My brother is buying his first home on the outskirts of Gainesville, FL and I plan on getting him a tree as a housewarming gift. He'll be in zone 9a and it doesn't look like the area benefits from any sort of microclimate boost.

The property is several acres so he's got space for something big. I looked into getting a Bombax ceiba, Eucalyptus grandis, or a big ficus, but I really don't think his climate is going to support any of those. I'm wondering if anyone might have recommendations on something similarly impressive that can tolerate a bit more cold. Thanks!

Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) 

  A well grown Live Oak is one of the finest sights that can be seen .

Handroanthus umbellatus (syn. Tabebuia umbellata) makes a stunning sight in full bloom and is probably the most cold-hardy of the genus.

 

I agree with Taxodium mucronatum.

Here's a few other suggestions;

Acer fabri- Chinese Evergreen Maple

Araucaria angustifolia- Parana-Pine

Cercis canadensis 'Covey' ('Lavender Twist')- Weeping Redbud

Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'- Weeping Redbud (maroon leaves)

Cunninghamia lanceolata- China-Fir

Eriobotrya deflexa- Bronze Loquat

Ginkgo biloba- Ginkgo Tree

Lagerstroemia fauriei- Japanese Crepe-Myrtle

Liriodendron chinensis- Chinese Tulip Tree

Magnolia macclurei

Magnolia maudiae

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)- Nagi Tree

Platanus mexicana- Mexican Sycamore

Quercus michauxii- Swamp Chestnut Oak

Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki- Mirrorleaf Viburnum- everyone uses this as a shrub, unpruned it makes an awesome tree 20ft tall

 

There are also the maroon/purple foliage cultivars of Silk Tree, Albizia julibrissin; 'Chocolate Fountain' (weeping), 'Merlot Majik', and 'Summer Chocolate'

 

Thanks a lot everyone! I'm leaning towards Taxodium mucronatum, but some of the  other ones are very tempting too. Really fantastic suggestions here, I might wind up having to get more than one. Thanks again! 

Edited February 17, 20188 yr by RedRabbit

I would try a Brachychiton rupestris or one of the other hardy species if it's planted in a well drained location. Another tropical looking tree (though small) for an equally drained location is one of the Bauhinia (Orchid tree) species from east of the Chihuahuan desert such as B. ramosissima or B. lunarioides. 

Tom Birt - Casas Adobes, AZ

Hi 61°, Lo 55° - rain showers

Bauhinia forficata is cold-hardy, mine defoliated this winter but is now leafing out again.

Avocado?

On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2018‎ ‎7‎:‎45‎:‎05‎, Botanicus said:

Handroanthus umbellatus (syn. Tabebuia umbellata) makes a stunning sight in full bloom and is probably the most cold-hardy of the genus.

 

The Tabebuia umbellata has been high on my wish list. If it indeed lives up to the zone 8b hardness listed from various sources, that would be so awesome.

16 hours ago, Opal92 said:

The Tabebuia umbellata has been high on my wish list. If it indeed lives up to the zone 8b hardness listed from various sources, that would be so awesome.

It is native to Brazil, seed from the southern most populations might be hardier.

Handranthus umbellatus is seen in older neighborhoods around here. They are reasonably hardy, usually don't show damage until about 24-25F. The big freeze in '89 (2 nights at 19-20F) severely damaged the trees around here, many even killed to the ground.

Does anyone know that actual hardiness of Bronze Loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa)? Most sites I've researched cite hardiness only to zone 9a, but I saw some reports of it being hardy to 8b. Anyone have experience with these around 20 to upper teens F?

In the Dec. 1989 freeze mentioned above, Eriobotrya deflexa was not damaged in Orlando. I think they are hardy to about 15f.

1 hour ago, Eric in Orlando said:

In the Dec. 1989 freeze mentioned above, Eriobotrya deflexa was not damaged in Orlando. I think they are hardy to about 15f.

Cool, thanks. I've never really seen it North of Gaineseville- but it is now definitely high on my list if I were to create a tropical looking landscape in zone 8b.

I wish it were more available in Florida, they are great trees. The best one I ever seen is in a nearby office park. Unfortunately it got fireblight about 5 years ago and has since been removed. It was probably planted around 1968 when the offices were built.

 

 

20 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

I wish it were more available in Florida, they are great trees. The best one I ever seen is in a nearby office park. Unfortunately it got fireblight about 5 years ago and has since been removed. It was probably planted around 1968 when the offices were built.

Wow, that's a shame. I witnessed many nice trees (of Eriobotrya japonica) in NW FL suddenly succumb to disease- I guess it probably was fireblight.

Eriobotrya deflexa is one cool looking tree! Certainly favors a well tended but a non-runaway Ficus. Not certain what fireblight is or if it can be treated and cured. However, that is a beautiful specimen that should be used!

On 11/29/2018, 9:03:36, Opal92 said:

Cool, thanks. I've never really seen it North of Gaineseville- but it is now definitely high on my list if I were to create a tropical looking landscape in zone 8b.

There’s a tree in Destin I drive by often. From a distance it looks like a Bronze Loquat, but I’m not 100% sure. Took some pics today. Maybe you know what it is. 

3 hours ago, Estlander said:

There’s a tree in Destin I drive by often. From a distance it looks like a Bronze Loquat, but I’m not 100% sure. Took some pics today. Maybe you know what it is. 

That is a Raphiolepis indica 'Conda.' Although it does look like a Bronze Loquat! 

Either a Conda or a Bronze Loquat, that is still an amazing tree. So many possibilities that are not utilized!

I live in Gainesville. No one has any cool trees here sadly. Depending on where he wants to plant it, I would advise against Magnolias. Their leaves make a huge mess when they fall if they are too close to a house or pool. Dogwoods sadly used to be beautiful here but Gainesville was just about the Southern most reach of their heat tolerance. Most of the dogwoods here have declined and died. I have removed 9 from my property and have 7 more to remove (I live in 5 wooded acres, these were planted up around the house by the previous owner).

I have seen a couple very old Eucalyptus trees around town but they are very iffy. We do have loquat trees all over town.

Our winters have been getting warmer and warmer here over the last 27 years that I have been here but there is always the possibility of a nasty freeze or string of freezing nights.

There are at least two silver Bismarkia palms here in town, I am waiting to see if they make it long term.

Most of Gainesville was cut out of what is termed the hardwood hammock...the usual trees are pretty boring except for some of the old old live oaks in some of the older neighborhoods

I have some Golden Pendas that are already blooming in their pots. Stop by and I'll give you one :)