The coastal forests, savannas and riverine wetlands of Ivory Coast host a surprising variety of wild and cultivated blooms. Whether you’re walking a national park trail or exploring village gardens, the island-like habitats and seasonal rains shape which species appear where and when.
There are 45 Flowers of Ivory Coast, ranging from (Note: duplicate removed above) to Zinnia. Each entry is presented with concise data so you can compare species easily: Scientific name,Habitat/location,Bloom season — useful for ID, travel planning, or garden selection. For details on each species and their seasons, you’ll find below.
How can I quickly identify common flowers in Ivory Coast?
Look first at growth habit (tree, shrub, herb), leaf shape and arrangement, and flower form and color; then check habitat and bloom season. The list below includes scientific names and habitat details to confirm IDs and reduce confusion with similar species.
When are the best months to see the most blooms?
Peak flowering typically follows the rainy season, but exact months vary by region and species. Use the Bloom season column in the table below to plan visits to specific habitats or to time seed sowing for garden planting.
Flowers of Ivory Coast
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat/location | Bloom season |
|---|---|---|---|
| African tulip | Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv. | cultivated gardens, roadsides, rainforest edges | Jan–Apr |
| Flame-of-the-woods | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. | cultivated gardens, hedges, roadsides | year-round with peaks Nov–Mar |
| Roselle (Jamaica sorrel) | Hibiscus sabdariffa L. | gardens, small farms, roadsides | Jul–Oct |
| Frangipani | Plumeria rubra L. | cultivated gardens, coastal houses | Feb–May; Sep–Nov |
| Jacaranda | Jacaranda mimosifolia D.Don | avenues, parks, cultivated gardens | Mar–May |
| Allamanda | Allamanda cathartica L. | gardens, roadsides, coastal plantings | year-round with peaks Jan–Jun |
| Lantana | Lantana camara L. | roadsides, waste ground, gardens | year-round |
| Yellow trumpet | Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth | roadsides, gardens, savanna edges | Feb–Jun; Sep–Nov |
| Drumstick tree (Moringa) | Moringa oleifera Lam. | villages, cultivated grounds, savanna | Nov–Mar |
| Senegal coral tree | Erythrina senegalensis A.Chev. | savanna, woodland edges, roadsides | Feb–Apr |
| Red-flowered kapok | Bombax buonopozense P.Beauv. | gallery forest, forest–savanna mosaic | Feb–Apr |
| Kapok (silk-cotton) | Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. | rainforest, gallery forest | Feb–Apr |
| White waterlily | Nymphaea lotus L. | ponds, lakes, slow rivers | Jun–Oct (wet season) and year-round pockets |
| Bird of paradise | Strelitzia reginae Banks | cultivated gardens, parks | Oct–Mar with year-round sporadic blooms |
| Ixora | Ixora coccinea L. | gardens, hedges, roadside plantings | year-round with peaks Mar–Jun |
| Plumbago | Plumbago auriculata Lam. | gardens, coastal roadsides | year-round with peaks Dec–Apr |
| Desert rose | Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. | potted plants, gardens, roadsides | Feb–May |
| Yellow oleander | Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K.Schum. | gardens, roadsides, coastal plantings | year-round |
| Pride-of-Barbados | Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. | gardens, roadsides, savanna edges | Jan–Jun |
| Pinwheel jasmine | Tabernaemontana divaricata L. | gardens, temple grounds, shaded spots | year-round |
| Madagascar periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don. | gardens, roadsides, disturbed ground | year-round |
| Zinnia | Zinnia elegans Jacq. | gardens, seasonal beds, roadsides | Dec–Apr and Jul–Oct |
| Dahlia | Dahlia pinnata Cav. | gardens, cultivated beds | Oct–Mar; Jul–Oct depending on planting |
| Costus | Costus afer Ker Gawl. | forest edges, secondary forest, shaded roadsides | Mar–Jun and Sep–Nov |
| Grains of paradise (flowering ginger) | Aframomum melegueta (Roscoe) K.Schum. | wet forest understorey, swampy forest | Mar–Jun |
| Cola tree | Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl. | rainforest, secondary forest, agroforestry | Mar–May |
| Periwinkle shrub (Madagascar) | Catharanthus roseus (duplicate entry removed) | — | — |
| (Note: duplicate removed — see single Catharanthus roseus entry above) | — | — | — |
| Peacock flower | Caesalpinia pulcherrima (duplicate removed) | — | — |
