• Topics: Environmental Horticulture  |  Knox, Gary W  | Landscape Tree Selection -- North Florida  | Landscape Tree Selection -- Central Florida 

Checklist of New, Improved and Underutilized Trees for North and Central Florida¹

Home owners, landscapers and growers are actively seeking new or improved landscape plants. In response, plant explorers, breeders, horticulturists and growers are rushing to discover, select, breed or introduce new plants or new cultivars. Some new introductions are patented whereas many others often are given a trademarked name. Other plants are worthy of wider use but have been overlooked or underutilized.

The following list of new or underutilized plants was developed from discussions with prominent plantspeople, reviews of popular literature and attendance at various professional society meetings, trade shows and plant seminars (see “Sources of Information” at the end of the document). The definition of a “new” plant is very subjective and is based on one's experiences and perspectives. Nonetheless, most of the plants on this list may be considered “new” by many home owners and green industry professionals. Many of these new plants have not yet been formally evaluated in Florida but are presumed adaptable based on their origin or adaptability of related species.

Scientific, cultivar, patented and trademarked names are listed to the best of my knowledge; however, this information can change, so readers should verify names before further use. In some cases, a plant will have a trademarked name that is different from its cultivar name; both names are included in the list.

Plants native to Florida are indicated in parentheses after the scientific and common names. Non-native plants found in Florida's natural areas are indicated with footnotes also stating their status as established by the “IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas” (IFAS 2004). Non-native plants without footnotes have not been reported in Florida's natural areas.

Abbreviations in the list include:

• cv. = cultivar

• PP = Plant Patent

• PPAF = Plant Patent Applied For

• var. = variety.

New, Improved and Underutilized Trees

Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) –

Recommended cultivars:

• Bloodgood – upright red

• Butterflies – variegated green leaves

• Kagiri Nishiki – variegated green leaves better than Butterflies

• Koto no ito – fine textured green, shrubby

• Moonfire – upright red more tolerant of heat

• Seiryu – green upright cutleaf

• Others: Aconitifolium, Ever Red, Shishigashira

Acer rubrum (Red maple; native) and hybrids

Recommended cultivars:

• Acer xfreemanii Autumn Fantasy™ trademarked name of cv. DTR 102; reliable fall color even in southern areas

• Acer xfreemanii cv. DTR 102 – trademarked as Autumn Fantasy™; reliable fall color even in southern areas

• Autumn Flame® PP2377 – smaller leaves and earlier red fall color than for others

• Fairview Flame®

• October Glory® – trademark name for cv. PNI 0268; having good fall color, this cultivar is widely grown, but it performs better in north Florida

• PNI 0268 – trademarked as October Glory®; having good fall color, this cultivar is widely grown, but it performs better in north Florida

• Somerset – male selection with long-lasting fall color and resistance to potato leafhopper; from U.S. National Arboretum

New cultivars:

• Brandywine – male (seedless) selection with some resistance to potato leafhopper

• Florida Flame – good red fall color; selected from Florida populations and adapted throughout the state

• Snow Fire – new growth is pink; leaves are mottled white fading somewhat with age

• Summer Red® – leaves emerge burgundy and turn purplish green

Acer saccharum var. floridana (Florida maple; native) – underused small tree with good fall color

Acer saccharum var. leucoderme (Chalk maple; native) – underused small tree with better fall color

Albizia julibrissin³ This species is considered invasive in north and central Florida and is not recommended by UF/IFAS. cv. Summer Chocolate (Summer Chocolate mimosa) – dramatic, deep burgundy foliage almost redeems this weedy plant

Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya-Bunya; False monkey puzzle tree) – unusual evergreen conifer from Australia; adapted to central Florida and protected sites in north Florida

Betula nigra (River birch; native) cultivars:

• BNMTF – trademarked as Dura Heat™; more heat tolerant, smaller leaves, dense canopy

• Cully PP4409 – trademarked as Heritage®; bark exfoliates, displaying off-white new bark; leaves are larger and darker green

• Dura Heat™ – trademarked name of cv. BNMTF; more heat tolerant, smaller leaves, dense canopy

• Fox Valley™ – trademarked name of cv. Little King; dwarf to 12 feet

• Heritage® – trademarked name for cv. Cully PP4409; bark exfoliates displaying off-white new bark; leaves are larger and darker green

• Little King – trademarked as Fox Valley™; dwarf to 12 feet

• Shiloh Splash™ – variegated

• Summer Cascade PPAF – weeping

Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam; native) – underused deciduous small tree

Cercis canadensis (Redbud; native)

