Trees of
West Central
Florida
Compiled by
Bob Der - Forester
Hillsborough County
Extension Service
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This Guide has been compiled to assist those
interested in the identification of some of the more
common trees in the west Central Florida area. It
should in no way be construed to cover all trees
which may be found growing here and, therefore, a
good text on Florida trees may also be very useful.
Grateful acknowledgement is given to Dave Palmer
and Traci Buck for their assistance in putting this
document together.
A special thank you is also sent to members of our
Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee for their
endorsement, review and underwriting of this
publication.
Bob Der
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Flowering Dogwood:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Loquat:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Acacia:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Florida Red Maple:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Mimosa:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bottlebrush:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Loblolly Bay:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Crape Myrtle:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Southern Magnolia:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chinaberry Tree:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Wax Myrtle:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Sweetgum:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
American Hornbeam:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Jerusalem Thorn:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Slash Pine:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Loblolly Pine:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Sand Pine:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Longleaf Pine:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Sycamore:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Sassafras:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Black Cherry:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Cherry Laurel:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Bradford Pear:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Laurel Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Live Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Water Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Turkey Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Willow Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Weeping Willow:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Shumard Oak:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Florida Sugar Maple:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Camphor:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Leland Cypress:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Pignut Hickory:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Sugar Hackberry:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Chinese Tallow:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Trumpet Tree:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Bald Cypress:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Winged Elm:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Monkey Puzzle Tree:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Persimmon:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Green Ash:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Italian Cypress:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
India Rosewood:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
East Palatka Holly:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Dahoon Holly:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
American Holly:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Drake Elm:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Golden Raintree:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Southern Red Cedar:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Jacaranda:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Hong Kong Orchid:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
River Birch:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Eastern Redbud:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Fringe Trees:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Australian Pine:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Melaluca:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Red Mulberry:
Pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
APPENDIX
Common Leaf Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Leaf Margins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Flowering Dogwood
Loquat
1
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
Botanical Name: Cornus florida
Height: 15' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: Small, dual season ornamental with white bracts or blossoms in spring and
brilliant red fruit in autumn. Deciduous.
Leaves: Dark green above, pale beneath.
Flowers: Yellow-green surrounded by showy white petal-like bracts. Flowers best after
a cold winter.
Fruits: Scarlet, 1/3 to 1/2 inch in diameter.
Rate of Growth: Slow
Uses: Flowering landscape tree; Street tree.
Requirements: Thrives best in semi-shade.
Tolerance: High for cold and low for salt.
Remarks: Nice small tree, shallow-rooted requiring mulching to conserve water.
2
LOQUAT
Botanical Name: Eriobotrya japonica
Height: 20' to 30'
Orgin: Not native.
Description: Dense, rounded, dark green canopy with clusters of apricot yellow, pearshaped fruit in late winter and spring. Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, oval to oblong, 10" to 12" long green above and rusty-colored below
w/course texture.
Flowers: Fragrant clusters of creamy white flowers are produced in the fall.
Fruits: 1" to 3", oval, orange or yellow, attracts birds and squirrels, etc. Suitable for
human consumption.
Rate of Growth: Rapid
Uses: Above ground planter, fruit tree, hedge, buffer strips, medians, deck or patio,
street tree, etc.
Requirements: Can accept air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and moderate
drought.
Tolerance: High for cold and moderate for salt.
Remarks: Nice small fruit tree but fruit can be messy when becoming deciduous. Does
require pruning.
3
Acacia
Florida
Red
Maple
Mimosa
Bottlebrush
4
ACACIA
Botanical Name: Acacia farnesiana
Height: To 20'
Orgin: Native
Description: Sweet Acacia is common from here south; is a small tree with wide
spreading crown and drooping limbs. Evergreen.
Leaves: Compound
Flowers: Round golden-yellow balls in spring and summer.
Fruits: Purple to brown seed pods.
Rate of Growth: Moderately fast.
Uses: Flowering landscape tree in warmer locations, barrier screen.
Requirements: Grows on a variety of soils and does well on dry sites and near beach
areas.
Tolerance: Low cold and high salt tolerance.
Remarks: Small branches have thorns, avoid areas where small children or pets play.
5
RED MAPLE
Botanical Name: Acer rubrum
Height: 50' to 60'
Orgin: Native
Description: One of the few “northern” trees found in every county of the state. A tall
tree with well developed trunk and spreading crown. Deciduous.
Leaves: Lobed leaves (usually with three), turning red to yellow in the fall.
Flowers: Small bright red flowers before the leaves emerge.
Fruits: Clusters of red papery-winged “maple keys”.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Shade tree and street tree.
Requirements: Prefers good soil and moist sites.
Tolerance: High cold and medium salt tolerances.
Remarks: A very nice tree, good for summer shade and fall color but sensitive to
wounding and subject to fungus leaf spots later in the growing season.
6
MIMOSA
Botanical Name: Albizia julibrissin
Height: 15' to 25'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Has a low branching, open, spreading habit and delicate, lacy, almost fernlike foliage. Deciduous.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (fern-like), green, leaflet blade about 2" long.
Flowers: Fragrant, silky, pink puffy pompom blooms, two inches in diameter, appear in
abundance from late April to early July.
Fruits: Elongated, 3" to 6" dry or hard and brown. Numerous seed pods harbor insects
and disease (vascular wilt) problems.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Patio or terrace tree and used for its tropical effect.
Requirements: Easily damaged by mechanical impacts. Requires pruning for clearance.
Susceptible to breakage. Grows in full sun, many soil types - wet to well drained.
Tolerance: High cold and moderate salt.
Remarks: Because of its susceptibility to insects and vascular wilt problems plus the fact
that it is short-lived (10 to 20 years), it is not a highly recommended tree for planting.
7
BOTTLEBRUSH
Botanical Name: Callistemon spp.
Height: To 20'
Orgin: Not native
Description: A very useful, small, flowering tree that brightens up the landscape
wherever it is planted. Evergreen.
Leaves: Slender, narrow, pointed with spicy aroma.
Flowers: Brilliant red flowers that resemble “bottlebrushes”.
Fruits: Small, oval capsules surrounding the twigs.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Flowering landscape tree; street tree.
Requirements: Grows under widely varying conditions. Tolerant of poor soil and
drought.