| (Note: duplicate removed above) | — | — | — |
| Oleander (common) | Nerium oleander L. | gardens, roadsides, avenues | Dec–Apr and sporadically year-round |
| Sunflower (garden) | Helianthus annuus L. | seasonal fields, gardens | Nov–Feb |
| Corkscrew plant (Tradescantia) | Tradescantia sp. | gardens, shaded borders | year-round |
| African violet (Saintpaulia) — excluded due to no verified Ivory Coast records | — | — | — |
| Flame tree (Peltophorum) | Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Schum. | avenues, parks, cultivated urban trees | Feb–Apr |
| Gardenia (cape jasmine) | Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis | cultivated gardens, shaded courtyards | Nov–Mar |
| Flame vine (Pyrostegia) — excluded when no verified Ivory Coast naturalization | — | — | — |
| Poinciana (flame tree) — Delonix regia present in Ivory Coast | Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf. | urban avenues, parks, cultivated gardens | Mar–May |
| Ginger lily | Hedychium spp. | botanical gardens, shaded gardens | Oct–Mar |
| Native hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella?) — excluded if no confirmed Ivorian records | — | — | — |
| African marigold (Tagetes erecta) | Tagetes erecta L. | gardens, market gardens, ceremonial plantings | Jan–Apr; Oct–Dec |
| Tropical water lily (Nymphaea caerulea) — excluded if no verified Ivory Coast occurrence | — | — | — |
| Pentas | Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers | gardens, urban planters | year-round |
| Soapberry (Blighia sapida) | Blighia sapida K.D.Koenig | forest margins, home gardens | Mar–Jun |
| Fragrant ylang (Cananga odorata) — excluded without clear Ivory Coast records | — | — | — |
Images and Descriptions
African tulip
Striking clusters of fiery orange-red, bell-shaped flowers; easy to spot on avenues and forest margins. Commonly planted as an ornamental and naturalized in disturbed areas, often attracts sunbirds and bees.
Flame-of-the-woods
Large single or double hibiscus flowers in many colors; glossy leaves and prominent staminal column aid ID. Widely grown for ornament; many garden varieties but the species is common throughout Ivory Coast.
Roselle (Jamaica sorrel)
Red calyces follow showy hibiscus blooms; used for tangy drinks (bissap) and traditional medicine. Easy ID by red fleshy calyces and lobed leaves; cultivated and sometimes escaped to field margins.
Frangipani
Fragrant clustered flowers in white, yellow or pink with five petals on succulent branches. Popular in gardens and cemeteries; scent and distinctive latex help identification.
Jacaranda
Panicles of lavender-blue tubular flowers on a feathery-leaved tree make spectacular seasonal displays. Common ornamental in towns and cooler highland gardens, easy to spot when in bloom.
Allamanda
Fast-growing shrub with glossy leaves and large golden trumpet flowers. Common as hedge or climber; poisonous sap, used widely as an ornamental.
Lantana
Dense clusters of small multi-colored flowers (yellow, orange, red) that change color with age. Highly invasive in some areas but common in disturbed sites; attracts butterflies.
Yellow trumpet
Shrub or small tree with bright yellow tubular flowers in clusters. Tolerant of dry conditions and often used in hedges; attracts pollinators and birds.
Drumstick tree (Moringa)
Small tree with feathery leaves and fragrant white clusters; edible young pods and leaves widely used as food and medicine. Quick-growing and drought-tolerant.
Senegal coral tree
Leafless in peak bloom with striking red coral-shaped flowers on spiny branches. Common in open landscapes and farm boundaries; used as shade and traditional medicine.
Red-flowered kapok
Huge deciduous tree with large, bowl-shaped red flowers appearing before leaves. Important for nectar-feeding bats and birds; trunk often buttressed and used locally for timber and fiber.
Kapok (silk-cotton)
Massive tree with whitish-pink flowers clustered on bare branches; lightweight seed fiber (kapok) historically important. Iconic skyline tree in primary and secondary forests.
White waterlily
Floating round leaves with fragrant white cup-shaped flowers that open in daylight. Common in quiet freshwater bodies across Ivory Coast; supports aquatic wildlife.
Bird of paradise
Fan-like leaves with striking orange-and-blue “beak” flowers resembling birds. Popular ornamental in coastal and urban gardens, unmistakable floral structure.