• Appalachian Red – red flowers

• Covey PP10328 – trademarked as Lavender Twist®; twisted branching

• Flame – double flowers

• Forest Pansy PP2556 – new growth has purple foliage

• Lavender Twist – trademarked name for cv. Covey PP10328; twisted branching

• Silver Cloud – variegated new growth fades somewhat by summer

• var. alba – white flowers

• var. texensis Traveller – weeping

• var. texensis Oklahoma – glossy foliage

• Withers Pink Charm – pink flowers

Chionanthus retusus (Chinese fringetree) – Asian counterpart to our native Fringetree (see below); this tree flowers after foliage emerges but the floral display is still impressive since flower petals are broader than on the native Fringetree; China Snow is a new cultivar

Chionanthus virginicus (Fringetree, Grancy greybeard; native) – underused small flowering tree

Cornus florida (Dogwood; native)

Cultivars:

• Gold Braid PPAF – varigated foliage with yellow margins

• Weaver's White – discovered in Gainesville, Florida; flower bracts are wider than on others

Resistant to powdery mildew:

• Jean's Appalachian Snow

• Karen's Appalachian Blush

• Kay's Appalachian Mist

Cryptomeria japonica (Cryptomeria) – Recommended cultivars:

• Benjamin Franklin – tree-size cultivar with a good conical shape and little or no interior dieback

• Black Dragon – dark green, compact, pyramidal form growing 5 – 10 feet tall

• Gyokuryu – compact with a mounded growth habit

• Yoshino – tree-size cultivar with conical shape and no interior dieback

Cupressus arizonica var. glabra (Arizona cypress) cultivars with blue foliage:

• Blue Ice – compact and conical

• Blue Pyramid – broadly upright

• Carolina Sapphire – loosely pyramidal

• Silver Smoke – broad pyramidal form with feathery appearance

Fraxinus pensylvanica (Green ash) cv. Oconee (trademarked as Georgia Gem™) – first green ash cultivar from a Southern source, so it should be better adapted to Florida

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) – ancient, pest resistant tree with good yellow fall color; better suited to north Florida

Cultivars:

• Autumn Gold™ – fruitless (male) form with vivid yellow fall color

• Princeton Sentry – columnar

Halesia diptera var. magniflora (Two-wing silverbell; native) – underused spring-flowering, medium tree with white bell-shaped flowers that are larger than the straight species

Ilex cassine (Dahoon holly; native) – cultivars selected from Florida populations:

• Perdido – pyramidal up to 20 feet

• Tensaw – up to 15 feet; round leaves

Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon holly; native) and cultivars

• Hightower – upright

• Kathy Ann – heavy fruiting

• Pendula – weeping but open

• Shadows Female – broadly pyramidal with dense foliage

• Virginia Dare – orange fruit

• WigginsYellow – yellow fruit

• Will Fleming – columnar

Ilex attenuata (East Palatka holly; native) cv. Bienville Gold – yellow fruit

Ilex cv. STBB (trademarked as Aspire®) – upright-conical tree to 20 feet with showy red fruit

Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (Southern redcedar; native) cv. Brodie – upright-columnar form

Lagerstroemia indica,⁴ L. fauriei, and L.indica×fauriei (Crape myrtle); cultivars listed below are L. indica×fauriei except where noted

Recommended tree-size cultivars:

• Apalachee – lavender flowers, dark green leaves and orange bark on a statuesque tree

• Fantasy – L. fauriei; white flowers in early summer and striking red bark on a medium tree

• Osage – dark pink flowers and orange bark on a rounded tree with glossy leaves

• Sioux – medium pink flowers on an upright, small tree

• Yuma – lavender flowers; the new bark on older plants is almost white

Recommended patio tree-size cultivars:

• Acoma – white flowers on a distinctive horizontally-branched shrub; achieves a graceful tree form with age

• Caddo – “bubblegum pink” flowers on a rounded shrub

• Hopi – medium pink flowers

• Pecos – dark pink flowers and rich, dark brown bark; early flowering

• Tonto – fuchsia red flowers on a rounded shrub or small tree

New true red flowers:

• Arapaho – first disease resistant hybrid tree-form crape myrtle with red flowers

• Cheyenne – first disease resistant hybrid with red flowers growing as a large shrub or small tree

• Dynamite® – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit II PP10296; first cultivar with true red flowers; large shrub with upright habit

• Red Rocket® – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit IV PP11342; dark red flowers on an upright shrub or small tree

• Siren Red® – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit VII PP149755; red flowers on a semi-dwarf shrub

• Tightwad Red® – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit V PP11312; red flowers on dwarf plant

• Whit II PP10296 – L. indica; trademarked as Dynamite®

• Whit IV PP11342 – L. indica; trademarked as Red Rocket®

• Whit V PP11312 – L. indica; trademarked as Tightwad Red®

• Whit VII PP14975 – L. indica; trademarked as Siren Red®

New with dark or purple foliage:

• Burgundy Cotton™ – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit VI PP14438; white flowers against wine-colored new growth turning green

