The following list will help you know more about the wide variety of breath-taking tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate flowering trees you can plant or admire in Florida.
Florida’s USDA hardiness zones range from 8A – 11A. We consider North Florida falling in zones 8A – 8B, Central Florida in zones 9A – 9B, and South Florida in zones 10A – 11A.
In the north, you can enjoy the same popular flowering trees as those in the southeastern United States, such as pink flowering dogwood and eastern redbud.
In South Florida, you can plant or admire some of the most stunning and common flowering trees from the tropical regions, such as golden trumpet trees and plumeria.
Most of the flowering trees on this list will grow there for those in central Florida. But there are flowering trees such as oleander and Carolina laurel cherry, which better fit this sub-tropical region.
If you are looking to plant a flowering tree in Florida, this list should give you an idea of which one is best for your region and environmental conditions.
23 Flowering Trees Worth Planting or Admiring in Florida
1. Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) – Best Suited to South Florida
Weeping bottlebrush is one of the most common small flowering trees in Orlando southwards. The Australian native features multi-trunked with weeping stems. You will find this lovely tropical-looking tree in both commercial and residential landscapes.
The tree gets its name from the cylindrical, bright red blooms with bristle-like stamens. They appear all over the tree from March through July.
Weeping bottlebrush loves moist and well-drained soil. But if the soil is too wet, that is dangerous because it can lead to severe root rot. Also, the tree has a strong preference for full sun.
Weeping bottlebrush has high drought tolerance. In addition, it has good aerosol salt tolerance, which means you can plant it in ocean-side landscapes.
Other Common Names: Creek bottlebrush
USDA Growing Zones: 9B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 feet tall with an equal spread
Flowering Season: Spring through early summer
2. Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstoemia indica) – Best Suited to Central Florida
Crepe myrtle is a small or medium-sized deciduous tree that grows on multiple stems. Trees can be vase-shaped, upright, or upright spreading. This form allows the tree to be an excellent street tree or multiples.
You can use crepe myrtle in various spaces – landscape accents, focal points, boulevards, or parking lots.
This tree’s claim to fame is its abundant crepe-paper-looking blooms in late spring or early summer. The flowers appear in large 6-to-12-inch clusters. Flowering usually continues well through the summer and sometimes into the fall. Flowers are available in shades of pink, purple, white, red, or lavender.
A few months or less after the blooming finishes, the tree’s leaves take on a beautiful reddish or orange color with the cooler nights. In central Florida, this change typically happens in December or early as late November in North Florida.
Crepe myrtle is best for a spot with total sun exposure. The site should have moist, well-draining, and rich soil. It will also do well in relatively wet soil. At the same time, this tree has excellent drought tolerance and can withstand a moderate amount of salt.
Other Common Names: Crepeflower, Crape Myrtle
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 35 feet tall with a spread of 6 – 40 feet (depending on the cultivar)
Flowering Season: Late spring and summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees, My Perfect Plants & Nature Hills
3. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Best Suited to North Florida
The Eastern redbud boasts deep pink blooms. These flowers are abundant, covering most of the tree’s crown. The small deciduous tree usually produces these flowers in spring before the leaves appear. The flowerbeds are also attractive. They are small and dark red to reddish brown.
Eastern redbud trees occur naturally in the mesic hardwoods of north Florida and the panhandle. The fast-growing tree is a member of the legume or bean family.
The great idea is to plant eastern redbud next to flowering dogwood. Doing so provides a dramatic visual display of the landscape.
Eastern redbud likes well-drained soil. However, it can tolerate sites that are occasionally wet. The soil should have a neutral to slightly acidic pH. The tree does well in full sun or partial shade.
Other Common Names: Redbud
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 20 – 30 feet tall with a spread of 20 – 35 feet
Flowering Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees, My Perfect Plants & Nature Hills
4. Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria elegans) – Best Suited to North Florida
The golden raintree is a remarkable and beautiful deciduous tree for yellow summer flowers. These clusters of blooms come out in late spring and summer, lasting multiple weeks. Once the flowering is over, the tree features graceful paper lanterns, which hang from the branches well into winter.
The golden raintree is fast-growing and grows in a rounded shape. It is commonly used as a street tree. The tree’s branches and roots are not invasive, making it suitable for planting near utility lines and paved surfaces.
