Florida can be particularly fickle when it comes to planting and maintaining certain trees, flowers, bushes, shrubs, and more. Hence, I have outlined here, the 10 best low-maintenance trees in Florida which can thrive with little care and input.
Possibly when you think of Florida, Sandy beaches, Palm trees, and Alligators are what come to your mind because there are low-maintenance trees found in the area. But Florida is home to many trees that require little care and can even thrive in the harsh conditions found in the state.
We get that you’re busy, don’t understand anything about tree care, or are concerned you’ll make a blunder when it comes to watering, fertilizing, and so on.
This article is a discussed list of the top trees for having appeal, usefulness, and interest without requiring any special maintenance plan and whose maintenance is according to your budget.
Table of Contents
Low-Maintenance Trees in Florida
Several trees grow well in the South Florida landscape, but some require a considerable amount of maintenance and produce nuts or fruit that can be messy and sticky. The following are 10 low-maintenance trees for the Florida landscape that provide beauty and shade.
- Crepe Myrtle
- Shady Lady Black Olive
- Redbud
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Dogwood
- Geiger Tree
- Dwarf Poinciana
- Japanese Maple
- Green Giant Arborvitae
- Yaupon Holly
1. Crepe Myrtle
The Crape Myrtle Tree, also known as the Lagerstroemia, is a beautiful tree that is native to Asia. The tree is well-known for its impressive floral displays. Bursts of white, pink, and red flowers occur in clusters, further adding to the beautiful, full look of these trees.
It is a popular tree located in the southern United States because it can tolerate hot, humid summers. The Crape Myrtle tree gets its name from its flower petals, which resemble crepe paper.
The tree blooms in late spring or early summer, and its flowers can be white, pink, purple, or red but, the best part is, they’re available for use as medium-sized trees, small-sized trees, shrubs, ground cover, and beyond.
The Crape Myrtle tree is easy to care for and can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It is drought-tolerant and does not need much fertilizer it can deal with low fertilizer, however, it will need to be protected against irrigation containing saline water.
Crepe myrtles do require pruning to remain healthy and to encourage growth. The Crape Myrtle tree can grow to be 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. It is a deciduous tree, which means that it will lose its leaves in the fall.
The leaves of the Crape Myrtle tree are dark green and have a leathery texture. In the fall, the leaves turn red, orange, or yellow before they fall off the tree.
2. Shady Lady Black Olive
This variety of olive trees is desirable for shade and beauty, it can have an awkward appearance when young that’s remedied with light pruning. it can grow up to 30 feet tall without any trouble.
It features yellowish-beige flowers in the spring that many say give the tree the appearance of being frosted with brown sugar. It’s salt-tolerant and can grow to 30 feet.
The Shady Lady Black Olive doesn’t require much care other than pruning, watering, and occasional fertilizing. It is a great tree if you want shade and beauty without the mess.
The Shady Lady variety is the newest and most improved cultivar of the species, but it’s not related to olive trees and doesn’t produce olives.
3. Redbud
This is an ornamental tree that is popular and native to Florida city in North America. It is closely related to the Judas tree and is often used as an alternative to that species.
The Redbud has a beautiful, heart-shaped leaf and flowers that range in color from white to pink. It is a popular tree for landscaping because it is relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate a variety of soil types.
Highly attractive to bees, birds, and butterflies, it grows from 20 to 30 feet and can be single or multi-stemmed. The Redbud tree is a tree resistant to drought once it is established which makes it a good option for arid climates.
And, because it is relatively slow-growing, light pruning is all that’s needed to maintain its shape. Overall, the Redbud tree is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an attractive, low-maintenance ornamental tree.
4. Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolias can be magnificent trees with heady-smelling blossoms, and they’re well-adapted to hot, humid weather.
Unlike the Southern Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia won’t litter the lawn with spent bloom petals or seed pods, making homeowners prefer the Sweetbay Magnolia to the Southern Magnolia. The Sweetbay Magnolia is considered to be less messy and of low maintenance compared to the Southern Magnolia.
It will shed a few leaves throughout the season and it also does not need treatment for problems such as diseases or pests. Yet it still provides lovely, scented flowers, and year-round beauty, and its glossy leaves have a frosted appearance on the underside.
The seeds serve as a source of food for a wide variety of birds.