• Pink Velour™ – L. indica; trademarked name of cv. Whit III PP10319; hot pink flowers on large shrub with burgundy new growth

• Whit III PP10319 – L. indica; trademarked as Pink Velour™

• Whit VI PP14438 – L. indica; trademarked as Burgundy Cotton™

• White Chocolate – L. indica; white flowers against burgundy new leaves turning chocolate brown

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum; native) cultivars:

• Rotundiloba – fruitless with round-lobed leaves and a rounded plant form

• Starlet – variegated

Magnolia spp. (Magnolia) cultivars of deciduous flowering trees:

Recommended large flowered deciduous hybrids:

• Dark Shadow – dark pink flowers in spring and then sporadically through the summer

• Jon Jon – late flowering, avoiding frost damage; large white flowers with rosy blush at the base

• Paul Cook – very large pink flowers

• Pink Goblet – soft pink, goblet shaped flowers

Recommended yellow flowered deciduous hybrids:

• Butterflies PP7456 – deep yellow flowers

• Gold Crown – light to medium yellow flowers

• Golden Sun – large medium yellow flowers

• Hot Flash – large yellow flowers with a pink blush on a vigorous tree

• Maxine Merrill – yellow flowers are small but numerous

• Sunsation – light yellow flowers with a pink blush

Magnolia delavayi (Magnolia) – evergreen Southern magnolia-like shrub or small tree from China, some of which have pink or red flowers

Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia; native)

Recommended cultivars:

• D.D. Blanchard – leaves are dark green with rich orange-brown indumentum on the undersides; flowering begins at an older age than for other cultivars

• Little Gem – compact, small-leaved and free-flowering

New cultivars:

• Alta® – trademarked name of cv. TMGH PP11612;upright; brownback leaves; weak root system

• CLTF1 PP11029 – trademarked as Miss Chloe®; large flowers and copper-brown indumentum on undersides of leaves

• Greenback™ – trademarked name for cv. MGTIG PP9243; upright form; undersides of leaves are smooth, light green with no indumentum

• Jubilee – double flowers

• Kay Parris – compact form said to be better than Little Gem and easier to propagate

• MGTIG PP9243 – trademarked as Greenback™; upright form; undersides of leaves are smooth, light green with no indumentum

• Miss Chloe® – trademarked name of cv. CLTF1 PP11029; large flowers and copper-brown indumentum on undersides of leaves

• Southern Charm PP13049 – trademarked as Teddy Bear®; reddish-brown indumentum on undersides of small to medium leaves on a compact tree

• Teddy Bear® – trademarked name for Southern Charm PP13049; reddish-brown indumentum on undersides of small to medium leaves on a compact tree

• TMGH PP11612 – trademarked as Alta®; upright; brownback leaves; weak root system

Magnolia insignis (Magnolia) – evergreen Southern magnolia-like tree from China, some of which have pink or red flowers

Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei (Ashe magnolia; native) – underused native, small tree with large leaves and large white flowers with a purple blotch at the base

Magnolia maudiae (Magnolia) – large, white, fragrant flowers and blue-green leaves on an upright, evergreen small tree

Magnolia virginiana var. australis (Sweetbay magnolia; native) cultivars:

• Aiken County – glossy leaves; selected in South Carolina

• Dodds Dwarf – true dwarf with small leaves and flowers

• Mardi Gras – gold variegated leaves

• Mattie Mae Smith PP12204 – broad bands of yellow edge the leaf margins; may be the same as cv. Mardi Gras

• Santa Rosa – large leaves and flowers on this upright, open tree

• Willowleaf Bay – narrow leaves

Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn redwood) – ancient deciduous conifer similar to bald-cypress; cv. Ogon has new growth that is bright yellow

Neolitsea sericea (Japanese silver tree) – broadly conical small evergreen tree; new leaves are bronze and silky; mature leaves are glossy with silvery undersides

Nyssa sylvatica (Tupelo or Black gum; native) – medium tree with brilliant red to purple fall color; cv. NXSXF (trademarked as Forum™) was selected for its pyrimidal habit and glossy leaves

Ostrya virginiana (Eastern hophornbeam; native) – underused small deciduous tree

Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood; native) – small tree with interesting flowers and fruits and good red fall color; requires proper siting for success

Persea palustris (Swamp bay; native) – underused small evergreen tree

Podocarpus elongatus cv. Monmal (trademarked as Icee Blue®) – similar to Podocarpus macrophyllus but with blue-green foliage

Prunus campanulata (Taiwan cherry) – upright tree to 25 feet with showy clusters of one-inch, rosy pink, bell-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring

Prunus (Flowering cherry) cultivars:

• Okame – the best flowering cherry for north and central Florida; pink flowers in late winter or early spring

• Dream Catcher – medium pink flowers occurring two weeks after Okame; disease resistant leaves; upright, vase-shaped tree

