Flowering Trees From The Tropics

Much of the charm of Florida’s winter comes from the parade of exotic flowering trees that burst into bloom from November through March, when most of the country is in the throes of cold and snow. 

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Curiously, only one of these colorful trees is a native of Florida, while the rest have come from other tropical regions.

However, they have adjusted to Florida conditions, where they seem to thrive as contentedly as in their native lands.

Garden Blooming Seasons For Temperate Zone

In the temperate zone, garden blooming seasons are keyed to the calendar.

Thus, the cessation of freezing weather is supposed to awaken the flower buds on the apple trees, just as decreased sunlight in September is the open sesame for chrysanthemums.

What shall we say of land where freezing never occurs? What hidden power decides when a plant shall flower?

What factors govern the growth cycle of a tropical tree? What makes it want to bloom, produce progeny and then perhaps rest afterward?

Of course, tropical sonic trees go dormant and rest before the flowering season, just like their northern cousins.

But if there is no cold weather, what makes one tree shed its leaves in November while another nearby waits until March?

Tropical Trees

These are only a few of the mysteries of plant life that remain unanswered.

Take, for example, the horse-radish tree (Moringa oleifera) from India, which flowers continuously every month in south Florida, though it bears seed only in May and June.

It is a lovely ornamental when well grown, with locust-like foliage.

The monkey-flower tree (Phyllocarpus septentrionalis) from Guatemala, which ranks among the most spectacular December-flowering trees in the world, grows splendidly in southern Florida but will not bloom until it is 40 years old or more, explaining why it is seldom seen.

Several tropical trees, like Conmarouna species, are known to flower only at intervals of six or seven years.

The padauk trees of Malaysia (Pterocarpus sp.) flower gregariously. A dozen trees in a neighborhood will form buds that remain dormant sometimes for weeks.

Then, all will burst into bloom the same day, like a gigantic orchestra. In the same way, they will stop blooming.

These are grown sparingly in Florida for their magnificent shade.

Winter Blooming Shower Trees

Two winter-blooming shower trees of the genus Cassia, with copious yellow flowers from January to March, stand side by side in a certain Florida garden.

One from Central America, Nicaragua shower (C. nicaraguensis), produces quantities of seed in three-inch thin pods.

In contrast, Kenya shower (C. singueana), a native of West Africa, produces no seed at all.

Yet both bloom simultaneously, with similar pea-like flowers, though Nicaragua shower is a much brighter hue.

The trees are planted less than 25′ feet apart, so the same pollinating insects are presumably present.

Landscape designers in Florida are not generally concerned with these mysteries. They simply use the kinds, which experience has shown, will bloom at certain times.

Trees that flower in winter are particularly sought after by residents who want to enjoy the bloom during their few months of residence.

Winter-Flowering Trees

The accompanying table identifies 27 of the most outstanding winter-flowering trees, giving their common and scientific names, the month of peak bloom, the color of the flowers, and the country of origin.

Most are available through established horticulturists, but a few are relatively rare because they do not propagate easily.

Some are available as grafted plants to ensure early flowering.

Some observations about some of these trees may be helpful. Chorisia trees in Florida represent three distinct flowering types.

Some varieties are much better than others, so be certain to look at a photograph of the blooms of the tree you are purchasing.

Orchid Trees

Three different orchid trees (Bruthil-a) are suggested because they provide a procession of blooms from October to April together.

Since they do not come true from seed, select grafted specimens or those already in bloom.

Scarlet Dombeya

Scarlet dombeya (Dombeya wallichii), which appears in the list, has great hanging ball flowers, like hydrangeas, but other kinds of Dombey should be considered.

Several types, though rare in cultivation, are more attractive than the common species.

Cochlospermum

Cochlospermum is available in single and double forms.

The 4-inch single flowers resemble hypericum, while the five-inch double blooms look like spectacular butter-yellow peonies.

African Tulip

The African tulip (Spathodea campanulata) and the Geiger tree (Cordia sebestena) are commonly planted in Florida.

For reasons unexplained, they frequently bloom 3 or 4 times a year if planted in full sun.

South American Species

Genus Tabebuia

Three South American Genus Tabebuia species are suggested for continuous bloom over many months.

Other species in various colors are available from specialists, though none has yet achieved great success. Florida as the three listed.

Salvador Trumpet

The only possible exception is the Salvador trumpet (Tabebuia pentaphylla), which stages a magnificent display of brilliant pinks ranging from apple blossom almost to red.

It is much rarer in Florida than in the others.

Purple Glory Tree

The purple glory tree (Tibortehina grandiosa) listed here is the only one of 15 kinds native to Brazil that has been successfully established in Florida from Orlando southward.

For unexplainable reasons, it blooms spectacularly in March when “summer” is just beginning, repeating its performance in August when the hot weather is on the wane.

27 List Of Flowering Trees

The homeowner, who has enough space to plant 25 trees in his backyard, can have a wonderful time in Florida with the trees suggested here since they have been tried and proven.

However, the list of 27 is by no means exclusive.

On the horizon are thousands of tropical trees with attractive flowers that we know little or nothing about. Indeed the tropical color panorama for us has only just begun.

Calendar Of Tropical Flowering Trees

44659 by EA Menninger