trees? Should you do a foundation planting? Do you want flowering trees or ornamental trees? Do you want low maintenance trees? Do you want a privacy tree for small yards? What soil types do you have? Is it alkaline soil? Should you plant it by the front door? What zone do you live in? The list could go on and on. Selecting the tree is the hard part!

The 5 Best Trees for Front Yard Landscapes

Magnolia Trees

Tall, mature little gem magnolia tree growing along a backyard pond landscape with a bright blue sky in the background

Any type of flowering magnolia tree makes for a good choice for front yard trees. Known for their beauty and sweet fragrant scents, flowering Magnolia trees thrive in various conditions and should be selected based on the specifics of individual varieties. For example, Little Gem Magnolias are evergreens that will grow to around 20 feet tall during its first 20 years; they prefer full sun and are generally intolerant to soil extremes. They grow in zones 7-9 so they are best for the southern states. Another favorite variety of ours, the Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia, can tolerate very wet areas and cold winters while also thriving in full sunlight exposure. The pink flowered Japanese Jane Magnolia is an excellent choice if you are not into southern magnolias. Saucer magnolias as well only grow up to 12 feet tall.

Japanese Maple Trees

Vibrant Japanese Bloodgood Maple tree in a front yard landscape design with a white picket fence and green trees in the background

With brilliant bright red leaves, this landscape tree will bring a true touch of beauty to your yard. Japanese Maples are deciduous trees that can reach up to 20 feet in height, and it can be widely grown across many climates and conditions. To help the Bloodgood Japanese Maple tree thrive in its initial growth, makes sure that it is consistently watered. The trees grow best in zones 5-8.

Oak Trees

Full grown Nuttall oak tree growing on the side of a residential neighborhood street in fall colors

Grown almost all over the entire United States, the mighty family of tall oak trees showcase natural beauty few ornamental trees can match. Iconic oaks like the Southern Live Oak can grow upwards of 80 feet tall and 120 feet wide, providing both a visual spectical of size as well as cooling shade in the hot summer months.

Willow Trees

Mature weeping willow with long trailing branches planted in a front yard landscape

Perhaps one of the most easily recognizable shade-giving front yard trees, trees like the Weeping Willow is classically beautiful and can be grown in many conditions. True to its name, with graceful “weeping” branches, these trees perform best near water and grow very fast — 8-10 feet each year, up to 50 feet! Choose a wet spot in your yard for the Weeping Willow to help dry up and enjoy the gorgeous canopy it offers you in turn. It can grow in most of the US – zones 4-9.

Flowering Dogwood Trees

A small deciduous tree, Dogwood trees helps greet the spring thanks to its show of beautiful flowers (pink or white, based on the variety you select). Low-maintenance choices, these trees look lovely as a specimen or small grouping on residential property around homes, near patios, or in lawns, and is also a nice choice in woodland gardens. Dogwood trees have great fall color!