Thanks, but how about the flowers using up the organic and the water of the fruit tree? The lemon tree and the anona cherimoya etc. are declining with all those flowers growing under them.

More water and feed for all the extra mouths.

I thought you were asking about whether to plant flowers, not what to do about existing flowers. Just clear a circle around each tree and mulch.

It is not customary to underplant fruiting trees with flowers, groundcovers or whatever. They take the nutrients and moisture away from the fruiting trees. Generally you want to maintain a large circle of unplanted soil at the base of the tree. You can always generously apply good mulch to keep the weeds down.

It's not 'unsafe' in terms of dangerous to the human or toxic to the fruit tree however.

I doubt underplanting with flowers or groundcovers will have any negative impact on the apple trees. Living where more commercial apple orchards exist than anywhere else in the US, it is rare to see any bare ground beneath them. Typically meadow grasses and pollinator attracting weeds fill that space, getting mowed to a manageable height as necessary. The roots, water and nutrient demands of these plants just will not overcomplete against the much more aggressive and wide spreading tree roots. The trees will win that battle every time.

It is really a non-issue.