RECOMMENDED SHADE TREES FOR FLORIDA

A List of 17 Hardy Florida Shade Trees for Shade Shelter and Beauty

Common Name	Height	Light	Flower/Season	Comments
Bald Cypress	80′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Slow to medium growing native deciduous conifer, grows in or near water, hardy
Cherry Laurel	35′	Sun	White/Spring	Broadleaf evergreen, berries attractive to birds.   Native/hardy
Green Ash	50′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Fast growing, hardy
Water Ash	50′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Deciduous, fast growing, hardy native
Chapman Oak	35′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Deciduous, slow growing, hardy native
Laurel Oak	60′	Sun, partial shade	Inconspicuous	Semi-evergreen oak, hardy native
Live Oak	60′	Sun, partial shade	Inconspicuous	Long-lived broadleaf evergreen, hardy, native   oak
Pin Oak	75′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Evergreen, medium growing, hardy oak
Shumard Red Oak	80′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Evergreen, medium growing, hardy oak
Turkey Oak	45′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Deciduous, slow growing, hardy native
Water Oak	80′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Native, fast growing, hardy
Magnolia	90′	Sun, partial shade	White/Summer	Broadleaf, hardy native evergreen
Redbud	30′	Partial shade	Red/Spring	Deciduous, hardy native
Red Maple	40′	Sun, partial shade	Red/Spring	Rapid growing, hardy native deciduous tree, red flowers, fruit in spring; yed or yellow foliage in fall.
Slash Pine	60′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Fast growing, hardy, native,   deciduous tree.  Plant in groups for best shade.
Sweet Gum	80′	Sun, partial shade	Inconspicuous	Fast growing, hardy, native   deciduous tree.
Sycamore	90′	Sun	Inconspicuous	Fast growing, hardy, native   deciduous tree.  Cream and brown colored bark.

Shade Trees Considered Invasive in Florida

Please Avoid Planting or Cultivating the Trees Listed Below:

Schefflera

Australian Pine

Suckering Australian Pine

Bishopwood

Chinese Tallow

Earleaf Acacia

Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana)

Camphor Tree

Seaside Mahoe

Chinaberry

Melaleuca

Carrotwood

The trees listed above are considered non-native invasives by the The U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Florida Department of Agriculture, The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and various Florida counties.  Some Florida counties have regulations against planting and growing these trees.

Source: WATERWISE: SOUTH FLORIDA LANDSCAPES – PLANT GUIDE – TREES