Rotating Extension Article

For: Week of September 29, 2003

By: Daniel E. Mullins

Extension Horticulture Agent

Santa Rosa County

Native, Locally Grown Trees Best for Planting

Fall and early winter is the best time for the transplanting of shade and ornamental trees. Though timing is important, the use of well adapted species and the selection of high quality trees are equally important.

The longest lived and most trouble free trees are usually of those species which are native to our region. We need only to look at some of the recently introduced exotics to see the greater risk involved in planting unproven species. Examples include the Bradford pear, Leyland cypress and Chinese tallow tree. The first two are turning out to be flashes in the pan – looking great for the first few years, followed by the development of problems as the trees attain some age. The Tallow tree, though providing good fall color, is an invasive species. Through prolific seed production it is spreading unabated in landscape plantings and in wetlands.

Instead of planting the exotics, there are many attractive native trees that are more likely to be adapted to our Gulf Coast environment. Of the many native species, there is at least one that can be used in meeting almost any landscape tree requirement.

There are large growing deciduous trees that provide fall color. These include pignut hickory, sweet gum, green ash, tulip poplar and southern red oak. Some medium sized trees are red maple, sour gum and turkey oak. There are several small growing native deciduous trees including fringe tree, dogwood, Chickasaw plum and redbud.

A surprising number of native trees are classified as evergreen, either narrow leaved or broadleaved. For residents who like a coniferous, or narrow leaved tree, there is the southern red cedar, longleaf pine, slash pine, Atlantic white cedar, bald cypress and pond cypress. Native broadleaved evergreen trees include live oak, southern magnolia, sweetbay magnolia, wax myrtle, loblolly bay, dahoon holly and American holly.

This is by no means a complete list of all the tree species available for landscape planting. Hopefully, residents who are considering tree planting will consider the natives.

More detailed information is available at our IFAS/Extension web site. A publication entitled “Native Trees for North Florida” can be downloaded for viewing or printed. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP007. Copies are also available at your local Florida County Extension office.

Dan Mullins is Extension Horticulture/Vegetable agent for Santa Rosa County.

Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin. The use of trade names in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement of the product name(s) and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others.