15 Beautiful Flowering Tropical Trees Alternative to Cherry Blossoms
Commonly known as Cherry Blossom or Cherry Tree is a beautiful flowering tree which is the symbol of Japan. Cherry trees produce beautiful red, pink, white, and yellow flowers that appear all together in early spring or late autumn.
The cherry tree belongs to the Latin name Prunus serrulata in the Rosaceae family which grows naturally in Japan, Korea, China and India. Many cherry trees are planted for the cherry blossom show exhibition (Hanami) in spring.
In Japan the cherry tree is known as Sato-zakura (サトザクラ). The tree itself can be seen everywhere in Japan, featured in a variety of consumer goods, including kimonos, stationery, and kitchen utensils. For the Japanese, the cherry tree is an important symbol, which is often associated with women, life, death, and is also a symbol to express human bonds, courage, sadness, and joy. The cherry tree is also a metaphor for the characteristics of impermanent life.
Most types of cherry trees are the result of crosses, for example the Someiyoshino (Yoshino Cherries) species that have spread throughout Japan since the Meiji era were the result of crossing cherry trees in the late Edo period.
In ancient times before there were someiyoshino types, Japanese people knew cherry blossoms that bloomed in the mountains called Yamazakura and Yaezaki no sakura as cherry trees. During the cherry blossom season, thousands of Yamazakura trees that grow in the Yoshino Mountains (Nara Prefecture) create a stunning view of white, light green and pink.
Unfortunately, cherry trees cannot grow in tropical climates. Although it can be grown, it is difficult to produce the abundant and full bloom of flowers where it is native or in temperate climates.
Therefore, bonsai-passion.co.uk wrote this article to provide a solution for those of you who want to find alternative cherry trees to plant in tropical climates. Some of the beautiful flowering trees we recommend are quite popular in the tropics, and you may have come across them as shrubs in parks or roadside shade trees.
What are some beautiful flowering tropical trees as an alternative to cherry blossoms? Here’s the list:
1. Javanese Cassia (Cassia javanica)
Javanese cassia or Java cassia are flowering tree species of the Fabaceae family. This tree originates from southeast Asia, but because of its beautiful flowers, it is now widely planted in various tropical regions throughout most of the world. In English, this tree is known as Java Cassia, Konji, Pink Shower, Apple Blossom Tree, and Rainbow Shower Tree.
In their habitat, Javanese cassia trees live in secondary forests and more open environments such as savannahs. It can grow in areas with a height of about 400 m above sea level. In Java, this tree grows in volcanic clay, sandy soils, marshlands, and calcareous soils. You could say this tree is tolerant of various types of soil.
Javanese Cassia also has yellow flowers from the Cassia fistula species, and another hybrid color variant, Cassia × nealiae.
2. Tabebuia (Tabebuia sp.)
Tabebuia is a genus of flowering trees that have various flower color variants that vary from species to species. The most common types grown in the tropics are Tabebuia Pink (Tabebuia rosea) and Tabebuia Yellow (Tabebuia chrysantha).
Because of the many types of Tabebuia from various countries, you can choose one of the flower colors according to the species:
- Tabebuia Pink Soft (Tabebuia roseo-alba)
- Tabebuia Yellow (Tabebuia chrysantha)
- Tabebuia Brazilian Yellow (Tabebuia ochracea)
- Tabebuia Yellow Ipe (Handroanthus serratifolius)
- Tabebuia White (Handroanthus albus)
- Tabebuia Plum (Handroanthus impetiginosus)
- Tabebuia Magenta (Handroanthus heptaphyllus)
Tabebuia tree is thought to originate from Brazil, and in its original habitat, it grows in arid regions, so that the tree has a high survival rate in dry weather and hot temperatures.
Tabebuia became one of the competitors in the Cherry Blossom tree. Besides the tree that can grow in hot climates, it is also tolerant of various types of soil. Maintenance is fairly easy, and there are rarely pests or plant diseases that interfere with the Tabebuia tree.
3. Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Jacaranda is a genus of flowering plants consisting of 49 species in the family Bignoniaceae. The tree is native to tropical and subtropical regions from Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas. Today, Jacaranda trees have been widely planted and cultivated in Asia, especially in Nepal.
Jacaranda tree can grow with a height of 25-30 meters and it has purple flowers that are very beautiful when blooming.
4. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape myrtle is one of the most popular beautiful flowering trees in Southeast Asia. When in bloom, the crape myrtle flowers look very charming, with a pink color and filling almost the entire tree canopy.
There are several types of crape myrtle that are popular as ornamental tree, but the most common is the crape myrtle with shrub-shaped trees, namely Lagerstroemia indica. While other types are those that have wide leaves, it is called Lagerstroemia speciosa.
