Central Florida’s sun-drenched landscape is filled with colorful and towering trees that thrive in the humid subtropical climate and sandy soil. Whether you are seeking shade, sustenance or beauty, these trees are perfect for Palm Harbor’s Plant Hardiness Growing Zone 9b.

Chill in the Shade

Fast-growing saplings that love the Florida sun, are drought tolerant and require minimal pruning include the Bald Cypress, Crape Myrtle, Winged Elm and Red Maple. These four species quickly reach 10 to 25 feet tall and the Cypress can easily exceed 50 feet to 70 feet when fully mature. The University of Florida’s Horticultural Sciences program recommends planting the trees 7 to 20 feet from your house to allow adequate room for growth.

Fruit Producing Varieties

There are a number of sun-loving fruit plants that are colorful, fast growing and quickly yield an abundant crop of sweetly refreshing treats. West central Florida’s long summers are perfect for pomegranate, persimmon and star fruit trees. Specific varieties grafted for Florida include include peaches, nectarines, and plums, but they do take a lot of maintenance and care so the fruit isn’t eaten by insects before you can harvest some of the fruit.

Decorative Fronds

Palms are part of the cultural landscape of west-central Florida. There are over 2500 varieties of palms and most are appropriate for growing in Florida. The fan-like Triangle palm thrives in direct sunlight, the Canary Island palm needs plenty of space to grow, and the ornamental Lady palm prefers some shade. The Queen palm is one of the most popular palms in the world because it is elegant, inexpensive and low maintenance.

When it’s time for tree trimming or removal, consult the experts at Warner Tree Service at (727) 478-2864. Our experts will help your trees stay healthy, look their best and enhance the landscaping of your home.