Pine Trees in Florida!
I guess I never really gave it much thought….there are Native Pine Trees in almost every state….including tropical Florida!
Tall, Tall pines….just around the corner from me
I say almost, because apparently, the Hawaiian archipelago lacks native pine trees…and that makes sense to me.
Tropics! Palms!
Cold Weather! Pines! 🙂
Royal Palms
I guess I thought tropical states such as Hawaii and Florida would have palm trees …and they do…plenty of them.
When we first moved to Florida almost 4 years ago….I focused mainly on the beautiful tropical palm trees. Not Pine trees!
Bismark Palms
I did notice however, that there was/is a main thoroughfare sporting the name “Pine Island Road”, which runs through our little city of Cape Coral.
Pineapple Palm
Still,… my itty, bitty, little brain did not comprehend that it was so named because of the Pine Trees. 🙂
Foxtail Palm centered between two cypress trees
I just thought they called it “Pine Island Road” because it led to….well, to Pine Island...one of the barrier islands very close to our home.
Duh!!!!!
Christmas Tree Palms….so named because of the bright red clusters of seed pods that sprout often…most people pull them down before they can turn red.
Anyway, I thought or surmised that the pine trees I would see interspersed among the stately palm trees…. were planted by Northerners (now Southerners) …wanting reminders of their pine trees up North.
Washingtonian Palm
Kind of like I would love to be able to plant Lilacs and Peonies….from my Midwest upbringing….but alas, they will not grow down here. I am too far South. 🙁
Our Pygmy Date Palm near our front door
There are not a lot of pine trees in Kansas, where I was born and raised…and some say that Kansas has no native pine trees.
Lots of native cedar trees, but no pine trees.
However, according to the source below….some of the central Great Plains states, like North Dakota and Kansas, have very low pine diversity, but none-the-less they do have a few native pines.
Many of the introduced species become disease prone and eventually turn brown and die.
Perhaps that is why I don’t remember that many! 🙂
native pine
I have since learned (after living here awhile) that there are seven species of native pine trees in Florida!
Native Pine
And three other commonly planted non-native species that grow very well in this environment.
Native pine
Pine trees are not necessarily for mountains and cold, cold temperatures!
They can flourish in sub-tropical climates too!
Do you have native pine trees near you?
Or were they planted?
Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂
Have a great day!
Me
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_7882841_state-would-not-pine-trees.html
Thanks Sandy for stopping by and I do believe Pine trees are native to Missouri.
Me
I forgot to say both trees were planted, but I think Missouri has pine trees in the state that are natural. I might have to check it out. lol
Kari, our neighbor has a pine tree in his yard, and we used to have out by our deck, but it died. I love them, but they are susceptible to some kind of bug or worm (can’t remember which one got our tree).
I know what you are talking about Sandy…I think they are bag worms…when I lived in Kansas, I remember picking the little cocoon-like brown pods off our trees and dropping them in kerosene or something like that. It appears it is the only way to rid your pine tree of the insects that literally destroy the tree.
Thanks!
Me