Types of Deciduous Trees in Florida

 

 (Red Maple Trees amongst Palm Trees)

It may surprise me you that there are a lot of deciduous trees grown and native to Florida. While most deciduous tree are only found in north Florida where freezes are present during Winter months, but quite a few are grown through Southern Florida as well mostly due to the fact that it gets "cool" in Winter and isn't optimal for growth so plants go into brief dormant state.

1. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Red Maple is recognized as the most widely distributed Deciduous tree in North America ranging from Southern Canada, to Minnesota, over to Maine, and all the way down to Southern Florida to the Everglades. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-10. Yes, this Maple tree can be grown in Toronto to Miami. The dormant state is extremely brief in South Florida, only a couple weeks. Leaves turn red around Christmas. Tree goes bare around the New Years, and gets flowers by the middle of January, then foliated by the end of January. There is a cultivar developed from wild trees in Florida better adapted to high heat and humidity with mild winter of Florida. This cultivar is called 'Florida Flame'. A tree grown in Michigan would die if it was brought to Florida, as the trees are adapted to the regions they grow in. Interestingly enough the Florida Flame variety has been known to grow into USDA Zone 5/6, but dies in zones 3-4 as it originates from much warmer Florida wild Red Maples



2. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Bald Cypress also has a vast native range from Southern Indiana, to New York down to South Florida. It is the most famous tree growing straight in standing water in the Everglades. It is a Conifer related to Pine but drops it's needles in the fall. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-11. Bald Cypress unlike Red Maple has a longer dormancy, and won't regrow new foliage until nights are hot. Even if it's 80°F in February the nights are still chilly so the tree stays bare untill true Summer arrives (usually by early-mid March in Florida) when nights are constantly near or above 60°F. Landscaped all the way into Minnesota and Canada with no problems with the cold.


3. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)

Native to Sub-Tropical regions in Asia, this tree is adored in the Southern states with it's show of flowers that cover the tree all summer long adding a tropical ambiance. Hardy in USDA Zones 7-10 (some varieties into zone 6). While this tree doesn't grow in Southern Florida, it is grown through parts of Center Florida. Crape Myrtles also foliate when temps get really warm consist



4. Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua)

Sweetgum has a vast native range from South Central Indiana to New York City down to North Central Florida. Beautiful Maple like leaves that turn not just one color but range from being yellow to orange to Red to all of the above.


 
5.  Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)

Pignut Hickory has a vast native range expanding over much of the Eastern Half if the US. Native through Central Florida. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-9 and into 10a, but not further South. Pignuts provide essentially food for wildlife. Fast growing and makes an excellent shade tree!



This list could go on and on, but I listed my top 5. There are so many deciduous tree native and landscaped to Florida. Hope you all found it very useful! Stay safe y'all! 🌳


Some Sources:

1. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/taxodium-distichum/
2.https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagerstroemia-indica/
3. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/liquidambar-styraciflua/
4. https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/real_estate/fall-foliage-and-pruning-logic-in-florida/article_ef9cb6a2-b313-11e8-86f9-63b83b04260f.html
5. http://www.wildsouthflorida.com/red,maple.html#.XmMaoWlOkwA
6. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/2018/06/28/the-florida-flame-red-maple-makes-a-colorful-addition-to-the-landscape/