Slow Growing Trees Stand a Better Chance Against Hurricanes
The hurricanes of the past few years have taught us a lot about what trees will and will-not stand-up to hurricane force winds. Below is list of trees suggested for planting in hurricane susceptible areas and those recommended to be removed before the next category storm crosses the state. This list is not exhaustive and is culled from various lists of recommended storm resistant trees for Florida and the south as well as personal observation. Certain wind, placement, soil and pruning factors must be taken into account in cases where this list conflicts with other published lists and personal observation.
Native trees, particularly those with wide spreading branches, low centers of gravity, strong deep penetrating root systems, and small leaf size seem to hold up better in tropical storms especially if they are found growing in mixed groves of trees. Lone growing solitary specimens have less wind resistance than massed trees.
To prepare your trees for a category storm remove weak and diseased trees as well as any large trees within one hundred feet of your home or car. Prune and thin trees to give them a lower center of gravity and to lessen leaf mass. Sculpting a tree will allow wind resistance to increase. Lightly fertilize annually and be sure that all trees are growing where their root zones are covered with good healthy soil. Watering during drought periods will allow the roots of the plants to maintain their turgor and their holding power. Plant trees in groves and add ample shrub mass to deflect wind upwards. This places what is called the “point of overturning pressure” farther from the root zone into the area of the tree with more flexibility. Remove non-native over story vegetation, keeping in mind that canopy trees in any community are composed of native trees that have withstood coastal storms in the past and will do so in the future.
Recommended Trees | Rational | Trees Not Recommended | Rational |
Foxtail Palm | Wind Resistance | Queen Palm | Blows Over — shallow roots |
Solitaire Palm | Wind Resistance | Schefflera | Brittle Wood |
Cabbage (Sable) Palm | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Laurel Oak | Brittle Wood |
Gumbo Limbo | Wind Resistance | Water Oak | Brittle Wood |
Paurotis Palm | Tolerates Flooding | Chinese Elm | Brittle Wood |
Coconut Palm | Wind Resistance (remove coconuts)/Tolerates Flooding | Camphor Tree | Brittle Wood |
Pitch Apple | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Golden Rain Tree | Brittle Wood |
Dahoon | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Silk Floss Tree | Brittle Wood |
Yaupon Holly | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Ear Leaf Acacia | Brittle Wood |
Screw Pine | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Tabebuia (yellow or pink) | Brittle Wood/Blows Over — shallow roots |
Paradise Tree | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Norfolk Pine | Brittle Wood/Blows Over — shallow roots |
Tibouchina | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Eucalyptus | Brittle Wood |
Cassia | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Silk Oak | Brittle Wood |
Geiger Tree | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Sea Hibiscus | Brittle Wood |
Bottlebrush | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Avocado | Brittle Wood |
Mexican Poinciana | Wind Resistance | Chinaberry | Brittle Wood |
Live Oak | If given room for roots to grow, Do not plant in moist soils | Seaside Mahoe | Blows Over — shallow roots |
Sand Oak | Wind Resistance | Banyan/Ficus | Blows Over — shallow roots |
Myrtle and Turkey Oak | Wind Resistance | Australian Pine | Blows Over — shallow roots |
Red Oak | Wind Resistance | Citrus Trees | Damaged by standing water |
Slash and Long Leaf Pine | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Royal Poinciana | Brittle Wood |
Bald or Pine Cypress | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Shooting Star (Clerodendron) | Brittle Wood/Blows Over — shallow roots |
Red and Silver Maple | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Carrotwood | Brittle Wood |
Crepe Myrtle | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Chinese Tallow (Popcorn) Tree | Brittle Wood |
Pigeon Plum | Wind Resistance | Washingtonia Palm | Blows Over |
Fiddlewood | Wind Resistance | Mahogany | Brittle Wood |
Ironwood | Wind Resistance | Black Olive | Brittle Wood/Blows Over — shallow roots |
Sea Grape | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Live Oak* | *Blows Over if not given adequate room to spread and if planted in moist soils |
Weeping Podocarpus | Wind Resistance | Sand Pine | Poor Wind Resistance |
Winged Elm | Wind Resistance | Sweetgum | Poor Wind Resistance |
Magnolia | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | Carolina laurelcherry | Poor Wind Resistance |
Tulip Tree | Wind Resistance | Hong Kong Orchid Tree | Poor Wind Resistance/Brittle Wood |
American Holly | Wind Resistance | ||
Sycamore | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | ||
Buttonwood | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | ||
Red Cedar | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding | ||
Royal Palm | Wind Resistance/Tolerates Flooding |