MEET THE NATIVES

MEET THE NATIVES
Compiled by Cynthia Rice and Lillian Decker

We have a number of Florida native plants in Gulf Pines (Ed. note: and Gulf Shores too). Have you seen them all? The following descriptions are taken from Native Florida Plants by Robert Haehle and Joan Brookwell

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME, PARTICULARLY IF YOU KNOW OF A SPECIMEN OR ATTRIBUTE OF A SPECIMEN THAT’S MISSING.

PALMS

	Florida Thatch Palm Thrinax radiata Size: 20-25’ Bloom: tiny white flowers in 3-5’ clusters Fruit: clusters of ½” white berries Foliage: 3’ wide, fan shaped leaves, green above and yellow-green below Bark: rough, gray-brown Native range: Southern Florida and the West Indies Habitat: Open woodsy areas and shores Notes: salt tolerant and pest-free, a very desirable small palm, attractive to the Monk Skipper butterfly, too. Location: Snowberry Lane
	Paurotis Palm, Everglades Palm Acoelorrhaphe wrightii Height 20’ Bloom: small white flowers in 3” clusters in summer Fruit: Shiny black, ½” berries Foliage: 3’ fans with spiny stems, green on top, silvery below Bark: Slender stems are rough textured, warm brown with the remains of old leaves clinging to them. Native range: South and Central Florida and the Caribbean Habitat: Swampy areas Notes: A slow growing, but beautiful palm, it might get to 30 feet if happy. If left unpruned, the tree, forms a good dense screen Location: Small pool and elsewhere
	Royal Palm Roystonea elata Size: 100’ Bloom: Tiny white flowers in 2’ clusters Fruit: ½” purple-black berries Foliage: 15’ fronds 6 feet across can weigh 60-70 lbs. Bark: Smooth cement like trunk topped by a smooth, pale green 8’ crownshaft Native range: Everglades Habitat: Open, moist elevated sites Notes: A spectacular tree, nectar plant for butterflies. Plant it where its heavy fronds won’t do damage when they fall. Location: Throughout
	Sabal Palm, Cabbage Palm Sabal palmetto Size: 50-60’ Bloom: Fragrant, small white flowers in clusters on 3’ stems in early summer Fruit: Edible, ½” berries in fall Foliage: Large fan-shaped leaves are 3-5’ across Bark: Smooth gray-brown or criss-crossed with the “boots” lf last year’s leaves Native range: West Indies, Bahamas, Virginia through Florida Habitat: Anywhere but standing water or dense shade Notes: the state “tree” of Florida. Butterflies love its flowers and many birds and other wildlife, its berries. Location: Throughout
	Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens Size: 6-12’ Bloom: Long branches of tiny white blossoms Fruit: ¾” black berries Foliage: Green or silvery-green fans with spiny stems Bark: Creeping brown stems for dense thickets. Native range: Carolinas through Florida Habitat: Dunes and sandy pinewoods Notes: Folklore considered this sprawling palm a habitat for varmints and native Americans ate its fruit. Now it’s valued in the landscape as a mass planting, a woodsy groundcover or barrier and favorite of the Monk Skipper butterfly. Honey from its flowers is very tasty Location: Throughout
	LARGE TREES Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Size: 70’ Bloom: Small greenish male flowers in 4-5” panicles; females, globular green cones Fruit: 1” brown cones Foliage: ½” needles fall in winter. Fresh, pale green foliage appears in February Bark: Fibrous, reddish brown Native range: Southeastern U. S. Habitat: Wetlands, but adaptable to drier sites Notes: A signature tree of the Deep South, along with the live oak and magnolia, it’s very wind resistant Location: Gulf Pines Drive, by Messick House
	Buttonwood Conocarpus erecta Size: 40-50’, Silver one is 20-35’ Bloom: Tiny greenish white flowers all year Fruit: Round, woody ½” cones Foliage: Oval, pointed leaves, 3-4” ling are dark green or silvery Bark: Rough, gnarled and channeled Native range: South Florida and Caribbean Habitat: Brackish swamps and high ground Notes: A popular ornamental tree with an open, spreading canopy. They withstand wind, salt and drought, and their rough bark is ideal for growing orchids and bromeliads Location: Throughout
	Gumbo Limbo Bursera simaruba Size: 50-60’ Bloom: Tiny greenish flowers in spring Fruit: Dark, brick red ½” fruits with white seeds Foliage: glossy green leaves 1-3” long Bark: bronzy colored skin peels to reveal a smooth brown-green skin Native range: South Florida, West Indies, Mexico Habitat: Open hammocks and woodlands Notes: Called the “tourist tree” because of its peeling bronze colored skin, it is fast growing and easy to start by plunging a branch directly into the soil. Flycatchers love it. Location: Throughout
