Best Evergreen Trees to Grow in Florida
Florida is known for its swaying palm trees and vast orange groves, which are examples of the evergreen tree species that may be found there. Florida's U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones spans from 8a in the north to 11a in the south, making it one of the warmest and wettest states overall.
Pine woodlands, mixed highland forests, cabbage palm forests, wetlands, and beaches are among the different vegetation types. More than 300 species of trees, many of them evergreen, are native to Florida, and many more have been brought in for landscaping.
11 Evergreen Trees to Grow in Florida
1. Pine Trees
Evergreen leaves of pine trees are grouped in bundles and resemble needles. The slash pine, which grows in USDA zones 7 through 11, grows to 75 to 100 feet and is one of two native pines to Florida. With time, it sheds its lower limbs, revealing a tall, bare trunk and a lofty, circular canopy. Sand pine, another native pine, can survive in USDA zones 7a through 10b. It grows slowly and can withstand drought, typically between 15 and 40 feet tall.
2. Slash Pine
A native of Florida, the slash pine can reach 100 feet. The bark of this evergreen tree is reddish-brown with some green dots, and the needles are an odorless grayish-blue tint! Due to its resistance to hurricanes and strong winds, this tree thrives in Florida. These trees resist harm well because of their thick bark as well! They're also excellent for Florida's ecosystem since they give local creatures who need it most a ton of food and shelter!
3. Palms Trees
Evergreen leaves with feathery or fan-like shapes make up the crown of a palm tree's trunk. In addition to the many exotic palms used in landscaping, Florida is home to three species of native palms. USDA zones 8b through 11 are suitable for the growth of the cabbage palm. It is the state tree of Florida and typically grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet. Although it typically grows between 2 and 8 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11, the saw palmetto can grow up to 20 feet tall. Plants can withstand both salt and drought. In USDA zones 10 through
11, the Florida royal palm, a native of Florida's cypress swamps, can be found. Impressive in the landscape are the light gray trunks and big leaf crowns.
4. Geiger Tree
The Geiger Tree is Florida’s official state tree and may reach heights of 80 feet! In the summer, these trees also bloom with charming white flowers. Sandy coastal locations are the finest places for this native of Florida to flourish. Geiger trees are native to Florida and are fantastic for the ecosystem since they produce large amounts of fruit that Florida wildlife adores eating! It's understandable why this tree is Florida's state tree because Floridians enjoy planting them because of how lovely the flowers are.
5. Hong Kong Orchid Tree
The Hong Kong Orchid Tree can reach 60 feet and has vast, leathery leaves. These dark green, fan-shaped leaves are in the shape of leaves. Flowers on this plant bloom from April through May. They have a yellow foundation with pink or purple coloring.
6. Sweet Orange Tree
Florida's official fruit tree is the sweet orange tree. This native of Florida may reach a height of 40 feet and has branches extending at least 20 feet! The leaves are triangular-shaped, glossy, and dark green. Additionally, they feature white blossoms that bloom in the spring and excellent oranges that ripen throughout Florida's summer.
7. Bald Cypress
A native of Florida, the bald cypress can reach heights of 100 feet! These trees have a particularly fascinating characteristic when wet, the bark turns a vibrant crimson! The Bald Cypress thrives in marshes and other damp environments, making Florida the ideal place. Because they are so attractive and give Florida's wildlife a lot of food, these trees are well-liked there.
8. Black Olive
A tree called a black olive might grow to a height of about 40 feet and a spread-out width of at least 60 feet! During the summer, these trees bloom with white flowers.
9. Southern Magnolia
A particular kind of tree with a height of roughly 100 feet is called a Southern Magnolia. These trees have a particularly fantastic characteristic—when it rains, the bark of these trees turns a vibrant red. The Southern Magnolia thrives in damp environments, making Florida's climate ideal for them.
10. Loblolly Bay
Loblolly bay is a type of tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall. These trees have a particularly fantastic characteristic—when it rains, the bark of these trees turns a vibrant red. Since loblolly bays prefer damp environments, Florida's humid climate is ideal.
11. Dahoon Holly
A particular variety of holly bush, the Dahoon Holly, can reach a height of around 15 feet and a width of nearly 20 feet. The leaves are heart-shaped, glossy, and dark green. They have spring-blooming white flowers that develop into blackberries in the summer in Florida.
How to Choose the Right Tree
Aside from the apparent advantages, planting a tree appropriate for your landscape's area can give homeowners and your landscape a host of other advantages. Landscapes benefit from trees in the following ways:
● A structure that receives shade from trees experiences cooler summertime temperatures, which can result in cheaper electricity costs.
● They raise your property's worth.
● Trees can enhance air quality by reducing air pollution and particle matter.
● Due to the extra water that trees' root systems absorb that would otherwise run off the landscape and contribute to stormwater runoff, trees help to decrease flooding and pollution.
● Well-chosen and well-maintained trees can help shield your home from hurricane-force winds.
You shouldn't have any trouble fulfilling your desires thanks to the many evergreen tree varieties thriving throughout the state, whether you're looking for a flowering, fruiting, or shade tree. But it's crucial to plant the right tree in the proper location.
You can reduce the number of options by knowing what you want from the tree's properties. Additionally, choosing a tree that complements your preferences and the surroundings of your landscape ensures years of problem-free development and low care.
Conclusion
Due to its subtropical environment, Florida is the ideal place to cultivate a wide variety of trees. There is a tree out there that will satisfy your needs, whether you're looking for one that provides shade, bears fruit, is local to the area, or offers a splash of color with flowers.
There are many options for Florida-friendly trees that survive everything the state throws at them, whether you have to deal with a salty environment along the coast, hot and dry weather in southern areas of the state, or colder North Florida winters.