Tolerance: Medium cold and salt tolerant.
Remarks: There are two species, one is C. rigidus, which has erect branching and C.
viminalis, which has weeping branches.
8
Loblolly Bay
Crape Myrtle
9
LOBLOLLY BAY
Botanical Name: Gordonia lasianthus
Height: 40' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: Large upright tree with cylindrical head.
Leaves: Lanceolate, shiny, and leathery.
Flowers: Large white flowers up to 3 ½ inches in diameter.
Fruits: Capsule, 2/3 of inch long.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Street tree, accent tree.
Requirements: Does best on wet soils in semi-shade or full sun.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Some leaf fall occurs irregularly and before they drop the leaves turn deep
scarlet in color. This tree is found wet areas in its native habitat, which also could
include wetland conservation areas.
10
CRAPE MYRTLE
Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Height: 10' to 20'
Orgin: Not native
Description: An upright, multi-stemmed small tree. Deciduous.
Leaves: Alternate, shiny leaves turning red and yellow in
fall.
Flowers: Showy terminals of red, pink, or white, etc. flowers in summer.
Fruits: Brown, woody round capsules.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Street tree, accent tree
Requirements: Does best in full sun. A low maintenance tree.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Long blooming tree that is tolerant of many different kinds of soils. Fall
foliage is yellow and red. Frequently planted as a median tree. There are many cultivars
of this tree, some of which are pest resistant.
11
Southern
Magnolia
Chinaberry
Tree
Wax
Myrtle
12
SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA
Botanical Name: Magnolia grandiflora
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: A large upright-spreading tree that creates a dense shade. Evergreen.
Leaves: Large, thick, leathery leaves.
Flowers: Large, creamy-white fragrant flowers.
Fruits: Fruiting cones with bright red seeds.
Rate of Growth: Very slow.
Uses: Flowering landscape tree, shade tree, specimen.
Requirements: Does best on fertile, well drained soils in shade or full sun.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Large leaves may create a problem in mowing.
13
CHINABERRY
Botanical Name: Melia azedarach
Height: 30' to 40'
Orgin: Not native, but has become naturalized in much of the south.
Description: Round, deciduous, shade tree, growing 5' to 10' during the first and
second year after germination.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound, alternate; leaflet margins lobed and serrate; leaflet
blades less than 2" long normally green, yellow in the fall.
Flowers: Lavender, pleasantly fragrant but inconspicuous and not showy.
Fruits: Round, less than 1/2", fleshy, yellow.
Rate of Growth: Fast at first then slower at mid-height.
Uses: Not recommended for landscape planting.
Requirements: Wide range of well-drained soils. In part shade to full sun.
Tolerance: Moderate salt and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Brittle and messy tree. Not recommended for planting.
14
WAX MYRTLE
Botanical Name: Myrica cerifera
Height: 10' to 20'
Orgin: Native
Description: One of our best native shrubs (or a small tree). Grows in every county of
the state. Cold Hardy and evergreen.
Leaves: Small, thin leaves are aromatic when crushed.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Small, wax-coated, bluish-green berries.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Small accent tree. Can be used as screens and enclosures as an unclipped
hedge.
Requirements: Grows on wet or dry soil.
Tolerance: High salt tolerance and cold tolerance.
Remarks: Good wildlife plant. Should be more extensively used for landscaping.
Small specimens transplant easily but the tree is difficult to propagate by other methods.
15
American Hornbeam
Sweetgum
16
SWEETGUM
Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: One of our finest native trees. Usually forms a tall straight trunk with
conical crown. Perfectly cold hardy. Deciduous.
Leaves: Star-shaped, about 5 inches across, with 5 to 7 lobes.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Woody, burr-like balls, 1 ½ inches in diameter.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Shade tree
Requirements: Very adaptable, including wet and dry sites.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Found locally as far south as Ft. Meyers and Okeechobee. Seed ball may
be a nuisance in lawns.
17
AMERICAN HORNBEAM
Botanical Name: Carpinus caroliniana
Height: 20' to 30'
Orgin: Native
Description: The tree has an attractive open habit in total shade but will be dense in full
sun. The muscle-like bark is smooth, gray and fluted. It is also called ironwood due to
its dense-hard wood. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple with double serrate margins and oblong to ovate shape. Blade length is
2" to 4" in length; green turning to orange, red and yellow in the fall.
Flowers: Slow
Fruits: Elongated to oval; 1/2" to 1" long, dry, hard and brown.
Rate of Growth: Slow
Uses: Hedge, wide tree lawns (4' to 6') near deck or patio, screen, specimen, street
tree.
Requirements: Does not transplant well from the field. Grows in part shade to full sun.
Accepts most soils and from occasionally wet to well-drained.
Tolerance: Poor salt and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Very nice small to medium size tree and could be planted more. Has some
winter appeal.
18
Jerusalem
Thorn
Slash Pine
Loblolly Pine
Sand Pine
19
JERUSALEM THORN
Botanical Name: Parkinsonia aculeata
Height: 20' to 25'
Orgin: Not native
Description: An attractive and very useful small, spreading tree. Its feathery foliage
and bright yellow flowers make it a popular ornamental that is planted
statewide. Deciduous.
Leaves: Long, slender, grasslike leaves which are deciduous.
Flowers: Bright yellow clusters of pea-like flowers.
Fruits: Seed pods five to six inches long.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Flowering landscape tree, street tree (medians); should not be planted where
thorns would be a problem.
Requirements: Quite drought resistant. Grows on most well drained soils, including
light sand.
Tolerance: High salt tolerance and moderate cold tolerance.
Remarks: Thorns are up to one inch in length. The appearance of this tree can be
improved by pruning. Can be rooted from cuttings.
20
SLASH PINE
Botanical Name: Pinus elliottii var. elliottii
Height: To 90'
Orgin: Native
Description: A tall, straight native pine with lush dark green foliage. Evergreen.
Leaves: Needles in 2's and 3's, 7 to 12 inches long.
Flowers: Rose-purple staminate flowers in spring.
Fruits: Stalked cones, 3 to 4 ½ inches long, falling in
autumn.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Shade tree, soil stabilization.
Requirements: Tolerant of a wide variety of soils.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance. Plant well back from
beach. High cold tolerance.