	Longleaf Pine Pinus palustris Size: 60-80’ Bloom: Purple flowers in spring Fruit: Large, 6-10” brown cones Foliage: Glossy, 9-18” drooping needles in bundles of 3 Bark: Thick, brown, fire resistant Native range: Southeastern U.S. Habitat: Dry sandy sites Notes: A majestic, landscape tree, it prefers acid soil (coffee grounds). Its needles are used in basket making Location: Snowberry Lane
	Live Oak Quercus virginiana Size: 50-60’ Bloom: Pendulous 3” yellow catkins Fruit: ¾” acorn Foliage: Leathery oval 3-4” leaves are dark green on top paler beneath Bark: Channeled, dark brown Native range: Southeastern U. S. Habitat: Dominant tree of open woodlands Notes: A distinctive southern tree often draped in Spanish moss, it can spread 150’. Birds love the acorns: skipper & hairstreak butterflies, its flowers. Location: Small pool and elsewhere
	Mahogany Sweitenia mahogani Size: 60-70’ Bloom: Tiny yellow flowers in spring Fruit: A 5’ oval brown pod in fall Foliage: Compound leaves with 3-4” dark green leaflets Bark: Rough, dark grayish brown Native range: South Florida & Caribbean Habitat: Open woodlands Notes: A fine spreading shade tree, adaptable to many conditions – except wet. Location: Large pool & elsewhere
	Mastic Mastichodendron foetidissimum Size: 50-60’ Bloom: Tiny yellow flowers Fruit: 1” oval yellow berries in spring Foliage: Oblong, dark green leaves, 7-8” long with wavy edges flutter in the sltghtest breeze Bark: Rough, dark brown Native range: South Florida & Caribbean Habitat: A major canopy tree in hardwood hammocks Notes: An attractive, pest-free evergreen in the landscape, it’s salt tolerant, very resistant to strong winds, and adaptable to many soil conditions. Its edible fruit is attractive to wildlife, too. Location: Beach path
	Red Cedar, Southern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Size: 45’ Bloom: Male and female flowers are on separate trees in spring. Green and cone-like or yellow-green Fruit: Tiny round powdery blue berries are used to make gin or flavor sauerkraut Foliage: Bluish to yellowish, fragrant scaly needles Bark: Exfoliating reddish to gray Native range: East of the Rockies Habitat: A pioneer plant in old fields, it needs sun and good drainage Notes: A very versatile tree, salt tolerant and useful as a specimen, screen or windbreak, providing food and shelter for many birds. Location: Little pool
	Shortleaf Fig Ficus citrifolia Size: 40-50’ Bloom: Rounded cups with flowers inside Fruit: ¼ - ½” figs turn red when ripe Foliage: Oval leaves with a blunt point, 2-4” long Bark: Smooth light to yellowish brown Native range: South Florida and Bahamas & West Indies Habitat: Tropical hammocks Notes: Better behaved than the strangler fig, but like all figs, has aggressive roots. It’s fast growing with an attractive, spreading canopy and tolerates poor soil and salt. Birds and butterflies find it attractive, too Location: Beach path near Haffenreffers
	Slash Pine Pinus elliotii Size: 70-80’ Bloom: Tiny brown flowers in spring Fruit: 3-5” cones Foliage: Shiny dark green needles, 8-12” long in bundles of 2-3 Bark: Rough dark brown plates Native range: Southeastern U.S. Habitat: Open woodlands and fields Notes: Drought tolerant and adaptable to many soils, but is sensitive to disturbance and irrigation. The fruit is enjoyed by many birds and small animals Location: Clubhouse
	Wild Tamarind Lysiloma latislilqua Size: 50-60’ Bloom: Fragrant white ½” powder puffs Fruit: Brown & beige pods, 5” long Foliage: Compound leaves with delicate 1/3” leaflets Bark: Light gray to brown Native range: South Florida & Caribbean Habitat: Woodland Notes: A large fast growing tree with an airy canopy. It tends to drop branches, the roots are shallow and the leaves will stain what they fall upon. It’s best to plant in groundcover. Large Orange Sulfur and Cassius Blue butterflies, love it. Location: Beach path
	SMALLER TREES Bahama Strongbark Boureria ovata Size: 20’ Bloom: Fragrant, ½” white flower clusters most of the year Fruit: Showy clusters of ½” red-orange berries Foliage: Glossy yellowish-green oval leaves, 2-4” long, evergreen Bark: Reddish brown, scaly Native range: South Florida, Bahamas, West Indies Habitat: Hardwood hammocks, Pinelands Notes: A decorative, small tree, adaptable to many soils, and drought tolerant. Attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Location: Snowberry Lane
	Bitterbush Picramnia pentandra Size: 10-15’ Bloom: Inconspicuous clusters in summer, males and females separate Fruit: Red, ½” berries turn black when ripe Foliage: Alternate, compound leave with 2-4” dark green leaflets Bark: Smooth yellow-brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Sandy, well drained soil Notes: A good choice for small spaces; blossoms make good honey Location: Gulf Pines Island near Eriksson’s
