30 Beautiful Types of Caribbean Flowers (2024)

When you think of the Caribbean, you likely think of island breezes, beautiful beaches, and, of course, lush vegetation. The warmth and richness of the Caribbean’s tropical climate support a diverse range of lovely, brightly colored, exotic flowers. In this article, we’ll explore 30 beautiful types of Caribbean flowers.

30 Stunning Types of Caribbean Flowers

1. Allamanda

Native to Central America and northern South America, Allamanda cathartica (commonly called allamanda, yellow allamanda, or golden trumpet) is a member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) plant family.

It is an evergreen climbing shrub that can reach up to 20 feet in height untended. It produces lovely, golden-yellow, single or double blossoms shaped like large trumpet horns. The flowers emit a strong fragrance that is slightly sweet and freshly floral.

2. Anthurium

Native to Columbia and Ecuador, Anthurium andraeanum belongs to the Aracea (arum) plant family and is commonly referred to as anthurium, flamingo flower, painter’s palette, laceleaf, and oilcloth flower.

The plants produce glossy, green, spade-shaped foliage at the ends of slender stems. The inflorescences consist of space-shaped, brightly-colored flower bracts with white or yellow, finger-shaped spadices protruding from the bases.

Anthuriums are popularly grown indoors as houseplants. However, it’s essential to be careful with pets and small children around them, as they are highly toxic to all mammals.

For more, see our in-depth guide to popular flowers that are toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets.

3. Bananaquit Flower

Native to the coastal southeastern and south-central United States and northeastern Mexico, Erythrina herbacea is a flowering shrub or small tree belonging to the Fabaceae (pea) plant family.

Its common names include the Mamou plant, red cardinal, cardinal spear, coral bean, Cherokee bean, and the bananaquit flower because bananaquit birds sometimes feed on the nectar produced by the plant’s clusters of bright-red tubular blossoms. The flowers also attract hummingbirds.

Various parts of the plant also have a history of medicinal uses by several Native American Tribes. These uses included relief for stomach pains and other digestive troubles. In Mexico, the seeds and bark are used respectively to make rat and fish poisons.

4. Barbados Lily

Native to eastern Brazil, Hippeastrum striatum (commonly called Barbados lily or striped Barbados lily) is a member of the Amarayllidaceae (amaryllis) plant family. These bulbous, herbaceous plants produce rosettes of long, strap-like foliage and produce terminal clusters of two to four flower blossoms.

These Caribbean flowers resemble lilies – hence the plant’s common name – in that they are star-shaped with slender, back-turned petals in bright colors with prominent, central stamens.

5. Bird of Paradise

Commonly called the crane flower or bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae is an evergreen perennial belonging to the Strelitziaceae plant family. Birds of paradise are large plants that grow to be over six feet tall. They produce fan-shaped foliage and impressive flowers atop stalks that reach above the leaves.

When fully open, the multicolored flowers resemble the plumage and beak of an exotic bird with its wings outstretched in flight. Looking as if they are in flight, bird of paradise flowers symbolize freedom and immortality.

6. Bougainvillea

The Bougainvillea genus contains 17 accepted species of flowering vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the Nyctaginaceae (four-o-clock) plant family that are native to South America.

The plants’ branches are covered with spiky thorns that allow them to easily climb over other plants and the sides of walls and fences. They produce attractive evergreen foliage and brightly colored flower bracts throughout their flowering season.

The bracts completely cover the bougainvillea, transforming them into a wash of color. As a result, these Caribbean plants are famous for planting along walls, fences, and hedgerows because they make striking privacy screens.

7. Canna Lily

Native to the Gulf Coast of the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America, the Canna genus contains 12 accepted flowering plants commonly called canna lilies. Despite their common name, the plants are actually members of the Cannaceae plant family and are not true lilies.

Canna lilies are produced from rhizomes and spread easily in a garden. They produce broad, attractive foliage that can be green and sometimes have reddish markings. The most noticeable portions of the flowers that look like petals are actually the reproductive parts of the flowerheads with extravagant pistils and stamens.

