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Aug 23, 2014 9:22 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
I just moved from California to Florida and need help identifying a couple of trees that are in my backyard. The first one is this huge tree that has shiny glossy leaves and looks to have some type of fruit/nut?
Thumb of 2014-08-23/SunnieOne/9c9e82
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Aug 23, 2014 9:27 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
here is a closeup of the leaves
Thumb of 2014-08-23/SunnieOne/f1c594

and this is what is growing on it
Thumb of 2014-08-23/SunnieOne/aee1bc
Last edited by SunnieOne Aug 23, 2014 9:30 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 23, 2014 9:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
other tree needing identification.. this one is about 4 1/2 ft tall.. trunk looks a bit fuzzy and the leaves are thick and scaly like

Thumb of 2014-08-23/SunnieOne/55ddf6

closeup of leaves

Thumb of 2014-08-23/SunnieOne/27b1d7
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Aug 23, 2014 12:34 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Hi Sunnie, and welcome to Florida, also to ATP.

The first tree is a Ficus benjamina (yes that one people have indoors as houseplants gets that big here!) They are pretty but not considered a good landscape tree, weak trunks, shallow roots and considered invasive, so if you find seedlings under it, do pull them up or mow 'em down. If we get a big wind storm, don't be surprised if a lot of that tree breaks, and/or it uproots itself. If you have the means and money to have it thinned, a good practice for all trees here in FL is to thin the tree's canopy so you can see lots of sky through the leaves. That way the wind can pass through the tree instead of hitting it like a big sail and knocking it over.

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

The second tree I'm pretty sure is a Loquat which if you encourage it (a little fertilizer in early spring and early fall, regular water) will make a lovely small evergreen tree about maximum 18ft. They bloom and bear fruit twice a year, in spring and fall. The fruit is delicious but not large, and the birds and squirrels love it. A small yellow/gold drupe with two large seeds inside. But if you're into making preserves, or freezing, drying or otherwise preserving fruit it is very nice fruit.

Here's the entry in our database for the Loquat, with a nice picture of the fruit. Loquat (Rhaphiolepis bibas)
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Last edited by dyzzypyxxy Aug 23, 2014 12:47 PM Icon for preview
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Aug 23, 2014 2:44 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I agree on the ID's.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Aug 25, 2014 3:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
Thank you BOTH so much! Hope I learn my way around this website soon, it looks to be a real wealth of information
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Aug 25, 2014 4:44 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I tip my hat to you.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Aug 25, 2014 5:15 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
#1 looks a bit like be Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) to me; a closer view of the bark might tell for certain and I agree, #2 is Loquat!
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Aug 25, 2014 7:29 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Hm, you're right Lin. The fruit looks a lot like Sugarberry, but I didn't think the leaves on the Sugarberry are nearly so shiny, are they?
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 25, 2014 9:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
ok.. after seeing this last post about the sugarberry, I also think that is what it is.. I searched the links and they look like the sugarberry. I will get a closeup of the tree bark tomorrow.
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Aug 26, 2014 5:58 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Sugarberry was just a guess on my part ... a closer photo of the tree might help; it just looked like Sugarberry from the distance to my old eyes. LOL, I don't even know if it grows in the Dade City area. Green Grin!
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Aug 26, 2014 1:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sunnie
Dade City, FL (Zone 9b)
here are pictures of the tree trunk

Thumb of 2014-08-26/SunnieOne/51fb7b


Thumb of 2014-08-26/SunnieOne/63c9b6


Thumb of 2014-08-26/SunnieOne/74d2bd
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Aug 26, 2014 1:44 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
hmm, that doesn't look like the bark of Celtis (Sugarberry) or the Ficus benjamina to me. Now I'm thinking Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Aug 26, 2014 1:56 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
That does not look like either a ficus or a sugarberry trunk. Check out the fruits too, they look different than yours on both trees. The leaves on a sugarberry are not as shiny either.

See sugarberry here:
http://www.wildflower.org/plan...
" Its smooth, pale bark is marked with lighter, corky patches" and it's deciduous. Is your tree deciduous?

As far as ficus, it's not reputed to live as far north as you are.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/datab...
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Image
Aug 26, 2014 1:57 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
plantladylin said:hmm, that doesn't look like the bark of Celtis (Sugarberry) or the Ficus benjamina to me. Now I'm thinking Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora)


I think Lin nailed it. Go smell the leaves, crush them or crease them, you will know if it's Camphor tree.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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