	Blackbead Pithecellobium guadalupense Size: 20’ Bloom: Fuzzy rounded 1” flowers are either pink or white Fruit: Reddish brown, 2-4” pods expose glossy black seeds Foliage: Compound with 1-3” rounded leaflets, pinkish new growth Bark: Rough, brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Hammocks, dunes, fields with sandy dry soil Notes: Useful where little else will grow, it’s an attractive, small no maintenance, evergreen. It attracts butterflies Location: Snowberry Lane
	Blolly, Longleaf Blolly Guapira discolor, G. longifolia Size: 30’ Bloom: Inconspicuous yellow/green in spring Fruit: Decorative red ½” berries Foliage: Oblong opposite, pale green leaves, 1-2” long, half as wide Bark: Pale reddish brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Hardwood hammocks Notes: An attractive small tree with rounded canopy, Birds like the decorative fruits Location: Beach path
	Cinnecord Acacia choriophylla Size: 15-20’ Bloom: Bright yellow, ½” powder puffs Fruit: Flat 2” green, then brown pods Foliage: Compound leaves, 1-3 times divided, with dark green ¾” leaflets Bark: Smooth, dark brown Native range: South Florida, Bahamas, West Indies Habitat: Dry, sunny areas Notes: Very attractive, often multi-stemmed small tree, low-maintenance and beloved of butterflies. Location: Corner of Snowberry & Gulf Pines, next to the wild lime
	Clusia, Autograph Tree, Pitch Apple Clusia rosea Size: 30’ Bloom: Showy, drooping 3” flowers with pink and white petals in summer Fruit: 3” green pod Foliage: Oval, thick and leathery with a prominent midvein, 3” long Bark: Smooth gray-brown Native range: Florida Keys, Bahamas Habitat: Keys Notes: A dense tree, but very salt & wind tolerant. Beware its aggressive roots and remove the seedlings from canopies of palms Location: Clubhouse
	Cocoplum Chrysobalanus icaco Size: 15-20’ Bloom: Tiny fragrant white flowers all year Fruit: Edible, round purple fruits 1½” or larger Foliage: Shiny, rounded, leathery leaves are 3” long Bark: Brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Tropical hammock, woodlands Notes: An attractive, small tree, it makes a good hedge or screen. The red-tip variety is not as salt tolerant as the green Location: Throughout
	Dahoon Holly Ilex cassine Size: 35’ Bloom: Small white flower clusters in spring Fruit: Bright red berries in fall & winter on female trees Foliage: Oblong, 3-5” glossy leaves thih tiny tooths at the margins Bark: Smooth, pale gray Native range: Virginia to Florida & the Bahamas Habitat: Near Streams or swamps, but tolerates drier sites Notes: Berries are poisonous, but the birds eat them without harm Location: Beach path, Snowberry Lane
	Fiddlewood Citharexylum fruticosum Size: 15-20’ Bloom: Very fragrant white flowers in 2-4” panicles Fruit: Females produce clusters of ¼” reddish to black berries Foliage: Very glossy pointed oval leaves, 4-5” long. Leaves are smooth and leathery, stalks orange/pink. Bark: Smooth, light brown and fissured in older trees Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Open woodlands Notes: Leaves sparkle in the sun, butterflies flock to its flowers, birds love the berries, fragrance perfumes the air. What’s more to say? Location: Beach path and elsewhere
	Joewood Jacquinia keyensis Size: 15’ with time Bloom: Fragrant, ½” star-shaped flowers all year Fruit: Red to yellow ½” fruits in drooping clusters Foliage: Thick, narrow pale green ovals 2-4” long ½” wide Bark: Pale gray, smooth Native range: South Florida, Bahamas Habitat: Edges of tropical hammocks, seashore Notes: A very choice evergreen, tolerant of sun, salt, drought. All parts of it are poisonous. Location: Snowberry Lane
	Lancewood Nectandra coriacea Size: 30-35’ Bloom: White ½” flowers in spring Fruit: Blue-black ½” berries in orange bases Foliage: Smooth, fragrant evergreen leaves droopm from the branches Bark: Reddish brown, sometimes corky Native range: South Florida, West Indies Habitat: Tropical woodlands Notes: An attractive, small shade tree; its flowers make good honey Location: Small pool
	Pigeon Plum Cocoloba diversifolia Size: 30-40’ Bloom: Spikes of small white flowers in early spring Fruit: Narrow clusters of edible, ½” berries Foliage: Thick, oval 3’4” leaves vary in size and shape Bark: Light gray, and peeling on older trees Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Woodlands Notes: A narrow, upright tree, useful in many situations Location: Beach path
