Category: Home Landscapes

Q: What can you tell me about the trees which produce the big, beautiful pink or purple flowers? One of my neighbors called it a tulip tree. Do you know what it is?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

A: This is another example where using a common name fail us. The state tree of Indiana is called a Yellow poplar, or Tuliptree, Liriodendron tulipifera, but I am pretty sure you are not talking about this stately beauty. Its flowers are a creamy, ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Liriodendron Tulipifera, Magnolia X Soulangeana, Tulip Magnolia, Tuliptree

Q: I want to replace the Redbay trees which have died recently in my landscape. What would be a suitable tree?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

A: You might consider planting Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay magnolia or Swamp magnolia. When crushing leaves, it emanates a spicy fragrance similar to the Redbay leaf. Unlike the Redbay, Sweetbay magnolia leaves should not be used for cooking ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Magnolia Virginiana, Sweetbay Magnolia

Q: What is wrong with my loquat?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

Q: What is wrong with my loquat? Some of the branches are dying from the tips and the fruit is dried up and dead. A: Your loquat has a disease called fire blight, which is caused by bacterium (Erwinia amylovora), it can spread rapidly, killing ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Erwinia Amylovora, Fireblight, Loquat

Q: Please identify this wild tree with blossoms of 5 creamy white petals, and tiny blossom berries.

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

Q: I 'm going crazy trying to identify a tree that is blooming in Nassau County right now. The tree is wild and has blossoms of 5 creamy white petals, and tiny blossom berries. A: The tree you are referring to is probably the Loblolly Bay, ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Gordonia Lasianthus, Loblolly Bay

Q: Why don’t we use Jerusalem Thorn as a parking lot tree more often here?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

Q: I have notice a few commercial and governmental sites in Central Florida have been using Jerusalem Thorn as a parking lot tree. Why don’t we use it more often here? It seems like a care-free tree. A: Usually the biggest deterrent to ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Tags: Jerusalem-thorn

Q: What can you tell me about the Japanese blueberry tree and can I grow it here?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

A: Japanese blueberry, Elaeocarpus decipens, can be grown in our cold hardiness zone. This evergreen tree grows about 30 to 40 feet tall and equally as wide. Japanese blueberry prefers well drained soil and full sun. Some interior foliage turns ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Elaeocarpus Decipens, Japanese Blueberry

Q: I’ve harvested the berries from an East Palatka Holly plant, can you please tell me the best way to germinate the seeds?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

A: The publication I have attached is the best one I have seen on seed propagation which is from the North Carolina State University by Extension Agent Erv Evans and Professor Frank A. Blazich. Near the bottom of the publication is a table with ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: East Palatka Holly, Seed Propagation

Q: One of my clients has three East Palatka hollies which have been in the ground for more than eight years. These trees appear to be dying and I am not sure what is causing this.

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

Q: One of my clients has three East Palatka hollies which have been in the ground for more than eight years. These trees appear to be dying and I am not sure what is causing this. I know the pH of the soil is too high and I have applied a sulfur ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Dying Tree, Tree Site

Q: What are these growths on my pignut hickory leaves?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 13, 2017

Q: What are these growths on my pignut hickory leaves? I think they are insects and they are chewing my leaves. A: I appreciate you bringing in samples of the growths as this helped me identify the problem more easily. Actually, these growths ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Hickory Leaf Gall, Pignut Hickory

Q: What can you tell me about a tree that produces small, red or yellow fruit like an apple but it is called a “Haw” tree?

by BLOGS.IFAS
July 12, 2017

A: This tree is often called several other common names such as “May Haw”, “May Hawthorne”, or “Apple Haw” but its scientific name is Crataegus aestivalis. The May Hawthorne is part of the rose family therefore it will have thorns ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes
Tags: Crataegus Aestivalis

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