Quercus nuttallii (Nuttall oak) – deciduous oak similar to native Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) but with a denser root system and easier to produce and transplant; cv. Highpoint® is brand new

Quercus virginiana (Live oak; native) cultivars:

• Cathedral Oak® – trademarked name of cv. SDLN PP12015; upright with a central leader, spreading with age

• CLTF2 PP11097 – trademarked as Millenium® and formerly trademarked as Millenaire; rounded form with a central leader

• Highrise® – trademarked name of cv. QVTIA PP11219; upright pyramidal with a central leader

• Millenaire™ – former trademark name of cv. CLTF2 PP11097; rounded form with a central leader

• Millenium® – trademarked name of cv. CLTF2 PP11097; rounded form with a central leader

• QVTIA PP11219 – trademarked as Highrise®; upright pyramidal with a central leader

• SDLN PP12015 – trademarked as Cathedral Oak®; upright with a central leader, spreading with age

Sassafras albidum (Sassafras; native) – small tree with good red fall color

Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell) cv. Emerald Pagoda – most vigorous form of Styrax japonicus with larger leaves and flowers; leaves are dark green and leathery; one-inch flowers are white and bell-like

Taxodium ascendens (Pond-cypress; native) cv. Prairie Sentinel – columnar with horizontal branching

Taxodium distichum (Bald-cypress; native) and cultivars:

• Autumn Gold™ – trademarked name for PDSI 993 PP13431; selected for strong central leader and heavy branching

• Cascade Falls – weeping

• Cave Hill – rounded dwarf

• Mickelson – trademarked as Shawnee Brave™; narrowly pyramidal

• PDSI 993 PP13431 – trademarked as Autumn Gold™; selected for strong central leader and heavy branching

• Pendens – horizontal braches with nodding tips and branchlets

• Secrest – broad-spreading dwarf

• Shawnee Brave™ – trademarked name of cv. Mickelson; narrowly pyramidal

Taxodium mucronatum (Montezuma bald-cypress) – broader spread and more open, irregular habit, holding foliage much later

Taxodium Nanjing Beauty (Nanjing Beauty bald-cypress) – selected Chinese hybrid of T. mucronatum and T. distichum

Ulmus alata (Winged elm; native) – underused small deciduous tree with corky wings on twigs adding winter interest; cv. Lace Parasol is weeping

Ulmus parvifolia⁵ This species has not yet been evaluated by the IFAS Assessment. (Lacebark elm) and cultivars:

• Allee® – trademarked name of cv. Emer II PP7552; vase shaped

• Bosque® – trademarked name of cv. UPMTF PP11295; upright oval form with a central leader

• Burgundy – dark green leaves turning burgundy in fall

• Emer II PP7552 – trademarked as Allee®; vase shaped

• Ohio – moderate vase shape; small, glossy leaves; resistant to common elm insect and disease problems

• Pathfinder – vase shaped; resistant to common elm insect and disease problems

• UPMTF PP11295 – trademarked as Bosque®; upright oval form with a central leader

Sources of Information and References:

Creech, D. Stephen F. Austin University (Nacogdoches, TX).

Dirr, M. and J. Ruter. University of Georgia (Athens and Tifton, GA).

IFAS Assessment, 2004. IFAS assessment of non-native plants in Floridas natural areas. Cited from the World Wide Web http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment

IFAS Assessment Conclusions, 2004. Conclusions from the IFAS Assessment of Non-native plants in Floridas natural areas, July 2004. Cited from the World Wide Web http://agronomy.ifas.ufl.edu/docs/Revisedconclusions105spp.pdf .

Lessiegne, T., R. Lyons, T. Ranney. J.C. Raulston Arboretum and North Carolina State University (Raleigh and Fletcher, NC).

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl. (03 November 2004)

USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 http://plants.usda.gov. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Pooler, M., R. Dix and D. Fare. U.S. National Arboretum. (Washington, D.C., and McMinnville, TN).

Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society (especially those from the Southern Region of North America).

Proceedings of the Southern Nursery Association Annual Research Conference http://www.sna.org.

Sibley, J.L., D.J. Eakes, C.H. Gilliam, G.J. Keever and W.A. Dozier, Jr. 1995. Growth and fall color of red maple selections in the southeaster United States. J. Environ. Hort. 13(1): 51 – 52.

Southern Plant Conference (1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003; sponsored by the Southern Nursery Association and held biennially in various cities).

Thetford, M., R. Schoellhorn, and M. Scheiber. University of Florida/IFAS. (Milton, Gainesville and Apopka, FL).

Tilt, K. and H. Jackson. Auburn University (Auburn and Anniston, AL).

Trade magazines (American Nurseryman, Nursery Management and Production, Ornamental Outlook, others).

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

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