This stunning flowering tree has a reputation for toughness. It tolerates heat, air pollution, and some drought.
You can plant golden raintree in a site with acidic, alkaline, clay, loamy, sandy, well-drained, or wet soils. It will thrive in all instances with at least six hours of direct and unfiltered sunlight daily.
Other Common Names: Goldenrain tree, Pride of India, China tree, Varnish tree
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 40 feet tall with a spread of 35 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring and summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Golden Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus chrysotrichus) – Best Suited to South Florida
The golden trumpet tree is a showstopper in Central and South Florida, with abundant yellow flowers appearing from leafless branches. Flowers usually appear in the dry season’s heart, usually from February through April.
The relatively large golden-yellow flowers cover the open canopy of the tree. The foliage is not dense but is enough to provide some shade. It is usually better to plant a golden trumpet tree in an area where it can spread its canopy, but doing so also adds to the tree’s attractiveness.
The golden trumpet tree thrives in Florida’s sandy soils. But the spot should be sunny. The tree tolerates drought but benefits from regular watering when young.
You can plant golden trumpet tree in a site with acidic, alkaline, clay, loamy, sandy, well-drained, or wet soils. It will thrive in all instances with at least six hours of direct and unfiltered sunlight daily.
Other Common Names: Aragueney, Yellow ipê
USDA Growing Zones: 9B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 40 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Late winter through spring (Florida dry season)
6. Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) – Best Suited to South Florida
This tree produces flowers all winter! Hong Kong orchid tree provides the landscape with an abundance of flowers when few other trees do – from November through the end of March.
These beautiful tropical trees are deciduous, dropping their butterfly-shaped leaves before producing flower buds. These flowers are large and resemble delicate orchids, as the name suggests. The sturdy blooms come in rose pink and purple shades, with occasional white variegation.
The Hong Kong orchid tree is an excellent choice over the common orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata), which is a close relative because the flowers are sterile. As such, they do not produce seed pods. These seed pods are a common source of allergies, littering, and weedy seedlings.
If you choose to plant the rapid-growing Hong Kong orchid tree, there are some essential tips to remember. First, ensure that you grow it at least 10 feet from your property. The wide-spreading and fast-growing roots can cause property damage. These tropical trees thrive in a moist and well-drained loamy soil. Full sun to light shade is acceptable.
USDA Growing Zones: 9B -11
Average Size at Maturity: 20 – 40 feet in height with a similar spread
Flowering Season: November through March
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees
7. Kwanzan Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulate ‘Kwanzan’) – Best Suited to North Florida
Kwanzan flowering cherry is one of the best cultivars for warmer climates. However, it won’t produce flowers outside zone 9A; not enough chilling hours to set the flower buds. Also, it is one of the varieties of cherries common in Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
This popular cherry tree features deep pink flowers about 2 ½ inches in diameter. In Florida, they appear in February but as early as January in some years. In any case, the floral display is usually abundant and stunning.
The tree does not produce fruit, which is excellent because it means less mess to clean. The drawback is that it provides no wildlife value. On another note, this spectacularly beautiful tree is short-lived. It does not usually live past 25 years.
Kwanzan cherry prefers full sun. In addition, it is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types, though it prefers moist soil.
Other Common Names: Kwanzan
USDA Growing Zones: 5B – 9A
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 feet with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees, My Perfect Plants & Nature Hills
8. Loblolly Bay (Gordonia lasianthus) – Best Suited to North Florida
Loblolly bay is a low-maintenance flowering tree native to Florida. The evergreen tree usually grows on a single trunk with a columnar or pyramidal shape. A notable feature of this tree is its very open growth habit, meaning that the foliage is not dense.
This lovely tree bears cream-colored flowers, about two to three inches wide, with five petals. They are usually cup-shaped. Flowers come out in late spring through summer; though flowering is not abundant, the display is attractive.
The leaves of loblolly bay are also attractive. They range from two to seven inches long. In addition, they are shiny and dark green with a light grey underside.
This tree is excellent for north Florida, but central Florida gardeners should also consider it. Loblolly bay grows particularly well in partial shade. But it will tolerate full sun if you provide it with enough moisture.
Loblolly bay loves wet soils. If you have a boggy area with poorly drained soil, you should consider planting this tree. There are no diseases to worry about with this tree.
