The majestic and iconic Southern Live Oak. If you have set foot anywhere in the Southeastern United States, chances are you have stood or passed through the shade of the Live Oak. The Live Oak graces high end venues and establishments, many residential properties, commercial lots, parks and public spaces, and often line the streets creating a cathedral like shape.
The Live Oak is one of the most important tree species in Florida, giving it a protected status in most counties and municipalities. Not only does the Live Oak benefit a property through shade, but when planted in mass, provide windbreaks for buildings, trees, and landscapes. They can dramatically reduce local wind speeds increasing their hurricane wind resistance and protection.
Wildlife also benefits from the Live Oak. It provides a large area for shelter and habitat to a wide range of species, both birds and mammals. It is also a food source for birds, mammals, and insects through its pollen, acorns, and leaves as well as any epiphytic growth.
PLEASE NOTE, the Live Oak should not be confused with the invasive Chinese Camphor Tree! Although similar in growth and look, the Camphor Tree is notoriously weak and brittle in high wind storms, provides very little wildlife benefits, and outcompetes local vegetation.
Soil: Moist and usually moist to very long, very dry periods. Loam and sandy soils. Adaptable to a wide pH range.
Size: 40-80 feet tall, and 40-100 feet wide
Flower: Inconspicuous blooms in Spring
Fruit: Brown acorns in fall
Salt tolerance: Tolerant of occasional saltwater inundation, moderate tolerance for salt spray.
Landscape form: Large, sprawling shade tree
Phenology: Evergreen, very long lived tree (300+ years)
Wildlife Factor: Extremely beneficial for a wide range of wildlife. Acorns provide food for many birds and mammals. Pollen provides food for hummingbirds. Larval host for up to 300+ species.
Ecotype: Almost all areas of Florida.
Availability: Readily available in most retail nurseries in many sizes.
Landscape Use
The Live Oak should find a home in every landscape, big and small. They can drastically reduce temperatures in the hot summer months by as much as twenty degrees! They have the possibility of increasing property value when lively and healthy.
There are many reasons to plant the Live Oak. Whether you are seeking shade to reduce energy costs associated with cooling a home or building, increasing wildlife factor on a property, or aiming for the regal, upscale look of a large Live Oak Tree.
Plant the Live Oak no closer than 15 feet to a building to reduce encroachment of large roots and limbs on foundations and roofs. Underplant with shade loving native species that will further compliment the regal structure of this tree.
Establishment and Care
Establishment of the Live Oak Tree is relatively easy. Routine water for the first one to two years will ensure a healthy tree that can fend for itself after that period. Because they tolerate such a wide range of soil types, there is usually very little issue with establishment as long as they are provided plenty of water in the beginning.
Live Oaks should receive routine pruning from the moment they go in the ground. Usually once a year pruning on a young tree of 1-5 years in age is necessary to promote optimal branching habits. After that, structural pruning every 3-5 years is usually enough to ensure the tree is strong and free of issues.
Specimens planted in small areas, such as between the sidewalk and road, will benefit from more frequent watering and fertilizer.
Spiny Black Olive Terminalia molinetii Spiny Black Olive
The Spiny Black Olive is a lesser known native of South Florida documented in the wild of Lee and Miami-Dade Counties. Other than some historical documentation of wild specimens, there is very little information on its landscape uses.
As its name suggests, the Spiny Black Olive is covered in spines. This makes it a suitable nesting and foraging tree for local bird populations who will find plenty of food and safety in its many thorny branches.
It’s high salt tolerance makes it a beautiful specimen for coastal settings and adapts easily to container gardens. You will more often see the Spiny Black Olive planted as a bonsai because of its naturally geometric branching.
We hope to provide more information on this one in the future as it works its way into our landscapes. A lot of unique potential for this one though!
Availability: Rarely available in retail nurseries
Landscape Use
We hope to see the Spiny Black Olive used in the landscape more, but we anticipate it would make an amazing specimen planting. Its naturally geometric shape will work well in formal and informal settings, but will likely look best as a single planting or in isolated groups of no more than three.
It would make an excellent addition to those seeking to invite nesting and foraging birds to the landscape. Just don’t forget to add larval host plants nearby to be sure baby birds have plenty to eat in the safety of this tree.
Most cultivated documentation of the Spiny Black Olive has it grown as a bonsai. Its wide range of soil conditions and unique branching form make it an optimal specimen almost immediately.
Establishment and Care
We do not have a lot of information on its establishment and care. We hope to provide more information on this. We can speculate it is relatively easy to establish due to its wide range of soil conditions, hardiness in coastal settings, and slow growth habit.
Companion Plants
Gumbo Limbo Green Buttonwood Southern Live Oak Spanish Stopper Wild Lime Beautyberry Marlberry Shiny Coffee Coontie Yellow Allamanda (Coastal Allamanda)
The lignum vitae boasts one of the most striking and intricate purple flowers among any other small to medium sized native trees. Blooming heaviest in spring, a well established and healthy tree will provide hundreds of purple flowers that fade and slowly transform into a small, gnarled orange seed.
Lignum vitae is very slow growing as little as one inch per year, and creates a very dense, hard wood. This made it suitable for many human uses most notably prop shafts on boats and bowling pins. Unfortunately, harvesting this specimen almost wiped them out entirely except for a small population that is now protected on Lignum Vitae Key State Park, only accessible by boat and appointment.
Add this one to your landscape to not only make a statement specimen piece, but also as a historical addition.
Soil: Somewhat moist to very long dry periods. Humus and limerock soils.
