Trees for South Florida–Part 1
The Florida Landscape Architect License Exam has quite a few questions about plants. And, many of the questions are specifically testing your knowledge of native plants that grow well in South Florida.
Some of the questions will show you photos of trees while others ask you to select the most appropriate species for a particular scenario.
Since there are so many great trees adapted to grow in the mild South Florida climate, this list is broken up into several articles.
- Trees for South Florida–Part 1 (A-C)
- Trees for South Florida–Part 2 (D-I)
- Trees for South Florida–Part 3 (J-P)
- Trees for South Florida–Part 4 (Q-Z)
Landscape architect candidates should be knowledgeable about the following species for southern Florida landscapes.
Trees for South Florida
Acacia farnesiana (sweet acacia)
This tall, semievergreen, native shrub or small tree has feathery, finely divided leaflets of a soft, medium green color. The slightly rough stems are a rich chocolate brown or grey, and possess long, sharp, multiple thorns. The small, yellow, puff-like flowers are very fragrant and appear in clusters in late winter then sporadically after each new flush of growth, providing nearly year-round bloom. It can be trained into a tree for use in median strips, or can be used as a street tree where there is not a need for tall-vehicle clearance beneath the crown. The small stature and low, spreading branching habit makes pruning for vehicular clearance difficult unless it is properly trained from an early age. But the required input of man hours for early training may be offset by the high drought, pest, and insect resistance of the tree. Do not locate the tree too close to where people can be injured by the sharp thorns on the branches. Click here for more information.
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Red maple has an oval shape and is a fast grower with strong wood, reaching a height of 75 feet. Unless irrigated or on a wet site, red maple is best used north of USDA hardiness zone 9. Trees are often much shorter in the southern part of its range unless growing next to a stream or on a wet site. When planting the species Acer rubrum in southern Florida, select only those which have been grown from seed sources from southern populations. The newly emerging leaves and red flowers and fruits signal that spring has come in December and January in south Florida.
The best ornamental features of red maple is orange, red, or yellow fall color lasting for several weeks. Red maple is frequently one of the first trees to color up in fall. Cultivars are more consistently colored. The tree makes the best growth in wet places and has no other particular soil preference. Avoid alkaline soil because chlorosis may develop.
Ardisia escallonioides (marlberry)
Marlberry is a 12- to 15-foot-tall shrub native to Florida and the Caribbean region that has a very important place in planting design. It often occurs naturally with sabal palms and stoppers. The dark green, semiglossy leaves of this shrub are 3 to 4 ½ inches long. The small, white, fragrant flowers occur in dense terminal panicles that are 5 inches in length. Flowers are borne at intervals throughout the year but do not last very long. In the late spring this plant bears its small purple fruit. Marlberry is great in mixed group and background plantings. It can be trained into a small tree by removing lower foliage and branches to expose the interesting trunk pattern. The multiple trunks become an interesting element in the landscape, and they look nice lighted at night. Space them 15 feet apart along an entrance road or sidewalk to create a nice linear planting of multi-trunked small trees. Since they will remain quite dense even in the partial shade, they make a great screen for residential landscapes. This shrub prefers well-drained soils and a semi-shade to full sun location in the landscape. It will grow in soils with a wide pH range from a sandy humus to calcareous shell and is fast growing.
Arenga engleri (Formosa palm, dwarf sugar palm)
Clustering palm to 18 feet tall, usually covered with disintegrating, fibrous leaf bases that adhere to the stem after the leaf dies and falls away. Leaves are pinnate, to 10 feet long, with leaflets that are green above and silvery below. Leaflets are induplicate, the apical leaflet is praemorse, but other leaflets are more linear with jagged tips and margins. Inflorescences are about 18 inches long with many pendant branches. Flowers are yellow to orange, fragrant, with staminate and pistillate flowers on the same inflorescence. Ripe fruits are spherical, red, and about 1/2 inch long when mature. After the fruits ripen, the stem on which they grew dies while other stems in the cluster continue to grow. The fruits have a high concentration of oxalate that can be extremely irritating to human skin.
