Trees for Florida Panhandle
Common and uncommon Trees for the area
For those who are just starting a garden, are tired of it not working out, or have an impressive garden already, and want to add some diversity and uniqueness. Take a look at the following trees that can do well with our Florida panhandle weather. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the trees if you have the time and want to train and prune them in different ways. Or, through pruning, keep them smaller for easier harvesting, and place them closer to, or even in, the garden. Don’t forget to come back from time to time to check the list again, as it will be updated. Also, keep an eye out for posts that do deep dives into each tree. Where needed, I will add an * to signify those that are natives to Florida.
Trees
Chickasaw plum (Prunus Angustifolia)* - These are smaller than the other commercial plums. But they are great right off the tree or into pies or jellies.
Flatwood plum (Prunus Umbellata)* - like the Chickasaw plum, they are smaller than other commercial ones, but these have a more bitter taste and are used for jams and jellies.
Plum (Prunus domestica)– if the two listed above don’t fit your fancy, then try some Gulf beauty, Gulfblaze, and Gulfrose cultivars.
Pawpaw (asimina triloba)* - also known as the custard apple, these guys mix a flavor of banana, mango, and citrus. With large seeds, they are easy to separate from the flesh. A favorite for those who try them.
Chestnut (Castanea genus) – We have all heard the song about roasting them over an open fire. And in Florida, you can have a chance to do it yourself.
Fig (Ficus carica) – A great tasting fruit, or I mean flower.
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) - is a fruit with 3 distinct flavors. When unripe (green/yellow), it has a crisp, mildly sweet, and slightly tart flavor similar to some apples. When ripe (red), they are sweeter and chewier, with a distinct caramel-like undertone similar to that of dates. Dried, they have a denser texture and a caramel-like sweetness. Making them great for desserts. And
Olive (olea europaea) – for those who like olives, this is a win-win. For those who aren’t big fans of olives but love working with wood and have time, then grow the tree and take a look at some olive wood, which is absolutely beautiful.
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) – we all know and love pecans.
Persimmon* (Diospyros Kaki) – If you want to keep it native then go with the native ones just know they are smaller and make sure they are fully ripe so they don’t dry out your mouth. The other cultivars that aren’t native are larger and more forgiving of dry mouth.
Mulberry* - The red mulberry is native to Florida the white is native to China both tastes really good. I prefer them made into desserts like a pudding or jellies. The leaves are really food for livestock, almost a one-for-one replacement for alfalfa. So if you put them out with the cows, make sure the trees are tall enough to handle the cows stripping the lower branches.
Sweet Laurel (bay leaves) – Why buy them already dried when you can pull them off as needed with your own bay tree.
The Florida sweet cherry, also known as the black cherry Texas hybrid (Malpighia emarginata). - This cherry was specifically developed for Florida’s warmer climate. There are a couple of other cherries out there that can grow well here, but this one would be your best bet.
Apples (Malus Genus) – Low chill varieties like Anna, Tropic Sweet, Fuji, Scarlet Sentinel, and Dorsett Golden all have low chill hours
Peach (Prunus Persica) – here are some peach varieties that do well here. Tropic Beauty, Florida Kings, Sweet Dreams.
Nectarines (Prunus Persica) – let’s not forget the balled cuisine of the peaches. If you enjoy fuss-free, consider Flavortop, Desert Dawn, or Arctic Star.
Satsuma Mandarin Oranges (citrus unshiu)– a great choice for those who are in northern Florida, as they handle the cooler temps better than most citrus.
Loquat(Eriobotrya japonica) – with an apricot-like fruit in late spring and early summer, what’s not to love?
Avocado – There are a few avocados that can be grown in the panhandle, but they would always love a little extra help when it gets cold, especially when they are still young and not established. Here are a few varieties: Del Rio, Pryor, Frantastic. These have a rich flavor and a high oil content. Mexicola Grande is self-pollinating. Opal/Lila has a creamy, nutty flavor originating in Texas, and Brazos belle produces long, medium-to-large purple-black fruits.
Citrus – there are several other varieties of citrus that do well in the panhandle, ranging from oranges, grapefruit, to lemons and limes, to some lesser-known ones like the calamondin orange that bears small tart fruits year-round and is suitable for jams and chutneys.
Date Palm(Palma dactylifera) – the Medjool Date palm does great in zone 8a-11a and produces large-sized dates that are rich in flavor.
These are a great place to start when researching trees to add to your garden. Pick your top three and figure out where you could add them to your garden. Remember to keep in mind the placement so that they grow, they don’t cast a shadow on your raised bed.
Come back again next week, where I will be talking about bushes that will benefit your garden space and how adding these to your garden will increase the good bugs, such as bees and butterflies, as well as the fruit you will get to harvest as they mature.
If you haven’t started your garden yet or are looking to increase what you have, we can help. With a personal consultation, either in person or online, you will get personalized guidance to get going in the right direction. Forget the learning curve, start in the right direction. If you are not in Florida, we can still help you plan a garden design that yields a productive crop and looks beautiful at the same time.
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