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CONIFERS for CENTRAL FLORIDA Part Two of a Two-Part Series

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CONIFERS for CENTRAL FLORIDA Part Two of a Two-Part Series CONIFERS FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA Part Two of a Two-Part Series A nother tree with an interesting have been developed. These are usually in horticulture but not much cultivated history and also a “living fossil” is slower growing. ‘Gold Rush’, also in central Florida. It is an evergreen tree Metasequoia glyptostroboides, the Dawn known as ‘Ogon’, has golden foliage growing 40-60 feet tall. It likes sun or Redwood. Fossils of a Metasequoia were that fades to green in summer heat. light shade and moist soil. Dozens of discovered and named in 1941. The ‘Jack Frost’ has white markings on the cultivars of this tree have been developed fossils dated back to the Cretaceous foliage that will eventually fade during and introduced. These are variable in period. Also in 1941, an unknown grove summer. ‘Miss Grace’ is a smaller growing height and appearance; many are dwarfs of trees was discovered in south-central tree with a weeping habit. ‘Waasland’ is suitable for smaller landscapes. China. In 1945, they were determined a columnar growing form with dark, ‘Araucaroides’ grows 10-15 feet tall. It to be living Metasequoia specimens. In almost black colored bark. ‘White Spot’ has an open and symmetrical habit of 1948, the first seeds were sent to the also has some white markings on the growth and resembles an Araucaria. United States. Since that time, Dawn foliage and a slighty weeping habit. ‘Black Dragon’ is a dwarf form growing Redwood has become a common tree Metasequoia is a member of the 3-5 feet tall. The foliage is dense and dark used in temperate areas. It is a deciduous Cupressaceae Family. green. ‘Cristata’ has flat, cockscomb-like conifer with ferny foliage and is similar The Cupressaceae Family contains other foliage. ‘Gyokruya’ is another dwarf form to our native Bald Cypress (Taxodium members which grow well in central with very dark green foliage. ‘Spiralis’ is distichum). In central Florida, it has a Florida. Chinese Cypress, Glyptostrobus an upright form with twisted and moderate rate of growth and can reach pensilis, is native to southeastern China spiraled foliage. ‘Yoshino’ has bright 80-100 feet tall. Dawn Redwood has a and northern Vietnam. It is another green foliage with a dense growth habit. deciduous conifer It develops a columnar form. C. japonica similar to Bald var. sinensis is a form native to southern Cypress. It has China. It is a vigorous grower with an bright green open growth habit. foliage and grows Cunninghamiana lanceolata, China 70-90 feet tall. Fir is native to southern China, Taiwan Chinese Cypress and northern Vietnam. It is an evergreen likes moist soil tree growing 40-60 feet tall. It has dark and can also grow green, spiny foliage and resembles an in shallow water Araucaria. Older trees shed their lower where it will branches. ‘Glauca’ is an attractive form produce “knees”. with silvery-blue foliage and usually Chamaecyparis doesn’t get as tall. C. konishii, Taiwan Fir, thyoides var. is native to Taiwan. It has smaller leaves henryae, Southern than those of C. lanceolata and is darker Afrocarpus gracilior White Cedar is a green. ‘Little Leo’ is a dwarf form that southeastern U.S. only grows 2-3 feet tall. C. unicanaliculata very straight trunk with a pyramidal native that extends into central Florida. is a species that is now lumped into C. growth habit. The trunk has reddish This evergreen tree has bluish green lanceolata. It is a distinct form that has brown bark that is fissured and older foliage and can grow 40-50 feet tall. It is larger, triangular leaves that are not as trees often develop a buttress. The a dense grower. Southern White Cedar spiny. foliage usually turns a nice orange or likes moist soil and it will even grow in Species that belong to the genus reddish coloring in fall before dropping. boggy, wet soil. ‘Shiva’ is a dwarf cultivar Cupressus are the “true” Cypress. Cupressus It needs moist soil and can even grow in growing 3-5 feet tall with ferny foliage. arizonica var. glabra, Arizona Cypress, is wet locations but not in standing water. Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese Cedar, a conifer that has become more common Since its introduction, several cultivars is a conifer that has long been popular in local landscapes in recent years. This Harry P. Leu GardensG ar denView is an attractive evergreen tree that grows is an evergreen conifer that is 20-30 feet tall. The foliage is a blue green heat tolerant and a good or even silvery green in some cultivars. substitute for the Yews (Taxus) The trunks also have attractive peeling that are common in northern bark that is reddish brown. It needs full landscapes. It is a large shrub sun and is very drought tolerant once it or tree growing 20-25 feet tall is established. Several cultivars are available with soft, dark green linear including ‘Blue Ice’, ‘Blue Pyramid’, leaves. It can tolerate morning ‘Carolina Sapphire’ and ‘Glauca’. It is sun but needs at least a light originally native to southern Arizona . filtered shade in afternoon. It Cupressus sempervirens, the Italian Cypress, tolerates pruning and can be is an evergreen conifer with a narrow, kept as a large shrub or screen. horizontal growth habit. It can grow 40- A couple smaller cultivars are 50 feet tall and has a formal look. Italian useful in smaller gardens. Cypress needs full sun and a well-drained ‘Duke Gardens’ is a dwarf soil. Older trees are susceptible to fungus growing 3-4 feet tall. It has a in our humid climate. It is native to the dense growth habit and makes eastern Mediterranean region. an excellent hedge. ‘Prostrata’ Nageia nagi Fokienia hodginsii, Fujian Cypress, is is a low growing form that only an evergreen tree that grows over 50 feet reaches 1-2 feet tall and has a spreading is the tree that held up best during the tall in habitat but reaches 20-25 feet in habit. There is also var. drupacea that three hurricanes that struck in 2004. cultivation. It is native to southeastern grows to about 20 feet tall but has shorter The Nagi trees suffered no damage, China and northern Laos and Vietnam. needles and drooping branches. C. few leaves were blown off the trees. N. The foliage is soft and dark green with harringtonia is native from northeastern nagi is native to southern China, white banding on the undersides. It India to China, Taiwan and Japan. Two southern Japan, and Taiwan. grows in a flattened pattern along the other species from southern China, C. Podocarpus macrophyllus, Japanese branches. The tree has a columnar form. fortunei and C. sinensis, show good Podocarpus, is one of the most This is a rare conifer but is an excellent potential for our climate. commonly seen conifers used in this grower for subtropical gardens. The Podocarpaceae Family contains area. It is native to southern Japan and Taiwania cryptomerioides, Taiwania, is several members that are common in Taiwan and is an evergreen tree that an evergreen tree from Taiwan, southern Florida gardens. Afrocarpus gracilior, Fern can grow 30-40 feet tall. It has an China, and northern Myanmar. In or Weeping Podocarpus, is common in excellent tolerance for pruning and can habitat, these trees grow over 100 feet southern Florida and the warmer areas of be used as a hedge, screen or for tall; however, in cultivation they will central Florida. It is an evergreen tree topiaries. It is rarely grown as a tree but reach 30-50 feet. The tree has a conical growing 40-50 feet tall. It tolerates pruning makes an excellent specimen. ‘Maki’ is shape with horizontal branches. The well and can be used as a hedge or screen. a cultivar that only grows 8-10 feet tall. foliage is stiff and blue green in color. The foliage is narrow, soft and bright It has a dense growth habit and shorter This is an attractive tree that is little green. It is native to mountainous regions leaves. This is the form that is usually cultivated but an excellent specimen for of eastern Africa. It was formerly known as encountered in local landscapes. ‘Dwarf subtropical gardens. Podocarpus garcilor. Nageia nagi, is known Pringles’ is a dwarf form growing 3-4 The Cephalotaxaceae Family contains as the Nagi or Broadleaf Podocarpus. It is feet tall. ‘Variegata’ has white makings the genus an evergreen tree reaching 30-40 feet tall. on the leaves. P. elongatus is from Cephalotaxus which It was formerly named Podocarpus nagi. South Africa and is called Yellowwood. has several species This tree was common decades ago but It has soft foliage and resembles that grow well in has become difficult to locate in nurseries Afrocarpus gracilior but is hardier to central Florida. now days. It has broad, leathery foliage cold. It also tolerates pruning and makes Cephalotaxus that is dark green. It will grow in full sun a good screen, hedge, or specimen tree. harringtonia, or deep shade and also tolerates pruning ‘Icee Blue’ is a cultivar that has new Japanese Plum-Yew, well. Nagi is also very wind resistant. This growth with a silvery blue coloring. – Eric Schmidt Metasequoia glyptostroboides fall color.
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