5. Dogwood
Dogwoods are a popular and one of the most sort after trees not only in Florida but in the United States. They are highly adaptable to a wide range of climates and soil compositions.
Dogwoods are available in several types with some of them having variegated foliage. If you’re looking for the most ornamental tree possible, you can find many highly attractive varieties, including some with variegated foliage.
The dogwood trees are undemanding doesn’t require much attention in maintenance, it is highly ornamental, and the only real “mess” they create is when they shed their leaves in the autumn. Their only messy habit is shedding their leaves each fall.
6. Geiger Tree
The Geiger tree is native to the Florida landscape that is essential for commercial, residential, or a mix. It is dense, rounded, and evergreen, the tree can grow up to a height of 30 feet and spread its branches over 25 feet wide. Their trunks can even swell up to 12 inches thick!
These trees possess features that are impossible to ignore such as the blossoming of the orange that explodes with vibrancy. And while the green leaves on this tree are rough, hairy, and can feel like sandpaper (they look good but they’re not particularly pleasant to touch).
Few trees look quite as Florida as the Geiger tree, which hands down makes it one of Florida’s most beautiful native trees.
7. Dwarf Poinciana
The dwarf poinciana also known as the Barbados flower fence is a multiple trunks and shrubby tree in appearance, it is a tree that fills the void between shrub and full-grown tree and offers plenty of open-branched, fine-textured beauty and security for your landscape (plus feathery foliage that has exceptionally quick growth).
This tree brings some serious color and vibrancy to your commercial or residential landscape because of its dotted nature. The Poinciana is dotted with brilliant yellow wand and scarlet.
Not only does it meet this need, but it also does so in an impressive manner as well as its cost-effectiveness. The versatility of this particular plant is valuable, too.
You can choose to grow it in the shape of a large shrub or prune it to maintain a more tree-like appearance! Best of all, this shrub-tree combination can tolerate hot, dry areas with no problems at all this make it a low-maintenance tree
8. Japanese Maple
The Japanese maple tree is a beautiful sight to behold when added to any garden. Its leaves are frequently used in bonsai, and its branches add more dimension and interest to landscapes.
The Japanese Maple tree can tolerate a wide range of climates making it relatively easy to maintain. But then, there are a few things to keep in mind when growing a Japanese maple tree.
The tree prefers moist soils therefore, it should be watered regularly. Secondly, the tree is allergic to full sun, hence its plantation should be within areas that receive partial shade. Lastly, because of the tree’s vulnerability to aphids and other pests, they should be monitored against infestations.
Japanese maple trees can be a stunning addition to any home with just a little care.
9. Green Giant Arborvitae
The Green Giant Arborvitae is a beautiful, stately tree that is perfect for any garden that is also very easy to care for. The tree grows up to 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide, it is one of the largest evergreens available.
The thick, dark green foliage provides year-round interest and privacy, making it an ideal choice for hedges and windbreaks. The Green Giant Arborvitae requires just a little pruning and removal of excess leaves.
It is disease-resistant and tolerant of most soil types, making it a low-maintenance option for any landscape. With its towering height and lush foliage, the Green Giant Arborvitae is sure to add beauty and function to any garden.
10. Yaupon Holly
This is a native and beautiful evergreen that can provide year-round color and interest in the landscape. It is a moderate to fast grower that can reach a height of 20-30 feet and a spread of 15-20 feet at maturity.
The Yaupon Holly tree is adaptable to most soil types and prefers full sun to partial shade. With its showy foliage and easy-care requirements, the Yaupon Holly tree is an excellent addition to any landscape.
In choosing a tree for privacy screens, hedges, or windbreaks Yaupon holly tree is an excellent choice to consider. It can also be used as a specimen tree or in mass plantings.
The glossy, dark green leaves are 2-4 inches long and have a distinctive spiny margin. The small white flowers bloom in spring, and the berries ripen in fall and winter, providing food for birds and other wildlife.
Conclusion
Just because they are low maintenance doesn’t mean they won’t thrive and add value to your landscape, most of them are vibrant and unique. However, low-maintenance trees and shrubs still require some maintenance. Hence the pruning and removal of excess leaves.
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Ahamefula Ascension is a Real Estate Consultant, Data Analyst, and Content writer. He is the founder of Hope Ablaze Foundation and a Graduate of Environmental Management in one of the prestigious colleges in the country. He is obsessed with Reading, Research and Writing.