11 Trees and Shrubs to Plant in February
February is a great time to plant many of the beautiful trees and shrubs that we enjoy during the warmer months. As long as the ground is workable, you can start putting them in the ground. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss talks about some great February additions to the garden landscape.
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You may be just entering the planning and seed-starting phase of your vegetable garden in February. Spring is on the horizon, but that last frost date is still just out of reach for most of us. While the ideal time to plant herbaceous plants isn’t quite here yet, it’s actually a prime time for planting trees and shrubs.
Planting trees and shrubs in late winter means getting them in the ground while they are dormant. One of the main benefits is that it allows them to focus on establishing roots before they put all their energy into fruit, flowers, and foliage.
When you plant in February, your dormant trees and shrubs will suffer less shock and adapt more smoothly to their new environment. It’s also a great time to save money by purchasing bare-root plants. As long as the ground is workable, you can go ahead and get started!
The best cultivars to plant while dormant include most fruit trees, deciduous trees and shrubs, and those that flower in late spring and summer. Choose a day with mild weather, and plant during the middle of the day, when the soil is warmest. Make sure to keep it watered well, especially if you expect a frost, and stake it to protect it from strong winds.
Cherry
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common name Cherry |
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botanical name Prunus spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 8’-80’ |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
Cherries are delicious, and cherry trees are gorgeous. You can take advantage of their amazing spring blooms by planting them in late winter. Try to get them in the ground on a mild, sunny day, and wait until you are out of the danger zone for a hard freeze. You want to plant cherries while they are dormant before they flower or grow their leaves.
Locate your cherry in a sheltered spot with well-drained soil. It should get lots of light—six hours or more—in order to bear fruit. Most are self-fertile, meaning you don’t have to have another variety nearby for fruiting purposes. If your variety is not self-fertile, make sure you also get a second type. Look for a specimen with an attractive shape that you can train easily.
Dogwood
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common name Dogwood |
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botanical name Cornus spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height Up to 40’ |
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hardiness zones 2-10 |
You can plant a dogwood at just about any time of year. But in February, bare root specimens are available you can take advantage of the significant cost savings. In zones 8 & 9, these can go into the ground in the fall. In the northern reaches of their range, late winter is best, especially for deciduous types. Like others, it’s best to relocate dogwoods while they are dormant.
Dogwoods like a bit of shade in the afternoon. Make sure you know how large your variety can get because there is a lot of variation. These are moisture lovers, so don’t let the soil dry out while establishing roots. They prefer fertile soil, slightly acidic and rich in organic material.
Crape Myrtle
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common name Crape Myrtle |
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botanical name Lagerstroemia indica |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6’-25’ |
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hardiness zones 6-9 |
Crape myrtles are a favorite in the South, where they line streets and show off their gorgeous, colorful blooms in summer. In fall, they light up the landscape in shades of bronze, gold, red, and purple. With their decorative bark and beautiful shape, they even look nice in winter.
These floriferous beauties are dormant in February, so it’s a great time to plant them. They need as much light as possible for the most bountiful blooms. Once established, they are drought tolerant. However, if it’s dry during flowering time, give your crape myrtle some water to prolong the blooms.
Rose
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common name Rose |
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botanical name Rosa spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height Up to 15’ |
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hardiness zones 3-11 |
February is the time when my local nursery gets all of its bare-root roses. It may be a little later if you live farther north, but generally, this is a great time to plant roses. The type of rose you purchase will determine the ideal planting circumstances. Some prefer full exposure, while others benefit from some afternoon shade.
Make sure you choose a rose that is well-suited to your climate. Most are happiest in zones 5-8, but some are more cold or heat-tolerant. Old garden roses tend to be hardier than their modern counterparts, which can be more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Camellia
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common name Camellia |
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botanical name Camellia spp. |
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sun requirements Partial shade |
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height Up to 25’ |
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hardiness zones 6-10 |
Camellias are some of my favorite shrubs, and winter is their time to shine. They are easy to care for, look beautiful all year, and tolerate shadier spots in the garden with ease. These prefer slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic material. They are tolerant of clay-heavy soil types.
