14 Evergreen Trees in Florida

Florida is a state that can experience all four seasons, but one thing that remains constant is the evergreen trees. The only time these trees lose their leaves is during the winter months. There are many different types of evergreen plants in Florida including southern magnolia, live oak, and pond cypress. These plants thrive in southern climates where they receive plenty of natural light and water year round! 

Evergreen trees are pretty common in other parts of the country, but people who live in Florida might be surprised to find out that there are several kinds of evergreens here as well. In fact, you can even visit a place called Big Tree Park where you’ll see some really large ones. It’s located on US highway 17-92, and it’s open from sunrise to sunset every day for free! Not only will you get the chance to enjoy these beautiful trees, but this is also a great spot for bird watching and seeing alligators up close if they’re around! 

1. Slash Pine (pinus elliottii)

Slash Pine Pinus elliottii Engelm
Slash Pine – Pinus elliottii Engelm

The Slash Pine is a Florida native that can grow to 100 feet tall. The needles of this evergreen tree are a scentless grayish-blue color, and the bark is a red brown color with some green spots on it! 

This tree is great for Florida because it can withstand hurricanes and heavy winds. The bark is really thick too, so these trees don’t get damaged easily! They’re also great for Florida’s ecosystem because they provide a ton of food and shelter for animals around here that need it the most!

2. Cabbage/Sabal Palm (sabal palmetto)

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Forest and Kim Starr Cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

The Florida Cabbage Palm is a Florida native that can grow up to 60 feet tall! The trunk is short and stout, and it has grayish-brown shaggy bark on it. This tree also has long green fronds, which means they have lots of beautiful dark-green leaves on them!

This tree isn’t very easy to identify if you’ve never seen one before, but Florida residents know it well! These trees are commonly planted in Florida because they like to live in dry areas with sandy soil. They also provide lots of food for Florida’s wildlife, and they can even be used as construction materials!

3. Geiger Tree (cordia sebestena)

Cordia sebestena Geiger tree
Forest and Kim Starr Cordia sebestena (Geiger tree)

The Geiger Tree is Florida’s official state tree. It can grow to 80 feet tall, and it has leaves that are shaped like heart-shaped lollipops! These trees also have really pretty white flowers that bloom in the summer months. This Florida native grows best in coastal areas with sandy soil.

Geiger Trees are Florida natives that are great for Florida’s ecosystem because they produce big amounts of fruit that Florida animals love to eat! Florida’s residents enjoy planting them because the flowers are very pretty, so it’s easy to see why this is Florida’s state tree.

4. Hong Kong Orchid Tree (bauhinia blakeana)

Bauhinia x blakeana Hong Kong orchid tree
Forest and Kim Starr Bauhinia x blakeana – Hong Kong orchid tree

The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is a Florida native that can grow to 60 feet tall with large leathery leaves on it. These leave are dark green, and they’re shaped like fans! This Florida native has flowers that bloom from April to May. They’re pink or purple with yellow at the base.

The Florida Hong Kong Orchid Tree is Florida’s official tree because it’s the most beautiful tree in Florida! Florida’s residents love to plant these trees and watch them grow because they bloom for such a short time. They like to be planted in sunny areas with moist soil, and they make Florida look gorgeous during the springtime!

5. Sweet Orange Tree (citrus sinensis)

Citrus sinensis
Forest and Kim Starr Citrus sinensis

The Florida Sweet Orange Tree is Florida’s official fruit tree. This Florida native can grow to 40 feet tall with branches that spread out for about 20 feet or more! The leaves are dark green, shiny, and shaped like triangles. They also have white flowers that bloom in the springtime, which turn into delicious oranges throughout Florida’s summer months.

6. California/Coastal Redwood (sequoia sempervirens)

Sequoia sempervirens
Tim Sheerman-Chase Sequoia sempervirens

The Florida Coastal Redwood can grow to 100 feet tall! The Florida Coastal Redwood is Florida’s official evergreen tree, so it’s also Florida’s state flower. These trees have bumpy looking grayish-brown tan bark with deep red or pink tips on them.

These trees are very popular in Florida because they’re very pretty and can grow to be really tall. They provide lots of food for Florida’s wildlife too! They’re also easy to grow and can be planted in a lot of different places – they do best in coastal areas with sandy soil, but they’ll still grow well without it!

7. Bald Cypress (taxodium distichum)

Bald Cypress
Chris M Morris Bald Cypress

The Bald Cypress is a Florida native that can grow to be 100 feet tall! These trees have a really cool feature – their bark will turn a deep red when it’s wet! The Bald Cypress likes to live in swamps and moist areas, so they’re perfect for Florida. These trees are popular in Florida because they’re so pretty, and they provide a lot of food for Florida’s wildlife.

8. Florida Pines (pinus palustris)

Pinus palustris
Chris M. Morris Pinus palustris

The Florida Pines are a type of pine tree that can grow to be about 60 feet tall. These trees have dark green needles that are about 5-7 inches long. The bark is gray and scaly, and the tree produces cones that are about 2-3 inches long.

9. Dahoon Holly (ilex cassine)

The Dahoon Holly is a type of holly bush that can grow to be about 15 feet tall and spread out for about 20 feet. The leaves are dark green, shiny, and shaped like hearts! They have white flowers that bloom in the springtime which turn into black berries throughout Florida’s summer months.

10. Black Olive (olea europaea)

Olea europaea
Miltos Gikas Olea europaea

The Black Olive is a type of tree that can reach about 40 feet tall and spread out for 60 feet or more! These trees produce white flowers that bloom in the summer months.

11. Indian Rubber Tree (ficus elastica)

Ficus elastica
ZSM Ficus elastica

The Indian Rubber Tree is a type of tree that can reach about 100 feet tall. These trees have a really cool feature – their bark will turn a deep red when it’s wet. The Indian Rubber Tree likes to live in moist areas, so they’re perfect for Florida.

12. Southern Magnolia (magnolia grandiflora)

Southern Magnolia
B A Bowen Photography Southern Magnolia

The Southern Magnolia is a type of tree that can reach about 100 feet tall. These trees have a really cool feature – their bark will turn a deep red when it’s wet. The Southern Magnolia likes to live in moist areas, so they’re perfect for Florida’s climate.

13. Loblolly Bay (gordonia lasianthus)

Loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus
M. Aurelius Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus)

The Loblolly Bay is a type of tree that can reach about 40 feet tall. These trees have a really cool feature – their bark will turn a deep red when it’s wet. Loblolly Bays like to live in moist areas, so they’re perfect for Florida’s humid climate.

14. Bald Cypress (taxodium distichum)

Bald Cypress
Chris M Morris Bald Cypress

The Bald Cypress is a type of tree that can reach about 100 feet tall. These trees have a really cool feature – their bark will turn a deep red when it’s wet. The Bald Cypress grows well in Florida because it likes to live in moist areas, and Florida has a lot of those!