A flowering tree adds beauty to any southern garden scene in Florida. Florida’s climate is ideal for a variety of flowering tropical deciduous and evergreen trees. In Florida, small trees may bloom all year, adding beauty, fragrance, and visual appeal to your yard.
In Florida’s warm, humid environment, tall flowering trees are ideal for providing cover. There are magnificent flowering trees for your southern landscape, whether you live in the north near the Florida Keys or in the south near the Florida Gulf Coast.
This article covers the top flowering trees for Florida. Local Florida trees’ white, yellow, pink, red, and purple blooms will be discussed. In addition, you may see which non-native trees flourished in Florida’s subtropical climate.
What Are Flowering Trees?
When flowering trees blossom with pink, purple, yellow, red, and white blooms, they are prized for their beautiful floral beauty. In warm climates, many flowering trees produce fragrant flowers that impart a sweet fragrance to the air. Since they keep their lush foliage, year-round flowering trees in Florida provide year-round shade.
Flowering trees are a long-term investment in your garden landscape if you live in Florida. Your garden area can be brightened by trees in bloom. Moreover, because most flowering trees in Florida are evergreen, they require little care and leave little clutter in your yard.
Growing Zones for Flowering Trees in Florida
It’s crucial to understand about growing zones in Florida before deciding which trees to put in your southern garden. Florida has four zones, according to the USDA zone map for plant hardiness. In Florida, the following cold hardiness zones exist:
- Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola are among the USDA zone 8 cities in the northwest. The coldest month on average is January with a temperature of 20°F (-6.6°C).
- Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando are all part of the USDA zone 9 region that covers much of Florida’s central east and west coasts. The coldest month is January, with a temperature of 25°F (-3.8°C).
- Fort Myers and Naples are part of USDA zone 10. The coldest month on average is January, with a minimum temperature of 30°F to 35°F (-1.1°C to 1.7°C).
- Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Florida Keys are all within USDA zone 11, which is located in the southernmost part of Florida. The winter minimum temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius).
How to Choose Flowering Trees in Florida
When selecting a tree for your Florida garden, you’ll want to take into account a few things. The cold hardiness zone is the most important factor. Then comes the importance of calculating the size of the tree, its tolerance to sun, and the soil composition. Most blooming trees need well-drained soil to thrive. Consider whether you want an evergreen or deciduous tropical tree. When the leaves fall off deciduous flowering trees in dry seasons, they can get unruly and need tidying up.
Another factor to consider is location. Salt tolerance, for example, is a important consideration if you live near the shore. If there is no afternoon shade from the scorching sun, however, some trees in South Florida may suffer. However, if there are extended periods of frost in North Florida, some zone 10 trees may not perform well.
Flowering Trees in Florida (with Pictures) – Identification
Some of the most gorgeous ornamental trees with colorful flowers and fragrant blossoms that flourish in Florida’s climate are examined in further detail below. The color of the blooms, as well as how to identify each gorgeous flowering tree, are included in each tree.
Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia)
In Florida’s USDA zones, crepe myrtles are tiny flowering trees that may be cultivated. The spectacular gray or light brown bark of multi-stemmed flowering trees exfoliates, exposing a pinkish inner bark. In the fall, the light green leaves of the deciduous tree take on beautiful yellow or crimson hues. All planting zones in Florida are appropriate for invasive crape myrtle trees of all types.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: In the summer, clusters of white, pink, purple, lavender, or red blooms.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The abundant clusters of crinkly pink, red, white, and purple flowers on crepe myrtle trees identify them. Most of the trees are between 3 and 15 feet (1 and 4.5 meters) tall, with an oval crown made up of tiny, ovate green leaves.
Bottlebrush Tree (Melaleuca linearis)
In Florida’s zones 9–11, the bottlebrush tree has fuzzy red blooms and can be maintained. The flowers of bottlebrush trees are called that because of their shape. They look like a bottlebrush and are cylindrical with spiky blooms. The tallest of these rapid-growing Florida trees grows to be around 8 feet (2.4 meters). In USDA zones 9 through 11, bottlebrush trees are cold-hardy. They’re also salt-tolerant, making them ideal for Florida’s coastal areas.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Summer blooms that are bright red and fuzzy.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: Bottlebrush trees have tubular brush-like blooms that bloom all year long and are easily recognized.
Weeping Bottlebrush Tree (Melaleuca viminalis)
The weeping bottlebrush tree adds a lovely touch to Florida flowering tree landscapes, with pendulous branches and brilliant crimson brush-like blooms. The drooping lance-shaped green leaves contrast nicely with the abundant red fuzzy flowers that bloom on cascading branches. This 15-foot (4.5 m) tall graceful multi-stemmed weeping bottlebrush tree develops at a moderate pace. In Florida’s central and southern regions (zone 9 to 11), bottlebrush trees are cold hardy.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Blooming bright red flowers all year long, off and on.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The pendulous branches and profusion of crimson blooms that resemble bottlebrushes distinguish the weeping bottlebrush tree.
Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia X Blakeana)
With its lovely orchid-like lavender-pink blooms, butterfly-shaped leaves, and a huge rounded canopy, the Hong Kong orchid tree makes an attractive tree for Florida gardens. In huge Florida gardens, orchid trees make excellent shade trees. The spreading canopy of the fast-growing tree grows to between 30 and 40 feet (9 and 12 meters) tall.
Despite the fact that Hong Kong orchid trees are evergreen, in Florida’s zone 8, they may lose their leaves during the winter. The orchid trees, on the other hand, are kept green all year in zones 9 to 11 and bloom for a long period of time.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: From October through March, the flowers are showy.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: A spreading evergreen tree with pink flowers and slightly drooping branches, the Hong Kong orchid tree is a popular choice.
Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Purple flowering trees with fern-like leaves and an uneven vase-shaped crown are ideal for growing in Florida zones 10–11. The purple blooms of Jacaranda trees seem to cover the whole tree when they bloom in the spring. The Jacaranda thrives in full sun and organically rich, moist, well-drained soil, making it a drought-tolerant tree. USDA zones 10 and 11 are ideal for Jacaranda trees.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: In the spring and early summer, purple flower clusters appear.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The masses of purple flowers and wide, spreading crown of the Jacaranda tree identify it. The trees may grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) tall.
Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia Tree)
The trumpet tree is an attractive tree that thrives in Florida’s environment. It has fluffy yellow or pink blooms and is easy to care for and maintain. In the spring, the trumpet-shaped blossoms of this colorful pink or yellow blooming tree are abundant. The lovely tree blossoms at different times in warmer climates.
The majority of trumpet trees grow to be 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) tall and develop in a moderate to quick manner. Zones 9 through 11 are good choices for trumpet trees. In a garden landscape, the tree is drought tolerant and requires little upkeep. The beautiful funnel-shaped flowers of the Tabebuia tree are visible with little leaves.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: The trumpet-shaped blooms are prolific in yellow or pink.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The trumpet tree’s tubular blooms, which feature numerous frilly petals and vary in size from 1″ to 4″ (2.5 cm), are the easiest way to distinguish it.
Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
The golden rain tree, which may reach 23 feet (7 meters) in height, is a tiny-medium blossoming tree. It produces brilliant yellow, star-shaped blooms with showy summer floral displays. When the yellow blooms are in bloom, they produce 12″ (30 cm) long spiked clusters that can make the entire tree yellow. The drought-tolerant golden rain tree is a low-maintenance landscape tree. In well-drained soil, plant in USDA zones 6 through 9.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Bright gold or yellow blooms on tall stalks.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The open branching, feathery leaf canopy, and clusters of golden yellow summer blooms distinguish the golden rain tree.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
The royal poinciana is a gorgeous Florida shade tree with brilliant orange-red blooms that grows well in Central and South Florida. The feathery green, fern-like leaves of the multi-stemmed royal poinciana tree create a broad, spreading canopy that creates an umbrella shape.
The tree is covered in masses of brilliant red-orange flowers from late spring to early summer. The tropical royal poinciana tree is also known as the flamboyant tree, flame tree, or peacock flower. It grows in Central and South Florida.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: In the spring and summer, bright red-orange flowers bloom.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The wide spreading umbrella-like crown, smooth gray bark, and abundance of orange blossoms that cover the tree in spring and summer identify the royal poinciana.
Geiger Tree (Cordia sebestena)
The Geiger tree is a Florida native that thrives in the state’s keys and forests. The tropical tree’s colorful orange clusters of flowers are made up of six glued papery petals and are arranged in a circular pattern. The tubular blooms, which bloom all year long, are 2 inches (5 cm) broad and appear in summer. The Florida Keys are home to the Geiger tree, which thrives there. John Geiger, a Key West wrecker, was given the name for the tree. Gieger trees have a vase-shaped crown and drooping limbs and grow between 25 to 30 feet (8 to 9 meters) tall.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: In the spring and summer, orange papery blooms cluster.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The Geiger tree’s clusters of orange blooms, then pear-shaped fruits with a fragrant aroma, are the distinguishing characteristics.
