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