Low-Maintenance Landscaping: Trees and Palms

Low-Maintenance Trees and Palms

Trees and palms are a staple in many landscapes. They provide shade and shelter, improve air quality, and mitigate flooding. Keep reading to learn about some trees and palms that require minimal watering and care in Sarasota County (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions).

Note: The following information is adapted from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Plant Guide.

Legend

Apart from the information presented in the table, the following features will be highlighted under each plant’s picture.

Light

Full sun: At least 6 hours of full sun

Part sun: 2-4 hours of full sun per day

Full shade: Full shade

Perks

Pollinator-friendly: Attracts pollinators

Attracts birds: Attracts birds

Edible: Edible parts*

Geography

Native: Native

Non-native: Non-native

 

Trees and Palms

Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto)

Cabbage palm
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Edible Native

Height 25 to 60 feet
Growth Rate Slow
Hardiness 8B to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained to wet
Comments
  • Florida state tree
  • Attracts butterflies and birds
  • Core of the palm is edible and known as “heart of palm” or “swamp cabbage”

Read more here.

Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima)

Jatropha integerrima
Credit: Jackie Lebouitz, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Non-native

Height 8 to 15 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9B to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Low
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Toxic when ingested

Read more here.

Coral plant (Jatropha multifida)

Jatropha multifida
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Non-native

Height 8 to 15 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9B to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Low
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Toxic when ingested

Read more here.

Frangipani (Plumeria rubra)

Pink plumeria flowers
Credit: John Roberts, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunNon-native

Height 20 to 25 feet
Growth Rate Slow
Hardiness 10A to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Fragrant, showy flowers in fall and spring

Read more here.

Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)

Seagrape on beach
Credit: UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Edible Native

Height 3 to 35 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9A to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy clay, well-drained
Comments
  • Fruit edible when purple
  • Leaves used historically as postcards
  • Attracts butterflies and birds

Read more here.

Powderpuff (Calliandra spp.)

Powderpuff tree
Credit: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Full sun Part sunAttracts birds Non-native

Height 10 to 15 feet
Growth Rate Fast
Hardiness 9A to 12
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Low
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), well-drained to wet
Comments
  • Attracts hummingbirds

Read more here.

Floss silk tree (Chorisia speciosa)

Floss silk tree
Credit: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Full sun Non-native

Height 35 to 50 feet
Growth Rate Fast
Hardiness 9B to 11
Light Requirement Full sun
Salt Tolerance Low
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), medium to well-drained
Comments
  • Showy pink flowers from October through December
  • Bark can have distinctive thorns
  • Floss from the seeds was used for stuffing pillows
  • Thin strips of the bark have been used to make rope (UF/IFAS)

Read more here.

Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum)

Fiddlewood flowers
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds  Native

Height 15 to 25 feet
Growth Rate Slow
Hardiness 9A to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Medium
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2); well-drained
Comments
  • Fruit provides food for wildlife
  • Attracts butterflies and birds

Read more here.

White geiger (Cordia boissieri)

White geiger tree
Credit: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Full sun Part sunAttracts birds Non-native

Height 15 to 20 feet
Growth Rate Slow
Hardiness 9A to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Medium
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Flowers all year
  • Fruit provides food for birds and other wildlife
  • Deeply fissured bark

Read more here.

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)

Yaupon holly with berries
Credit: Edward Gilman, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Edible Native

Height 15 to 30 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 7A to 10B
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Acidic to alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained to wet
Comments
  • Leaves can be dried and processed for use in caffeinated tea
  • Females produce red berries
  • Attracts butterflies, birds

Read more here.

Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans)

Simpson's stopper shrub
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunFull shade Pollinator-friendly Attracts birds Edible Native

Height 6 to 30 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9B to 11
Light Requirement Full sun to full shade
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), well-drained to wet
Comments
  • Flowers all year
  • Edible fruit
  • Fruit provides food for birds and other wildlife
  • Attracts butterflies

Read more here.

Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba)

Gumbo limbo tree with peeling bark
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunPollinator-friendly Attracts birds Native

Height 20 to 50 feet
Growth Rate Fast
Hardiness 10A to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Medium
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Called the “tourist tree” due to its peeling bark, which resembles a bad sunburn
  • Attracts butterflies and birds

Read more here.

Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia)

Fruit of the chickasaw plum
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunFull shade Pollinator-friendly Edible Native

Height 12 to 20 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 6A to 9B
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance Medium
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained
Comments
  • Edible fruit
  • Fruit provides food for wildlife
  • Attracts butterflies

Read more here.

Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia heterophylla)

Pink Tabebuia tree in full bloom
Credit: UF/IFAS

Full sun Non-native

Height 20 to 30 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9B to 12
Light Requirement Full sun
Salt Tolerance Medium
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Flowers in spring and summer

Read more here.

Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)

Walter's viburnum with its white flowers
Credit: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions

Full sun Part sunFull shade Pollinator-friendly Attracts birds Native

Height 8 to 25 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 9A to 10A
Light Requirement Full sun to full shade
Salt Tolerance Low
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Attracts birds, pollinators, and other wildlife

Read more here.

Silver buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus)

Silver buttonwood leaves
Credit: Jackie Lebouitz, UF/IFAS

Full sun Part sunAttracts birds Native

Height 5 to 50 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 10B to 11
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), well-drained
Comments
  • Attracts birds

Read more here.

Live oak (Quercus virginiana)

Live oak in middle of field
Credit: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Full sun Part sunFull shade Pollinator-friendly Attracts birds Native

Height 40 to 80 feet
Growth Rate Moderate
Hardiness 7A to 10B
Light Requirement Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Preference Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), medium to well-drained
Comments
  • Acorns provide food to wildlife; attracts butterflies and birds

Read more here.

If you want to learn about other low-maintenance plants for your landscape, read the rest of our Low-Maintenance Landscaping blog series.

*Although we discuss edibility in this blog, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is not responsible for any illness or injury associated with foraging. Be aware that some plants may have been treated with pesticides and are not fit for human consumption. Always exercise caution.

1

Forest Hecker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Community Educator for Sarasota County's UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability Department.Ashley Ellis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator in Sarasota County.
Posted: March 19, 2024


Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Edible, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Landscaping, Lml, Low, Low-maintenance Landscaping, Maintenance, Native, Pgm_Water, Pollinators, Use, Water


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