Remarks: Pine pitch canker is a serious problem in some areas.
21
LOBLOLLY PINE
Botanical Name: Pinus taeda
Height: 50' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: This fast growing pine is pyramidal when young making it ideal for
screening but loses its lower limbs as it grows older. Has very thick bark.
Sometimes confused with Slash pine but has a slightly longer and more prickly cone.
Evergreen.
Leaves: Needles are 4" to 8" long and occur in 3 to a sheath or fascicle.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval; 3" to 6", dry, hard and brown. Persistent on the tree.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Reclamation tree, screen, shade tree, specimen.
Requirements: Grows on a variety of soils; mainly acidic; occasionally wet to well
drained.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Not very adaptable to urban areas generally but can be used as a yard
evergreen or in a grouping in larger planting areas. Prefers full sun.
22
SAND PINE
Botanical Name: Pinus clausa
Height: 65' to 70'
Orgin: Native
Description: A common pine of arid soils if protected from repeated fires. Young trees
have conical shape and have been used as Christmas trees. Evergreen.
Leaves: Needles in 2's, about 3 inches long.
Flowers: Staminate flowers appearing in the spring.
Fruits: Seeds in cones, maturing after 2 years.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Accent tree, shade tree.
Requirements: Will not tolerate “wet feet,” does very well on dry, sandy soils.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: A nice little pine often left around Florida homes for landscaping. Large
specimens are difficult to transplant, and this tree is very sensitive to construction
damage.
23
Sycamore
Longleaf Pine
24
LONGLEAF PINE
Botanical Name: Pinus palustris
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: This pine stays in a tufted, grass-like stage for 5 to 7 years after
germination then starts height growth at a moderate rate. It has the longest
needles of our native pines and the largest buds which are silver in color. Needles tend
to be tufted toward the end of the branches. Evergreen.
Leaves: Needles normally 8" to 12" long. Occur
in 3 to a fascile.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Pine cone 6" to 12" long, dry, hard, and brown containing light seed which
disperse in the fall.
Rate of Growth: Moderate
Uses: Reclamation, shade tree, specimen, not real urban tolerant.
Requirements: Need full sun, does not like disturbance around root system. For soil;
clay, loam; sand; slightly alkaline to acidic; well drained.
Tolerance: High for cold, salt and drought once established.
Remarks: Good as a specimen tree away from disturbance. Has a good seed crop
every 5 to 7 years normally.
25
SYCAMORE
Botanical Name: Platanus occidentalis
Height: 80' to 100'
Orgin: Native
Description: A useful native tree with straight trunk, large, rather short branches and
good crown. This tree sheds its bark. Deciduous.
Leaves: Very large three lobed leaves with toothed edges.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Round, wood balls about one inch in diameter.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Shade tree
Requirements: Usually grows in creek bottoms but is not particular and will stand
considerable drought.
Tolerance: High cold and medium salt.
Remarks: Some litter can be expected from bark and seed drop plus large leaves
disperse all together in the fall creating quite a bit of litter.
26
.0
Sassafras
Black Cherry
27
SASSAFRAS
Botanical Name: Sassafras albidum
Height: 30' to 60'
Orgin: Native
Description: Pyramidal crown when young later developing a rounded canopy
composed of many short, horizontal branches which give the tree a layered effect.
Leaves and tree parts are fragrant when crushed. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, lobed with entire margins; 2" to 4" long; green with fall colors of
orange, purple, red and yellow.
Flowers: Yellow with a pleasant fragrance; showy in the spring.
Fruits: Round ½" to 1", fleshy; blue; showy.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Large parking lot islands, wide tree lawns, buffer strips, road medium strips,
shade tree, specimen tree.
Requirements: Not real urban friendly but ok in yards, etc. Grows in part shade to full
sun. Prefers clay, loam or sand, and acidic, well-drained soils.
Tolerance: Moderate salt and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Frequently has a multiple trunk due to sprouting so should be pruned into a
single trunk when young. Male trees have showier blossoms but it is the female tree
which produces the fruit, therefore both sexes should be planted. Roots are brewed
into the famous tea.
28
BLACK CHERRY
Botanical Name: Prunus serotina
Height: 60' to 90'
Orgin: Native
Description: Low branches can droop to touch the ground. The tree has a oval
silhouette. Leaves and twigs contain hydrocyanic acid which could poison livestock or
other animals if consumed in large quantities. Wild Cherry cough
syrup is made from the bitter inner bark. Wood is desirable for furniture makers.
Leaves: Simple, serrate margins, oblong to ovate; 2" to 4" long green with yellow fall
color.
Flowers: White, pleasant fragrance, showy in spring.
Fruits: Round, < ½" long, fleshy, purple.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Reclamation plant; not great in urban areas (messy).
Requirements: Will grow in clay, loam or sand, occasionally wet to well-drained soil;
acidic to alkaline.
Tolerance: Moderate to good on salt and high on cold tolerance.
Remarks: Growth is often poor in urban areas. And fruit can create a messy situation.
Not really recommended for planting in the landscape.
29
Bradford Pear
Cherry Laurel
30
CHERRY LAUREL
Botanical Name: Prunus carolinana
Height: 25' to 30'
Orgin: Native
Description: An attractive small tree that can be grown statewide. Evergreen.
Leaves: Lustrous green leaves, 3 to 4 inches in length.
Flowers: Tiny white flowers in clusters-fragrant.
Fruits: Small, persistent, smooth, cherry-like fruit.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Accent tree
Requirements: Prefers good soil, but is not difficult to grow.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: A true cherry tree, not a laurel. Although a small tree, it does present
problems from an invasive root situation, plus root sprouts, and berries maybe toxic to
certain animals. Moderately short lived. Not recommended for planting in an urban
area.
31
BRADFORD PEAR
Botanical Name: Pyrus calleryana
Height: 30' to 40'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Also known as Callery pear; has many vertical limbs with embedded bark
packed closely to the trunk. Branches are not tapered, making it quite susceptible to
wind breakage. Great spring and fall color. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, serrate margins, ovate in shape, usually less than 2" long, green with
orange, purple, red, or yellow leaves in the fall; showy.
Flowers: White in the spring and very showy.
