Florida is a haven for trees with more than 300 species indigenous to the southern state. Many other exotic trees and plants have also taken hold in the state. Get to know a few of the species With this Florida trees identification guide.
Two varieties of sand pine grow in the state. The Ocala variety grows in the southern and northeastern region and produces cones that remain closed unless exposed to extreme heat. The Choctawhatchee variety grows in the northwest and produces non-serotinous cones. The sand pine can grow to 80 feet but the average height is between 25 and 30 feet. The bark turns from gray to reddish-brown with age and the open crown may be flattened or rounded.
The white mangrove thrives along the shorelines of bays and estuaries high above the water line. It prefers stagnant wet soil. It differs from other variations of mangroves in that is has no aerial roots. The leaf is light green and elliptical with two glands at the base.
The laurel oak is extremely adaptable and can live in multiple habitats. It can thrive in wet habitats as well as dry ones. This tree grows quickly making it popular with residential and commercial landscapers. The trunk may be four feet around and it can grow more than 60 feet high. The crown is usually oval or round and symmetrical. Small brown catkins sprout from its branches during the spring.
The myrtle oak favors deep sandy soil in scrubland and on coastal hammocks and dunes. It can grow as a shrub or reach heights of nearly 40 feet. The margins of the leaves, which are one to two inches long and arranged alternately, turn downward. The leaves are rust to yellow in color.
The coastplain willow grows throughout Southern Florida. It prefers shorelines along shrub swamps, ponds, rivers, marshes, lakes, and wet forests and grows up to 30 feet tall. This is a deciduous tree with leaves that grow to seven inches long. Each leaf has a finely serrated margin.
The turkey oak gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which feature a maximum of seven lobes and look similar to a turkey foot. The foliage feeds multiple species of wildlife, including turkeys, deer, and black bears. This tree thrives in pine and oak woodlands as well as dry pinelands and on sandy ridges. A mature tree can reach heights of 50 feet or more.
The swamp bay grows almost 40 feet high and is a host plant for Swallowtail butterfly larva. This is an evergreen tree. Its leaves are shiny on top and lighter green with reddish hairs underneath. The leaves are alternate and often have galls. The fruit is very dark and a slightly elongated drupe.
The southern magnolia yields large white or cream-colored flowers up to 8 inches long, which have a strong fragrance. The fruit is cone-like and has red berries hanging from silky threads during the autumn. This evergreen can reach heights of up to 80 feet and grows primarily in Mesic upland woodlands and bottomland forests. This is another popular landscaping tree with Florida property owners.
Two varieties of sand pine grow in the state. The Ocala variety grows in the southern and northeastern region and produces cones that remain closed unless exposed to extreme heat. The Choctawhatchee variety grows in the northwest and produces non-serotinous cones. The sand pine can grow to 80 feet but the average height is between 25 and 30 feet. The bark turns from gray to reddish-brown with age and the open crown may be flattened or rounded.
The white mangrove thrives along the shorelines of bays and estuaries high above the water line. It prefers stagnant wet soil. It differs from other variations of mangroves in that is has no aerial roots. The leaf is light green and elliptical with two glands at the base.
The laurel oak is extremely adaptable and can live in multiple habitats. It can thrive in wet habitats as well as dry ones. This tree grows quickly making it popular with residential and commercial landscapers. The trunk may be four feet around and it can grow more than 60 feet high. The crown is usually oval or round and symmetrical. Small brown catkins sprout from its branches during the spring.
The myrtle oak favors deep sandy soil in scrubland and on coastal hammocks and dunes. It can grow as a shrub or reach heights of nearly 40 feet. The margins of the leaves, which are one to two inches long and arranged alternately, turn downward. The leaves are rust to yellow in color.
The coastplain willow grows throughout Southern Florida. It prefers shorelines along shrub swamps, ponds, rivers, marshes, lakes, and wet forests and grows up to 30 feet tall. This is a deciduous tree with leaves that grow to seven inches long. Each leaf has a finely serrated margin.
The turkey oak gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which feature a maximum of seven lobes and look similar to a turkey foot. The foliage feeds multiple species of wildlife, including turkeys, deer, and black bears. This tree thrives in pine and oak woodlands as well as dry pinelands and on sandy ridges. A mature tree can reach heights of 50 feet or more.
The swamp bay grows almost 40 feet high and is a host plant for Swallowtail butterfly larva. This is an evergreen tree. Its leaves are shiny on top and lighter green with reddish hairs underneath. The leaves are alternate and often have galls. The fruit is very dark and a slightly elongated drupe.
The southern magnolia yields large white or cream-colored flowers up to 8 inches long, which have a strong fragrance. The fruit is cone-like and has red berries hanging from silky threads during the autumn. This evergreen can reach heights of up to 80 feet and grows primarily in Mesic upland woodlands and bottomland forests. This is another popular landscaping tree with Florida property owners.
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