8. Caribbean Trumpet Tree

Native to the Caribbean islands, Tabebuia heterophylla is a species of flowering deciduous tree commonly called the Caribbean trumpet tree, pink manjack, whitewood, white cedar, or pink trumpet tree. It belongs to the Bigoniaceae (bigonia) plant family.

They produce two to three-inch flowers in profusion. The flowers are pink and tubular. The trees are small to medium in size and grow moderately fast. They are popularly grown along streets for sidewalk shade and are also commonly grown for their lumber.

9. Columnea

A member of the Gesneriaceae (gesneriad) plant family, the Columnea genus contains 214 accepted species of flowering, epiphytic shrubs and herbs that grow on the sides of trees in their tropical habitat. Columnea plants are native to Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean islands.

The plants produce large, oddly shaped flowers that are usually tubular in bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. The tubular flowers of some species are shaped like fish, and these are often commonly referred to as flying goldfish plants. Others are typically referred to simply by their genus name.

10. Coral Bean

Native to the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and parts of Australasia, Erythrina fusca is a lowering tree in the Fabaceae (legume) plant family. This tree is the only species of its genus to have a native distribution in both the New and Old World. It produces large, pendulous clusters of fiery-colored flower blossoms and grows in wetlands, marshes, swamps, and along riverbanks. It has several common names, including coral bean, purple coraltree, bucayo, bois immortelle, gallito, and bucare.

11. Coralita

A member of the Polygonaceae (buckwheat) plant family, Antigonon leptopus is a flowering vine prized for its racemes of ornamental, pink, heart-shaped blossoms and its edible seeds and tubers.

It has numerous common names, including coralita, queen’s wreath, Mexican creeper, hearts on a chain, bride’s tears, chain of love, queen’s jewels, mountain rose, coral vine, and many more in different languages.

These Caribbean flowers are native to Mexico and Central America and have been introduced to much of the Caribbean, Gulf Coast, South America, and other tropical regions of the world.

12. Desert Rose

Adenium obesum is native to the Arabian Peninsula and the Sahel region of Africa just south of the Sahara Desert. However, it grows well throughout the Caribbean and has been naturalized in some areas, such as Barbados.

Commonly called the desert rose, it is a succulent shrub with a thick, trunk-like base. It is usually evergreen but can lose its leaves during severe drought. The leaves are arranged spirally around branches.

These Caribbean plants produce five-lobed, trumpet-shaped flowers in several shades of red, pink, purple, and white. Desert rose sap is used as a poison on arrows in hunting in Africa.

13. Flamboyant Tree

Native to Madagascar and naturalized around much of the Caribbean region, Delonix regia is species of flowering deciduous tree belonging to the Fabaceae (legume) plant family.

The trees blossom abundantly with scarlet-red or orange-red flowers that can be spotted with yellow or white. The flowers have five oar-shaped petals, each about three inches long.

Common names for the tree include flamboyant tree, flame tree, flame of the forest, and phoenix flower. In the Caribbean region, the flower is the national flower of St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as the official tree of Key West, Florida.

14. Frangipani

Native to Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and areas of the Caribbean, the Plumeria genus contains 19 accepted species of succulent, flowering shrubs and small trees in the Apocynaceae (dogbane) plant family.

Plumeria flowers have tubular corollas and five triangle-shaped petals arranged in a pinwheel-like formation. These Caribbean flowers are highly regarded for their powerful fragrance at night. The scent is flowery and slightly citrusy, like jasmine and gardenia blossoms.

15. Ghost Orchid

Native to the Bahamas, Cuba, and Florida, Dendrophylax lindenii is an epiphytic perennial belonging to the Orchidaceae (orchid) plant family. Its common names include the ghost orchid, leafless ghost orchid, white frog orchid, and palm polly.

The orchid’s person-shaped flower is primarily white with a corona of light-green petals spanning above its “head.” Pollinated by only a handful of moth species, these flowers are endangered and difficult to cultivate by hand. Their removal from the wild is strictly forbidden, as collected species almost always die within a year of removal.