Fruits: < ½", dry, hard, tan; persist on tree.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Above ground planters, large parking lot islands, medium-sized tree lawns (4' to
6'), road mediums, shade tree, specimen, residential street tree.
Requirements: Grown in urban areas where drought, poor drainage and compacted soil
are present. Requires pruning, grows in most soils.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Although breakage prone unless properly pruned, this makes a good medium
size tree for urban areas. Fall color can be very nice. With the white blossoms in the
spring.
32
Laurel Oak
Live Oak
33
LAUREL OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus laurifolia
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: Large, deciduous tree with relatively smooth bark which on older trees
becomes regularly furrowed.
Leaves: Smooth, flat leaves, shiny green above and below.
Flowers: Inconspicuous catkins
Fruits: Blackish brown, oblong shaped acorns borne biennially.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Street tree, shade tree.
Requirements: Grows on a wide variety of soils. Does best in full sunlight. Wind firm
and easily maintained.
Tolerance: High salt tolerance and cold tolerance.
Remarks: A beautiful shade tree which should be more
widely planted.
34
LIVE OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus virginiana
Height: 40' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: Most beautiful and long-lived of all our oak trees. Wide spreading crown.
More or less horizontal branches. Evergreen.
Leaves: Leaves with edges that curl under.
Flowers: Inconspicuous catkins
Fruits: Blackish brown, oblong shaped acorns in deep cups.
Rate of Growth: Medium. Young trees grow faster than most believe.
Uses: Shade tree, street tree.
Requirements: Prefers good soil and moisture, but grows on a wide variety of sites.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: A rugged, long-lived tree which should be much more widely planted
35
Water Oak
Turkey
Oak
Willow Oak
Weeping Willow
36
WATER OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus nigra
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: Spreading, rounded, open canopy. Acorns can stain asphalt and concrete.
Trees are semi-deciduous. Moderately smooth bark.
Leaves: Simple, vary widely in shape, lobed but generally have a spatula shape in which
they are wide at the end and come to a point back where they fasten
on to the twig. Usually 2" to 4" long, green turning yellow to brown in the fall.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval to round, ½" to 1", dry, hard, brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Buffer strips, roadway mediums, shade tree, specimen, street tree in residential
areas.
Requirements: Grows in part shade to full sun, can take most soils and water
conditions.
Tolerance: Poor salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Good shade tree for smaller lots where the wide-spreading live oak would
not be acceptable. Multi trunks are not desirable and some pruning will be required.
Most commonly has a life span of 50 to 70 years. Prone to decay on
trunk and major limbs later in its life.
37
TURKEY OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus laevis
Height: 30' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: Fast growing tree which is usually found on arid sites. Irregularly shaped
crown. Has attractive, ridged and furrowed bark which reveals an orange color within
its fissures. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, obovate to ovate, 2" to 4" long, shape resembles a turkey’s foot, green
turning to copper color in the fall. Not showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval, round, ½" to 1", dry, hard, showy.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Specimen, shade, reclamation tree, tree lawn >6' wide, highway mediums.
Requirements: Grows in full sun in clay, loam or sandy soils but mostly found on sandy
sites which are somewhat acidic and well-drained.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Does not like wet soils. It grows well on sandy ridges and is very drought
tolerant.
38
WILLOW OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus phellos
Height: 60' to 75'
Orgin: Native
Description: Pyramidal shape when young going to a more rounded canopy in middle
and old age. Lower branches droop toward the ground and the long
slender willow looking leaves are an easy identifying feature. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, entire margins, lanceolate in shape and 2" to 4" long with no real fall
color.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval to round, ½" to 1", dry, hard and brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Large parking lot islands, buffer strips, roadway medians, shade tree, residential
street tree.
Requirements: Can grow on varied soil types and moisture conditions. Prefers full sun.
Tolerance: High salt and cold tolerance.
Remarks: Tree requires some pruning especially when young to develop properly. It
can take wet sites. It is a tough tree and has done well in some cities.
39
WEEPING WILLOW
Botanical Name: Salix babylonia
Height: 45' to 70'
Orgin: Not native
Description: This tree is normally found on wet sites around or along a body of water.
It can be grown on drier sites but would do best under irrigation. It needs
plenty of room to develop its broad, rounded crown. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, serrate, lanceolate to linear, 2" to 6" long. Green to yellow in the fall
and somewhat showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Dry, hard, < ½", brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Screen, specimen, no real urban use except around a body of water.
Requirements: Plenty of room, moisture; partial shade to full sun; can accept most soils
and will take from wet to well-drained.
Tolerance: Moderate to high salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Do not locate near underground water or sewer lines or close to septic tank
drain fields. It has a very shallow lateral root system. Indians chewed the bark to
relieve headaches. Needs some initial pruning.
40
Florida
Sugar
Maple
Shumard Oak
41
SHUMARD OAK
Botanical Name: Quercus shumardii
Height: To over 100'
Orgin: Native
Description: A large oak of the red oak group with dense, beautiful green foliage and
striking fall color. Deciduous.
Leaves: Dark green lobed leaves, 6 to 8 inches long.
Flowers: Inconspicuous catkins
Fruits: Acorns, every two years.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Shade tree, street tree
Requirements: Does best on rich, fertile soils.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: An excellent park or specimen tree that has been largely overlooked in
landscaping.
42
FLORIDA MAPLE
Botanical Name: Acer barbatum
Height: 50' to 60'
Orgin: Native
Description: It is also known as the Florida sugar maple which carried the Botanical
name of Aer saccharum var. floridum. The maples are somewhat
difficult to tell apart but this maple has more rounded lobes on the leaf as opposed to
the red maple which has sharp points on the end of the lobes. This maple
also has smoother leaf margins than the red maple with its somewhat serrated margins.
The stems of the red maple are reddish-brown while the stems on this
maple are brown. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple with lobed (normally 3) and entire leaf margins. Leaves are 2" to 4"
long green turning orange to yellow in the fall. Showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous.
Fruits: Oval, 1" to 3" long, dry, hard, green to brown.
Rate of Growth: Moderately fast.
Uses: Wide tree lawns, buffer strips, median strip plantings in roadways, shade tree,
residential street tree.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to full sun and will tolerate a wide variety of soil
types and moisture from occasionally wet to well-drained. Does better under irrigation
in very dry weather.
