Native Trees of Pinellas County: What's Growing in Your Yard

In Welcome to Florida Tree Care we covered the basics of looking after trees in this climate. Now let's get specific. Before you can care for a tree properly, you need to know what it is, because a live oak and a sabal palm want almost opposite treatment. I walk yards from Oldsmar to St. Pete Beach every week, and the same handful of natives show up again and again.

The Big Three: Live Oak, Sabal Palm, and Gumbo Limbo

Live oak (Quercus virginiana). This is the tree most people picture when they think of an old Florida yard. Live oaks can stand for a couple of hundred years, they hold up well in hurricane winds, and many cities protect them, so check with your city before you cut one. Give them room. The roots spread well past the edge of the canopy, which is why a live oak planted too close to a driveway or pool deck tends to cause trouble down the road.

Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto). Florida's state tree is a fixture along the coast and handles salt spray and dry spells once it settles in. The most common mistake I see is over-trimming. Sabals do not need their green fronds removed, and heavy pruning, sometimes called hurricane cuts, weakens the tree. Remove only fronds that are fully brown and dead.

Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba). Easy to spot by its smooth, peeling reddish bark. It grows fast, gives good shade and shrugs off wind. It is a tropical tree, so a hard freeze can burn it back, and it is semi-deciduous, so expect some leaf drop in late winter.

Other Natives You May Find

Southern magnolia has big glossy leaves and fragrant white blooms, but it gets large, so keep it well away from the house. Red maple is one of the few natives that gives Florida any fall color, and it likes wetter ground. For tighter spaces, smaller natives such as Bahama swampprivet and wild tamarind fit nicely and attract birds and butterflies.

Clearwater and Dunedin yards lean heavily on oaks and palms, while lower, wetter lots in places like Safety Harbor are more likely to have maples and cypress.

Why Native Trees Hold Up

Native trees have already adapted to the heat, summer downpours and long dry stretches. Planted in the right spot, they usually get by on rainfall once established, need little fertilizer, and feed local wildlife. They are also far less likely to turn into invasive problems than imported ornamentals.

Check Before You Cut

Tree rules in Pinellas County vary by city, and many cities protect specific species or trees above a certain size. Before removing any tree, check with your city or Pinellas County to find out whether a permit is required. If you are not sure what you are looking at, or you want a second set of eyes on a large tree, Call Anthony's Tree and Stump Service. You can also see our residential tree services or contact us for a free estimate at (727) 254-0338.

Coming Up Next

Next time we cross the bay and look at Hillsborough County Trees: How They Differ from Pinellas.