First of a two-part series Flowering Trees for Central Florida Flowering trees are an important flowers. It is native to Brazil, Paraguay, growth habit. ‘Coco’ has a pyramidal component of central Florida landscapes. and Argentina. It was formerly known shape and is a very heavy bloomer. They provide colorful flowers during as T. argentea and T. caraiba. Trumpet ‘Majestic Beauty’ has very large leaves their season of bloom. Many of these Trees are drought tolerant. and flowers that can be up to 12” trees also make nice shade specimens. Magnolias are another commonly across. ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ has a Our climate here in central Florida grown flowering tree in central Florida. very dense and compact growth habit allows for a wide range of flowering trees The Southern Magnolia, Magnolia with leaves that have a rusty brown to be used. We can grow some of the grandiflora, is probably the most widely underside. Sweetbay Magnolia, hardier, temperate climate trees and trees planted flowering tree in our area. It is a Magnolia virginiana var. australis, is from subtropical and even tropical Florida native and well adapted to our another Florida native. It grows well in climates. The following are some of the climate. Southern Magnolia bears large, moist or even wet soils. It is evergreen flowering trees that grow well in our area. extremely fragrant white flowers in late and the leaves have a nice silvery coloring The Trumpet Trees (Tabebuia) on the undersides. Sweetbay are some of the most commonly grows 30-50 feet tall with a used flowering trees in central narrow and open form. It Florida landscapes. They flower bears creamy white, fragrant heavily in spring with trumpet flowers during the summer. A shaped flowers and are easily couple of related trees are identified when in bloom. Michelia champaca, Orange Several species are grown here. Champaca Tree, and Michelia Tabebuia umbellata, the Yellow x alba, the White Champaca Trumpet Tree, is very common Tree. These two trees belong in the older neighborhoods or to the Magnolia Family Orlando and Winter Park. It (Magnoliaceae). They are fast has an upright growth habit and growing, evergreen trees that bears bright yellow flowers. It grow 20-30 feet tall. They grows 10-20 feet tall. It is native produce flowers about 2" to Brazil. Tabebuia chrysotricha, across that are extremely fra- the Golden Trumpet Tree, bears Lagerstroemia indica ‘Dynamite’ grant. The flowers are found golden yellow flowers. It differs from T. spring and summer. Southern Magnolias during summer and fall. Michelia umbellata by having a narrow growth are large trees and can grow 30-60 feet champaca has orange flowers while those habit and reaches 10-15 feet tall. The tall. There are many cultivars of this tree of Michelia x alba are white. The White leaves have rough hairs on the surface available with different growth and Champaca Tree also produces flowers giving it a “sandpaper” feel. It is native flowering habits. ‘D.D. Blanchard’ has over a long period of time. These two from Brazil to Argentina. Tabebuia become of the most popular varieties. It trees are native to southeastern Asia. impetiginosa is known as the Pink or has dark green leaves with orangish- Another member of the Magnolia Family Purple Trumpet Tree. The flowers are brown undersides. It is also a faster and Florida native is Liriodendron variable; from light pink to purple growing variety. ‘Little Gem’ is the tulipfera, the American Tulip Tree. It is a though most found in Florida have pink smallest cultivar. It only grows 10-20 tall, deciduous tree that grows 40-60 flowers. It is a larger tree growing 20-30 feet tall and the flowers and leaves are feet tall. It bears orangish-yellow flowers feet tall. It is native from Mexico to half the size of a normal Southern in late spring and early summer. Argentina. Sometimes the Silver Magnolia. It also has a second flowering American Tulip Tree needs a moist soil Trumpet Tree, Tabebuia aurea, is grown period, from October until Christmas. and can tolerate wet soils. in our area. It is more tender to cold, ‘Alta’ is a newer selection with a strong Gordonia lasianthus, Loblolly Bay, is especially when young. It is very common upright form. ‘Greenback’ has narrower another Florida native that makes a nice in southern Florida. The leaves are leaves that are cupped and green on landscape specimen. It is an evergreen silvery-green and it bears bright yellow both sides. It also has a very dense tree growing 10-30 feet tall. It bears

