A Comprehensive Look at 13 Gorgeous Flowering Trees Found in Florida

In Florida, there are about 262 native tree species, and a lot more that grow amazingly in the state’s warm climate! While this tropical state isn’t known for its vibrant color-changing leaves, dozens of tree species produce beautiful showy flowers. The best time to admire these trees is during spring. Follow along to learn more about 13 gorgeous flowering trees found in Florida, (not all are native).

1. Silk Floss Tree

The first flowering tree on our list is the silk floss tree. This lovely tree is native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America. While the silk floss tree isn’t native to Florida, it grows well in its tropical climate. The deciduous tree is a member of the Malvaceae family. In its native range, and under the right conditions, this lavish tree can sometimes grow larger than 82 feet high. It’s drought resistant, and somewhat tolerant of cool weather, but not frost.

Silk floss trees are best known for their showstopping flowers. The flowers bloom in spring and sometimes during fall. In Florida, they may stop blooming as late as early December or late November. The flowers resemble hibiscus flowers but have five bright pink petals with creamy white centers.

2. Loblolly-bay

Next on our list of gorgeous flowering trees found in Florida is the loblolly-bay. The scientific name for this beautiful flowering tree is Gordonia lasianthus. This small to medium-sized evergreen tree can also grow as a shrub. It’s native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States. In its native range, you can find these wonderful trees in pinelands and bays. Currently, this plant species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. These plants thrive in climates with mild winters and warm summers. 

Loblolly-bay trees produce hundreds of white fragrant flowers with yellow centers. Typically, the flowers bloom in summer and are 2 to 3 inches long. Not only are the trees stunning, but the size of the tree is impressive. It can reach between 35 to 70 feet tall!

3. Crape Myrtle

The third tree on our list has to be one of the most popular in the state. The crape myrtle tree is very common in many gardens, front yards, and parks. Technically though, crape myrtle trees (also spelled as crepe myrtle trees), is a genus of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrub. These beautiful trees vary a lot in size and appearance depending on the cultivar. Some only reach about 6 feet tall, while others can reach over 30 feet tall with a wide spread. Although common trees in Florida, cape myrtles are native to the Philippines, Japan, and central Himalayas to southern China and Indochina.

In fall, the leaves change colors. They are vibrant red, orange, and yellow. During spring, crape myrtle trees are full of clusters of small pink, red, purple, or white paper-like flowers.

4. Yellow Ponciana

Have you ever heard of the yellow poinciana tree? This lovely tree species is a member of the Fabaceae family. The scientific name for a yellow poinciana is Peltophorum pterocarpum. It’s a gorgeous flowering tree species native to parts of tropical southeast Asia and northern Australasia. While it isn’t native to Florida, it’s an easy-to-grow tree that thrives in the state. Like the crape myrtle, it’s grown as a popular ornamental tree in many neighborhoods, parks, and gardens. Not only does it provide shade, but it also attracts pollinators.

This bushy tree is very tall. It can grow up to about 164 feet, although this height is uncommon. This plant produces flowers from spring to fall. The flowers are bright yellow, showy, and emit a sweet grape-like scent.

5. Sweetbay Magnolia

The fifth plant on our list of gorgeous flowering trees in Florida is the sweetbay magnolia tree. It’s native to parts of the eastern United States and has many names like swamp magnolia, white bay, and sweetbay. Sweetbay magnolia trees are abundant. They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. You can find these trees from Florida to Long Island, New York.

They can grow as trees or shrubs. Sweetbay magnolia trees produce 2 to 3-inch fragrant creamy white flowers with 9 to 12 petals. They bloom from late spring to early summer and stay open during the day, but close at night. These lovely trees grow in USDA zones 5a to 10b. 

6. Chickasaw Plum

Also in Florida is the Chickasaw plum, a delicious fruit tree native to much of the eastern and central United States. You can find this beautiful flowering tree as far west as California and as north as New Jersey. However, the Chickasaw plum is considered an endangered species in New Jersey.

