Maricao cimun is a valuable tree found in the regions of South America. The fruits are popularly marketed and consumed by the natives. The fruits are also used in carbonated beverages and have a high tannin content utilized for dyeing cotton cloth. Its branches are cast-off into streams to stupefy fish.

Guava (*Psidium guajava*) is a fruit-producing evergreen shrub that grows natively in the Caribbean region and South America. Guava attracts the honey bee and other insects, and guava fruit is edible. Additionally, guava wood is used for smoking meat.

Cupui is a lesser-known relative of the cacao tree, distinguished by its elongated, glossy leaves and small, yet fragrant, pinkish-white flowers. Thriving in tropical climates, cupui grows best under the dappled shade of taller trees, a testament to its understory origins. Its seeds are encased in elongated pods, hinting at its chocolate-producing kin, though it's not widely cultivated for commercial use.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tree species related to the fig tree native to India and Malaysia. The fruit produced by this tree, the jackfruit is a common component of culinary dishes around the world. The ripe fruit has a sweet taste and is often served raw in cold dishes.

Papaya is a fruit-bearing plant that originates from Central America. The fruits are edible and sweet and juicy when ripe. An enzyme collected from the milky sap is used as a meat softener, which if ingested may be toxic. Keeping a papaya plant in your garden will welcome many birds to your landscape.

Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is an evergreen, slow-growing perennial shrub native to tropical Africa. Also, it is a classic houseplant, grown in Europe since the 1800s. Its glossy green foliage that resembles corn leaves grow on top of a thick cane, which is why the plant is sometimes called “false palm tree.”

Java plum (Syzygium cumini) is a plant species native to Asia and Australia. Java plum grows in moist, riverine habitats. This species is valued for its fruit and timber. Its fruit is consumed by animals including jackals and fruit bats. The fruits, called Jambolan fruits, are edible, have a sweet and acidic flavor, and can be made into sauces and jams.

Mango tree is a large tree native to the Indian subcontinent. It is most well-known for the tropical fruit it produces, and mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Mango tree can also be used for wood after the tree’s fruit production is over. This type of wood is highly prized for making musical instruments.

Bridal bouquet (Plumeria pudica) is an evergreen tropical tree that features unusual spoon-shaped leaves and is known for its flowers. Unlike other plumerias, these blooms do not have any fragrance. This tropical tree grows in full sunlight and requires well-drained soil.

Cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) is the plant used to make chocolate. Its seeds, called cocoa beans, are processed into all kinds of chocolate products. The plant is native to tropical parts of the Americas and has been introduced as a cash crop around the world. Part of its scientific name comes from Greek and means "food of the gods."

Tree-of-life (Mauritia flexuosa) is an extremely useful plant that is widely used by the indigenous people in the region between Orinoco and Amazonas as a basis for food, clothes, and shelter. The leaves and trunks of the tree are used to create shelters.

It may surprise you to know that cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is related to poison ivy, pistachio, and even mango! It is a tropical evergreen native to Brazil and produces a wood used to build shipping crates, boats, and charcoal. The resin in the shells of the fruits are used to make insecticides and plastics, so the nuts must be separated from the shells before being sold as food. Explorers from Portugal are responsible for introducing cashews to the outside world.

Common yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcatus) is a plant species native to montane forests of southern Africa. Common yellowwood grows in forests and in exposed, coastal habitat. This species does not grow very tall when it is grown in coastal habitats. This species has wood that is commercially used for construction, and many populations of common yellowwood have been vulnerable to logging. It is a protected species in South Africa.

Madagascar palm (Pachypodium geayi) is a bottle-shaped tree often cultivated for decorative purposes. Madagascar palm is considered hardy and tolerates very dry, hot environments. This species originates from southwest Madagascar and grows in various environments in the wild, including limestone, sandy soils, and dry forests. This species has a trunk that facilitates water storage, similar to the body of a cactus.

Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is native to the southeastern United States. This tree produces bright yellow foliage. This tree should be pruned during the summer because if it is pruned in the spring the tree tends to bleed. If this tree isn’t pruned, it will start to fall apart after 30 years.

Cenicero rosado is a tropical rainforest tree known for its large, impressive flowers with bright pink petals. It typically blossoms directly on its trunk, a phenomenon called cauliflory. The broad leaves form a dense crown, providing shelter to diverse wildlife. Its robust stature allows it to thrive in the understory, where the moisture and shade support its growth.

While the black locust may have a bad reputation in many areas of the US due to its opportunistic and rapid growth, there are benefits to this tree. The black locust is an important food source for honey bees and is a good choice for windbreaks since it grows so quickly (91 to 122 cm per year). Its wood also resists rot, so it is used in fenceposts. The plant is highly toxic, though, and should never be consumed.

Bastardcedar (Guazuma ulmifolia) is a small tree native to areas in South and Central America, and the Caribbean. The species' wood has a lovely pale brown color and a pinkish heartwood. Due to its color and easy workability, it is used to make furniture and tool handles. The spiky, spherical fruits are important fodder for livestock in many places across the Caribbean.

Caryota mitis, known as the clustering fishtail palm or fishtail palm, is a species of palm native to Tropical Asia from India to Java to southern China, now sparingly naturalized in southern Florida and in parts of Africa and Latin America. The species was originally described from Vietnam in 1790. In Florida, it grows in hummocks and in disturbed wooded areas. Caryota mitis has clustered stems up to 10 m tall and 15 cm in diameter. Leaves can be up to 3 m long. Flowers are purple, and the fruits—harmful to humans—are dark purple or red.

The malay apple (Syzygium malaccense) is a common sight as a shorter-growing tree in tropical rainforests. Although its lumber is prone to warping, it is quite hard and used for handicrafts, beams, and occasionally railroad ties. The bark of the malay apple tree has a rich color and is often used to create brown dye.