Avicennia germinans (black mangrove)
Thee black mangrove is a coastal evergreen tree native to Florida. It is found on mud ats and coasts throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions in the Americas. In the mangrove forests of Florida, it generally grows between red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), which are found in standing waters, and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa), which are more of an upland species. Black mangroves grow best in full sun and can reach heights of 40 to 50 feet. Leaves are simple and opposite and grow from 2 to 3 inches long. The leaf is oval and pointed, and the margins are entire. The leaves appear smooth, thick, and leathery with a dark green topside and grey
to white underside. The topside of the leaves may also appear white due to the formation of crystals from salt that is excreted from the leaves. The bark of black mangrove is dark gray or brown. When the tree is young the bark is smooth and as it matures the bark takes on a thick and ssured texture. The roots produce vertical “branches” called pneumatophores, which rise from the ground and grow to a height that is just above high tide. This helps the tree “breathe” during water inundation. The flowers appear at the ends of the branches and are small, white, and fragrant with yellow centers. Fruits appear throughout the year and consist of large capsules of seeds shaped like lima beans, which germinate while still on the tree. As a landscape plant, black mangroves have been planted along brackish river banks or even in upland areas. It makes a nice shade tree or a screening tree due to its thick foliage. Click here for more information.
Bucida buceras (black olive, oxhorn bucida, gregorywood)
Though commonly called `black olive tree’, this native of the upper Florida Keys (some consider it native, others do not) is not the edible olive we know and love, but does produce a small, black seed-capsule. Black olive is a 40 to 50-foot-tall evergreen tree with a smooth trunk holding up strong, wind-resistant branches, forming a pyramidal shape when young but developing a very dense, full, oval to rounded crown with age. Sometimes the top of the crown will flatten with age, and the tree grows horizontally. The lush, dark bluish-green, leathery leaves are two to four inches long and clustered at branch tips, sometimes mixed with the 0.5 to 1.5-inch-long spines found along the branches. The inconspicuous, small, greenish-yellow flowers are produced in 4-inch-long spikes during spring and summer and eventually form the black fruits which, unfortunately, exude a staining tannic acid material which could damage patios, sidewalks, or vehicles parked below. Besides this one drawback, black olive is beautifully suited as a street, shade, or specimen tree for frost-free areas, but is probably overplanted. There are many native trees which could be used in its place, including satin leaf, gumbo-limbo and others. Black olive grows slowly and should be planted in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, moist soils. Plants may be slightly damaged at 32°F, but are killed at 25°F. Trees may show chlorosis on high pH soils. For more information, please click here.
Bursera simaruba (gumbo limbo)
This large semievergreen tree, with an open, irregular to rounded crown, may reach 60 feet in height with an equal or wider spread but is usually seen smaller (25- to 40-feet tall and 25- to 30-feet wide) in landscape plantings. The trunk and branches are thick and are covered with resinous, smooth, peeling coppery bark with an attractive, shiny, freshly varnished appearance. The tree typically develops from two to four large-diameter limbs originating close to the ground. A native of south Florida and the tropical offshore islands. Although growth rate is rapid and wood is soft, gumbo limbo trees have great resistance to strong winds, drought, and neglect. Drought avoidance is accomplished by leaf drop, and growth is often best in drier locations not receiving irrigation. The inconspicuous flowers are followed by red, three-sided berries that split into three sections at maturity to reveal a 1/4-inch triangular red seed. The fruit takes a year to ripen and matures in early summer. Gumbo limbo grows in full sun or partial shade on a wide range of well drained soils. Tolerant of moderate amounts of salt spray, gumbo limbo adapts to alkaline or poor, deep white sands but will also grow quickly on more fertile soil. Once established, gumbo limbo requires little attention other than occasional pruning to remove lower branches that may droop close to the ground. Click here for more information.
