Flowering Trees for Florida Landscapes
Color you can see from the street, season after season
A well-chosen flowering tree turns a green yard into a landmark. Southwest Florida’s long growing season lets us grow trees that most of the country can only see on vacation: the flaming canopy of a Royal Poinciana in early summer, a cloud of purple Jacaranda blossoms in spring, Trumpet Trees that burst into bloom before they leaf out, and Geiger Trees that flower nearly all year.
The trick is picking trees that fit your space, your sun and your tolerance for cold and salt, and then staggering their bloom seasons so something is always in flower. This guide gathers every flowering tree we install in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, with a comparison chart to help you plan a landscape that blooms from January through December.
Browse Florida Flowering Trees
Yellow Trumpet TreeTabebuia aurea15–25 ft · Late winter–spring
Flowering Tree Comparison Chart
Nearly all of these trees bloom best in full sun. Cold hardiness is the USDA zone range each tree handles reliably; most of coastal Manatee and Sarasota County is zone 10a, with cooler inland pockets in 9b.
| Tree | Mature Height | Main Bloom Season | Cold Hardiness | Salt Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Trumpet Tree | 25–35 ft | Late winter–spring | 9B–11 | Moderate to high |
| Purple Trumpet Tree | 20–30 ft | Late winter–spring | 9B–11 | Moderate |
| Yellow Trumpet Tree | 15–25 ft | Late winter–spring | 9B–11 | High |
| Silver Trumpet Tree | 15–25 ft | Late winter–spring | 9B–11 | High |
| Jacaranda Tree | 25–40 ft | Spring | 9B–11 | Moderate |
| Lignum Vitae | 10–20 ft | Spring | 9B–11 | Very high |
| Gardenia Tree | 6–10 ft | Spring | 8–11 | Low to moderate |
| Royal Poinciana | 30–50 ft | Early summer | 10A–11 | Moderate |
| Muskogee Crape Myrtle | 15–25 ft | Summer | 7–10A | Low to moderate |
| Plumeria | 15–25 ft | Late spring–fall | 10A–11 | High |
| Hibiscus Tree | 6–10 ft | Warm months | 9B–11 | Moderate |
| Desert Cassia | 10–15 ft | Fall–winter | 9B–11 | Moderate to high |
| Scrambled Egg Tree | 12–20 ft | Much of the year, peak fall–winter | 9B–11 | Moderate |
| Hong Kong Orchid Tree | 20–40 ft | Late fall–spring | 9B–11 | Moderate |
| Bougainvillea Tree | 8–15 ft | Heaviest in the dry season | 9B–11 | High |
| Orange Geiger Tree | 15–25 ft | Nearly year-round | 10A–11 | High |
| White Geiger Tree | 15–20 ft | Nearly year-round | 9B–11 | Moderate to high |
| Yellow Geiger Tree | 8–15 ft | Nearly year-round | 10A–11 | High |
How to Choose a Flowering Tree
Plan for bloom season, not just bloom color. Pairing a late-winter Trumpet Tree with a summer Royal Poinciana or Crape Myrtle and a fall-blooming Cassia gives you color in almost every month. Geiger Trees and Bougainvillea fill in the gaps with flowers much of the year.
Give big trees room to spread. Royal Poincianas and Jacarandas develop wide, umbrella-shaped canopies, often as wide as they are tall. Plant them at least 15 to 20 feet from the house, driveway and pool. For smaller lots and planting beds, the Gardenia Tree, Hibiscus Tree, Yellow Geiger and Bougainvillea Tree stay in scale.
Use coastal performers near the water. Geiger Trees, Lignum Vitae, Plumeria, Bougainvillea and the Yellow and Silver Trumpet Trees all handle salt air well, which makes them excellent picks for island and bayfront homes.
Expect some seasonal leaf drop. Several flowering trees, including Crape Myrtles, Jacarandas, Royal Poincianas and Trumpet Trees, lose some or all of their leaves for part of the year. That is part of what makes their bloom so dramatic, but plan accordingly near pools and screened enclosures.
Getting the Best Blooms in Southwest Florida
Most flowering trees need six or more hours of direct sun to bloom heavily; in too much shade they grow leggy and flower sparsely. Water new trees regularly through their first growing season, then taper off. Many of these trees, especially the Trumpet Trees, Cassias and Bougainvillea, bloom better with a slightly dry period. Prune right after flowering, not before, so you don’t remove next season’s buds.
Flowering Tree FAQs
What flowering tree blooms the longest in Florida?
Geiger Trees (orange, white and yellow) flower nearly year-round in our climate, and the Scrambled Egg Tree blooms for much of the year with a fall and winter peak.
What are the best small flowering trees for a front yard?
The Hibiscus Tree, Gardenia Tree, Yellow Geiger and Bougainvillea Tree all stay roughly 6 to 15 feet and work well near entries and in planting beds. Desert Cassia and Lignum Vitae are also compact.
Which flowering trees handle salt spray on the coast?
Lignum Vitae, Plumeria, Bougainvillea, Orange and Yellow Geiger Trees, and Yellow and Silver Trumpet Trees are all rated high or very high for salt tolerance.
Will a Royal Poinciana grow in Manatee County?
Yes. Royal Poincianas grow well in coastal and protected areas of zone 10A. In colder inland pockets, a hard freeze can damage young trees, so placement matters.
When do Trumpet Trees bloom in Florida?
Pink, purple, yellow and silver Trumpet Trees typically put on their main show in late winter and early spring, often before new leaves emerge.
Flowering Tree Installation in Manatee & Sarasota County
Albright Landscaping sources healthy, well-branched specimen trees and installs them with proper staking, soil preparation and a watering plan to get them established fast. We plant flowering trees across Parrish, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Palmetto, Ellenton and the surrounding area.
