Native Florida trees are stout trees that prosper in the various clime of the Sunshine State . Many species of trees aboriginal to Florida admit true pine trees , oak tree trees , cypress trees , and a wide range of mountains of deciduous tree diagram . Trees that produce well in Florida must put up unremitting sunshine , high-pitched humidness , and piquant coastal air . In addition , Florida ’s mood of modest winters in the Dixieland and freezing winter temperatures in the magnetic north get extra challenges .
Not all aboriginal Florida trees can thrive throughout the state . For good example , the native longleaf true pine grows well in Central and Northern Florida but may struggle south of Lake Okeechobee . However , the slash pine and evergreen southern unrecorded oak are suitable for grow from Miami to Jacksonville and west to Pensacola .
Are you interested in aboriginal trees grow in Florida ? If so , please continue reading to teach about the most beautiful trees to produce in the southeast US .
This clause leave information on identifying aboriginal tree in Florida . In addition , it include descriptions and exposure of the most popular aboriginal trees found throughout the Sunshine State .
Growing Zones for Native Florida Trees
Several gene determine which native Tree grow in a Florida landscape painting . You should consider sun exposure , humidness , territory eccentric , and propinquity to the seacoast . However , Florida ’s various growing zones mean that some trees suitable for southern regions may not survive moth-eaten wintertime in the compass north .
Florida ’s USDA growing zones range from 8 through 11 . Here is a short guidebook to acquire zones for native Florida trees :
Florida USDA Zone 8 : Florida ’s Panhandle in the northwest along the Gulf coast from Pensacola to almost the Atlantic coast , but not including Jacksonville . Cities include Tallahassee , Panama City , and Pensacola . The minimal winter temperature is 20 ° F ( -6.6 ° C ) .
Florida USDA Zone 9 : Central Florida from the north around Gainesville to the northern tip of Lake Okeechobee . Zone 9 cover all the fundamental area from the Mexican Gulf to the Atlantic . metropolis let in Jacksonville , Orlando , and Tampa . The minimal wintertime temperature is 25 ° F ( -3.8 ° C ) .
Florida USDA Zone 10 : The tropic area of Florida south of Lake Okeechobee to the southern tip of the land , including Miami , Cape Coral , Naples , Fort Lauderdale , and the Everglades . The minimum winter temperature is 30 ° F to 35 ° F ( -1.1 ° C – 1.7 ° C ) .
Florida USDA Zone 11 : The southernmost point of Florida include the Florida Keys . The climate is red-hot and humid with scant , soft winters . Minimum winter temperatures are 40 ° F to 45 ° F ( 4.4 ° C – 7.2 ° C ) .
How to Choose Native Trees to Grow in Florida
There are a few thing to consider if you desire to plant aboriginal tree in a Florida landscape . First , think about the growing geographical zone and how much sunlight they demand . However , you should also tick off the tree diagram ’s growing pace , mature height , and spread . Lastly , cogitate about how much maintenance it will require .
Native Florida Trees (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
There are over 460 species of aboriginal trees and bush in Florida that come in various shapes and sizing . We ’ll look in contingent at how to discover some beautiful true pine , oak , cypress tree , and flowering tree diagram native to the Sunshine State .
Native Florida Pine Trees
Pine trees are common throughout Florida , with many suitable to growing in sandy filth and large-minded of heat , humidity , and coastal ocean line . In addition , many evergreenpine treesare nonpareil for shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or adding year - round color to a landscape .
Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)
Slash pine has farseeing needles and is native to Florida
Among the pine trees aboriginal to Florida is the diagonal true pine . This coarse Florida pine Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a fast - growing tree with long needle - like leaves , crimson - brown scaly bark , andlong sylphlike pine cones . thrash about pine trees grow up to 100 foot . ( 30 m ) tall and have a rounded , spread top .
thrash true pine needles and a cone
welt pine tree tree thrive throughout Florida . They are one of the most common pine species grow from the Panhandle all the way to the Florida Keys . Theconiferous evergreenusually grows in muddy earth . Therefore , it also goes by the figure southerly Florida pine , swampland pine , or yellow slash pine .
The slash true pine resembles another native pine tree tree diagram , the longleaf true pine . However , the slash pine tree has shorter , less showy needles growing in clusters of two rather than three and its red - brown cones are small .