	Pond Apple Annona glabra Size: 30-35’ Bloom: 1” pale yellow flowers Fruit: 5” rounded, edible yellow fruit Foliage: Alternate, leathery ovals, about 7” long Bark: Shiny reddish twigs get rougher as they grow larger Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Swamp areas, but adaptable to drier sites Notes: In nature this tree is often draped with orchids, ferns or bromeliads, so it’s a good one for displaying treasures Location: Gulf Pines Drive, near Ericksson’s
	Satinleaf Chrysophyllum oliviforme Size: 25-30’ Bloom: Small yellowish white flowers in the fall Fruit: Edible, oblong 1” fruit ripens in spring Foliage: Oval, pointed, 5-6” long, glossy green above and downy, copper colored beneath Bark: Dark brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Hardwood hammocks in sun/light shade Notes: One of our most beautiful native trees; the birds love its fruit Location: Cabbage Palm Court, Snowberry Lane
	Seagrape Cocoloba uvifera Size: 30’ Bloom: Tiny white flowers in 10” spikes Fruit: Edible purple berries in long clusters; good for jelly Foliage: Large, round leaves, green with red veins, then turning red. New growth is stunning, glossy bronze Bark: Smooth, peeling, gray-brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean Habitat: Coastal dunes, hammocks Notes: Extremely salt and wind tolerant with a massive, spreading canopy. In the wild, its fallen leaves make a beautiful carpet and the birds enjoy its fruit Location: Throughout
	Simpson Stopper Myrcanthes fragrans Size: 20’ Bloom: Fuzzy white ¼” flowers in summer Fruit: Red-orange berries Foliage: Opposite, deep green fragrant ovals, ½”-1” long Bark: Tan, exfoliating Native range: South Florida, West Indies Habitat: Tropical hammocks Notes: One of our most attractive small trees with fragrant flowers and leaves, decorative fruit and bark, a dense shrub, good for screening and it attracts the birds Location: Small pool
	Spicewood, Pale Lid Flower Calyphranthes pallens Size: 20’ Bloom: Fragrant, pale greenish white clusters in late spring Fruit: ¼” berries change from green to orange to black Foliage: 3” oval, pointed leaves, glossy above and slightly fuzzy below, they emerge bronzy pink then turn green.They have a spicy fragrance Bark: Pale gray-brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean, West Indies, Mexico Habitat: Edges of hammocks, understory, fields. It likes the damp Notes: They make good hedges, or small shade trees. Fruit, fragrant & colorful foliage & flower provide interest all year. Birds like the food and shelter Location: Snowberry & Gulf Pines, Rice dooryard
	Sweet Acacia Acacia farnesiana Size: 15’ Bloom: Very fragrant, bright yellow ¾” powder puffs all year Fruit: Cylindrical 2-3” brown pods, often in clusters Foliage: Twice compound, ferny leaves with tiny bright green leaflets Bark: Shaggy, reddish brown with narrow ridges; very thorny Native range: South Florida, Mexico, Central America Habitat: Sunny, dry sandy areas Notes: An attractive tree with a light, airy appearance. The thorny branches provide good nesting sites for the birds and its flowers are used to make perfume. Location: Snowberry Lane, beach path
	Walter Viburnum Viburnum obovatum Size: 20’ Bloom: Clusters of white flowers in early spring Fruit: Red to black 1/8” berries Foliage: 1” oval evergreen leaves are glossy, dark green above, paler & spotted beneath Bark: Rough, reddish brown Native range: Eastern U. S. Habitat: Swamps and hammocks near the coast Notes: With showy flowers and berries for the birds, it makes a good small shade tree, hedge or screen Location: Corner of Black Skimmer & Gulf Pines
	Wild Lime Zanthoxylum fagara Size: 25’ Bloom: Insignificant green clusters all year Fruit: Round, brown, 1/8” in summer/fall Foliage: Shiny compound leaves with 1” leaflets and, a distinctive, winged stem Bark: Rough dark gray-brown Native range: South Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas Habitat: Edge of woods Notes: A small tree with attractive, lacy foliage; its thorny stems make a useful barrier Location: Beach path & elsewhere
	Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria Size: 20-25’ Bloom: Tiny white flowers in spring & summer Fruit: Red-orange berries on female trees Foliage: Small, glossy 1’2” ovals Bark: Smooth pale gray Native range: Coastal New Jersey to Florida & Texas Habitat: Wet or dry, woodlands Notes: Very adaptable, tolerant of cold, salt & shade. It can be pruned as a hedge and dwarf forms are for foundation planting Location:

Buttonwood Conocarpus erecta

Longleaf Pine Pinus palustris

Cinnecord Acacia choriophylla