Trees - L -  Plant Nursery

Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress

The Cypress, Leyland, x Cupressocyparis leylandii, is a large, handsome evergreen that is used extensively in the Southeast. It is a favorite because it is fast growing, putting on three feet of growth per year on a good site. Leyland cypress forms a graceful pyramid, with dense pendulous branches and fine, feathery foliage and has Christmas tree-like qualities. It is an excellent choice for quick screens, hedges and groupings, especially on large properties. This tree tolerates severe trimming, and can be restrained at an early age with pruning. This cypress prefers sun to part shade and well-drained fertile soil. It is very adaptable, however, and tolerates acidic or alkaline soils and poor drainage on occasion. It withstands salt spray and is suited for coastal landscapes.

Sweet Gum
Liquidambar styraciflua

The Sweetgum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, is a rapid growing shade tree usually grown for its excellent fall color. It has an upright pyramidal growth habit in its youth and then becomes spreading, irregular and open as it ages. The star shaped lustrous dark green foliage turns a spectacular fall color, often a combination of green, yellow, orange, red and purple foliage, but sometimes solid crimson, burgundy or scarlet. The Sweetgum tree usually does not flower or fruit for the first 15 to 20 years. It prefers full sun and can grow to 60 feet high and 40 feet wide. The Sweetgum tree has landscape value as a shade, specimen or focal point tree. Sweetgum trees are an excellent lawn, park, or street tree. Birds like the seeds it produces. The bark has a corky appearance. It has spectacular colors, is fast growing, and has great shade.

Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera

The Tulip Poplar tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, also known as Yellow poplar or Tuliptree, is nature’s masterpiece with beautiful tulip like flowers and very fast growing. The Tulip Poplar is a fast growing large shade tree that can grow 15 to 20’ over a 6 to 8 year period. As a specimen tree on a large property it has great beauty, and in the fall can be spectacular. This deciduous tree has moderate water requirements and has a moderate tolerance for salt and alkali soils. It has masses of tulip-like flowers in the spring. The lovely little tulip-shaped flowers are greenish-yellow with an orange band. Leaves are deep green and turn a blazing golden yellow in fall. It is a wonderful shade tree, hardy and is highly resistant to insects and diseases.

Arborvitae - Little Giant
Little Giant Arborvitae

Arborvitae - Little Giant, Thuja occidentalis 'Little Giant', is slow-growing and spherical with rich green leaves. In general, this conifer is a tall columnar to conical; an evergreen tree with fissured, reddish bark. Its scale-like leaves are ovate, mid to dark-green on top, lighter beneath. Females bear small cones with a small terminal hook on each scale. With its rich green soft textured foliage, Little Giant becomes a very useful shrub in the landscape; used for specimen, foundation plantings, and low borders. Tolerant of wet soils and coastal conditions, very little pruning is needed to maintain shape, and Little Giant is an extremely hardy dwarf globe evergreen. It is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Somewhat wide range of soil tolerance, but prefers moist, well-drained loams. Best in full sun, but generally appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot summer climate.

Live Oak
Live Oak

The Oak, Live, Quercus virginiana, is a large, spreading, broad-leafed evergreen tree that grows near the Coast but also occurs in moist rich woods and along stream banks. On the Gulf Coast, live oaks often support many types of epiphytic plants, including Spanish moss which hangs in weeping garlands, giving the trees a striking appearance. Since Live Oak is a large, fast growing tree, it should be restricted to large yards or parks where the spreading form can be accommodated. Sweet edible acorns are usually produced in great abundance and are of value to many birds and mammals. The name live oak comes from the fact that evergreen oaks remain green and "live" throughout winter, when other oaks are dormant, leafless and "dead"-looking.