5. Red Cotton (Bombax ceiba)
The red cotton tree is a medium-sized Asian tropical tree that has thorny stems and deciduous leaves. The flowers are red with 5 petals appear in spring before new leaves. This tree produces fruit that contains white fibers such as cotton.
This tree is widely planted in Southeast Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
6. Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Who doesn’t know the royal poinciana tree? This large tree that can reach 30 meters in height has beautiful red flowers.
Royal poinciana is a tropical tree with beautiful flowers, an alternative to cherry blossoms which is suitable for tropical climates. Apart from the beauty of its flowers, this tree can also be planted as a greening tree and road shade because of its tall and wide canopy.
7. Purple Glory (Pleroma granulosum)
The Purple Glory Tree is considered one of the ornamental tree species with abundant flowers. The flowers last from early to late summer.
This tree can grow up to 10 meters tall and requires good, acidic soil for flowering (acidic fertilizer is recommended). In addition to acidic soil, this tree does very well in full sun all day.
This tree is intolerant of temperatures below freezing and waterlogged soil.
8. Copperpod (Pterocarpum peltophorum)
Copperpod is a Peltophorum species native to tropical Southeast Asia. This yellow-flowered tree is widely grown in the tropics as an ornamental and timber-producing tree, especially in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Florida and Hawaii in the United States.
9. Hong Kong Orchid (Bauhinia × blakeana)
The Hong Kong orchid (Bauhinia × blakeana) is a tree in the genus Bauhinia with butterfly-winged leaves and bright purple flowers.
The flowers are fragrant and resemble the shape of an orchid flower. The bauhinia flower is large, it is 10-15 cm long and blooms from early to late summer.
In Hong Kong, this plant is called by its Chinese name, “洋紫荊”.
10. Taiwanese Rain Tree (Koelreuteria elegans)
The Taiwan Rain Tree (Koelreuteria elegans) is a flowering tree endemic to Taiwan, and can grow up to 15 meters in height. This tree is widely planted throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world as a street decoration tree. The Taiwan Rain Tree blooms from early to mid summer.
Although classified as a beautiful tree, several countries categorize Koelreuteria elegans as a weed, for example in Brisbane, Australia and Hawaii.
11. Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum)
Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) is a tree that reaches 45 meters in height, although in the wild it rarely reaches this size because after 30 meters it is usually logged for its valuable timber.
The tree blooms with purple flowers in the dry season until the beginning of the rainy season.
This tree is native to tropical areas in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
12. Mexican Lilac (Gliricidia sepium)
Mexican Lilac (Gliricidia sepium) is a type of shrub that is often used as a living fence or shade in rice fields. This tree is one of the most important multipurpose legume species, Mexican Lilac also produces profuse profuse purple-white flowers.
The tree can grow in a variety of places and soil types, from swamps to dry land. If planted in a dry place, in the dry season the leaves will fall and give rise to dense flowers. Conversely, if it is planted in a paddy field, the leaves will be dense and rarely produce dense flowers.
13. Mimosa (Acacia sp.)
Mimosa is a flowering tree species from the Fabaceae family, native to southeast Australia in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. The tree has long been cultivated and for the beauty of the Mediterranean landscape, where it is commonly planted in areas with moderate climate and tropical highlands.
Mimosa has rapid growth, it can reach a maximum height of up to 30 meters. The flowers appear in large inflorescences of racemose, which are made up of various small bright yellow flowers.
Specifically, the Acacia dealbata species has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
In addition to this species, some of his relatives from Acacia also have a similar appearance and can also be planted as ornamental trees. That includes:
- Acacia pendula
- Acacia floribunda
- Acacia pravissima
- Acacia boormanii
- Acacia buxifolia
14. Bougainville (Bougainvillea sp.)
Bougainvillea is a popular ornamental tree growing as a shrub or small tree up to 4-5 meters tall. Its beauty comes from its large and brightly colored flowers. Bougainville also has color variations of each hybrid.
The maintenance of this tree is very easy, and it doesn’t take long to produce flowers because bougainvillea is very suitable for planting in tropical climates. The hotter the place, the faster it produces flowers.
15. Frangipani (Plumeria sp.)
Plumeria is the name of a genus of plants in the Apocynaceae family. The shape is a small tree with sparse but dense leaves. The flowers are large and have a very distinctive aroma. Each species has its own flower color, for example Plumeria rubra has red flowers, Plumeria alba has white flowers, and Plumeria inodora has yellow and white flowers.
This tree is very drought tolerant and can grow in acidic to neutral soils. This tree will produce beautiful, dense flowers in summer which sometimes shed its leaves like a deciduous tree.
Those are 15 tropical trees with beautiful flowering cherry blossom alternatives that we recommend. You can choose the one that best suits your taste.
This article will be continuously updated to add new tree names. If you have any suggestions, feel free to write them down in the comments below.
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