Butia capitata (pindo palm, jelly palm)
This small, single-stemmed, feather-leaved palm is widely grown in warmer parts of the US due to its unusual cold tolerance. It is considered hardy down to about 10°F or USDA zone 8A. While they survive in south Florida, pindo palms grow much better in cooler, less humid climates. They are considered to be intolerant of salt spray. The palm is slow-growing, eventually reaching 15–20 feet, making it suitable for planting under power lines. Its gray-green recurved leaves are about 4–6 feet long and have leaflets attached to the petioles in a deep V shape. The petioles have spines along their margins. The leaf bases are strongly persistent and give the trunk a distinctive knobby appearance. The 3–4-foot-long flower stalks eventually produce edible 1-inch-diameter yellow to orange fruits.
Caesalpinia granadillo (poinciana, Bridalveil Tree)
Bridalveil tree makes a wonderful shade tree, the 35-foot-high tree clothed with finely textured, pinnately compound, evergreen leaves. In summer and fall, bridalveil tree is decorated with showy yellow blossoms. The bark is also quite striking, peeling off in thin strips showing an unusual green and grey mottling. The tree is usually found growing with several trunks originating from the lower four feet of the tree. This feature, along with the unusual bark traits, make this a highly desirable tree for planting in almost any landscape. Not commonly available in nurseries, bridalveil tree may increase in popularity once people discover its outstanding characteristics. The fine-textured foliage combines with an upright-vase shape to form a canopy tree with few equals. It is well suited for a residence, staying small enough to keep it from overtaking a property. It can be planted on 25-foot centers along a road, or placed in a parking lot buffer strip to create a nice canopy of soft foliage. Bridalveil tree should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil. The tree is moderately drought-tolerant. Early pruning is needed to prevent bark from pinching or becoming embedded in the crotches. For more information, click here.
Calliandra haematocephala (powderpuff)
This large, multiple-trunked, low-branching, evergreen shrub has silky leaflets that are glossy copper when new, turning to a dark metallic green. The profuse, fragrant bloom is the main reason for its popularity, with big puffs, two to three inches across, of watermelon pink, deep red, or white silky stamens, produced during warm months. With rapid growth in sandy soils and full sun, powderpuff bush will respond favorably to regular watering while young but should require no special care once established, except an occasional pruning to keep it within bounds. Powderpuff bush may be used as a tall (5- to 6-foot) flowering hedge and is often seen as a small, flowering specimen tree with the lower branches pruned off. Powderpuff can grow to about 15 feet tall when pruned into a small tree. The long, arching branches form an attractive canopy suitable for patio or container plantings. Pinching the new growth increases branch number and produces more flowers on a more compact plant. Although plants are damaged by freezing temperatures, they grow back from the base in the spring in USDA hardiness zone 9. Click here for more information.
Callistemon viminalis (bottlebrush)
This popular evergreen tree has a dense, multi-trunked, low-branching, pendulous growth habit and a moderate growth rate. Mature specimens can reach 25- to 30-feet tall in 30 years, but most trees are seen 15- to 20-feet high and wide. The narrow, light green, 3- to 4-inch-long leaves tend to grow only at the ends of the long, hanging branches, creating a weeping effect. The cylindrical, bright scarlet blooms, three to five inches long and 1-inch wide, are composed of multiple, long, bristlelike stamens. These blooms appear in great abundance March through July, less so throughout the year. The flowers are followed by persistent woody capsules that are not noticed unless you are close to the tree. For more information, click here.
Canella winterana (wild cinnamon, cinnamon bark)
Wild cinnamon is a salt tolerant large evergreen shrub or small tree native of Florida and tropical America. Purple and white showy flowers cover the tree in summer and fall followed by bright red berries clustered near the tips of branches. Thick, obovate to spatulate shaped leaves fill the dense canopy with a medium- to olive-green color. The trunk grows straight up the center of the canopy and develops thin branches that grow to no more than about 4 feet long. Wild cinnamon can be used as a specimen planted alone in the landscape as a small tree. They can be trained with several stems reaching up into the canopy, or left to grow with one trunk as seen in the wild. The rich, dense foliage creates a cooling shade beneath the tree and makes this a good native plant for locating near patios and decks for large and small residences alike. Plant them in a row spaced 10 feet apart along an entrance to a subdivision, mall or commercial landscape for a dramatic impact. The narrow canopy makes it a good candidate for a clipped or unclipped screen along a property line. A number of nurseries offer this wonderful plant for sale. Best growth and flowering occur in the full sun on a relatively well-drained site. The tree tolerates alkaline soils well. It is an endangered plant in Florida. Click here for more information.
