Driveway tree planting

[Bottomland]

I am planning a new tree planting project for the driveway of my farm in Southwest Mississippi. The gravel drive is approx 200 yards long, ditched, with 20’ of shoulder across the ditches on each side. The drive is surrounded by heavily thinned mature pines and gets a reasonable amount of sunshine throughout the day. Ditches and shoulders are in crimson & durana clover.

I am planning to line the drive on each side with flowering trees, primarily native. The focus will be aesthetic value and pollinator benefit in the springtime. I was thinking of using alternating Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, and several varieties of crabapple. Any other thoughts of suggestions?

Note: I have trees & orchards planted all over my farm already so I have all kinds of wildlife food available.

 

[j-bird]

When I think "south" and "flowering tree" I think...magnolia. That is all I hear about for weeks after a trip south from my wife......

 

[Bottomland]

When I think "south" and "flowering tree" I think...magnolia. That is all I hear about for weeks after a trip south from my wife......

Well luckily for me, being in Southwest Mississippi near the River, we’ve got tons and tons of magnolias growing everywhere. (They’re perfect for hanging stands in, btw; evergreen cover.) I might plant a couple at the gate to screen the drive.

 

[Jeff H]

When I think of Mississippi I think of Black gum or Black Tupelo. Maybe not the showiest in the Spring but beautiful Fall color and berries all winter.

 

[TreeDaddy]

The bees will love every species mentioned in this thread

bill

 

[Fishman]

I think it is the law here in Mississippi that if you line a driveway with trees they legally have to be live oaks. The main one I see missing from your list is grancy greybeard also known as fringe tree. Here is an article on it with a few photos. You will probably need to protect it from deer. Red Buckeye is pretty in the spring, but one of the first trees to lose it leaves in the fall. The fruit is poisonous so be aware of that. Pear trees have pretty white flowers in the spring and produce fruit. There are a couple of species of Halesia or silverbell that may work for you. Also check out sourwood. If you wanted some shrubs in there also, you could also go with Azaleas and Rhododendrons. If you wanted to use a few non natives, Japenese Magnolias are pretty in early spring.

 

[catscratch]

Maybe a variegated redbud? Something like Carolina Sweetheart...