16. Ginger Lily

Hedychium coronarium is a rhizomatic, perennial, flowering plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) plant family. The blossoms grow in racemes and are usually white but can also be red, pink, or orange. Its common names include ginger lily, white garland lily, fragrant garland flower, butterfly lily, or white ginger.

Native to southeastern Asia, the ginger lily has been widely naturalized to the tropical climates of the Americas and the Caribbean. In these areas, ginger lily is now mostly considered invasive because its quick spread through rhizomes makes it challenging to eradicate.

17. Heliconia

Native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of the Caribbean, the Heliconia genus contains 198 accepted species of herbaceous flowering plants belonging to the Heliconiaceae family.

Some common names include false bird of paradise, lobster claws, wild plantain, and toucan beak, but the flowers are also commonly referred to by their genus name.

Heliconias can be anywhere from 18 inches to 15 feet in height. These Caribbean flowers produce large, ovate leaves and drooping panicles of exotic-looking flowers. The flowerheads primarily consist of showy, beak-shaped flower bracts.

18. Hibiscus

A member of the Malvaceae (mallow) plant family, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is native to the small, South-Pacific island of Vanuatu, but the species has been naturalized in tropical areas around the world, including the Caribbean.

This Caribbean plant is a shrub or small tree and produces scarlet-red, trumpet-shaped flowers with prominent golden-yellow stamens. Its common names include hibiscus, rose mallow, and shoeblack plant.

19. Ixora

A Rubiaceae (coffee) plant family member, Ixora coccinea is a flowering evergreen shrub commonly called Ixora or jungle geranium. The plants are usually four to seven feet in height but can grow up to 12 feet tall. They produce leathery leaves and clusters of petite, tubular flowers on terminal racemes.

Native to parts of southeastern Asia, the species has also been naturalized to areas around the Caribbean. It’s popularly grown as a container plant and makes an excellent hedge or privacy screen in its suitable growing zones.

20. Jasmine

A member of the Oleaceae (olive) plant family, the Jasminum genus contains 201 accepted species of flowering shrubs and vines that can be either evergreen or deciduous.

They produce white or light-pink flowers with a rich, fruity, and sweet fragrance most strongly emitted at night. The plants are widely cultivated for their fragrance, a popular ingredient in perfumes and lotions.

Jasmine is native to parts of the Middle East, southern Asia, the Pacific islands, and Australia but has been naturalized throughout the Caribbean.

21. Lantana

Native to the tropical regions of the Caribbean and Americas, Lantana camara is a species of flowering shrub in the Verbenaceae (verbena) plant family. The shrubs have a sprawling or scandent growth habit and spread quickly through their root systems.

Due to lantana’s pervasive nature and easy spread, these Caribbean flowers are considered invasive in many of their non-native habitats. They produce showy, bulbous clusters of flowers in gradient shades of white, yellow, orange, red, purple, and pink.

22. Mandevilla

The Mandevilla genus contains 177 accepted species of flowering vines that belong to the Apocynaceae (dogbane) plant family and are native to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of the Caribbean.

They are commonly referred to as rocktrumpet or simply by their genus name. The vines can be trained to climb fences and walls, providing an attractive leafy covering that is often punctuated by large, tubular flowers in bright colors.

23. Night-Blooming Cereus

Native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean, Selenicereus grandiflorus is a flowering cactus belonging to the Cactaceae (cactus) plant family.

The cactus is commonly called night-blooming cereus, queen of the night, vanilla cactus, and sweet-scented cactus in reference to its night-blooming nature and the pleasant fragrance of its flowers. The fragrant flowers appear at the ends of slender branches and are large (up to 15 inches in diameter), cup-shaped, and white in color.

24. Oleander

A member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) plant family, Nerium oleander is the only species within its genus. It is a flowering shrub or small tree commonly called oleander or nerium.

Nerium oleander is native to the Mediterranean region, parts of North Africa, and south-central Asia, and it has been naturalized in the Caribbean region.