Capparis cynophallophora (Jamaica caper tree, mustard tree)
This 6- to 20-foot-tall, native shrub is an upright to spreading plant that is related to plant producing edible capers (Fig. 1). The evergreen leaves of the Jamaica caper are lightgreen above, with fine brown scales below. These glossy, oval leaves are folded together when they first emerge and give the plant’s new growth a bronze appearance. The leaves also have a notched tip. Twigs are brownish gray and pubescent. Jamaica caper flowers have very showy, two-inch-long, purple stamens, white anthers, and white petals. The inflorescence is comprised of terminal clusters consisting of 3 to 10 individual flowers. The fruits are 3- to 8-inch-long cylindrical pods containing small brown seeds that are embedded in a scarlet pulp. Jamaica caper can be utilized as an understory tree in the partial shade. Train the plant into a tree by removing low, drooping branches, and heading upright branches to thicken their diameter. It can also be clipped into a hedge or tall screen to block an undesirable view. Grow Capparis cynophallophora in an area that receives full sun to medium shade. This plant performs well in soils with good drainage and can tolerate cold temperatures to 28°F. It is also drought resistant and responds to fertilizer with vigorous growth. For more information, click here.
Carpentaria acuminata (carpentaria palm)
This fast-growing palm tree quickly grows to a height of 40 feet, the smooth grey trunk topped with 10-foot-long, spreading green fronds. The inconspicuous white flowers appear from spring through fall and are followed by the production of bright red fruits that are less than one-inch long. The juice from these fruits can cause a skin irritation. Once highly recommended as a replacement for the Christmas palm, which is very susceptible to lethal yellowing disease, Carpentaria palm apparently requires a richer soil than many landscapes can provide. It is also susceptible to trunk cracks in cool weather, a condition that opens the trunk to decay organisms. Carpentaria palm is probably best suited for an occasional accent or specimen planting where temperatures stay warm in the winter. A number of them grouped together can be attractive. Choose the best soil on your site for planting this palm. Carpentaria palm should be grown in full sun on rich, moist but well-drained, fertile soil, and it has a low tolerance for salt and drought.
Cassia fistula (golden shower)
Golden shower is a fast-growing tree which reaches 30 to 40 feet in height and 30 to 40 feet wide. The well-spaced branches are clothed with pinnately compound leaves, with leaflets up to eight inches long and 2.5 inches wide. These leaves will drop from the tree for a short period of time and are quickly replaced by new leaves. In summer, golden shower is decorated with thick clusters of showy yellow blooms which cover the slightly drooping branches. The blooms are followed by the production of 2-foot-long, dark brown, cylindrical seedpods which persist on the tree throughout the winter before falling to litter the ground. The seeds contained within are poisonous. Golden shower is ideal for use as a specimen planting. It can look a bit coarse and unkempt for short periods when the leaves drop but the vibrant flower display more than makes up for this. Some communities have planted this as a street tree where it has held up quite well. Golden shower should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil. The trees are moderately drought- and salt-tolerant. Although golden shower is damaged by temperatures falling slightly below freezing, it will come back with warmer weather. Trees will need occasionally pruning when they are young to control shape and develop a uniform crown. Young trees can grow asymmetrical with branches often drooping toward the ground. Staking and proper pruning will help develop a well shaped and structured crown. For more information, read this article.
Chamaerops humilis (European fan palm)
This small, multi-stemmed, hardy palm is the only one native to Europe, and is hardier than most palms. The curved, clumping, short trunks and gray-green, fan-shaped leaves, borne thickly in a bushy head, make a stunning sculptural element in a garden or patio containers. The fine-textured fronds make the palm stand out from other plants in the landscape. Leaf color on individual plants ranges from light green through silver. Although growth rate is slow, it is well worth the wait since even small plants will stand out nicely in almost any landscape. By removing suckers from the base of the main trunk, this slightly salt-tolerant palm may also be trained as a singletrunked palm. Since the leaf stalks are spiny, fan palm may also be used as a barrier, planted three to five feet apart. It makes a nice accent plant in a shrub border or in a low-growing groundcover. It can also be planted several feet apart in a mass on a large-scale landscape forming a fine-textured accent area. Growing best in moist rich soil, it is drought- and wind-resistant, and established plants will survive temperatures to 10°F or below, in full sun, or light shade. Plants grow very slowly in the shade. Read more about this palm here.
