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USDA zone 8a

Shade, Privacy and Flowering Trees near Memphis, TN, 38120

Shop large, nursery-grown shade, privacy, flowering and fruit trees, delivered by freight in Memphis. Every tree is matched to your hardiness zone and backed by our 1-Year Thrive Guarantee.

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Enter your ZIP and we'll match trees to your exact growing zone.

Typical winter lows in Memphis run about 10 to 15 F.

1-Year Guarantee

Thrive Guarantee promise

Freight Delivery

$149 flat per order

Nursery-Grown

Shipped at landscape size

Zone-Matched

Only what thrives near you

Matched to Memphis's zone

Featured trees for Memphis

6 landscape-grade picks covering shade, privacy, color and fruit, all hardy in zone 8a. Prices and stock shown live.

Shop by category

Browse everything that thrives in Memphis

Every category below is stocked with trees rated for zone 8a. Tap a bestseller or view the full range.

Choosing trees by goal

Shade and canopy. Slender Silhouette Sweetgum. Narrow habit limits the shade coverage to a vertical column; wider canopy trees may need more space.

Privacy and screening. Leyland Cypress. Fast growth but prone to canker and bagworm under heat stress; check soil drainage.

Flowering and curb appeal. Colorama Scarlet Crape Myrtle. Small size means you may need several for a big impact; prune in late winter for best blooms.

Grow your own fruit. Cold Hardy Avocado Tree. Avocados need consistent moisture and protection from hard freezes; self-fertile but yields improve with cross-pollination.

Small spaces and accents. Sago Palm or Dwarf Palmetto Palm. Both stay compact and add texture; sago is toxic to pets, dwarf palmetto spreads slowly by rhizomes.

Local fit, from data

Growing conditions in Memphis 38120

USDA zone

8a

Typical winter lows

about 10 to 15 F

County

Shelby County

State

Tennessee

When you look for trees delivered to Memphis, TN 38120, you want species that can handle the local climate. Arbor Buddy matches every tree to your hardiness zone, zone 8a, so the catalog only shows what survives here. We ship large, nursery-grown trees by freight directly to homeowners and contractors. You will find options in shade, flowering, privacy, fruit, and ornamental categories.

Shop Trees by Category in Memphis

  • Shade Trees: Large canopy trees that cast deep shade and cool your yard in hot Memphis summers.
  • Flowering & Ornamental: Spring and summer blooms that add curb appeal and attract pollinators to your garden.
  • Evergreen & Privacy: Year-round greenery for screening neighbors or windbreaks on your property line.
  • Japanese Maples: Delicate foliage and branching that thrive in filtered light, avoiding hot afternoon sun.
  • Fruit Trees: Self-fertile and cold-hardy varieties that bear fruit in zone 8a with minimal fuss.
  • Shrubs & Hedges: Foundation plants and accents that add structure and greenery to your landscape.

Trees for Zone 8 in Memphis

Not every tree labeled "southern" will grow well here. Memphis sits in USDA zone 8a, where winter lows run about 10 to 15 degrees F. That means a few chilly nights each year that can damage trees not bred for this range. The good news is many popular landscape trees handle these temperatures easily.

Summers get hot and humid, with frequent rain. Trees that tolerate humidity without disease do best here. Crape myrtles and palms like the Dwarf Palmetto thrive in this combination. Deciduous shade trees also handle the wet-dry cycle well because they drop leaves in winter and rest. Species from the shade, flowering, and fruit categories all adapt to zone 8a in Memphis.

If you are browsing trees for zone 8 in Memphis, focus on options that can take the brief cold snaps and the long, damp growing season. The featured table above gives six solid starting points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How cold does it get in Memphis in winter?

Typical winter lows in Memphis (ZIP 38120) run about 10 to 15 degrees F. That places the area in USDA zone 8a, which is mild enough for many subtropical trees but cold enough to rule out truly tropical species without protection.

When do trees ship to Memphis?

We ship to Memphis during the cooler months, from fall to early spring. This timing reduces transplant shock and gives the tree a chance to establish roots before summer heat arrives. Exact shipping windows depend on your order date and nursery availability.

What size do the trees arrive at?

All trees we deliver are large, nursery-grown specimens, typically in 5-gallon to 15-gallon containers or as balled-and-burlapped plants. They arrive at a usable landscape size so you get immediate visual impact and a head start on growth.

What is the 1-Year Thrive Guarantee?

The guarantee means Arbor Buddy will replace any tree that does not survive its first year for free. Simply report the loss within the first 12 months, and we ship a replacement. This covers normal planting and care; the replacement tree and its shipping are free.

Browse Your Zone Matches, Then Order Online

For shade, privacy, flowering, fruit, and accent trees matched to your zone in ZIP 38120 of Memphis, Arbor Buddy ships large, nursery-grown trees with a 1-Year Thrive Guarantee. Browse the trees suited to your area and order online.

How Memphis Compares to Other Areas

ZIP 50854 in Mount Ayr, Iowa (IA) sits in zone 5b with winter lows of -15 to -10 F. That climate rules out many trees that thrive here, like crape myrtles and cold hardy avocados. Japanese maples, for example, are marginal there because the cold damages their tender branches. Locally, that points buyers toward cold-hardy shade trees like oaks and maples that are native to the region. Here in Memphis, you can grow a much wider palette of flowering and subtropical trees.

