Native Florida Trees

Bald Cypress

Bald cypress trees are one of the favorites of the lumber industry. It's a common wood among furniture makers, due to its powerful anti-fungal properties. The wood of the Bald Cypress is very strong and heavy making it great for outdoor construction as it is resistant to shrinkage, rotting, and termites.

Bald cypresses have very important roles in the wild too. Since they tend to grow along rivers and in wetlands, they are excellent at soaking up floodwaters and preventing erosion. They also trap pollutants and prevent them from spreading.

Bald cypress seeds are eaten by wild turkey, wood ducks, evening grosbeak, water birds, and squirrels. The seeds that escape predation are dispersed by floodwaters. Bald cypresses are slow-growing, long-lived trees. Most Bald cypress trees live up to 600 years, but some individuals have survived 1,200 years.

Tip:

When planting bald cypress trees in an existing forest site or yard, space the bald Cypress trees between 25 and 30 feet apart allowing room for future growth.

Oak Trees

Oak trees improve air quality by storing carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. The leaves of an oak tree absorb airborne pollutants. It has been observed that one oak tree can absorb up to 10 LBS of air pollution in a single year. A fun fact, oak trees can live 400 to 500 years!  The live oak or evergreen oak is the recommended oak tree to planted here in Florida.

Tip:

When planting oak trees in an existing forest or yard, space the oak trees between 20 and 25 feet apart allowing room for future growth.

Florida Maples

Did you know that certain maple trees can be planted in Florida? Not just a tree for the northern United States, certain maples can be grown successfully in the Florida climate. There are only two species that can be planted and grow successfully in Florida, the native red maple (Acer rubrum) and the Florida maple (Acer saccharum subsp. Floridanu).

Red Maple

Often called the “swamp maple”, this native maple grows along wetlands or in soil with good irrigation. The native red maples requires if planted far from wet areas requires constant watering and good irrigation. As the name implies, the red maple has a beautiful red color year round and in the spring blooms with red flowers and samaras (dried fruits).

Tip: Red maples grow fast, they must be pruned regularly in order for them to maintain healthy growth.

Florida Maple

The other maple that can be planted in the Sunshine state is the Florida maple (Acer saccharum subsp. floridanum). This tree in the fall provides some color change and can be a great addition in your yard to add some pop of color. 

Tip: Florida maples have shallow roots, they must be plant where a mower or people will not damage the roots.