Chickasaw plums are very important trees. They are vital to their habitats and are a larval host to many pollinators including the black-waved flannel moth, blinded sphinx, cecropia moth, red-spotted purple, and imperial moth. These lovely trees bloom in spring and produce large clusters of tiny white flowers. The fruits are ripe by late summer and are typically yellow.

7. Golden Raintree

Continuous our list of gorgeous flowering trees found in Florida is the golden raintree. This lovely flowering tree is native to Asia. Although it’s native to Asia, it’s been in North America since 1763. Golden raintrees are popular landscaping trees. They are large and provide a lot of shade. 

These trees grow up to around 23 feet and have a widespread. The flowers of this tree are hard to miss. They are bright yellow with four petals and grow in large branches. It’s a low-maintenance tree that is drought, heat, wind, and air pollution tolerant. 

8. Dogwood

Dogwood trees are a favorite for many, and not just because of their dazzling flowers. These lovely trees also produce stunning color-changing leaves, perfect for fall foliage, which isn’t always visible in Florida. Dogwood trees are native to eastern North America and northern Mexico. They are members of the Cornaceae family and there are at least two recognized subspecies.

These vibrant and eye-catching trees are abundant in the United States. They are so common in fact, that they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Although a small deciduous tree, it can reach up to about 33 feet. The flowers of this tree are generally small and white, but may also be pink or yellow.

9. Southern Magnolia

Another magnolia tree to make our list is the southern magnolia tree species. It’s native to the Southeastern United States. In its native range, you can find this tree as far west as East Texas. The southern magnolia tree is also found as north as Virginia and as south as Central Florida. This beautiful tree species has large, dark-green leaves and gorgeous and fragrant white flowers. The flowers are as large as up to 12 inches in diameter. They bloom in early to late spring, but may also bloom throughout the summer. Although this plant grows naturally in the state of Florida, many people purchase unique cultivars to grow in their gardens. There are at least 150 cultivars of southern magnolia trees.

10. Simpson’s Stopper

The Simpson’s stopper is the next gorgeous flowering tree on our list. Its scientific name is Myrcianthes fragrans. This Florida native tree grows in parks, gardens, neighborhoods, and urban spaces. They are bushy and flower in spring from early April to May, providing food for birds and other pollinators. Although this lovely tree does produce stunning flowers, the most eye-catching part of the tree is the berries. This tree also produces bright red berries.

11. Plumeria

Another plant on our list of gorgeous flowering trees found in Florida is the Plumeria. This beautiful flowering tree is native to many parts of the world. Technically, there is no one species named Plumeria. Instead, Plumeria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. Some species are native to north Florida, while others are endemic to the Caribbean or Brazil. The exact number of Plumeria species is debated, but there are hundreds of cultivars. Plumeria flowers are easily the best characteristic of this tree. These species have pink, red, white, yellow, or orange flowers that grow in clusters on the ends of the stems. They are very fragrant, especially at night.

12. Flatwoods Plum

The flatwoods plum is a very popular tree in Florida. This tree is native to the United States from Virginia, south to Florida, and west to Texas. Its scientific name is Prunus umbellata. Flatwood plums are round-topped, deciduous trees that are about 20 feet tall. They provide a lot of shade and have a spread of around 15 feet. Some flatwood plum trees though only reach 12 feet tall. The leaves are alternate and the trees produce lovely clusters of small white flowers in late winter and early spring. The flowers eventually turn into small round fruit that attract birds. Flatwood plums are excellent trees to plant in front yards and gardens as they are low-maintenance. These trees need full sun or partial shade.

13. Oleander

Last but not least on our list of gorgeous flowering trees found in Florida is the magical oleander tree, which is native to Europe and Asia. Although it’s not native to Florida, it’s a commonly cultivated tree in the state. This lovely tree is about 6.5 to 19.5 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 10 feet. Oleander trees may also grow as shrubs, instead of trees. They thrive in full sun or partial shade. The flowers though are the real stars of this tree species. Oleander flowers are pink, yellow, orange, or white and range in vibrancy. They bloom in late spring to late summer.

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