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Trees for southern gardens? Are you looking to transform your southern garden with the best trees? Choosing the right tree for your upcoming project can certainly be challenging. However, at our tree nursery, we have the best options for Florida and the Caribbean. In this category, you’ll want a tree that stands out in your garden and in its category, drawing attention in the right direction. So we’ve made a quick guide on how to choose the perfect trees for southern gardens in Florida.

Southern garden with a Caesalpinia granadillo (bridalveil tree) promenade

Understanding Southern Gardens

Southern gardens are landscapes designed to thrive in the warm, humid climates of the southern United States, including South Florida. These gardens often feature lush vegetation, vibrant blooms, and shade trees. When choosing the right tree for your landscape, you should look for some of the following characteristics. They should be humidity-tolerant plants that can withstand periods of drought and have a high salt tolerance. Provide shade and balance function and beauty. This is similar to the case of privacy hedges, where you need shade coverage and appealing, lush foliage, for example.

Dramatic Southern garden front yard with sprawling branches of a Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana)

When choosing the right ornamental tree for the area, it’s important to note that South Florida has a tropical climate, which falls within USDA Hardiness Zones 10A to 11. Therefore, we must select trees suited to enduring hot summers, mild winters, and occasional storms.

Choosing the Right Trees for Southern Gardens

When choosing the right tree for your landscaping project, it’s all about purpose! What are you looking for: shade, focal points, flowering habits, or wildlife support? Among other factors, it depends on your needs and, naturally, the space you have.

Shade Trees 

If you are looking for shade, the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is emblematic of southern gardens, with its sprawling branches, frequently graced with Spanish moss, and with a strong reminiscence of the Old South. It is definitely a great shade tree with high wind resistance that has proven to fit perfectly in Florida’s weather.

Another favorite for shade, and in increasing demand, is the Bridalveil tree (Caesalpinia granadillo). Unlike the Southern Live Oak, it is not a native, as it is endemic to South America. But has proven to have outstanding performance in Florida and the Caribbean. Reaching a maximum height of 35 feet, it is widely popular due to its finely textured foliage, which consists of pinnately compound leaves that resemble a bridal veil; hence its common name.

Besides its shade-providing qualities, its exfoliating trunk shows off in strips that reveal an unusual green and grey mottling. A captivating feature that adds to its aesthetic nature, proving that Caesalpinia granadillo is a great focal point for landscape design. Moreover, the Bridalveil is considered a versatile tree, ideal for streets, parks, and side lawns as an accent tree. And with its delicate foliage that allows dappled shade, it is an outstanding option for dreamy promenades.

Flowering Trees 

But if you are looking for flowering characteristics, the Queen Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a fantastic choice. Native to India, it has proven to be a great Florida performer. The Lagerstroemia speciosa is currently praised as the ultimate ornamental tree thanks to its crepe-like, breathtaking blooms. During summer, its flowering season will give a grand display covering the tree with a profusion of large, three-inch-wide, bright pink to lavender blooms in dense, foot-long, terminal panicles. This makes the Queen Crape Myrtle simply breathtaking and a great landscaping choice as an accent tree that is quite popular as a street tree as well.

Furthermore, other great flowering trees for southern yards are the Handroanthus, formerly known as the Tabebuias and popularly named the trumpet tree. They belong to a diverse genus, with nearly 30 species stretching from Central America to South America. Quite famous due to their flowering habit, in terminal clusters of breathtaking trumpet-shaped blooms, 2 to 3 inches long. They make excellent accent trees or focal points in the landscape due to their striking flowering colors while they attract hummingbirds, bees, and other insects.

At TreeWorld, we have 8 varieties for you to choose from: Tabebuia bahamensis (white tabebuia), Tabebuia caraiba (yellow trumpet), Tabebuia chrysotricha (golden trumpet), Tabebuia donnell-smithii (primavera tree), Tabebuia guayacan, Tabebuia heterophylla (pink trumpet), Tabebuia impetiginosa (purple trumpet), and Tabebuia roseoalba (white ipe).

Privacy Hedge trees

Although this is not a frequent category, we’ve noticed that it has lately been in quite a bit of demand and has become an ultimate addition to your southern garden design.

Privacy hedges are not only functional but also make a landscape design more valuable and beautiful. One of our top choices is Pimenta racemosa, best known as the Bay Rum tree, which also adds significant value as an ornamental tree. It features a peeling, exfoliating trunk and aromatic leaves that release a refreshing citrusy aroma when crushed. Additionally, it has fragrant, delicate, fluffy flowers and a compelling display of stiff, leathery leaves, creating dense, full coverage for privacy hedges while maintaining an attractive appearance. Moreover, its compact pyramidal form allows it to provide privacy in narrow spaces where protection and privacy are essential.

On the other hand, we’ve got the Brazilian beauty leaf (Calophyllum brasiliensis) ready to add volume with its lush evergreen foliage. Unlike the Bay Rum tree, which has a compact pyramidal shape, the Calophyllum is known for its broad growth habit and dense round crown, contributing to its fuller appearance. It is a great option to include as a hedge for privacy or windbreak. While it shows off its glossy, dark green leaves that create a stunning effect as the perfect southern garden addition.