Slash pine tree are suitable for USDA zones 7 to 11 .
Native Florida Tree Identification
Slash pine tree is discover by its needle grow 5 ” to 11 ” ( 13 – 28 cm ) and ruby-red - browned pine cones growing up to 6 ” ( 15 cm ) long .
Sand Pine Tree (Pinus clausa)
Sand true pine grow in most part of Florida and are identified by their sprain branches
The Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin true pine Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree develop throughout Florida apart from zone 11 and the hot regions of zone 10 . The evergreen moxie pine has an unorthodox or rounded crest , reddish - brown barque , and slim acerate leaf - like leaves originate in one pair per fasciculus . Sand pines can grow up to 65 foot . ( 21 m ) grandiloquent , but usually develop 16–33 ft . ( 5–10 m ) .
Sand pine cone
The pine phonograph needle measure 2 ” to 4 ” ( 5 – 10 centimetre ) , and the egg-shaped - determine strobile are 1.2 ” to 3.1 ” ( 3 – 8 cm ) long . gumption true pine barque is a greyish - brown color near the basis , becoming redder nearer the crest . Many mintage have improbable , erect proboscis . However , some pine tree have crooked automobile trunk with twisted branches .
Sand pines are the most unwashed true pine tree diagram in north - central Florida from St. Augustine to Ft . Lauderdale and minute coastal strips south of Tampa and Naples .
gumption pine Tree are suited for USDA growing zone 7 through 10 .
Sand pine trees have cylindrical wan brown or reddish - brown cone cell and needles that grow in pairs .
Longleaf Pine Tree (Pinus palustris)
Longleaf pine tree have long phonograph needle and trunk
The longleaf pine is a tall aboriginal Florida tree maturate throughout Northern Florida . This native Florida pine tree tree has a tall , straight proboscis , rounded poll , and short leg . Identifying features of the longleaf pine tree are its acerate leaf growing in groups of three measuring 8 ” to 18 ” ( 20 – 45 cm ) tenacious and its shaft - shaped cones .
Longleaf pine needle and immature cones
The longleaf pine tree tree diagram arise up to 150 ft . ( 48 m ) marvellous and is qualify by its slender , straight luggage compartment . You will encounter this marvellous , majestic true pine Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree growing throughout Northern Florida in zones 8 and 9 . Its distinctive dwelling house is sandhills , juiceless sandy uplands , and flatwoods .
A mature retinal cone of longleaf pine tree
The longleaf pine is identified by its long svelte needles and cylindrical reddish - chocolate-brown cones growing 6 ” to 10 ” ( 15 – 25 cm ) long .
Native Florida Cypress Trees
Florida is home to two metal money ofnative cypress trees — the pond cypress and the bald cypress . These deciduous conifers are suited to Florida ’s landscape painting because they thrive in swampy precondition but also tolerate some drought .
Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Pond cypress tree diagram and foliage
The pond cypress is an attractive cone shape - bearing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( conifer ) with a columnar or narrowly conical habit . The medium - sized tree is identified by its grayish barque , diffuse , bright green needle - similar leaf , and horizontally growing branches . Unlike other coniferous tree , the pool cypress tree drops its leaves in the downslope after release rich orange shade .
pool cypress tree diagram grow 50 to 60 foot . ( 15 – 18 m ) tall and up to 15 ft . ( 5 m ) wide . you could develop pool cypress tree conifers asshade trees , especially in badly drained grease .
The pond cypress tree has a grayish torso that pouch at the base if it grow in swampy , waterlogged dirt . It ’s identified by its bright green foliation that turn orangish and small elliptic cones that go forth purple and turn brown .
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
bald-pated cypress tree tree , foliage and cones
The bald cypress tree is a native Florida cone-bearing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that grows in marshy , squashy areas throughout the state . bald-pated cypress trees are distinguished by their upright growth and triangular crown . The deciduous coniferous tree has grayish - browned bark , phonograph needle - like green leaves 0.75 ” ( 2 atomic number 96 ) long , and modest spheric cone .
A vulgar feature of bald cypress tree trees is the roots that grow around the tree diagram and are called “ human knee ”
The bald cypress develop 35 to 120 ft . ( 10 – 40 MB ) improbable . A unique feature of this coniferous tree is its egotistic , knobby base ( call knees ) that develop when it grows in swampland .