Size: 8-15 feet tall and wide
Flower: Purple, warmer months but mostly in spring
Fruit: Orange
Salt tolerance: Tolerant of occasional saltwater inundation, moderate tolerance for salt spray.
Landscape form: Small tree, specimen planting
Phenology: evergreen, long lived tree
Wildlife Factor: Local birds eat the seeds, attracts many pollinators, larval host plant for lyside sulphurs.
Ecotype: Rockland hammocks
Landscape Use
Use Lignum Vitae where it is sure to garner the eyes of onlookers. You do not want this one hidden in the back of a property or side yard, it should be front and center.
Due to its slow growth habit, accompanied by a higher price tag, the lignum vitae should be well considered before planting. Some specimens will only grow up to an inch in their first few years. Full sun and well drained soils will help it to thrive.
This specimen tree should hold flexibility in its intended look and may not be suitable for formal landscapes requiring an obedient and uniform tree. The branching can be irregular and overtime, the trunk may lean a bit rather than perpendicular to the ground. But this gives it character and another good reason for onlookers to gaze upon it in awe.
Establishment and Care
In the right location, the lignum vitae will be an easy and low maintenance specimen tree. For establishment, be sure the site is well drained and accompanied by companion plants with the same watering needs.
The lignum vitae will need routing water the first three to six months before it can thrive on its own. It is more forgiving of a missed watering than most other plants.
Sometimes, yellowing in the leaves can occur, a signal that the lignum vitae needs some fertilizer.
Satinleaf is a beautiful, medium sized South Florida tree graced by its interesting, two-tone foliage. The glossy green top side of the leaf contrasts nicely with the silky brown underside.
The slower growth habit of the Satinleaf makes its branching and trunk structure very strong, giving it a high wind resistance, great for windy locations and durable in hurricanes.
The flowers of the Satinleaf are fragrant and virtually year round, slowing in the colder months. The flowers then give rise to berries eaten by local wildlife.
Be careful, the Satinleaf is cold sensitive. Freezing temperatures can kill the above ground growth, but will typically resprout from the root.
Soil: Usually moist soils to very long dry periods . Adaptable to a wide range of soil pH but prefers slightly acidic soils.
Size: 20-40 feet tall, and 10-25 feet wide
Flower: White, year round, fragrant blooms
Fruit: Purple, black
Salt tolerance: Not tolerant of salt inundation, low tolerance of salt spray.
Landscape form: medium sized tree, loose growth habit
Phenology: evergreen, long lived tree
Wildlife Factor: birds and wildlife feed on the fruit, pollinated by insects
Ecotype: Tropical rockland hammocks
Landscape Use
The Satinleaf makes a great loose growing and upright tree that can grace the corner of a home or building. It will not provide much screening or view obstruction making it a great fit for placement around showy architecture or outdoor structures.
Its high wind resistance also makes it a suitable option near structures where safety and risk is of higher concern. But it is slow growing, so make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the growth of the tree or select a larger specimen to start out with.
Place the Satinleaf near walkways or social areas, as the fragrant blooms will provide subtle and enjoyable floral aromas without becoming overwhelming.
Establishment and Care
The Satinleaf can be tough to establish at times, although seedlings propagate and establish quite effortlessly. Be sure the soil is not perpetually wet, but that it receives enough water during establishment to develop a large, drought tolerant root system.
Water regularly the first month, and monitor leaf color each month there after. Yellow, droopy leaves can be a sign of too much water, especially when on the older growth. Crinkly, dry leaves can be a sign of not enough water, especially when on the new growth.
Companion Plants
Geiger Tree Keys Blackbead Myrtle-of-the-River Lignum Vitae Coontie Snowberry Myrsine Red Tip Cocoplum White Indigo Berry
5- This plant is tough but difficult to establish! Try this one out if you can keep an eye on its needs, but once established, it should be relatively easy!
The beautiful mounding growth habit of this wonderful Florida wildflower will have you wanting more. Yellowtop is native to all coastal counties of central and southern Florida where it can tolerate significant salt spray and brief inundation from brackish waters.
This often overlooked wildflower puts on a great show in fall and winter when it bursts out of its grass-like state with hundreds of yellow flowers that attract a wide and diverse range of butterflies, moths, and bees.
You will enjoy these clouds of yellow flowers gracing your garden.
Soil: Somewhat moist soils to somewhat dry soils. Adaptable to a wide range of soil pH.
Size: 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide
Flower: Yellow in fall
Fruit: NA
Salt tolerance: Very high salt spray tolerance, and tolerant of brief water inundation
Landscape form: Perennial wildflower, low-growing
Phenology: Evergreen, 2-3 year lifespan
Wildlife Factor: Incredible nectar source
Ecotype: Depression and basin marshes, wet prairies, pine rocklands, edges of mangroves, disturbed areas.
Landscape Use
This underutilized wildflower can grace most any garden setting. Use in a more forward setting where it can be allowed to grow snuggly among other plant species. Grouped with other wildflowers to provide fall color, or work in with greenery where it will stand out when in bloom.
Yellowtops’ very fine texture, especially when in bloom, allows it to work well with medium to coarse textured plants and material, especially limestone and shell. But it’s fine texture also compliments other fine textures like grasses and saltbush.
Plant in areas of full sun with moderate soil moisture. Cut back after blooming to promote regrowth for next year. The yellowtop often begins to look its best after year one.
Establishment and Care
Yellowtop is a very hardy wildflower when in the right location. Establishment from a one gallon container usually takes about 1-2 months where it can then receive weekly watering. If there area is too dry though, the yellowtop may survive but not thrive.
Cut back after flowering in late fall or winter to promote new growth for next year.
It will reseed in the yard, but not considered aggressively.