Ixora
Glossy evergreen shrub with dense corymbs of small tubular red, pink or orange flowers. Widely used as hedging plant; identifiable by clustered inflorescences and leathery leaves.
Plumbago
Trailing shrub with loose clusters of sky-blue phlox-like flowers. Common in coastal gardens and as groundcover; sticky calyx and pale blue hue help identification.
Desert rose
Swollen succulent stem and showy funnel-shaped pink to red flowers make it a popular drought-tolerant ornamental. Sap is poisonous; often grown in pots or rock gardens.
Yellow oleander
Evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and funnel-shaped yellow to orange flowers. Very common in urban plantings but highly toxic; used for visual screening and hedges.
Pride-of-Barbados
Open shrub with feathery leaves and flamboyant red, orange or yellow flowers with protruding stamens. Popular ornamental in public spaces; tolerant of dry soils and heat.
Pinwheel jasmine
Low shrub with glossy leaves and fragrant white pinwheel flowers. Frequently planted in courtyards and along paths; flowers have a sweet scent and are used in garlands.
Madagascar periwinkle
Compact plant with glossy leaves and five-petaled flat flowers in pink, white or red. Widely naturalized and important medicinally (alkaloids); tolerant of poor soils and drought.
Zinnia
Herbaceous annual with bold, daisy-like flowers in many colors; easy to grow from seed and popular in cottage gardens. Attracts pollinators and provides bright seasonal color.
Dahlia
Tuberous-rooted ornamental with large, layered blooms in diverse shapes and colors. Grown in garden beds and pots; many cultivars derive from this species.
Costus
Herbaceous ginger relative with spiraled stems and showy red to orange cone-like inflorescences. Found in shady disturbed forest; rhizomes used in traditional remedies.
Grains of paradise (flowering ginger)
Clumping ginger with large glossy leaves and showy pale to yellowish flowers; valued for aromatic seeds used as spice (melegueta) and traditional medicine.
Cola tree
Evergreen tree with small clustered cream flowers in leaf axils; best known for caffeine-containing kola nuts used socially and culturally. Usually found in shaded cultivation and forest patches.
Periwinkle shrub (Madagascar)
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(Note: duplicate removed — see single Catharanthus roseus entry above)
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Peacock flower
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(Note: duplicate removed above)
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Oleander (common)
Evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in pink, white or red. Common in ornamental plantings but highly toxic if ingested.
Sunflower (garden)
Tall annual with large yellow composite flower heads that follow the sun. Grown for seeds and ornamentally; stands out in cultivated fields and village plots during the dry season.
Corkscrew plant (Tradescantia)
Low-growing, often variegated foliage with small tri-petaled flowers; commonly used as groundcover in shaded garden beds and containers in towns.
African violet (Saintpaulia) — excluded due to no verified Ivory Coast records
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Flame tree (Peltophorum)
Large tree with bright yellow papery flowers in drooping clusters, often planted as a shade and street tree. Blooms before or as canopy leaf flush occurs.
Gardenia (cape jasmine)
Glossy evergreen shrub with intensely fragrant white waxy flowers. Popular in private gardens; scent and shiny leaves make it easily recognizable though it prefers sheltered spots.
Flame vine (Pyrostegia) — excluded when no verified Ivory Coast naturalization
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Poinciana (flame tree) — Delonix regia present in Ivory Coast
Wide-spreading tree with fern-like leaves and flamboyant red-orange clusters of flowers. Common in tropical towns; iconic summer display but less frequent in dense rainforest zones.
Ginger lily
Tall, fragrant spikes of white to yellow flowers on cane-like stems. Often planted in shade gardens and around water features; aromatic and showy.
Native hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella?) — excluded if no confirmed Ivorian records
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African marigold (Tagetes erecta)
Upright annual with large pompom yellow or orange flower heads. Widely used for decoration and ceremonies, easy to grow from seed.
Tropical water lily (Nymphaea caerulea) — excluded if no verified Ivory Coast occurrence
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Pentas
Low shrub with clusters of star-shaped flowers in pink, red or white. Popular for attracting butterflies; common in public flowerbeds and private gardens.
Soapberry (Blighia sapida)
Small tree with clusters of white flowers, later producing edible fruit (ackee) when ripe. Cultivated near homes and villages; fruits must be prepared carefully due to toxins when unripe.
Fragrant ylang (Cananga odorata) — excluded without clear Ivory Coast records
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