When most people think of trees, they think of majestic live oaks that tower over neighborhoods, bringing welcome shade for residents and providing food and shelter for wildlife. Even though their magiistic size means they don’t work for many yards, that doesn’t mean homeowners should give up on planting trees.
Amanda Marek at the Marion County UF/IFAS Extension Service has compiled a list of small flowering trees for Florida yards. Since Marion County is further north than most of the Tampa Bay region, these trees will be more cold-tolerant than trees recommended for our southern neighbors. Some are native, some are Florida-friendly, but all are perfect for even small yards.
Scentless mock orange or English dogwood ( Philadelphus inodurus), is a Florida native, although its range extends much further north. It’s a true harbinger of spring, with large white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Despite its common names, it’s not related to either oranges or dogwood. Although the flowers do resemble dogwood, the orange moniker is confusing since the flowers are much larger than citrus blooms – and it does have a pleasant scent, although not as strong as citrus. Mock orange can be grown as a small tree – up to 10 feet tall — or a multi-stemmed shrub. Unlike many flowering trees, it blooms profusely even in shady locations, where its branches may take on an attractive weeping habit…