this would probably be easier if I had a pic of the leaves as well, but I think the tree is on it's last legs and at the moment doesn't have any leaves. I *think* it is a wild plum.

Probably Mexican Plum, Prunus mexicana; also common and very pretty.
http://wildflower.org/plants/r...

I agree, it looks like P. mexicana:

Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

http://www.google.com/search?q...

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

Does the bark match Prunus mexicana?

Mexican plum is a beautiful single-trunked, spring-flowering small tree with bark that eventually gets dark and striated, peeling off in patches.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

The bark in this picture is smooth, and if it gets "dark and striated, peeling off in patches" it doesn't quite seem to fit the bark for this tree.

There's a photo of what the bark does look like when it becomes "dark and striated" on this site..

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dend...

Bark: Initially reddish-gray, smooth with numerous horizontal lenticels, later becoming rough with irregular ridges and exfoliating curling strips.

Think I'll wait on this one. Bark on young branches looks OK, but not the big trunk for Mexican plum. Just came in from looking at it again and after pulling other stuff away it is getting some leaves Once they're big enough for a photo-op I'll post a pic.

Look forward to a photo of the foliage!

I've even been thinking possibly a variety of Malus (Crabapple): http://www.google.com/search?q...

OK..here are young leaves. I found quite a few...guess the tree is doing better then I thought...just don't recall it blooming before getting leaves

I think it's Prunus americana.

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dend...

If you scroll down and click on the link the says "See states reporting American plum" it's listed as being reported in Florida.

It does look like Prunus americana, but the description states:

Flower: White, 5 petals, 1 inch across, long filaments, yellow anthers, appear in small clusters in early spring with the leaves.

It could still be correct, but could the flowers come before the leaves?

I went through the Prunus on the USDA site, only those showing in Florida. There's one which is a possibility although it was difficult to find photos of, I got some by searching 'Flatwoods Plum', Prunus umbellata.

It flowers before the leaves, not sure about the leaf shape but they haven't opened fully so it's difficult to say.

http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Fla...

Flatwoods plum grows in mixed pine-hardwood forests, hammocks, coastal scrub, and swamps near streams and rivers.

The bark is thin, smooth, red brown to black in color, often becoming rough with age.

Flatwoods plum is a small tree that is generally less than 20' in height. Its crown is usually spreading and form is often crooked. It does not occur in thickets as a large shrub.

Twigs and leaves look close on the USDA ..

http://plants.usda.gov/java/pr...

The bark looks more like the thinner trunk, maybe you could compare it more closely Ginger. If it ever fruits then they could be a good clue too.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/pr...

I got a lot of results from the 'Flatwoods Plum' image search, the older bark is shown on this site ..

http://www.southeasternflora.c...

http://www.google.co.uk/search...

That last site was a good find, Janet!

I still think that the leaves and flower petals look wider, and rounder in umbellata than in Ginger's plant. That's just MHO though.
http://www.ehow.com/list_73979...

These images show that sometimes americana blooms with the leaves.
http://www.prairiemoon.com/pla...

Ginger, about how tall is this plant?

More photos of Prunus americana ..

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/...

http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/cl...

Can you be sure the Prairie Moon nursery has the correct photo? Many don't, educational sites are the best to look for accuracy, but the photo shows leaves with flowers as you state Chelle, Ginger's tree has flowers without leaves.

Missouri Botanical Garden shows it with a few leaves .. and the leaves look broad.

http://www.missouribotanicalga...

Leaves also look broad on this drawing ..

http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/...

It's not easy to say which it is, fruits would help. Leaves need to fully develop also, but they can often vary a little.

You're right, it is very difficult to tell.

After working with this one, I'm almost ready to tackle the toughest ones around here!

ya'll are the best I do not like research, so I'm sooo happy and thankful for those of you who do.

The tree is about 12-15 feet tall. blooms are small and in clusters. It does get fruit...small and dark purple/black. I keep a pad listing all the pics I've added to the DB (all from my yard as of right now) and have put a note to "shoot" the leaves again and also the fruit. Will star this thread for future. I'm kinda leaning towards umbellata because of the fruit pictured in the many links provided.

Go figure...when I looked again this morning I spotted another something blooming in the same "mess of a jungle". So soon you'll have something else to chew on Again thank you all for the time and links

It probably is umbellata. I think I read that they rarely go over 20', and the americana goes to 35'.

Thanks for the extra info.

Remember Ginger when we were talking about these about a month ago?

Here are some more links for y'all to chew on:

http://pinellas.fnpschapters.o...
I had decided at that time Ginger, the ones I was looking at here were P. umbellata but that doesn't mean I am right.
"Single trunk & the leaf blades tend to be flat (not partially folded in half)".

http://www.nsis.org/garden/fam...

Ginger & I are on the same latitude in Fl. but she is maybe ?150/200 miles west of me?

OK...here are some older leaves


another pic..these look much different, but I followed both branches back to the same trunk...even made Bill double check for me...difference in age of the branches

I would wait for fruits, if you get any.

will do...it usually does fruit