Saucer Magnolia Tree (Magnolia x soulangeana)
The saucer magnolia tree is a majestic flowering tree with a rounded, spreading crown that grows between 15 and 20 feet (4.5 and 6 meters) tall. The ornamental Magnolia tree has huge pinkish-white blooms that range from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) in diameter. Before the deciduous tree leaves appear, the huge floral blooms point upwards and bloom in spring. For gardens in Florida’s zone 9, the saucer magnolia is a good choice. Fertile, damp, well-drained soil and full sun are ideal for the flowering tree. The saucer magnolia is a tiny to medium tree that is perfect for little gardens with floral accents and fragrant flowers.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Two-toned magnolia blossoms come in a variety of colors, including pink, white, purple, and magenta.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: Cup-shaped pink blooms appear on a little to medium tree with medium green, ovate leaves, and are a sign of a saucer magnolia.
Eastern Redbud Tree (Cercis canadensis)
The eastern redbud is a native Florida tree that produces masses of tiny pink pea-like blooms in clusters along branches. Its blooms range in color from pink to white. The irregular vase or rounded crown, heart-shaped leaves, and long bean pods that follow the flowers distinguish eastern redbuds.
Redbud trees range in height from 20 to 30 feet (8 to 9 meters). Because of their tolerance to climates in zones 6 through 9, planting southern Florida and the warmer parts of central Florida with eastern redbuds is a good idea.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: On bare branches, clusters of tiny pink or white flowers bloom.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The heart-shaped leaves, clusters of tiny pink flowers, and long dangling brown or burgundy-red bean pods distinguish the eastern redbud tree.
Oleander Tree (Nerium oleander)
Oleanders are flowering trees with a wide range of flower colors that may be cultivated in any Florida region. Oleander trees produce huge clusters of blooms in pink, red, lilac, purple, orange, or yellow hues. The shrub-like growth of Oleander evergreen trees results in a rounded bushy tree that spreads out. Oleander trees are also salt and drought tolerant, which makes them more desirable. Between 6 and 15 feet (1.8 to 4.5 meters) tall, flowering oleander evergreen trees may be found. As a result, the shrub-like flowering tree is suitable for gardens all throughout Florida.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Orange, light purple, red, and pink are some of the hues of howy oleander flowers.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: Look for bright funnel-shaped, fragrant blooms and 6″ (15 cm) lanceolate evergreen leaves in whorls of three or four blades to spot an oleander tree.
Flowering Trees in Southern Florida
Only Florida’s zones 10 and 11 are suitable for certain species of flowering trees. In South Florida, there are a few gorgeous trees.
Frangipani (Plumeria)
Plumeria is a collection of tiny trees that grow well in the southern parts of Florida. It is a blooming shrub-like tree. Plumeria trees are well-known for their fragrant five-petalled star-shaped tropical blooms, which are commonly called frangipani trees. From May to November, the spectacular trees bloom with large lance-shaped green leaves. During the winter, most plumeria trees lose their leaves. Frangipani trees grow quickly and produce a lot of flowers. Between 20 and 25 feet (6 and 7.6 meters) tall, the shrub-like trees have a similar spread.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Yellow and white frangipani blooms, as well as combinations of oranges, pinks, and reds, are available.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: Plumeria trees have long, green leaves that are 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) long and feature prominent yellow veins with showy white, pink, or red blooms. In the autumn, plumeria foliage becomes crimson.
Silk-Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa)
In southern Florida gardens, the silk-floss tree has stunning blossoms but a very prickly stem. Silk-floss trees produce five-petaled hibiscus flowers that are bright white and pink. In the fall and winter, clusters of lovely blooms bloom on exposed limbs. Silk-floss trees reach 35 to 50 feet (10 to 15 meters) in height and span 55 feet (17 meters) in width. In zones 9b through 11, silk-floss trees thrive. It’s worth noting, however, that the trunk is very prickly and may harm a person or animal if they touch it.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Pink flowers with a white center are displayed.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: Silk-floss trees are distinguished by their heavy, prickly trunk, rounded crown, beautiful pink blossoms, and candy-floss-like seed pod.
Hibiscus Tree (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Hibiscus trees, with their tropical flowers, such as brilliant trumpets and showy protruding stamens, are popular in southern Florida gardens. The five-petaled blooms of tropical hibiscus trees range in color from pink to orange to white to purple. Multi-colored flowers are among the most beautiful hibiscus blooms in Florida. Tropical trees grow in USDA zones 10 through 12 and are also known as Chinese hibiscus. To encourage blooming, the evergreen Florida shrub-like tree grows 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) tall in full sun.
Florida Flowering Tree Color: Brilliant reds, vivid pinks, pleasant whites, and pastel hibiscus blooms are among the options.
Florida Flowering Tree Identification: The glossy green leaves, blossoming trumpet-like colorful flowers, and shrub-like appearance of hibiscus trees distinguish them from other species.