Florida is a tree lover's paradise with more than 300 native species growing in all regions. In addition to native species, the state has become home to a variety of exotic trees and plants that have made their way north. This Florida trees identification guide offers an introduction to just a few of the native trees growing in the state.
The state is home to two different varieties of sand pine. The Choctawatchtee version produces non-serotinous cones and grows primarily in the northwest region of the state. The Ocala variety is found in the northeastern and southern regions and has serotinous cones that do not open up unless exposed to extremely high temperatures. The bark of the Ocala variety is reddish-brown but turns gray with age. It has an open crown that can be round or flat.
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 adaptable laurel oak can grow in dry or wet habitats. It is a fast-growing tree, so it is a favorite with commercial and residential landscapers. The tree has a symmetrically round or oval crown and the trunk may be as big around as four feet. It reaches heights of 60 feet or more and grows small brown catkins in the springtime.
The myrtle oak lives on dunes and hammocks along the coast or in sandy soil in scrubland. It may grow up to 40 feet tall or remain short. Its leaves are approximately 1.5 inches long and grow downward along the edges. The leaves are usually yellowish to rusty in color.
The coastalplain willow is found along the banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, shrub swamps, and open wet forests. This is a deciduous tree that grows from 25 to 30 feet high and is common throughout much of Southern Florida. The leaves are up to seven inches long and are alternate with fine serrate margins.
The turkey oak is an important food source for various wildlife species, including deer, black bears, and turkeys. It gets its unusual name because the leaves are shaped like a turkey foot with a minimum of three lobes and a maximum of seven. It thrives in woodlands of oak and pine and in dry pinelands and can grow to more than 50 feet tall.
The swamp bay plays an important role in the ecosystem as a host for the larva of Swallowtail butterflies. This evergreen tree has leaves that often have galls and alternate. They are light green with reddish hairs on the underside and shiny on top. The fruit it bears is a slightly elongated drupe that is very dark, almost black in color.
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.
The state is home to two different varieties of sand pine. The Choctawatchtee version produces non-serotinous cones and grows primarily in the northwest region of the state. The Ocala variety is found in the northeastern and southern regions and has serotinous cones that do not open up unless exposed to extremely high temperatures. The bark of the Ocala variety is reddish-brown but turns gray with age. It has an open crown that can be round or flat.
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 adaptable laurel oak can grow in dry or wet habitats. It is a fast-growing tree, so it is a favorite with commercial and residential landscapers. The tree has a symmetrically round or oval crown and the trunk may be as big around as four feet. It reaches heights of 60 feet or more and grows small brown catkins in the springtime.
The myrtle oak lives on dunes and hammocks along the coast or in sandy soil in scrubland. It may grow up to 40 feet tall or remain short. Its leaves are approximately 1.5 inches long and grow downward along the edges. The leaves are usually yellowish to rusty in color.
The coastalplain willow is found along the banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, shrub swamps, and open wet forests. This is a deciduous tree that grows from 25 to 30 feet high and is common throughout much of Southern Florida. The leaves are up to seven inches long and are alternate with fine serrate margins.
The turkey oak is an important food source for various wildlife species, including deer, black bears, and turkeys. It gets its unusual name because the leaves are shaped like a turkey foot with a minimum of three lobes and a maximum of seven. It thrives in woodlands of oak and pine and in dry pinelands and can grow to more than 50 feet tall.
The swamp bay plays an important role in the ecosystem as a host for the larva of Swallowtail butterflies. This evergreen tree has leaves that often have galls and alternate. They are light green with reddish hairs on the underside and shiny on top. The fruit it bears is a slightly elongated drupe that is very dark, almost black in color.
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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