Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress is a majestic deciduous conifer native to the southeastern United States that can reach 50’-120’ tall with a distinctive buttressed base when growing in water. This long-lived species features feathery, light green needles that turn brilliant russet-orange in fall before dropping, and fibrous, reddish-brown bark. Its most distinctive characteristic is the development of "knees" - woody projections that grow upward from the root system when the tree is in standing water or wet soils. Naturally occurring in swamps, bayous, floodplains, and along rivers from Maryland to Texas, it's remarkably adaptable, tolerating both permanently flooded conditions and surprisingly dry soils once established. This iconic tree provides critical habitat for wildlife, including nesting sites for wood ducks and various wading birds, and serves as an excellent specimen or street tree in zones 4-10.

Conocarpus erectus

The Green Buttonwood is an evergreen, coastal, native small tree or large shrub that can reach 20' and has vibrant green leaves and small brown berries that look like wood buttons. This buttonwood is considered the 4th type of mangrove and really thrives in coastal conditions, and can take salt water inundation and salty soils. The Buttonwood also has high wind tolerance making it a great windscreen on coastal properties.

Bursera simaruba

Native semi-deciduous tree. Gumbo Limbos have smooth, red peeling bark that have earned them the nickname “tourist tree”, due to their resemblance to sunburned tourists. For best growth, plant in full sun to partial shade with sandy or rocky soils. They have green leaves that drop but are quickly replaced during dry seasons, and a thick trunk with a wide, rounded canopy, making them a great shade tree. Once established, they are drought and salt-spray tolerant.

Quercus virginiana

Live Oak is a magnificent, slow-growing evergreen oak native to the southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas that can live for centuries. This iconic tree typically grows 40’-60’ tall but spreads dramatically wider, with massive horizontal and arching branches forming a broad, rounded canopy that can extend 100’ or more. The thick, leathery leaves are dark green and elliptical, often draped with Spanish moss in its native range. It produces inconspicuous flowers followed by acorns that provide critical food for squirrels, deer, and numerous bird species. Extremely durable and salt-tolerant, it thrives in sandy coastal soils and can withstand hurricanes, making it a symbol of the Old South and an excellent choice for large landscapes, parks, and street plantings in zones 8-10.

Pinus palustris

Native, evergreen, long-needle pine tree, can grow to be 125’ tall. Native to Florida sandhills, this tree does best in full sun with well-drained sandy soils. Very drought tolerant once established. Younger trees will grow slowly while they establish a healthy root system, with growth picking up after the first 5-7 years. While Longleaf Pines can make a lovely addition to a landscape, in their natural habitat, they are part of an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem, supporting deer, wild turkeys, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, due to the frequent natural fires that provide rich undergrowth which provides food and shelter for many different species.

Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat is a non-native, Florida-friendly, evergreen fruiting tree that grows 15’-25’ tall. They grow best in full sun to partial shade, with average, well-draining sandy, clay, or loamy soil. Their flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, and their apricot-like fruit can be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.

Swietenia mahagoni

Native semi-evergreen tree that grows to be 40’-70’ tall. The foliage is dark green, with inconspicuous white and yellow flowers. Plant in full sun to partial shade, with moist, but well-drained sandy soil. Salt-spray resistant once established, with dense, strong wood that is wind-resistant if properly trained. Mahogany is prone to growing multiple leader trunks, which reduces wind-resistance, so prune the tree to promote strength against wind.

Simarouba glauca

Paradise is a native, evergreen, tropical tree with shiny, leathery, oval shaped green leaves and a rounded canopy, reaching 40’-50’ tall and 25’-30’ wide. They grow well in full sun to partial shade and are highly adaptable to different common Florida soil types. They have yellow-white flowers in spring that attract pollinators and dark summer berries that provide a food source for birds.

Acer rubrum

Red Maple is a native deciduous tree that can grow 40’-70’ tall and 30’-50’ wide. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soils. They can tolerate both short dry periods and very wet soil once established. In spring, they produce showy pink to red blooms that attract pollinators, which are followed by seeds that feel local birds and small mammals.

Coccoloba uvifera 

A tropical-looking and unique native plant, Sea Grape grows to 10-30 ft tall and can be trimmed. Grow in full sun as a large shrub for screening and privacy or as a large sculptural tree in semi-shade. The leaves of Sea Grape are lightly deciduous and interesting with seasonal changes in color. The fruit grows in beautiful clusters and is enjoyed by both birds and people.

Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus

Silver Buttonwood is a unique coastal native shrub or small tree that can reach 20' and has soft silvery leaves and small brown berries that look like wood buttons. While it thrives in coastal landscapes, taking salt inundation and salty soils like a champ, it can be planted inland as well. Silver Buttonwood can be used as a specimen tree, part of a natural privacy screen or pruned into hedge.

Juniperus virginiana silicoa

Red Cedar is an evergreen shade tree that is also excellent for a privacy screen or buffer planting. It’s long-lived, it can grow to approximately 30’ over many years, is adaptable to dry and moist soils and does well in full sun to light shade. It can be used as a coastal plant as it is salt tolerant. Red Cedars are an important nesting and food source for birds.

Ficus aurea

Strangler Fig is a native evergreen tree that grows to be 40’-60’ tall with an equally large canopy. They have dark green leathery leaves and produce small, dark figs that provide a food source for birds and other wildlife. They grow best in full sun to partial shade, and thrive in a wide range of soil types and are moderately drought and salt tolerant once established.

Morus hybr. ‘Tice’

Tice Mulberry is a non-native, Florida-friendly deciduous fruit tree that grows to be 15’-60’ tall, depending on the pruning methods used to maintain it. They grow best in full sun to light shade with rich, well-draining loamy soil, though they are highly adaptable to poor soil conditions. While the Tice Mulberry fruits seasonally, they fruit profusely during their season, producing many large, black, delicious berries that are edible for humans and local wildlife.

Zanthoxylum fagara

Wild Lime is a native evergreen shrub or small tree native to southern Florida and the Florida Keys that grows up to 23 feet tall with a spreading, often multi-trunked form. This member of the citrus family features compound leaves with distinctly winged leaf stems and 7-11 rounded leaflets that emit a strong lime fragrance when crushed. The trunk and branches are armed with sharp spines, and it produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in dense clusters followed by brown seed capsules containing black seeds. Thriving in hammocks and woodland edges, it serves as a larval host plant for giant swallowtail butterflies and provides cover and food for various wildlife species. With its dense, thorny foliage, it makes an excellent natural barrier or privacy screen for central and south Florida landscapes.

Lysiloma latisiliquum

Wild Tamarind is a native, semi-deciduous, small shade tree that grows to be 30’-60’ tall with a 30’-50’ spread. It grows best in full sun and well-drained sandy soil. With its fern-like leaves and beautiful, white pom-pom flowers, Wild Tamarind makes a lovely addition to pollinator gardens and landscapes that need a shade tree that won’t get too large. They also serve as a larval host for the Mimosa Yellow and Cassius Blue butterflies.