The tall , slender conifer also goes by the names tidewater red cypress , swamp cypress tree , and gulf cypress .
place features of the bald cypress tree are its slender grayish - brown barque , green foliage that deform russet - red in the autumn , and rotund dark-green cones that change by reversal hard and browned .
Native Florida Oak Trees
Florida is rest home to several mintage ofnative oak trees — some deciduous and others evergreen . In many Central and Northern Florida landscape painting , oak tree Tree have a meaning environmental role . And a few oaks are suit to Florida ’s diverse climate .
Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Live oak tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Quercus virginiana )
Thesouthern live on oakis classify as an evergreen plant oak tree diagram with shining green oval leathery leaves , thick dark bark , and small oblong dark brownish acorns . southerly live oak have a rounded , spreading tip and gnarled branches . unrecorded oak in Florida typically uprise 66 ft . ( 20 m ) tall and up to 90 foot . ( 27 m ) full .
Live oak tree diagram leaf and acorn
Characteristics of the southerly alive oak tree are its politic , bright leaves evaluate up to 6 ” ( 15 cm ) long , pocket-size oblong acornsmeasuring 1 ” ( 2.5 cm ) , and small clusters of fingerbreadth - like white flowers .
The southerly live oak tree has dark-skinned browned barque with a scaly coming into court and longitudinal crease
The southerly live oak species is one of Florida ’s most mutual oak tree trees . It maturate in all region of Florida , from the Panhandle in the compass north to the Florida Keys in the south .
The southern live oak is identified by horizontally circulate branch , leathery , lancelike leaves , and dark brown , almost bootleg acorn .
Turkey Oak Tree (Quercus laevis)
The turkey oak tree is aspecies of red oaktree that commonly grows in the southeasterly United States . This small deciduous rut - loving oak tree spring up 26 – 33 foot . ( 8 – 10 m ) improbable and can have multiple bow commit it a shrubby coming into court . You ’ll rule the oak Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout northerly and Central Florida .
Turkey oak tree diagram bark and acorn
Identifying lineament of turkey oak tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are its unparalleled leave , dark acorn , and accrue colours . Theoak leavesmeasure 4 ” to 6.75 ” ( 10 – 17 cm ) and are taper and deeply lob resemble a Republic of Turkey ’s pes . The acorns are greenish when young and become sinister as they mature with barbellate caps , and the burnished green leaves turn scarlet in the fall .
The bomb oak tree tree is identify by its shrub - corresponding ontogenesis and lustrous dark-green , three - lobed leave-taking , and coppery - brown acorns measuring 1 ” ( 2.5 cm ) long .
Other Native Trees in Florida
have ’s look in detail at other native Florida trees prized for their stunning flowers , attractive foliage , and ability to provide shade on hot , sunny days .
Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape myrtle bush - like tree diagram have multiple stem turn
Crape Vinca minor trees are stunningcolorful flowering treesthat bloom throughout the summer in Florida . The attractive characteristic of French pancake Vinca minor trees is their vibrantly colourize conelike bloom clusters of red , empurpled , blanched , and orange flowers . In plus , the shrub - like Tree have plenteous , gloomy light-green leaves that turn red , orange , or yellowed in the fall .
French pancake myrtle Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are little treesor large shrubs that grow 6 to 10 foot . ( 1.8 – 3 m ) tall and across-the-board . But hypothecate you have a diminished , stocky garden in Florida . In that sheath , choose a species of dwarf crepe Vinca minor bushes that grow between 2 and 6 foot . ( 0.6 – 1.8 m ) tall .
constitute the small bush - like trees in full sun and moist , well - drained land for best answer . The flowering French pancake myrtle trees are ideal as specimen plant , foundation plantings , or lawn trees .
Related reading : How to care for crape myrtle trees .
Crape myrtle treehas mysterious green ellipse leaves growing 2 ” ( 5 cm ) long , attractive peeling unaccented - browned barque , and clusters of papery blossom in lavender , pink , cherry-red , whitened , and yellow colouration .
Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Jacaranda Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( Jacaranda mimosifolia )
Thejacaranda treeis a arresting tropical Florida tree with attractive purplish blossom , dark , pinnately compound leaves , and outstandingly - shaped woody seed pods . The eye - catching tree diagram prime with dangling trumpet - shaped lilac flowers that flower from previous outpouring through August . The fern - corresponding foliage is ideal for mottled shadiness throughout the year .
Jacaranda tree leaves
This purple - blue flowering caviuna wood tree diagram is coarse throughout Central and South Florida in USDA zone 9 through 11 .
Jacaranda Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree flowers
Although the graceful tree diagram is loose to care for , it requires steady pruning to grow as a exclusive - stem tree diagram . Also , the tree can be mussy when it drops its leaves and pods in previous summertime and fall . So , it ’s not suitable for Florida garden with swimming pools .
Jacaranda tree fruit ( seed pods )
The arresting jacaranda tree is gentle to key out due to its attractive funnel - shaped purple blossoms , broad crown extend in feathery foliage , and long blooming time throughout the summertime . The large , scatter Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grows 25 to 40 ft . ( 6 – 12 m ) tall and 40 to 60 ft . ( 12 – 18 MB ) broad .
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
regal Caesalpinia gilliesii is also called the flamboyant tree or flaming tree diagram
Also called a flame tree diagram due to its brilliant red flowers , theroyal poincianais a popular shade tree throughout Southern Florida . The prominent feature of speech of the tree is its diffuse outgrowth and vibrantly - colored showy flowers . Each fragrant prime has four spoonful - shaped petals 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) long .
Royal Caesalpinia gilliesii flowers
Although not aboriginal to Florida , the tropical flowering tree has adapted well to the tropical climate of the southeast . The tree prosper in full sunshine , and mature trees grow up to 40 foot . ( 12 m ) tall and 60 foot . ( 18 m ) all-encompassing . The royal bird of paradise tree is characterized by its umbrella - determine canopy .
regal subgenus Poinciana forget
The royal poinciana tree is identified by its vivacious orange - violent flowers covering the rounded canopy throughout summer . In addition , the tincture tree has attractive fern - like leafage that complement the tropic red flowers .
Saucer Magnolia Tree (Magnolia x soulangeana)
Saucer magnolia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has a rounded , spreading jacket crown and showy large flowers
Thesaucer magnolia treeis a stunning ornamental tree that thrives in North and North Central Florida . The showy , fragrant cup - influence prime bloom in shades of purple , pink or ashen . The declamatory 4 ” to 12 ” ( 10 – 30 curium ) peak seem on this early - blossom Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in late winter before young growth appears .
The characteristics of the dish antenna magnolia are :
Because the saucer magnolia tree is a relatively thick , little tree , it ’s a popular selection forlandscaping projection in small gardens .
The saucer magnolia reaches 20 foot . ( 6 m ) mellow by 30 feet ( 9 K ) wide . As the shrub - like tree grows , its initial upright , erect habit becomes more rounded , originate as a multi - cauline bush .
Related meter reading : How to care for magnolia trees .
The saucer magnolia tree is identified by its expectant loving cup - shaped blossoms in shades of pink and white , shiny dark - green ellipse leaves , and smooth silvery barque .
have-to doe with : The Best Magnolia Trees to Grow in Florida
Eastern Redbud Tree (Cercis canadensis)
Eastern redbud flowers number in various tint of pink color and are desirable for northerly and upper Central Florida
Theeastern redbud treeis a minuscule deciduous native Florida tree diagram . The easterly redbud tree is famous for its fragrant sour magenta pink flowers growing in clusters on crooked offset . aboriginal to the easterly United States , the redbud tree has reddish - brown barque , heart - shaped foliage 2 ” to 5 ” ( 5 – 13 cm ) long , and long rose - colour seed pod .
easterly Cercis canadensis trees are suitable for growing in North Florida in USDA zones 8 and 9 . Planting it in full sun provide the sound blossoming results with masses of pea - like rose-colored - pink efflorescence overlay the branch . The tree has pale lily-livered fall colour when they drop , divulge the attractive zigzag ramification .
develop an easterly Cercis canadensis tree diagram as a specimen Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in full Sunday and moist grunge that drain well .
The eastern redbud tree diagram is known for its splashy , fragrant , red - purple flowers in spring emerging from reddish buds . The attractive pink - flowering tree blooms for several weeks .
Related articles :
