
Time to breathe freely with your a new tree! Learn about how to plant and care for your tree through the links below. We have also included facts on what makes your tree so unique and how it can help improve our coastal environment.
Love your tree
How to plant your new tree:
How to avoid tree and utility conflicts:
Pruning your tree:
Adding mulch:
Plant health care:
Insects and disease:
About your tree
- Found in the Caribbean and northern South America
- Its crushed leaves have a distinct odor with traces of clove and cinnamon
- Tall, upright tree that grows to be 4-12 m tall with a trunk up to 25 cm in diameter
- Trees are evergreen, columnar or pyramidal in shape, and their branches expand upwards to give them a compact appearance
- Has fragrant, white flowers that are approximately 1.0-1.5 cm across
- Does not tolerate full shade, preferring full sun or just partial shade
- Drought, salt, and wind tolerant to a degree
On an annual basis, a Bay Rum with an average diameter of 12” will:
- Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 311 lbs.
- Intercept 1,853 gallons of urban stormwater runoff
- Conserve 112 kilowatt hours of electricity
- Medium sized tree or large shrub with erected/ascended branches
- Known to be the “fourth mangrove” due to its prevalence in mangrove areas
- Its wood was once used as cabinets, firewood, and charcoal
- One of the most important trees in South Florida for epiphytes
- Provides critical food and cover for wildlife
- Its nectar attracts the amethyst hairstreak and other butterflies
- Highly salt tolerant
On an annual basis, a Green Buttonwood with an average diameter of 12” will:
- Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 311 lbs.
- Intercept 1,853 gallons of urban stormwater runoff
- Conserve 112 kilowatt hours of electricity
- Large tree with a medium to large canopy
- Known as the “tourist tree” because of the red, peeling bark that resembles a tourist’s sunburn
- Considered to be hurricane resistant
- Releases a resin, called chibou, cachibou, or gormatis, which is used in glue, and varnish
- Its wood was once used for the manufacture of carousel horses in the US
- Highly salt tolerant
On an annual basis, a Gumbo Limbo with an average diameter of 12” will:
- Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 311 lbs
- Intercept 1,853 gallons of urban stormwater runoff
- Conserve 112 kilowatt hours of electricity
- A moderately-sized tree with bright, fragrant flowers
- Named after a Key West pilot and friend of John James Audubon
- Highly salt tolerant
- Blooms year-round, peaking during spring and summer months
On an annual basis, an Orange Geiger with an average diameter of 12” will:
- Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 150 lbs.
- Intercept 908 gallons of urban stormwater runoff
- Conserve 49 kilowatt hours of electricity
- Hardy tree with leathery, oval leaves
- Produces clusters of small, white flowers all year, peaking in the summer
- Highly tolerant of salt wind
- The fruit is a small berry, which turns from orange to dark brown as its old bark flakes off, new and smooth orange bark is revealed
On an annual basis, a Spanish Stopper with an average diameter of 12” will:
- Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by 110 lbs.
- Intercept 738 gallons of urban stormwater runoff
- Conserve 41 kilowatt hours of electricity