Chrysophyllum oliviforme (satinleaf)
Reaching a height of 40 feet and a spread of 20 feet in an oval form, satinleaf is a medium-sized tree noted for its unusually beautiful foliage. The evergreen, 4-inch-long leaves are a glossy, dark green above and a glowing, bright copper color beneath, providing a beautiful, two-toned effect when breezes cause the leaves to flutter. Leaves in some respects resemble those of the brown-back southern magnolias. This Florida native makes an attractive freestanding lawn specimen or blends well in a shrubbery border or naturalized landscape. It could be tried as a street tree or parking lot tree. Use it cautiously since it can be severely damaged at 32°F and below. The trunks are rather showy because they are covered with thin, light reddish-brown, scaly bark. Small, inconspicuous flowers are followed by small, sweet, purple fruits. Satinleaf should be grown in full sun or partial shade on fertile, well-drained soils. Plants should be mulched and watered faithfully, although they are able to withstand occasional drought. The tree has not been widely planted but should make a good, durable urban tree in USDA hardiness zones 10b and 11. Trunk and branch structure is good, making this a clean, long-lasting tree. Star apple, Chrysophyllum cainito, closely related, bears leaves of similar decorative quality and is grown for its larger (up to four inches long), more edible fruits. Read more about satinleaf here.
Citharexylum fruticosum (fiddlewood)
Normally seen as a shrub, fiddlewood can grow to about 40 feet tall in its native habitat in south Florida (Fig. 1). The largest known specimen is in Dade County, FL. Leaves are unusually glossy with smooth margins and a distinctive bowed venation pattern. The plant produces several trunks which if left untrained, eventually gives rise to a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Small, white showy flowers produced in the summer months contrast nicely with the shiny foliage. Young plants can be upright and rounded; older specimens develop a rounded vase form with lower branches removed. Fiddlewood is most useful planted 6 to 8 feet apart as a screen or hedge plant along a property line. Its large size makes it suited for a tall hedge. The canopy on shade-grown plants becomes thin and irregular; those in full sun remain dense and cast deep shade in a small area. Fiddlewood makes a nice patio tree planted in the shade of pines or other tall trees. It will also be useful for planting in parking lot buffer strips, along highways and in other drafty sites receiving little if any irrigation once established. Fiddlewood is tolerant of sandy, dry soil and adapts to a wide range of soil pH including alkaline. Moderate salt tolerance allows planting near the beach. More information can be found here.
Citrus spp. (citrus)
Citrus fruits are classified into different groups by the citrus industry according to their characteristics and use. Sweet oranges and grapefruits are distinctive types that are accepted as a regular part of the diet and consumed as juice or eaten in some form practically every day by many people. Specialty fruits (tangerines and tangerine hybrids) are excellent for holiday or dessert uses. Acid fruits (lemons, limes, and others with high citric acid content) are used as thirst-quenching drinks, garnishes on the dinner table, and ingredients for refreshing pies and delicious cakes. For landscaping, fruit trees have additional ornamental value to enhance the beauty of the surroundings, and a specimen tree of some exotic type adds interest as a conversation piece. If the home site is large enough, several varieties of each type may be selected. Any wellsite that is suitable for building a home and having a garden is likely to be satisfactory for citrus trees. Citrus trees tolerate light shade but will be more productive if grown in full sunlight. They should not be planted so close together that they cut off light to the lower branches of neighboring trees. For home plantings, the spacing recommended should be a minimum of 15 feet between trees. Consider proximity to buildings, as citrus will grow rapidly into large trees when receiving proper care. Septic tanks and drain fields should be avoided, due to possible clogging of drains. For more information on citrus planting and varieties in Florida, please read this article.
