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Leynar E. Leyton Naranjo

Specialist

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Leynar E. Leyton Naranjo

Orcid ID0000-0002-2803-3942

Specialist

assistant professor, ornamental plant breeding, Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center

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Publications

thumbnail for publication: Crapemyrtle Pruning

Crapemyrtle Pruning

Gary W. Knox, Edward F. Gilman, Teagan Young, Ryan W. Klein, and Leynar Leyton

Pruning is one of the most controversial aspects of maintaining crapemyrtle. Traditionally, many crapemyrtles were routinely topped, leaving large branch and stem stubs. This practice has been called "crape murder" because most people dislike the winter appearance and many professionals believe the practice impacts crapemyrtle health and structural integrity. UF/IFAS research has clarified the effects of various crapemyrtle pruning practices that resulted in the recommendations in this publication.

thumbnail for publication: Faber's Maple: Acer fabri

Faber's Maple: Acer fabri

Gary W. Knox and Leynar E. Leyton Naranjo

Faber's Maple is unlike the maples familiar to most people, as it does not have the typical three- or five-lobed leaves. Instead, the leaves of Faber's maple are unlobed, slender, and very glossy. Additionally, most people know the maple as a deciduous tree, dropping its leaves in fall, whereas Faber's maple is evergreen.

thumbnail for publication: Apalachee Crapemyrtle—Lagerstroemia indica × fauriei 'Apalachee'

Apalachee Crapemyrtle—Lagerstroemia indica × fauriei 'Apalachee'

Gary W. Knox

‘Apalachee’ crapemyrtle is a small deciduous tree with lavender flowers, dark green leaves, and cinnamon-orange bark. Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Apalachee’ is one of the hybrids released in 1987 from the breeding program of the U.S. National Arboretum. It grows as an upright to vase-shaped multi-stemmed tree in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 7a-9b.

thumbnail for publication: Rzedowski's Sycamore (Platanus rzedowskii), a Smaller Alternative to American Sycamore

Rzedowski's Sycamore (Platanus rzedowskii), a Smaller Alternative to American Sycamore

Gary W. Knox

Mexican sycamore (Platanus Mexicana) is a fast growing, drought tolerant tree boasting smooth white and tan bark and large, maple-like leaves with velvety, silver undersides. Native to northeastern and central Mexico, this tree’s cold hardiness is not well defined. However, Mexican sycamore grows well as far north as USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 8b in Texas and Florida.

thumbnail for publication: Smooth-Bark Mexican Pine (Pinus pseudostrobus)

Smooth-Bark Mexican Pine (Pinus pseudostrobus)

Gary W. Knox

This beautiful pine is distinguished by long, pendulous needles that form a graceful, open evergreen conifer. The slender needles are up to 12 inches long in groups (fascicles) of five. In its native environment, smooth-bark Mexican pine is considered fast growing, and can reach more than 120 feet tall and about 60 feet wide. In southern Georgia, trees have reached heights of 32 feet and widths of 25 feet in 10 years. Trees have a pyramidal form when young, becoming flat-topped with age. In its native range, smooth-bark Mexican pine grows in temperate to warm temperate areas with predominately summer rainfall. Florida’s similar climatic conditions suggest that smooth-bark Mexican pine will adapt well throughout the state. Cold hardiness is not well-defined, but this species has grown well in southern Georgia (USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 8b).