Interestingly, camellia’s roots are dormant while they are blooming. When it comes to sasanqua varieties, that is in the fall. For the popular japonica species, late winter and early spring are blooming times. Plant these now to enjoy their beautiful blooms. Camellias like cool weather and need to establish roots before the heat of summer sets in.
Apple
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common name Apple |
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botanical name Malus domestica or M. pumila |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6’-30’ |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
February is a great time to plant apples and fruit trees in general. In fact, I popped one in the ground yesterday! In my region, zone 9, apples are just beginning to come out of dormancy. I’m about as far south as they will grow, so if you’re in zones 3-8, your apples should still be dormant.
Most apples are grafted to hardy rootstock. Grafted apples tend to have a better guarantee of good flavor and disease resistance. Ensure the graft is a few inches above the ground, and dig a large hole to loosen the soil before planting. This will help your apple establish roots quickly.
Peach
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common name Peach |
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botanical name Prunus persica |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height Up to 25’ |
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hardiness zones 4-10 |
Plant your peaches in February while they are dormant, like other fruit trees and shrubs. With all fruits, make sure you leave few to no actual fruit on them in the first year. Leaving a bunch of peaches on a young tree will prevent healthy root development.
Peach blossoms are vulnerable to late frosts, so plant in a sheltered spot away from potentially damaging winds. Place your peach with the root ball level with the their original soil line. Make sure to place them in a location with excellent drainage. If you have dense soil, mix in some coarse sand to improve the drainage.
Maple
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common name Maple |
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botanical name Acer spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height Up to over 100’ |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
Maple trees are wonderful shade trees with some of the loveliest foliage around. In fall, they are spectacular in shades of flaming red and orange. They are best planted in fall and early spring when the ground thaws. Cool temperatures slow top growth, which allows the roots to develop before the summer heat sets in.
I find that maples appreciate shade in my zone (9). This is particularly true of Japanese maples. Too much shade can inhibit the fall colors though, so be careful of that. Moist, rich, slightly acidic soil is ideal for maples.
Japanese Magnolia
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common name Japanese Magnolia |
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botanical name Magnolia liliiflora |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height Up to 12’ |
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hardiness zones 5-8 |
The first tree I planted at my forever home was a Japanese magnolia. Growing up in South Florida’s tropical landscape, I had never seen one and fell in love with their large, fragrant, beautiful blooms from the moment I laid eyes on one.
February is the onset of blooming time for many varieties, and it’s a good time to bring them home and make them permanent fixtures in the garden. Partial shade keeps Japanese magnolias happy. Since they are early bloomers, give them a sheltered spot away from strong winds.
Lilac
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common name Lilac |
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botanical name Syringa vulgaris |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 8’-15’ |
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hardiness zones 3-8 |
Lilacs take me back to my childhood in the best way. These blooming beauties are absolutely stunning in late spring and early summer. Alas, my climate is too hot for these shrubs, so I have to settle for my memories and the occasional bouquet. If you can grow them in your yard, I highly recommend it.
As soon as the ground is workable is time to plant your lilacs. This allows them to establish roots before the summer heat, as they are not exceptionally heat tolerant. Loose, fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic are the ideal soil conditions for lilacs. They like moisture, so keep them well watered.
Forsythia
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common name Forsythia |
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botanical name Forsythia suspensa |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 6’-10’ |
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hardiness zones 5-8 |
Forsythia is another favorite from the part of my childhood lived in Pennsylvania’s cool climate. Sadly, they won’t thrive in the heat of North Florida, just like lilacs. If you can grow these, they are one of the most spectacular spring shrubs, and they are huge bloomers.
Most of the year, forsythia shrubs are unassuming but pretty. In winter, they tend to look like a bundle of sticks. In early spring, they burst into the most glorious mass of brilliant golden blossoms. They are highly adaptable when it comes to soil and light, but shade will negatively impact their flower power.
