What's your favorite tropical flowering tree?

[Fouquieria]

After reading about the Jacarandas and the Poincianas and the Ipes (Tabebuias), I was thinking about my personal favorite.  Of course it HAS to be one we don't have around here in San Diego.

I think that over the years, the one I've settled on as my personal favorite is probably another beauty from southern Brazil, the Sibipiruna.  It's latin name is Caesalpinia pluviosa var. peltophoroides.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it is evergreen or at least just briefly deciduous.

So, if you had to settle on just one flowering tree, which one would it be?

-Ron-

[SubTropicRay]

My favorite would have to be something in the genus Cassia.  Several species are quite eye catching.

[Walter John]

Does Plumeria count ? If so, that's my pick.

[bubba]

Royal Poincianna would be first but another beautiful tree in the Palm Beach area is the African Tulip.It blooms in January and the blooms hang for a long time and are rather awesome.

[Really full garden]

My favorite is the yellow tabebuia.Here it is called Palo Blanco and unfortunatly is a favorite tree for its wood.They bloom in January and are spectacular.

                                                                                                           Scott

[palmmermaid]

I am partial to the African Tulip as well.

[LJG]

There are FAR too many favorites for those I can not grow.

But my favorite that can be grow here in SoCal is Calodendrum capense. I am amazed it is not seen more here. When you see one in bloom you will not forget it.

[palmarazzi]

mine is a frangipani relative called milky way tree or stemmadenia littoralis. it's a magnificent tree with very fragrant constant blooms. i had one for several years growing happily along a southern exposed wall but old man winter killed it.

[Palmarum]

There are a few that always spark my interest, but I also thought what would be my favorite rare flowering trees as well. I collect what Plumeria varieties I can get a hold of, but other than those, I thought of a pair of really rare trees I would like to have. I have yet to get a photo of either of them with flowers, but all in due time. I included two instead of one, because I have not seen either in flower yet. I can not just pick one when it comes to plants.

- Browneopsis ucayalina. The newly emergent 'throw' of new leaves is spectacular, not to mention its large flower.

- Colecophyllum sp. A relatively unknown flowering tree with an colorful trunk and a bright flower display.

Ryan

[aussiearoids]

Sarraca thaipingensis , has the pale coloured pendulous new flush , flowers from the trunk and branches and a few other even more colourful relatives .

I have a small S.indica that has red flowers .

[Peter]

Hard to argue with you Ron, although it's very tough to narrow down choices.  Here are my C. peltophoroides, the first is growing in California(courtesy of Ron!).  You can just about make out it's new flush of red leaves.  It went thru our cold snap with no problems, although it has been a slow grower so far.  The other is planted out in South Florida; probably too small to plant out but I'm impatient.

[Peter]

Michael,

I think I had a baby from that very Saraca(or at least one close by); friends were in Australia last year and collected seed.  Unfortunately it succumbed this winter :-(.

[ruskinPalms]

I agree with Ray, I really like the Cassia's as well. Here is one that I saw in Hawaii that I think is called Rainbow Shower for a common name.  I doubt it would make it here.

[Peter]

And just to add a couple of New Caledonia natives that are on my wish list:  Syzygium acre and Acropogon sp.  Please contact me if you have seed out there...

[palmarazzi]

wow those are neat lookin peter! i'd love to plant one of everything...surround my house in a jungle. but alas, neighborhood association problems would arise…who forbid such things. *sigh* time to move.

[jdapalms]

There are to many fantastic flowering trees for me to have a favorite. I took this picture last week at the Huntington garden (Cycad day 2007) Calodendrum capense, this tree was full of flowers.

[aussiearoids]

Ylang-ylang is a native around here , not often seen as a small tree . Noticed this one in the car park of a local fruit stall just past Mossman .

[aussiearoids]

Cananga odorata is usually a rainforest giant up to 12 m ++ , this one was approx 3m and growing in full sun .

Seeds are a very popular food for many native birds so can be difficult to collect .

[palmmermaid]

Maybe this is the other species of Canaga.  I have one and they only reach about 8-10'.  I believe it is Cananga fruticosa.  I didn't want the full size tree because they blow down.