Ceiba speciosa ‘Angel’ inset: Ceiba thorns

tree and is widely used as a either parent, from fall until spring. The medicinal. This tree is well flowers are magenta and lavender and behaved and non-invasive. It is are fragrant. B. acuminata is native to not to be confused with the southeastern Asia. It is a large shrub or Cajeput Tree, M. quinquenervia, small tree that grows 8-10 feet tall. It which is a serious pest in south- bears white flowers from late spring ern Florida and the Everglades. until fall. It needs afternoon shade. B. The Orchid Trees belong to the forficata, the Thorny Orchid Tree, is a genus Bauhinia and are widely native from Brazil to Peru. It bears large, used in local landscapes. B. white flowers during the summer. The variegata and B. purpurea are Yellow Bell Bauhinia, B. tometosa bears both known as the Purple Orchid small yellow flowers during the warmer Tree. The main difference is that months. It is a small tree growing 10-12 B. purpurea flowers in fall and feet tall and is native to eastern Africa. early winter and B. The Pom Pom Orchid Tree, B. divaricata variegata flowers in is native to Central America and the spring. B. variegata West Indies. It bears small white flowers ‘Candida’ is a white and has small leaves. It flowers during form that also flowers the warmer months. B. divaricata small white flowers during in spring. These two ‘Rosea’ bears pink flowers. the summer. The flowers species are not The Floss Silk Tree, Ceiba speciosa, is resemble those of a Camellia. recommended for a spectacular flowering specimen for the This tree is a close relative planting as they warmer parts of central Florida. It is a to Camellias as it is in the produce large amounts large, fast growing tree, reaching 30-60 Tea Family (Theaceae). of seeds and can feet tall. It bears large pink flowers in The Bottlebrushes are become a nuisance. A large numbers in fall. The flowers are another common group of good replacement is B. x blakeana, the variable from almost white to deep pink. flowering trees found in Central Florida. Hong Kong Orchid Tree. It is a hybrid The trunk of this tree is usually covered They belong to the genus Callistemon between B. purpurea and B. variegata. It in large spines but smooth trunked and are Australian natives. They bear is sterile and does not produce seed. It specimens exist. It is native from Brazil flowers that are shaped like bottlebrushes. has a longer blooming period than – continued on page 6 The flowers appear during the warmer months. Most are red in color but there are purple, white, and pink flowering specimens. They are also drought tolerant. The Weeping Bottlebrush, C. viminalis, grows to about 20 feet tall and has a strong weeping habit. It bears red flowers. It is also tolerant of very wet soil. The Lemon Bottlebrush, C. citrinus, grows 10-15 feet tall. The leaves have a lemon scent if crushed. It also bears red flowers. C. citrinus ‘Jeffersii’, the Purple Bottlebrush, bears purple flowers. It grows to about 10 feet tall. A related tree is the Tea Oil Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia. It is from eastern Australia and grows 20-25 feet tall. It produces white flowers and has attractive white, papery bark. Tea Oil is derived from this

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’

This large group of plants are known for their unusual flowers. The Silk-Oak bears golden orange flowers in late spring and summer. These flowers are brush-shaped. G. robusta is fast growing and reaches 30-50 feet tall. It is also drought tolerant. Silk-Oak was at one time a very popular tree in the Orlando area. The three big freezes in the 1980’s killed many of them but some remain. A related tree is the Firewheel Tree, Stenocarpus sinuatas. It is also native to eastern Australia and grows to about 40 feet tall. It bears tubular flowers that are scarlet red and arranged in whorls. The large leaves are pinnately lobed. Crepe Myrtle, Lagerstroemia

Cordia boisseri indica, is a very popular flowering tree in this area. There are several other Crepe Myrtles that are rarely Flowering Trees for Central Florida color. Jacaranda is native to Argentina encountered but deserve a spot in the continued from page 5 and Bolivia. It grows 30-40 feet tall. landscape. The Japanese Crepe Myrtle, to Peru. It was formerly known as ‘Alba’ bears white flowers. J. cuspidifolia, L. fauriei is not commonly used in Chorisia speciosa. The related C. chodatii from southern Brazil and Argentina, central Florida landscapes. Japanese bears yellow flowers and C. insignis bears bears larger flowers that appear in the Crepe Myrtle is a larger tree growing white flowers. Many hybrids between summer. J. caerulea only grows 10-120 30-50 feet tall. It is deciduous and bears these three species exist. Floss Silk Tree feet tall. It flowers in spring and summer white flowers during the summer. The is very drought tolerant. A close relative and is native to the Bahamas and Cuba. tree has very ornamental trunks. The is Bombax ceiba, the Silk Cotton Tree. It Jacarandas are drought tolerant. bark flakes away revealing dark, cinnamon is native from southern Asia to northern Chinadoll Tree, Radermachera sinica, red coloring. Japanese Crepe Myrtle has Australia and grows 50-60 feet tall. It is frequently grown as a houseplant. been used in hybridization with L. indica has a spiny trunk similar to the Floss Once planted in the ground it is fast as it has resistance to powdery mildew. Silk Tree. It bears red flowers in late growing and can reach 15-20 feet tall. It It is native to southern Japan. L. limii, winter and early spring. bears creamy white flowers in spring and The Chinese Crepe Myrtle, grows 10-15 The Tipu Tree, Tipuana tipu, is a tree summer. These flowers are fragrant at feet tall. It has large leaves and bears that deserves greater use in central night. Chinadoll Tree is native to south- large clusters of lavender-pink flowers in Florida. It is native from southern Brazil eastern Asia. summer. It is native to southern China. to Bolivia and is a fast growing tree that Yellow Poinciana, Peltophorum dubium, L. speciosa, the Queen Crepe Myrtle, is reaches 30-50 feet tall. It bears bright is a common sight in the Orlando area. native to southeastern Asia. It can grow yellow flowers in late spring and summer. It bears brilliant yellow flowers during 30-50 feet tall but is tender to cold and Tipu Tree is an excellent tree for our area summer and is a beautiful tree when in best suited to warm microclimates. It but not widely available. Once established, full bloom. It is a fast growing, reaching bears large clusters of purple flowers and it is fairly tolerant of drought. There are 30-50 feet tall. It is also very drought a cultivar called ‘Nong Nooch Pink’ many nice specimens at Walt Disney tolerant. Yellow Poinciana was at one bears hot pink flowers. There is also a World and Universal Studios. time commonly available but can be hybrid between L. indica and L. speciosa Jacaranda, Jacaranda mimosifolia, is a difficult to find in nurseries. It is native called ‘Majestic Beauty’ that only grows very popular tree in the warmer areas of from southern Brazil to Uruguay. 5-10 feet tall and bears purple flowers Florida and California. It blooms in spring Grevillea robusta, Silk-Oak, is a native similar to L. speciosa but is hardier to cold. and is covered with small, trumpet- of eastern Australia. It is not a true Oak – Eric Schmidt shaped flowers that are blue-violet in but a member of the Proteaceae Family.