Tolerance: Not at all salt tolerant and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: It is best to plant this tree in an area where grass will not need to be mowed
so the roots will not be damaged. The trunk of older trees show an attractive gray with
longitudinal ribs. Late in the growing season this tree can
look a little ratty due to fungal leaf spots.
43
Camphor
Leland
Cypress
Pignut
Hickory
Sugar
Hackberry
44
CAMPHOR TREE
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum camphora
Height: 40' to 50'
Orgin: Not native
Description: This tree can become as large as any live oak but in a much shorter period
of time. Its glossy green, thin but leathery leaves give off a camphor aroma when
crushed. The leaves, twigs, and wood are the commercial source of
camphor and the dried bark of one of the camphor species yields cinnamon.
Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, entire margins, obovate to ovate and 2" to 4" long. No fall color
change.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Round, < ½", fleshy, black.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Screen, shade tree, specimen tree.
Requirements: Can accept poor drainage, compacted soil and drought. Grows on
many soil types but prefers well-drained soils. Grows in partial shade to full sun.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and low to moderate cold tolerance.
Remarks: Makes a very large tree, therefore not recommended for small lots or small
planting areas. Not recommended as a street tree for its messy fruit. Does not really
like wet feet but does well in city park type conditions.
45
LEYLAND CYPRESS
Botanical Name: Cupressocyparis leylandii
Height: 35' to 50'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Has a dense, oval or pyramidal outline when left unpruned, but the
graceful, slightly pendulous branches will tolerate sever trimming to create a
formal hedge or screen. Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, entire margins, scale-like, blade length less than 2".
Flowers: No flowers.
Fruits: <½", dry, hard, brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Hedge, buffer strips, median strips, screen, specimen, Christmas tree.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to full sun. Accepts most well-drained soils and
is drought tolerant.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Although it can be sheared into a tall screen on small lots, it should be saved
for large-scale landscapes where it can be allowed to develop into its natural shape. It
really does best in full sun on moderately fertile soil.
Can take pretty severe pruning but is not recommended normally.
46
PIGNUT HICKORY
Botanical Name: Carya glabra
Height: 50' to 65'
Orgin: Native
Description: This compound leafed tree creates a course oval canopy with strong
irregularly-spaced branches. The hickory nut produced are not considered edible.
Deciduous.
Leaves: Odd pinnately compound with serrate margins. Lanceolate and 4" to 8" long
leaflet blades. Green to yellow in the fall and somewhat showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval to round, 1" to 3" long, dry, hard, turning green to brown.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Shade tree and specimen.
Requirements: Locate tree away from street, sidewalks and parking lots for the nuts can
cause people to fall as they step and possibly roll on them. Grows in partial shade to
full sun and on most soil types. Tolerates occasionally wet to well-drained soils.
Tolerance: Moderate to poor salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Grows best in sun or partial shade on well-drained, acid soils. Is very
drought tolerant. Needs to grow with one central leader and adds a lot of variety to the
landscape.
47
SUGAR HACKBERRY
Botanical Name: Celtis laevigata
Height: 60' to 80'
Orgin: Native
Description: A large, wide-spreading tree, with a rounded crown composed of large
branches from a well developed trunk. Deciduous.
Leaves: Alternate, simple leaves; 2 ½ to 5 inches long.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Orange to yellow berries, 1/4 inch in diameter.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Shade tree, unusual specimen tree.
Requirements: Does best on a moist, fertile soil.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: This tree has a tall, straight bole with very smooth bark bearing prominent
warts. An excellent tree for wildlife. Tree can be very messy.
48
Chinese
Tallow
Trumpet
Tree
Bald
Cypress
Winged
Elm
49
CHINESE TALLOW TREE
Botanical Name: Sapium sebiferum
Height: 30' to 35'
Orgin: Not native
Description: The trunk normally dominates, snaking up through the crown sporting
major limbs well spaced along the trunk. It is also called Popcorn tree. The waxy
coating on the seed is extracted by the Chinese for use in candles and soap and the
milky sap inside the twigs is poisonous. The new growth in the spring is red-tinged.
Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, alternate with entire margins; shape is deltoid to ovate, leaf blades
around 2". Green turning to orange, red, and yellow in the fall and showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Round, ½" to 1", dry, hard, brown and white.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Not recommended for planting, not protected.
Requirements: Grows well in almost any conditions.
Tolerance: High salt tolerance and moderate cold tolerance.
Remarks: Do not recommend planting - invasive and roots on surface can lift sidewalks
or interfere with mowing.
50
TRUMPET TREE
Botanical Name: Tabebuia caraiba
Height: 15' to 25'
Orgin: Not native
Description: This tree has silvery foliage and deeply furrowed, silvery bark on
picturesque, contorted branches and trunk. The crown is usually asymmetrical
with two or three major trunks or branches dominating the crown. Semi-evergreen.
Leaves: Palmately compound with entire margins. Leaf shapes are oval to oblong and
the leaf blades are 2" to 4". They are silver with no fall color or show.
Flowers: Yellow with winter and spring flowering and very showy.
Fruits: Pod 3" to 6" long, dry, hard and brown.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Large parking island (>200 sq. ft.), wide tree lawns, buffer strips, roadway
medium plantings, near deck or patio, residential street tree, and specimen.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to full sun, in most soils which are well-drained
and somewhat fertile. Must be protected against frost.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and low cold tolerance.
Remarks: A very beautiful flowering tree but can only be grown in warmer locales in the
Tampa Bay Area.
51
BALD CYPRESS
Botanical Name: Taxodium distichum
Height: 40' to 125'
Orgin: Native
Description: One of our most beautiful native trees that has been largely overlooked for
landscape purposes. Identified by knees and cones. Deciduous.
Leaves: Thin, flat, pointed needles that fall in winter.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Greenish-yellow balls about 1 inch in diameter.
Rate of Growth: Medium to fast
Uses: Accent tree
Requirements: Will tolerate a wide variety of soils.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Very desirable for lakeside planting or other wet areas where few other trees
will grow. Also does well on other sites. On drier sites does not form knees.
52
WINGED ELM
Botanical Name: Ulmus alata
Height: 50' to 75'
Orgin: Native
Description: A beautiful tree with an open, round-topped crown composed of short,
straight branches from straight trunks. Deciduous.