These Caribbean plants produce clusters of small, five-petaled flowers that sometimes have a sweet fragrance. Oleander plants are highly toxic, but they are bitter-tasting to humans and animals, making them an unlikely source of accidental poisoning.

25. Orchid Tree

Native to southeastern Asia and naturalized in the Caribbean region, Bauhinia variegata is a small to medium-sized flowering tree that grows just under 50 feet in height. It belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) plant family, producing showy flower blossoms in shades of bright pink and white. The flowers look similar to certain orchid blossoms, and this is where the plant’s common name, orchid tree, comes from.

26. Passion Flower

A member of the Passifloraceae (passion flower) plant family, the Passiflora genus contains 582 accepted species of flowering plants, commonly called passion flowers, that are native to the temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates of the Americas, eastern Asia, and Australia.

These Caribbean flowers are highly unusual looking with various unique color combinations, a symmetrical corona of petal-like sepals, and prominent bursts of wavy stamens.

27. Prickly Pear

A Cactaceae (cactus) plant family member, Opuntia is a genus of 144 flowering plants commonly called prickly pear. These plants are native to much of the Americas, including the Caribbean region.

These plants produce pretty blossoms atop their fleshy cactus segments. They also have fruits called tuna and are used to make a sweet, refreshing drink called aguas frescas.

28. Saltmarsh Morning Glory

Native to the Caribbean region, Ipomoea sagittata is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) plant family. It is commonly called the saltmarsh morning glory because it grows in saltmarshes along barrier islands.

Saltmarsh morning glories have been endemic in the Mediterranean region since the 17th century because their seeds were transported in the ballast soil of merchant ships. In the language of flowers, morning glories symbolize affectation.

29. Spider Lily

Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Hymenocallis littoralis is a species of flowering, bulbous, perennial herb belonging to the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) plant family) that is commonly called spider lily or beach spider lily.

These Caribbean plants grow slightly over two feet tall and produce thick clumps of lance-like foliage. The vanilla-scented flowers are snowy white and unusually shaped with dense, round centers and long, skinny petals that slightly resemble the silhouette of a spider.

30. Yellow Elder

A member of the Bignoneaceae (bignonia) plant family that is native to the Americas, Tecoma stans is a species of flowering, perennial shrubs or small trees commonly called yellow elder, yellow trumpetbush, ginger Thomas, or yellow bells.

The plants produce feather-shaped foliage and large, terminal clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in a vibrant shade of golden yellow, orange-red, or a combination of the two colors. The flowers feature slender, orange stripes inside their throats. Great for pollinators, they attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

The Caribbean region enjoys a tropical climate characterized by warm weather and high humidity, lots of sunshine, and frequent rainfall, which makes it perfect for a wide variety of flowers and plant life to thrive.

Here are some characteristics of the climate and growing conditions for flowers in the Caribbean:

• Temperature: The Caribbean is known for its warm temperatures, typically ranging from 24°C (75°F) to 29°C (84°F) year-round. This constant warmth is ideal for many tropical flowers.

• Rainfall: The region receives abundant rainfall, particularly during the rainy season from May to November. This provides ample water supply for plant growth.

• Sunlight: The Caribbean receives abundant sunlight, with approximately 8 to 9 hours of sunlight per day, providing the necessary light for photosynthesis in plants.

• Soil: The soil in the Caribbean varies across islands. Some have rich, fertile, volcanic soil that’s great for plant growth, while others have more sandy, less fertile soil. The diversity, however, allows for a wide variety of plant species to thrive.

• Humidity: The Caribbean region is known for its high humidity, which is beneficial to many tropical plants and flowers that thrive in moist conditions.

• Wind: The region can sometimes experience high winds, particularly during the hurricane season (June to November).

Caribbean Flowers FAQs:

Take a Caribbean Cruise Through Your Garden

If you ever have the chance to sail on a cruise through the Caribbean region, you can keep your eye out for these flowers growing at all of your stops. However, you can also grow them, during the right seasons, in your own backyard – even if you live in a cooler climate. These tropical flowers can thrive with the proper climate-minded care.