Flowering Trees in the Bahamas

The Bahamas are a favorite tropical vacation destination for many people on the East Coast. New Providence Island is home to Nassau, the Bahamian capital; Grand Bahama Island is known for its ecological wonders, and the Out Islands host small villages and beaches. Because they are tropical islands, many flowering trees that grow in other tropical areas exist, as well as native trees that grow nowhere else.

Typical Flowering Trees

The plumeria or frangipani is common in the Bahamas and it lends its fragrance to tropical floral arrangements and other decorations. The Royal Poinciana is a vivid orange flowering tree that is popular during its summer blooming season.

National Flower

The Yellow Elder is the Bahamian national flower. It’s a small tree that has many yellow flowers and is often planted in home gardens for its ease of care and beauty.

Dogwood and Croton

The Bahamas has its own dogwood species, the Piccidia piscipula, which sports small pink and white flowers. The Cascarilla is a Croton family flowering tree also known as Sweet wood. It has become rare because of over harvesting in the 1800s—its bark was treasured for incense and liqueurs.

Other Flowering Trees

The Pigeon Plum is a native plant that is common in the Bahamas. Its small white flowers grow into a fruit that once was used medicinally to help people suffering from diarrhea. The Willow bustic has small, sweet-smelling flowers that turn into black berries that provide food to birds. Allspice has small, fragrant white flowers that create the berries used as a spice and medicine. The Horse bush, also known as “Sarah’s toe,” is a tree that produces a profusion of yellow flowers. It occurs on South Andros, Long Island and Exuma.