Leaves: Alternate, simple leaves often downy beneath.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Thin, flat, downy seeds 1/3 to ½ inch long.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Shade tree, street tree
Requirements: Prefers dry or well-drained soils, but is fairly adaptable.
Tolerance: No salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: An excellent specimen for street tree planting that has been overlooked in
may areas.
53
Monkey
Puzzle Tree
Persimmon
Green Ash
Italian Cypress
54
MONKEY PUZZLE TREE
Botanical Name: Araucaria araucana
Height: 60' to 70'
Orgin: Not native
Description: This tree has a loose form, see through, pyramidal shape with a
straight trunk. Leaves are dark green, stiff, with sharp needles densely arranged
on horizontal, irregular, upwardly-sweeping branches. It has been said that, “it
would be a puzzle for a monkey to climb”. Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple with entire margins; lanceolate to ovate, needle type; blades less
than two inches long and sharp. Dark green all year.
Flowers: Inconspicuous.
Fruits: Oval, 6" to 12", dry, hard, tan to brown.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Specimen as an oddity.
Requirements: Grows in full sun, needs to have lower branches pruned if
mowing around tree; grows in most well-drained soils. Has troublesome surface
roots.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Plant on the rear of a lot as an oddity tree or a specimen tree in a large
oriental landscape. Fruit or cones can be very dangerous when the fall from any
height for the are quite heavy.
55
COMMON PERSIMMON
Botanical Name: Diospyros virginiana
Height: 40' to 60'
Orgin: Native
Description: This tree has a somewhat irregularly-shaped crown. The bark is grey or
black and distinctly blocky with orange in the valleys between the blocks. Its fruit can
be a problem attracting flies and other undesirable creatures. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple with serrate margins and with an oval to ovate shape. Leaf blades 2" to
4" long and green turning yellow to red and showy in the fall. Fungus leaf spot are easily
noted late in the growing season.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Round, 1" to 3" long, fleshy and orange.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Fruit tree, buffer strips, median plantings, specimen.
Requirements: Can take poor drainage, compacted soil and drought and grows on most
soil types. Grows best in full sun and would prefer well-drained soils.
Tolerance: Moderate to high salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: It is a very adaptable tree. Its fruit is edible but can be a problem on the
ground or pave areas. It usually ripens after a frost but is very astringent before ripening
and not edible. The wood is very hard and used for golf club heads and is almost black.
56
GREEN ASH
Botanical Name: Fraxinus pennsyvanica
Height: 60' to 70'
Orgin: Native
Description: Tree has upright main branches which produce twigs which droop toward
the ground then bends upward at their tips. It has a rather symmetrical
canopy. Deciduous.
Leaves: Odd pinnately compound with entire to serrate margins and lanceolate to ovate
shape. Leaf blades are 2" to 4" long and green turning to yellow and showy in the fall.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: 1" to 3" in length, dry, hard and tan.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Large parking lot islands (>200 sq. ft.), buffer strips, roadway median strips,
shade tree, residential street tree, sidewalk cutouts.
Requirements: Can take poor drainage, compacted soils and drought, but prefers welldrained soil and full sun.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: This is one tree that grows in every state in the continental United States. It
does require some pruning when young to form a central leader but does quite well in
some cities. Tree roots can tolerate low soil oxygen and can
therefore grow in sidewalk cutouts.
57
ITALIAN CYPRESS
Botanical Name: Cupressus semperbirens
Height: 40' to 60'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Trees are normally no more than three feet wide. The scale type leaves
lend a very fine texture to any setting. It really resembles a tall green telephone pole.
Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, whorled with entire margins, scale-like with leaf blades less than two
inches long. Green year around.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval, ½" to 1" long, dry, hard and brown.
Rate of Growth: Moderate
Uses: Screen, framing, as a strong accent around large buildings, or in a formal
landscape.
Requirements: Desires full sun and grows on most common well-drained soils.
Tolerance: Moderate to good salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Tree should not be pruned or certainly never topped. Is probably not best
suited for a residential landscape for it may grow to tall for its surroundings.
58
India Rosewood
East Palatka
Holly
Dahoon Holly
American
Holly
59
INDIA ROSEWOOD
Botanical Name: Dalbergia sissoo
Height: To 40'
Orgin: Not native
Description: A somewhat desirable non-flowering shade tree, easily established.
Distinguished by small oval leaflets alternately compound.
Leaves: Semi-deciduous, three to five oval, pointed leaflets alternate on zig-zag stem.
Flowers: White, inconspicuous, but sweet-smelling.
Fruits: Small, thin papery pods, 2-3 inches long; one to three seeds.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Shade tree
Requirements: Very satisfactory on spoil banks. Not particular - can be planted bare
root.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and, only moderate cold tolerance.
Remarks: Cut or injured roots will send up suckers. A very valuable cabinet wood.
Needs room because of extensive root growth. Will invade septic tank systems. Not a
recommended tree to plant.
60
EAST PALATKA HOLLY
Botanical Name: Ilex attenuata ‘East Palatka’
Height: 30' to 45'
Orgin: Parent tree is native.
Description: Tree takes on a moderately tight, pyramidal shape. A female plant is
heavy laden with bright red berries in fall and winter. Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, with entire margins with spines. Oval to oblong shape 2" to 4" long;
green year round.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Round, < ½", fleshy and red.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Hedge, parking lot medians, medium-size tree lawns, roadway medians, buffers,
specimen, residential street tree.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to full sun; tolerates most acidic, well-drained
soils. Does not require much pruning and is drought tolerant. Good in areas with
limited vertical space. Can grow in side walk cut-outs and should be grown with a
single leader. Tree is subject to witches broom, a symptom of the disease Sphaeropsis
gall.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Where disease free, this holly is one of our nicest specimen trees for it is very
showy with its green leaves and red berries. It does really prefer full sun on moist, acid
soils.
61
DAHOON HOLLY
Botanical Name: Ilex cassine
Height: 20' to 40'
Orgin: Native
Description: The only holly with red berries commonly found in South Florida is the
Dahoon Holly. Evergreen.
Leaves: Small, dark green, leathery, smooth leaves.