Other Common Names: Holly-bay, Gordonia, Bay
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 35 – 60 feet tall with a spread of 10 – 15 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring through summer
9. Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus caroliniana) – Best Suited to Central Florida
Carolina laurel cherry bears attractive glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves. When crushed, the leaves and twigs give off a pleasant and mouth-watering maraschino cherry fragrance.
In late winter to early spring, creamy-white and highly fragrant flowers appear on top of them. The showy flowers grow from 2 – 3-inch-long racemes. The flowers are famous for attracting lots of bees.
The flowers turn into a large quantity of shiny, black, cherry-looking fruit. Though attractive on the tree, they create a litter problem when they fall on patios or walkways. Thankfully, it washes away easily.
Carolina laurel cherry is a terrific idea for a low-maintenance garden. But it also works well in manicured landscapes.
This great Florida native tree prefers lots of moisture when young. As it matures, it develops some drought tolerance. You can plant it in full sun or partial shade. Any soil type is acceptable, provided that it is well-draining.
Other Common Names: Carolina cherry laurel, Carolina cherry, Cherry laurel
USDA Growing Zones: 8A – 10A
Average Size at Maturity: 25 – 40 feet tall with a spread of 15 – 25 feet
Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
10. Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia) – Best Suited to North Florida
In North Florida, you can enjoy many temperate flowering trees, such as flowering plums. One well-suited for the milder winters is Chickasaw plum. This beautiful flowering tree is native to much of north Florida.
Chickasaw plum produces many clusters of tiny, fragrant, white flowers each spring or late winter. The flowers appear on the previous year’s wood. This display is dramatic because it appears before the new leaves.
Chickasaw plum is typically a pollinator because of its abundant flowering. But it also makes an excellent ornamental tree.
Small plums appear in the summer; they are red and become yellow when ripe. The fruits are tart, and you can eat them in jelly or fresh.
Chickasaw plum is a fast grower and does well in full sun. But you can also plant it in dappled shade. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, but has a clear preference for an acidic pH.
Other Common Names: Cherokee plum, Florida sand plum, Sandhill plum, Sand plum
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Early spring
Available at: Nature Hills
11. Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) – Best Suited to Central Florida
Chinaberry is a fast-growing deciduous flowering and shade tree. This common central Florida tree is native to India, China, and the Himalayas. It grows 5 to 10 feet during the first couple of years after seed germination.
Mature trees produce fragrant lavender or purplish star-shaped flowers in spring. They emerge in 8-inch-long clusters. After flowering, the tree produces ornamental yellow round fruit, which attracts birds. The fruits linger on the tree well into winter. The compound leaves turn to a pleasant, vivid yellow color before falling in the late fall.
Chinaberry is a versatile and easy-to-grow tree. The drawback is that it can become invasive, as the tree produces plenty of seeds, and the seedlings grow quickly.
You can grow chinaberry in a wide range of conditions. It does well in both full sun and partial shade. Also, it is flexible with soil requirements. However, the tree has a clear preference for well-drained soil.
Other Common Names: Pride of India, Bead-tree, Cape lilac, Syringa berrytree, Persian lilac, Indian lilac, White cedar
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 40 feet tall with a spread of 15 – 25 feet
Flowering Season: Spring
12. Oleander (Nerium oleander) – Best Suited to Central Florida
Oleander is one of the best flowering trees for pink flowers! In addition, it produces red, yellow, white, orange, and red flowers. But the pink ones tend to have the strongest and most pleasant fragrance. Blooms appear from spring through fall, and the tree may continue flowering during warm winters.
This multi-trunked small tree is common in Florida. Oleander features dense evergreen dark green foliage. It is often a go-to hedge or privacy screen for many landscapers. For best visual appeal, plant multiple trees in the same spot.
Oleander adapts to a wide range of soils. It can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Also, the tree has remarkable tolerance to heat, drought, wind, and coastal conditions. A fast grower, oleander responds well to annual pruning.
Other Common Names: Nerium, Jericho rose, Rose laurel
USDA Growing Zones: 8B – 10
Average Size at Maturity: Depending on variety, 3 – 20 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring through fall, but can be year-round
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
13. Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima) – Best Suited to South Florida
Peregrina is a rare tree in the United States. The Cuban native grows best in the southernmost counties of Florida such as Miami-Dade and Monroe.