ZIP 83850 in Pinehurst, Idaho (ID) is zone 6b, with winter lows around -5 to 0 F. That is still colder than zone 8a, but not as extreme as Iowa. In Idaho, growers lean toward evergreens and fruit trees that require winter chill, like apples and pears. Here, the zone usually pushes the choice toward trees that can handle both mild winters and hot, humid summers. Your options include palms and tropical accents that would struggle in Idaho.

ZIP 47834 in Brazil, Indiana (IN) is zone 6a, with winter lows -10 to -5 F. That climate limits heat-loving species like crape myrtles and avocados to sheltered microclimates. The practical difference is that in Indiana, homeowners often select trees based on cold hardiness first, then heat tolerance second. In Memphis, you can prioritize heat and humidity tolerance because the winter cold is mild enough for many subtropicals. This contrast means you have a wider choice of fruit trees, evergreens, and ornamentals that would not survive farther north.

For buyers in Memphis, the big takeaway is that your zone 8a location opens the door to species that are simply not available to colder parts of the country. Focus on trees that handle the heat and humidity, and you will have a thriving landscape.

Freight delivery and the Thrive Guarantee

Arbor Buddy ships trees nationwide by freight to your home in Memphis, TN 38120. Delivery also covers the other ZIPs in Memphis: 38116, 38117, 38118, 38119, 38122, and 38124. Each tree is zone-matched before it leaves the nursery, so you receive a plant that fits your climate. We time shipments for the cooler months, fall to early spring, when the tree travels with less stress.

Your tree arrives at a usable landscape size, ready to plant. Every order is backed by our 1-Year Thrive Guarantee: free replacement if it does not survive its first year.

Before delivery day, check:

  • Someone must be home to receive the tree and inspect it for damage.
  • Make sure the freight truck can reach your street and has room to stop or turn around.
  • Decide where you want the tree dropped, ideally close to the planting spot.
  • Watch for long or narrow driveways, soft ground, or low branches and wires that might block access.
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Enter your ZIP, shop only what thrives in your zone.

2

Freight delivery to your address: $149 flat per order, shown at checkout.

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Plant it, watch it thrive, covered for one year.

Nearby areas we deliver to

Freight service reaches most Tennessee addresses. Browse your area:

Not sure which tree fits your yard?

Take the 60-second Plant Finder, or message a tree specialist and we'll shortlist zone-safe picks for your address.

Good to know · Growing guide

Buying trees in Memphis 38120: what locals should know

Ordering a large tree online is not like ordering a lamp. Here is what is worth knowing before you buy, from reading your hardiness zone to what actually shows up on the truck.

How to read your hardiness zone

Memphis 38120 sits in USDA zone 8a. Your zone describes the coldest winter a tree can reliably survive. In a warm zone the question flips: winter rarely kills a tree, but summer heat can. Heat and drought tolerance matter as much as the zone number.

Typical winter lows here run about 10 to 15 F. Half-zones matter at the edges: two steps on the map are about five winter degrees, which is enough to decide whether a borderline pick belongs in your cart.

What freight delivery actually means

Your tree arrives large, nursery-grown and at a usable landscape size, secured to a pallet and delivered curbside or as close as the truck can safely get. Before delivery day, run through this quick checklist:

  • Someone can be home to receive the tree and look it over on arrival.
  • A freight truck can reach your street, with room to stop or turn around.
  • You know where you want it dropped: curbside, or as close as the driver can safely get.
  • Access watch-outs are handled: narrow driveways, soft ground after rain, low branches or wires.

The guarantee, in plain terms

If a tree does not survive its first year, we replace it free, shipping included. The promise works because every tree ships zone-matched and nursery-grown, so it arrives set up to succeed in your climate rather than gambling against it.

Coverage runs a full year from delivery. If something goes wrong, contact the team and they arrange the replacement. No store-credit games, no fine-print maze.

More growing guides on the Arbor Buddy blog →

Frequently asked questions

How cold does it get in Memphis in winter?+

Typical winter lows in Memphis (ZIP 38120) run about 10 to 15 degrees F. That places the area in USDA zone 8a, which is mild enough for many subtropical trees but cold enough to rule out truly tropical species without protection.

When do trees ship to Memphis?+

We ship to Memphis during the cooler months, from fall to early spring. This timing reduces transplant shock and gives the tree a chance to establish roots before summer heat arrives. Exact shipping windows depend on your order date and nursery availability.

What size do the trees arrive at?+

All trees we deliver are large, nursery-grown specimens, typically in 5-gallon to 15-gallon containers or as balled-and-burlapped plants. They arrive at a usable landscape size so you get immediate visual impact and a head start on growth.

What is the 1-Year Thrive Guarantee?+

The guarantee means Arbor Buddy will replace any tree that does not survive its first year for free. Simply report the loss within the first 12 months, and we ship a replacement. This covers normal planting and care; the replacement tree and its shipping are free.

Ready to plant your Memphis yard?

Shade, privacy, flowering and fruit trees matched to zone 8a, shipped large and covered by the 1-Year Thrive Guarantee.

Browse trees for your zone