Flowers: Small, white, and inconspicuous
Fruits: Numerous small, round, red or yellowish berries.
Rate of Growth: Slow
Uses: Accent tree, street tree
Requirements: Prefers shad and moist soils, but can be grown elsewhere.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Known locally as Christmas berry. Can be subject to sphaeropsis (a fungus
disease.)
62
AMERICAN HOLLY
Botanical Name: Ilex opaca
Height: 40' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: A well known tree with handsome dark green foliage. Evergreen,
pyramidal upright dense, symmetrical head.
Leaves: Leathery, deep green leaves with spiny margins.
Flowers: Small white flowers in spring.
Fruits: Dull, rich-red or orange drupes.
Rate of Growth: Slow
Uses: Accent tree, Specimen
Requirements: Low maintenance - prefers fertile, organic, well-drained soils.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Tolerates neglect. A good choice for beautification of parks and industrial
areas.
63
Drake Elm
Golden
Raintree
Southern Red
Cedar
Jacaranda
64
‘DRAKE’ CHINESE ELM
Botanical Name: Ulmus parvifolia ‘Drake’
Height: 35' to 45'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Forms a graceful, spreading, rounded canopy of long, arching, and
somewhat weeping branches which are clothed with two to three-inch long shiny, dark
green, leathery leaves. Some trees grow in the typical vase-shaped elm form. The tree
has showy exfoliating bark which reveals random, mottled patterns of grey, green,
orange and brown, adding to great visual interest. Semi-evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, serrate margins with oval to obovate leaf shapes. Leaf blade length is
>2" long. Green to yellow in the fall.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Oval, < ½", dry, hard, brown.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Parking lot islands, medium-size tree lawns, buffer strips, roadway medians,
sidewalk cut-outs, residential street tree, specimen.
Requirements: Generally accepts most urban growing conditions. Needs to be properly
pruned with spaced-out branches. Trees are not real wind firm and young trees may
need staking to prevent leaning and blow-over. Grows in
partial shade to full sun on most soils wet to well-drained. Do not confuse this tree with
a much inferior Siberian elm.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: This is a very nice medium size tree which due to its small leaves does not
create a big mess.
65
GOLDEN RAIN TREE
Botanical Name: Koelreuteria formosana
Height: 30' to 35'
Orgin: Not native
Description: One of the few trees that flower in the fall. Its bright yellow blossoms are
followed by attractive orange-red seed pods that decorate the tree until after the
holidays. Deciduous.
Leaves: Compound, of light texture.
Flowers: Bright yellow, in large branched sprays in the crown.
Fruits: Colorful papery pods about 2 inches long.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Flowering landscape tree, shade tree.
Requirements: Prefers well drained soil and warm climate, but tolerates wide range of
soil and climatic conditions.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: A nice tree that provides color throughout most of the year. Can be messy,
creating a lot of litter.
66
SOUTHERN RED CEDAR
Botanical Name: Juniperus silicicola
Height: To 30'
Orgin: Native
Description: An aromatic conifer with broad conical form. Evergreen.
Leaves: Small, sharp pointed, triangular leaves.
Flowers: Dioecious, both sexes produce small cones.
Fruits: Blue-green, berry like cones.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Accent tree, soil stabilization, border tree or hedge.
Requirements: Grows best in full sun on alkaline soils.
Tolerance: Medium salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: Low maintenance tree which is an excellent wildlife food source. Can be
grown for Christmas trees.
67
JACARANDA
Botanical Name: Jacaranda acutifolia
Height: 35' to 45'
Orgin: Not native
Description: One of our very few shade trees with showy blue flowers. The fern-like
leaves grow more upright than the foliage of Royal Poinciana which it
somewhat resembles. Semi-deciduous.
Leaves: Large, lacy, compound leaves 18 - 24 inches
long.
Flowers: Bluish-purple flowers appearing in the spring.
Fruits: Oval, dark brown, flat, woody capsules.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Flowering landscape tree.
Requirements: Well drained sandy soils are best.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and low cold tolerance.
Remarks: Flowers best in central part of the state. May freeze back in central Florida,
but recovers quickly. Also called the fern tree.
68
Hong Kong Orchid
River Birch
69
HONG KONG ORCHID TREE
Botanical Name: Bauhinia blakeana
Height: 20' to 40'
Orgin: Not native
Description: Tree creates a rounded, spreading canopy composed of large diameter
gray/green leaves. Young trees may require pruning during their early years to develop
a more uniform crown. The orchid like blooms are its nicest feature and come in
several colors depending on species. Evergreen.
Leaves: Simple, lobed with a cleft. The shape is called orbiculate which resembles an
ox’s foot. Leaves are 2" to 4" long, green year around.
Flowers: Purple, red, very showy and orchid looking.
Fruits: No fruit.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Parking lot islands, buffer strips, medium-size tree lawns, near a deck or patio,
residential street tree, specimen tree.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to full sun; in all common well-drained soil types.
Is drought tolerant. Does cast off quite a bit of debris. Prefers full sun and requires
some pruning and proper fertilization with emphasis on potassium.
Tolerance: Moderate salt tolerance. Low cold tolerance and subject to freeze during
cold winters in colder locations in Tampa Bay area.
Remarks: A nice medium-size showy tree with beautiful flowers. Must be protected
during cold winters and does require pruning. This species is best for it will not drop
long seed pods or create a mess in our urban plantings, (other Orchid trees can be
messy).
70
RIVER BIRCH
Botanical Name: Betula nigra
Height: 40' to 50'
Orgin: Native
Description: This tree normally grows with a central leader and small-diameter, darkcolored lateral branches. It has a narrow, oval to pyramidal crown when young,
spreading wider with age as several branches become
dominant. It does not have the white bark of other birches but has instead, reddish,
brown bark peeling off in film-like papery curls. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, double serrate, with an ovate or rhomboid shape. Leaf blades are 2"
to 4" long, green turning to yellow in the fall and not really showy.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruits: Elongated 1" to 3" long, dry, hard, and brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Hedge, near deck or patio, screen, shade tree, specimen, residential street tree.
Requirements: It is best-suited for growing along stream banks where it is native and in
other areas which are inundated for weeks. Can take low soil oxygen but desires acid
soil. Will grow in partial shade to full sun on most common acidic soils. It is relatively
short-lived at 30 to 40 years.