Throughout the year it produces 1-inch red or pink flowers in clusters that sit upright above the foliage. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. After flowering it produces seed capsules which hold several smooth and speckled seeds. Beware, these seeds are toxic.
Peregrina is a small multi-stemmed tree with a vase to round shape. Considering its shape, you can use it to landscape, as a specimen, patio, or shrub-border tree. Multiple trees together provide a dramatic and lush effect, especially when the trees are in bloom. Which is frequent, since mature trees bloom year-round.
The Peregrina also features in our article on beautiful red flowering trees in Florida which you may be interested in reading about too.
You can grow peregrina in full sun or partial shade. The tree tends to have more blooms in full sun conditions. Also, ensure that the soil is well-draining. Otherwise, it tolerates a wide range of soil types.
Other Common Names: Jatropa, Fire-cracker
USDA Growing Zones: 10B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 15 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Year-round
14. Pink Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida var. rubr) – Best Suited to North Florida
Pink flowering dogwood is one of the most popular ornamental landscape trees in north Florida and much of the United States. This is because when the tree blooms, few can pass it without taking notice. Such is especially the case when the flowering contrasts against a large evergreen background.
Pink flowering dogwood is a variety of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Though the tree is native to Florida, the scientific name refers to the Latin for “flowery” or “in bloom.”
Technically, the flowers are bracts that resemble petals. But this scientific technicality matters to few, as they are just plain gorgeous, whatever they may be.
The leaves are also fairly attractive. The tree features egg-shaped dark green leaves, tapering to a point. After a cold fall in north Florida, sometimes the leaves turn to a stunning red or reddish-purple.
Pink flowering dogwood grows at a medium rate, eventually forming a rounded shape. The tree grows well in a spot with full sun or partial shade. Overall, the best soil conditions for this tree are rich and moist. But it will grow in either sandy, clay, or loamy soils.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 25 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees, My Perfect Plants & Nature Hills
15. Plumeria (Plumeria sp.) – Best Suited to South Florida
Plumeria tends to disappoint viewers in the winter. But its flowering display is worth the wait! It loses all of its leaves in the winter, no matter how mild the season is. During this time, the tree looks like a random assembly of thick and fleshy limbs.
But quickly after the new leaves appear in the spring, its breathtaking flowers follow. Thankfully, flowering continues well into fall, when cooler temperatures stop it.
Plumeria flowers can be pink, red, white, yellow, or multi-colors. They all have a sweet and welcoming fragrance, which is even more potent at night. In Hawaii, they use flowers to make their famous leis. The sweet-smelling essential oil from the tree’s flowers is excellent in candles, lotions, and perfumes.
Plumeria thrives in hot and dry spots. Also, it is not too fussy about soil type. You can grow this tree in Central Florida, but you will have to give it protection from frosts and freezes. Otherwise, it is best for the south Florida landscape.
Other Common Names: Frangipani
USDA Growing Zones: 10 – 12
Average Size at Maturity: 20 – 25 feet with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Spring through fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees
16. Silk-Oak (Grevillea robusta) – Best Suited to South Florida
Native to Australia, silk-oak is a great and exotic addition for gardeners in zone 9B southwards. This large tree has a pyramidal to oval shape, eventually forming a thick trunk and a few heavy horizontal limbs. Silk-oak works well in a large, open landscape where it can spread.
In spring, silk oak features many large clusters of yellow-orange flowers. Also, during spring many of the trees light, ferny, green leaves fall. But they are quickly replaced by an abundance of new growth.
Silk-oak is best in full sun and can tolerate a wide range of soils. It has high drought tolerance. Many south Florida landscapers have the privilege of living near the ocean. If this is your case, you should not plant silk-oak as it has poor aerosol salt tolerance.
A drawback of this beautiful tree is that as it ages the wood becomes brittle. As a result, the tops of the trees sometimes break off during high winds.
Other Common Names: Southern silky oak, Silky oak, Silver oak, Australian silver oak
USDA Growing Zones: 9B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 75 feet tall with a spread of 25 – 30 feet
Flowering Season: Spring
17. Simpson’s Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) – Best Suited to South Florida
Simpson’s stopper is a versatile small tree you can use as a hedge or specimen tree. It produces fragrant white flowers on and off through the year, with the heaviest bloom in spring. The flowers attract butterflies.
