Florida Native Christmas Trees

The holidays are upon us and for most a real Christmas tree immediately comes to mind as a must have staple. Did you know that rather then buying an out of state harvested tree, that you can obtain a Florida grown native Christmas tree? Indeed there are multiple options to either harvest your own tree from an actual Florida Christmas tree farm or purchase a potted Florida native tree to decorate and then replant in your yard. Some potential species available include: Southern Red Cedar, Longleaf Pine, Dahoon Holly, Leyland Cypress, and Slash Pine. These trees have the added benefits of being acclimated to our local environment without the problems inherent to out of state trees.  Additional information and photographs of potential Florida Christmas Tree Natives are available below:

Southern Red Cedar

Dahoon Holly

Longleaf Pine

Leyland Cypress

Slash Pine

• Christmas Tree Farms in Florida - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)
• Florida Christmas Tree Association (flchristmastrees.com)
• Living Christmas Trees - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)

King Tides and Your Trees

(Revised for November 2021) Trees face many challenges to their continued growth and survival including pressure from overdevelopment, climate change, exotic pests/diseases, storms etc. In much of South Florida, trees face the added challenge of exposure to salt water during King Tide events, which typically occur between August and November of each year. King Tides are the highest tides of the year and can cause saltwater flooding of low-lying areas. Their occurrence corresponds to specific phases of the moon and can be exacerbated by other factors, such as storms.

Increased saltwater flooding can cause tree impacts including premature leaf drop, leaf burn, tree instability and, in some cases, complete death of the exposed tree. To combat the effects of King Tides on trees, the following are highly recommended for trees in locations vulnerable to tidal flooding:

• Planting of Florida native salt tolerant trees (i.e., Orange Geiger, Gumbo Limbo, Silver and Green Buttonwood, Southern Red Cedar);
• Utilization of planting methods such as Mounded Planting which elevates the tree's roots above grade and reduces saltwater exposure (reference image below); and
• Implementation of a tree maintenance plan that includes proper watering, pruning and fertilization to optimize tree health; and
• Flushing of the tree(s) root-ball with clean water to help remove any excess salt buildup.

Trees that are salt intolerant and/or stressed due to improper planting and maintenance are often the first to succumb to saltwater flooding events. For additional information on how to protect your trees and prepare for King Tides, please visit the following websites:

• University of Florida Salt Tolerant Plants
• Flooding and Trees  

Mounded planting which can help protect newly planted trees from flooding and future grade changes.

Some examples of Florida Native Salt Tolerant Trees

                                      

                                 Green Buttonwood                        Eastern Red Cedar

                                   Gumbo Limbo                         Silver Buttonwood

 

Orange Geiger

Tree Risk and Ethics

Cities throughout Florida have seen a recent uptick in trees being removed due to the perception of risk and or concerns over an existing tree's health. Subsequently there has also been concerns over unqualified individuals performing these assessments, and or those violating industry ethical standards. Like other professional assessments the determination of tree risk should only be handled by qualified/licensed individuals with relevant experience. In this case that would be by an  International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist with the TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification). If you're concerned about a tree on your property these are the individuals you should be consulting with first before making a final decision. In many cases the tree defects observed are correctable and complete tree removal often isn't necessary. 

Proper TRAQ Form Example

Poor Arborist Report Example (Unacceptable)

Regarding observed or suspected ethics violations (for example purposely submitting inaccurate or incomplete reports, falsifying information etc.) there is a policy in place for reporting violations directly to ISA available here. I've also included a link to an article authored by the Florida Chapter of ISA specifically addressing the "Ethics of Arboriculture".  Ultimately, as an ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist with TRAQ qualification my goal remains to help educate others as to the values of using a properly credentialed tree professional and also provide information on how to report those who unethically abuse this privilege. 

Ethics of Arboriculture  

Find an Arborist

Unique Tree History

Every once and a while I come across a tree related article that makes me appreciate the role trees play as part of our community history, in some cases in quite a shocking fashion. This particular tree's backstory has all the elements of a great yarn including: History, Terrifying Name and the Macabre. The tree uniquely dubbed "The Devil Tree" is actually located in St. Lucie County within the Oak Hammock Park. While there is nothing sinister appearance wise with the Live Oak, its past history is both alarming and enlightening. Associations with Florida's first serial murderer along with numerous attempts throughout the years to burn/cut down the tree only add to its allure. 

Image used courtesy of www.wierdus.com

For additional information on the "Devil Tree", please visit the following websites: 

Weird Florida (weirdus.com)

The Devil's Tree - Clio (theclio.com)

Oak Hammock Park | Park Details | Port St. Lucie (cityofpsl.com)