Tolerance: Low to moderate salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: This tree should be grown more as a single-trunk specimen. Branches droop
particularly when wet, so regular pruning in early years is required to remove lower
limbs for clearance.
71
Eastern Redbud
Fringe Tree
72
EASTERN REDBUD
Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis
Height: 20' to 30'
Orgin: Native
Description: Tree has an irregular growth habit when young but forms a graceful flattopped vase-shape as it gets older. It branches low on the trunk
and if left intact forms a graceful multi-trunked habit. Do not allow multiple trunks to
grow with tight crotches, instead space branches about 6 to 10 inches
apart along main trunk. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple with entire margins and a leaf shape of orbiculate to ovate. Leaf blades
2" to 6" inches long and going from green to yellow in the fall.
Flowers: Lavender; pink; or purple in the spring and
very showy.
Fruits: 1" to 3" in length, dry, hard, brown.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: Parking lot islands, medium-sized tree lawns, buffer strips, highway median
plantings, near deck or patio, small shade tree, specimen, sidewalk cut-outs,
residential street tree.
Requirements: Grows in partial shade to somewhat full sun. Likes light, rich, moist soil
but will accept sandy or alkaline soils. Need some irrigation during dry spells.
Requires pruning to develop strong structure.
Tolerance: Poor salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: There are several cultivars of this tree producing different color flowers.
Trees are short-lived but provide a wonderful show in the spring and fall. Can be
disease prone so do not over plant and usually only lives to around 30 years.
73
FRINGE TREE
Botanical Name: Chionanthus virginicus
Height: 20' to 25'
Orgin: Native
Description: A beautiful little deciduous tree which is a favorite for home landscaping.
Leaves: Simple, 4 to 8 inches long.
Flowers: Small, white dangling flowers, resembling a beard.
Fruits: Olive-like drupe, dark-blue or black in color.
Rate of Growth: Medium
Uses: Flowering landscape tree.
Requirements: Does best on fertile soil.
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance and high cold tolerance.
Remarks: A flowering native of Florida woodlands, this little tree should be more
widely used.
74
Australian Pine
Melaluca
75
AUSTRALIAN PINE
Botanical Name: Casuarina spp.
Height: 70' to 90'
Orgin: Not native.
Description: This is not a true pine tree and is not related to the pines. It has been used
extensively in erosion control along beaches but is now outlawed in many parts of
Florida due to its invasive nature and rapid growth rate. It a has what appears to be
long, soft, gray/green needles but these “needles” are actually multi-jointed branchlets,
the true leaves being rather inconspicuous. Evergreen.
Leaves: Whorled, simple, entire, and scale-like. Less than 2" long, green but not showy.
Flowers: Yellow, inconspicuous and not showy. Flowers in the spring.
Fruits: Oval, round, < .5", dry or hard. Brown, inconspicuous and causes significant
litter.
Rate of Growth: Very Fast.
Uses: Used in seaside landscapes as a windbreak, screen, clipped hedge, and for
topiary. Is not planted in cities due to its disruptive root system and litter. Has been
planted in the past as a wind-break in truck-farming areas.
Requirements: The Tree grows in partial shade to full sun in clay, loam or sand. Can
take slightly alkaline to acidic, occasionally wet to well drained soils.
Tolerance: High drought and salt tolerance. Cold tolerant to about 25 degrees.
Remarks: Every tree has its place but one has to be careful with this one and keep it
near the seashore as primarily a windbreak and erosion control feature. Old trees which
have been topped and abused often become hazardous and can fall over or drop large
limbs. Vigorous sprouts often originate from the roots of older trees knocked back by
the cold. This tree also tends to eliminate habitat for native plants.
76
MELALEUCA OR PUNK TREE
Botanical Name: Melaleuca leucadendron
Height: up to 40'
Orgin: Not native.
Description: Tall, slender, upright-spreading tree with graceful, pendulous branches.
Bark is gray, thick, and spongy and sheds in many thin layers. Reseeds to the point of
being very invasive. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, and entire, 2" to 4" long and 3/8" to 3/4" wide. They bare
pale green and glabrous on both surfaces, and young growth is red when it opens. Oil
has been extracted from leaves to be used in making some medicines.
Flowers: Creamy-white, displaying prominent stamens, clusters in spikes 1 ½" to 4"
long in July thru October.
Fruits: Red-brown cup-shaped capsules, 3/16" wide, in 1 ½" to 3" cylinders. Interesting
but not highly ornamental.
Rate of Growth: Fast
Uses: It does well on the seacoast and in the desert but not recommended for planting.
Requirements: Grows in dry or swampy areas. Likes alkaline soils and tolerates
drought.
Tolerance: Drought and salt tolerant and moderate for cold tolerance.
Remarks: Reseeds excessively especially on moist sites. Pollen from this tree also
causes great problems for people with some allergies or asthma conditions. Do not
recommend planting and this tree is exempt from protection by most “tree ordinances”.
77
Red Mulberry
78
RED MULBERRY
Botanical Name: Morus rubra
Height: 20' to 60'
Orgin: Not native.
Description: Tree is a native of China now growing over much of the eastern United
States west to Texas. Normally seen near streams and in other moist places. Fast
growing has an invasive root system and is considered by most to be a pest tree.
Rounded to mounding and broad spreading form with short trunk and seedlings often
abundant near a mature fruiting specimen. Also called male mulberry. Deciduous.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, three to nine inches long, ovate to broadly ovate, three to
seven lobes, doubly serrate, glabrous above, soft pubescent beneath. Yellow in autumn
and lobing varies greatly on different trees.
Flowers: Small, green, two to three inch staminate spikes. Monoecious.
Fruits: Three-fourths to one-and-a-half inches long, resembling a blackberry. Red
during early stage, turning black, juicy.
Rate of Growth: Fast.
Uses: Considered an undesirable tree.
Requirements: Grows best on moist sites in a fertile, acid to alkaline soil in full sun to
partial shade.
Tolerance: High for cold and moderate for salt tolerance.
Remarks: This tree is exempted from protection in most “tree ordinances” and is not
recommended for planting. Very invasive.
79
APPENDIX