The lovely blossoms lead to bright red fruit, which is extremely attractive to birds. Some common birds that stop by often include the mockingbird (state bird), cardinal, and blue jay.
Simpson’s stopper is an excellent ornamental tree for a small yard. But it is better to buy a more mature plant because it is a slow grower. Its tidy form makes it a lovely choice for a formal and well-manicured landscape. But being a native Florida tree, it is also great in a more natural design setting.
You have the choice to plant Simpson’s stopper in full sun or shade. In a sunny location, the foliage is dense, and the plant develops a full shape. The foliage is dark green and offers a subtle nutmeg scent. The foliage in the shade is less lush, showing more of the tree’s beautiful cinnamon-colored bark.
Other Common Names: Twinberry
USDA Growing Zones: 9B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 5 – 20 feet tall with a spread 3 – 15 feet
Flowering Season: Year-round
18. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) – Best Suited to Central Florida
Like the southern live oak, the southern magnolia is one of the symbols of the old south. Even today, this stately and elegant flowering tree is prized among southern landscapers. This tree is native to north and central Florida.
The Southern magnolia has both breathtaking flowers and lustrous foliage. The tree sends out creamy white flowers in spring and summer with a lemony scent. These impressive flowers are often as large as a dinner plate! The leaves are evergreen, large, and glossy green.
Landscapers usually use southern magnolias as a specimen trees. Also, you can plant a row of them, as the evergreen and dense foliage make a remarkable privacy screen.
Southern magnolia trees grows at a slow to medium rate. Though it may not fill its spot quickly, it is better to think long-term as it can grow to massive 80 feet tall.
You plant southern magnolia in full sun or partial shade. Soil conditions are more critical than sunlight exposure. The tree strongly prefers moist, well-drained, and acidic soils.
Sometimes during the first year, many leaves drop, but the tree should be fine. This post-transplant event is common for southern magnolias.
Other Common Names: Bull Bay
USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 60 – 80 feet tall with a spread of 40 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring through summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
19. Starburst Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum quadriloculare) – Best Suited to South Florida
The flowers of this stunning multi-stemmed small tree resemble white stars shooting forward. Trailing behind is a pink tubular tail.
This small and delicate-looking tree provides thick and abundant clusters of blossoms at the end of winter, around February to March. Hummingbirds and long-tongued butterflies have a terrific time pulling the nectar out of the tubular flowers.
In addition, starburst clerodendrum features a smooth tan bark that gets rough with age.
Native to Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, this small flowering tree provides an unmistakable lush tropical look and feel to the landscape.
When the tree is not blooming, the green leaves with purple undersides is a show of their own. Though the leaves lose their luster in the winter, a powerful display of pink and white flowers makes up for it.
The tree needs full sun for the best growth and a dramatic flowering display. That is a minimum of six hours of direct and unfiltered sunlight each day. The tree prefers moist and well-drained soil. But after it is established, it has drought tolerance.
Starburst clerodendrum sometimes produces root suckers. Those are little “saplings” that grow away from the mother plant. You can allow them to grow and mature with enough space or depending on your garden’s theme. But, in Florida, it is unlikely that these “saplings” will become weedy and invasive.
Other Common Names: Bronze-leaved clerodendrum, Fireworks plant, Phillipine glorybower, Shooting star, Starburst bush
USDA Growing Zones: 9B – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 16 feet tall with a similar spread
Flowering Season: Late winter
20. Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) – Best Suited to North Florida
Sweetbay magnolia is native to most of Florida, except the southernmost parts. In the wild, you will find it growing in swamps and lowlands.
Sweetbay magnolia resembles its cousin southern magnolia quite a bit. Like its cousin, it bears creamy-white, lemon-scented flowers. But some say that the flowers have a vanilla-like fragrance. These flowers reliably appear from June through September. Sweetbay magnolia leaves are relatively smaller and feature whitish-green undersides.
This tree has a columnar or narrow shape. For this reason, it works well next to buildings, narrow alleys, or corridors. Sweetbay magnolia features moderately dense evergreen foliage.
You can plant sweetbay magnolia in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils from sandy to clay. Also, it does well in wet to well-drained soil. On that note, the tree does not have drought tolerance.