Coccoloba diversifolia (pigeonplum)
This upright, densely-foliated, rounded evergreen tree is usually seen at 15 to 25 feet and a spread of 20 to 35 feet, though it can grow larger. Young trees appear pyramidal until the multiple trunks begin spreading. This can form a rounded vase on older specimens. It is a wonderful small to medium-sized tree for subtropical landscapes, typically sporting a multiple trunk. Trunks often grow almost parallel to each other, and embedded or included bark forms regularly, but this does not appear to compromise the wood strength of pigeon plum. The 4-inch-long, shiny, dark green, leathery leaves drop uniformly in March but quickly emerge as bright red new growth. The small, whitish-green flowers are abundantly produced on 2- to 3-inch-long racemes in early summer, followed by 1/3-inch-long, purple, pear-shaped fruit. The fruits are not really palatable for humans, but the birds devour them. Although pigeon plum makes a wonderful shade tree, the fallen fruit may create a litter problem on patios and sidewalks, and along streets. But the 2-month inconvenience of messy fruit may be a small price to pay for the wonderful effect this striking tree creates along streets or in a residential yard. Lower branches will need to be removed over time for vehicle clearance along streets, but there is a definite place for the tree along boulevards where cars will not park. The 1- to 2-foot wide, straight, upright trunks have grayish-brown bark that falls off in plates to reveal dark purplish bark beneath, helping to make pigeon plum a wonderful specimen tree. It looks striking as a specimen lighted at night from beneath the canopy. Trees trained to a single trunk in the nursery can be very useful for planting along streets where vehicle clearance is needed. Fast-growing in full sun or partial shade, pigeon plum does best on moist, well-drained soils. It has good salt tolerance. Be sure to slice and otherwise drastically disturb and pull apart the root ball on pot bound, container-grown trees. Pot-bound trees have a reputation for rooting out poorly into landscape soil. Read this article for more information.
Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)
Reaching a height of 25 to 30 feet, seagrape can take on a variety of shapes, depending upon its location but typically forms a multi-stemmed vase shape if left unpruned. The large, almost circular, broad, leathery, evergreen leaves of seagrape have distinctive red veins. The leaves frequently turn completely red before they fall in winter. The new young foliage is a beautiful bronze color which is set off nicely against the dark green, shiny leaves. The inconspicuous ivory flowers are produced on foot-long racemes and are followed by dense clusters of 3/4-inch diameter green grapes on female trees only, ripening to a luscious deep purple in late summer. Males do not produce fruit. The grapes are often used to make a delicious jelly and are also popular with birds and squirrels.
The contorted, twisting trunk (which can grow to two feet in diameter) and upright branching habit makes seagrape an interesting, picturesque shade tree or specimen planting or, it can be pruned into a dense hedge, screen, or windbreak. Because of its size and coarse texture, seagrape as a clipped hedge is more suited to foundation plantings for large buildings where it will lend a tropical effect. It is also used as a seaside hedge in commercial landscapes, but requires hand pruning, since the large leaves do not lend themselves well to shearing.
Pruning is required two or three times during the first 10 years after planting to train the multiple trunks so they are well-attached to the tree. Be sure branches do not develop embedded bark, since they will be poorly attached to the trunk and could split from the trunk. But the wood and the tree is generally very strong and durable following this developmental and corrective pruning. The tree will then perform well with little care, except for occasional pruning of lower branches to create clearance for vehicles. Some people object to the litter created by the large, slowly-decomposing leaves which fall from the tree during the year.
Requiring full sun and sandy, well-drained soils, seagrape is excellent for seaside locations since it is highly salt- and drought-tolerant. Plants should be well-watered until established and then should only require occasional pruning to control shape.
There is a variegated cultivar available. For more information, check out this article.
Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood, silver buttonwood)
This low-branching, multi-trunked, shrubby, evergreen tree has glaucous medium-green leaves. The inconspicuous, small, greenish flowers appear in dense conelike heads in terminal panicles in spring and are followed by 1/2-inch, conelike, red-brown fruits. The dark brown attractive bark is ridged and scaly. The tree is ‘clean’ with small leaves which fall between the grass blades of the lawn or are easily washed away in the rain.
