General Landscape Uses:
Shade tree, street tree.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Large deciduous tree to 50-100 feet tall with compound leaves 8-12 inches long. Ashy gray to brownish bark.
Dimensions: Typically 90 feet in height, taller than broad. Can reach up to 110 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Eastern and central United States scattered south through central Florida to Hillsborough, Lake, Volusia, and Brevard counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the
Exploring Florida website.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Floodplain forests, swamps, wet woodlands.
Soils: Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic soils, often with acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun to moderate shade.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Early spring.
Fruit: Winged samara.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food and cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus) butterfly.
References: Huegel (
2010), Minno, Butler & Hall (
2005), Nelson 2003
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