[Kris]

(Wal @ Jun. 20 2007,07:34)

QUOTE

Does Plumeria count ? If so, that's my pick.

yes,even i love the Pulmeria's _ Period !  

[richtrav]

Peter

How much cold did that Caesalpinia peltophoroides take? According to one old S African gardening book, it can grow wherever Jacaranda thrives. Some are neat plants with the peeling bark and all, same with a few Cochlospermum.

[Peter]

Mine took 20d without missing a beat.  However, I'm on a hill with great air drainage so that might be a little misleading.  They are definitely tough, as is C. ferrea which took similar temps with no problems

[Trópico]

My favorites are:

1. Delonix regia (Yellow form and Red form)

2. Ceiba tree

Not flowering at the time of pic but beautiful!

[SunnyFl]

So many beauties to choose from - around here, the Cassia fistulas are in full bloom.  There's a big old one down our street that's a sight to see.  And the jacarandas - when they're in bloom, they're magnificent.

A few blocks away from here is a royal poinciana, another gem.  And I love the yellow tabs - especially caraiba - and the plumerias.

I don't think I could pick out one favorite -  but perhaps it would be the yellow elder (tecoma stans).  It makes a large shrub or small tree, and it blooms throughout the summer, with brilliant yellow trumpets - and so fragrant.

I wish I had taken a photo of mine - it was 15' tall and a dependable bloomer.   I miss it so much.

[epicure3]

Toss up for me. Either the Spathodea or Michelia Chamapaca v. Alba. My Michelia is about 20 feet tall now and just covered in white flowers with an overwhelming perfum like smell.

[DoomsDave]

Fouq!

You have a cruel sense of humor!

There are so many lovely trees that bloom, my poor swooning sofa's been retrofitted with a steel frame and bolted to the concrete in the garage . . . .  

I can't pick just one.  Any more than I can eat just of Lay's potato chips, or just one hot wing, or just one can of Miller's . . . .

Hmm.  Erythrina coralloides, crista-galli; Bauhinia blakeana, purperea; TABUBEIA! ipe chryso-whatever; and, to paraphrase those great sages Sonny & Cher:  "the list goes on. . . . ."

("Seedpods poundin' a rythym to the brain!")

dave

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I like Bulnesia arborea.  It has a beautiful butter yellow bloom.  Another good one is the Queen Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa).  A couple of flowering trees thought to be too tender for Florida but are fantastic are Warsewiczia coccinea and Amherstia nobilis.

Jerry

[philinsydney]

Brachychiton acerifolius is native to my area; this one isn't the greatest specimen though.

[ania]

Any Chorisia speciosa fans out there?

Saraca thaipingensis, S.indica, S.declinata have beautiful blooms.

Cannonball Tree (Coroupita guianensis) has lovely but stinky flowers.

Ania

[DoomsDave]

LOVE chorisia, though I think it's been renamed . . . .

Especially "Los ANgeles Beautiful" a magenta spineless cultivar

dave

[Jason Baker Portugal]

I have loved Delonix regia  ever since I lived in Jamaica as a child. Those red flowers! Unfortunately they don´t grow here. The best trees I have are Tibouchina mutabilis, Jacarandá, Chorisia, Cassias, Acacias, Sibipiruana, Stenocarpus, Brachy acerifolia, Peach trees, Decidious magnolias (pink and white), Albizia, Tabebuias pink and yellow and Calliandra brevipes (magnificent, blooms 1 week after heavy watering or rain). Wow, we really do have a nice, colourfull garden! Brachy, Steno, Sibi and tabebi pink are still too young to flower yet.

Thanks for reminding my about my garden.

Jason

[Tad]

spathodea campanulata, the african tulip tree is mine!

but plumerias are pretty swell as well.

[amazondk]

My favorite is our local yellow ipe, Tabebuia serratifolia.  They can get pretty big though.

A baby in the forest

One in flower

And, a giant of the forest

[TikiRick]

Mine would have to be the Royal Poiciana as well. But a close second goes to the Rainbow cassia. Honorable mention is awarded to the Queens Crape Myrtle.