Capable of reaching a height of 40 feet with a 20-foot spread, buttonwood is often seen as a small, somewhat asymmetrical shrub but is ideal for use as a screen, clipped hedge, or specimen planting. The species is less common and grows taller than the silver buttonwood. Due to the attractive bark and soft foliage, a multi-stemmed specimen can make a nice patio or street tree. Planted in the open as a tree, buttonwood will grow to about 20 to 25 feet tall and wide, and will often take on a picturesque, contorted appearance when exposed to constant seashore winds, creating an attractive specimen. The crown is more symmetrical 1/2 mile or more from the coast or on the inland side of a tall ocean-front building. The wood of buttonwood was formerly used for firewood, cabinetwork, and charcoal making and is very strong. It is an ideal wood for smoking meats and fish. Included or embedded bark often develops in major branch crotches, but the strong wood appears to compensate for this potential defect. Trees are tough and long-lasting in the landscape.
A Florida native, buttonwood is ideal for seaside plantings as it is highly tolerant of full sun, sandy soils, and salty conditions. It also tolerates brackish areas and alkaline soils, thriving in the broken shade and wet soils of hammocks. This is a tough tree! It withstands the rigors of urban conditions very well and makes a durable street or parking lot tree. Due to its small size, plant on 15-foot centers to form a closed canopy along a street. Purchase single-trunked trees for street and parking lot plantings.
The cultivar ‘Mombo’ has a dense crown and may be smaller than the species, 15 to 20 feet tall. For additional information, read this article from the University of Florida.
Cordia boissieri (white geiger, Texas olive)
Wild olive is a native North American evergreen tree which reaches 20-feet in height with a 10- to 15-foot spread. This small tree is very rarely found and is even reportedly close to extinction. The silvery green leaves have a velvety texture and the showy, white flowers appear year-round, if enough rainfall or irrigation is available. Otherwise, the 3-inch-wide, trumpet-shaped, white blossoms with yellow throats will appear from late spring to early summer. The olive-like, white fruits that are produced have a sweet flesh relished by birds and other wildlife and, although edible to man, should not be eaten in quantities. This is a versatile plant adapted for use as a specimen tree or as an accent in a shrub border. Showy, year-round flowers make it suitable for placing in a lawn area as a free-standing specimen. It can be planted in an above-ground container and kept looking nice for a number of years when it is carefully maintained. Wild olive should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained soils and is highly drought-tolerant. Although hardy to about 20°F, wild olive will lose its leaves in a severe frost. Read more about this species here.
Cordia sebestena (geiger tree)
This dense, rounded, evergreen native tree grows slowly to a height of 25 feet with an equal spread and can develop a trunk 12 inches thick. The large, 7-inch-long, stiff, dark green leaves are rough and hairy, feeling much like sandpaper. Appearing throughout the year, but especially in spring and summer, are dark orange, 2-inch-wide flowers which appear in clusters at branch tips. The splendid flowers are followed by one to 2-inch-long, pear-shaped fruits, which have a pleasant fragrance but are not particularly tasty. Geiger tree is quite salt- and brackish-water tolerant, making it ideal for use in coastal landscapes as a free-standing specimen, patio or framing tree. Most specimens are seen as multitrunked and low-branching but nurseries can produce single-trunked trees suitable for downtown and parking lots. It has been used as a street tree in some communities but drops leaves as a drought-avoidance strategy in prolonged dry spells. According to legend, the common name was bestowed by Audubon in commemoration of John Geiger, a Key West pilot and wrecker of the 19th century and is now used quite universally as the common name for this excellent Florida native tree. Growing in full sun to partial shade, geiger tree is tolerant of light, sandy, alkaline soils and salt-spray. It is highly recommended for seaside plantings. Do not plant where there is the slightest danger of frost. Read more here.
Looking for a practice exam for Florida LARE Section F?
Florida Landscape Architect Exam Practice Test is the only practice test available to help you pass the licensing exam.