Other Common Names: Sweetbay
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 10A
Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 50 feet tall with a spread of 15 – 20 feet
Flowering Season: Early summer through early fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
21. Taiwan Cherry (Prunus campanualata) – Best Suited to North Florida
Taiwan cherry is another excellent flowering cherry for places with mild winters like Florida. This small tree is a showstopper featuring an abundance of flamingo-pink flowers in January or February. For lighter pink flowers, you can consider the hybrid version, ‘Okame.’
As the common name suggests, the tree is native to Taiwan and southern China. Given its subtropical origins, it does well in North and Central Florida. The tree has remarkable heat tolerance.
This flowering tree features beautiful dark green leaves with a thick canopy, providing a bit of shade in the summer. The leaves turn bronze and red in fall. The tree’s beauty continues while it is dormant with its gorgeous reddish-brown bark.
Taiwan cherry does well with full sun but can handle some shade. It enjoys consistent moisture, so that it will benefit from regular irrigation. However, its spot should be well-draining with an acidic pH.
USDA Growing Zones: 7A – 9A
Average Size at Maturity: 20 feet tall with equal spread
Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
22. White Fringetree (Choinanthus virginicus) – Best Suited to North Florida
This small-deciduous native tree provides a spectacular display of white flowers in the spring. The flowers can range in shades of white, cream, or gray. They are very showy and appear in clusters. The female trees produce purple-blue fruits, which birds enjoy.
The White fringetree features dark green, glossy leaves, which appear much later than other trees in Florida. A drawback of this beautiful tree, at least for some people, is its slow growth, even under the best conditions.
White fringetree does well in a sunny spot. It blooms best with this exposure, but the foliage is more remarkable with some shade. The best compromise is to provide the tree with dappled afternoon shade.
Native to the upland woods and stream banks of the American south, including Florida, the fringetree enjoys rich, moist, and acidic soil. You can also give it a wet spot; it will thrive there.
Other Common Names: Grancy gray beard, Old man’s beard
USDA Growing Zones: 3A – 9B
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 – 15 feet
Flowering Season: Late spring
Available at: Nature Hills & My Perfect Plants
23. Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum dubium) – Best Suited to South Florida
Native to Southeastern Asia, yellow poinciana is a beloved tree to many south Florida landscapers. It produces spectacular yellow flowers from May through September, covering the tree’s entire canopy.
The flowers have a delicious fragrance, which some report to be similar to the smell of grapes. Flowers appear in large and abundant clusters and often produce a beautiful blanket below the tree; after blooming, the tree forms 4-inch-long seed pods. As they ripen, they have a coppery red tone.
The leaves are also attractive. Yellow poinciana leaves are dark green, compound, delicate, and feathery. The foliage is dense enough to provide dappled shade.
Yellow poinciana is fast growing and does best in full sun. It can tolerate any soil type as long as it is well draining.
Other Common Names: Copperpod, Yellow-flamboyant, Yellow flametree, Yellow-flame
USDA Growing Zones: 10A – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 50 feet with a spread of 30 – 50 feet
Flowering Season: Spring through summer
Planting and Admiring Flowering Trees in Florida
Each of the three major regions in Florida offers different types of flowering trees to admire or grow.
In the north, you can find the same flowering trees as in most of the United States. Examples include flowering cherries, redbud, and pink flowering dogwood.
South Florida has a much warmer climate than the rest of the state. This climate allows some exotic flowering trees to enter the landscape, bringing a lush tropical feel. Stunning imports include dramatically gorgeous yellow poinciana from Southeastern Asia and starburst clerodendrum from the East Indies.
Central Florida has a perfect climate for southern classics such as the fragrant southern magnolia and reliable crepe myrtle.
In this region, you can get a variety of tropical and temperate flowering trees. Such is especially true in zone 9B, which is in the Orlando and Tampa metropolitan regions. For instance, the common temperate white fringetree does just as well as the tropical golden trumpet tree.
Do you live in Florida? Let us know if we missed any standout flowering trees that grow in your area!
I live in Florida and my favorite is the Weeping Bottlebrush, it is such a bright, beautiful and stunning tree.
The Weeping Bottlebrush is a favorite of mine too! (You can see me standing with one of mine in my profile photo). The nectar eating birds and bees absolutely love the flowers too and the tree is a hive of activity when it is in full flower.