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Florida Gardening

Mystery tree ID help needed

16 years ago

I have tried to get an ID on this tree. I have only recently found one other like it in my county. It has baffled all area gardeners including the MGs .

Maybe it is not suppose to grow in this zone and you all may know its name. This property use to be a horse farm and the other tree I spotted is on a newly cleared piece of property.It has No fruit,no flowers,no milky sap. It 's branches are in a weeping habit and touch the ground in a shrubby way.You can stand inside it's canopy and the habitat is wonderful.Kids love it too. Leaves look like they should be a juicy succulant but are just opposite leaves. No exposed gnarly roots. It stands about 30 ft tall

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Comments (10)

minibim
16 years ago
Looks like a Java plum (Syzygium cumini)
goldenpond
Original Author
16 years ago
I thought so too but no plums or flowers in the three years I have been here.Is that possible?
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Hi fellow plant detectives: This tree was surplus inventory donated to the Master Gardeners plant sale when a local tree farm closed. I looked at an old price list of the tree farm and found very few trees that were the same price that this was originally marked. Lots of pines, palms, and other trees that this one isn't, but the one it could be is : Pouteria campechiana Here is a link that might be useful:
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Well... of course, as soon as I post this I find a list from the Arbor Day order (or at least, I think it was that year's order). No idea which is which (which of the ones that came in this bundle actually survived), but could the third photo be a young Sargeant Crabapple? That's on the list, as is Eastern Redbud, Washington Hawthorn, dogwood (I know it's not that), Goldenraintree and crapemyrtle (I remember wondering why on earth they were shipping crapemyrtles to New England!!) In theory (meaning assuming they sent what they said they were sending), it should be one of those -- and the crabapple seems like the only one it could be? I'd be floored if they were shipping free Bradford pears (which is what someone on Name that Plant thought it was as well) -- aren't they considered more or less invasive plants in a lot of areas these days? So I'm hoping for Sargeant crabapple since I wouldn't mind having one of those for the birds (means the little guy can stay right where he is now, in the bird/butterfly garden).
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At first glimpse, I thought 'ash' - but the serrated leaf edges make me think 'hickory' - and I'll admit that the terminal cluster of leaf rachises does look a lot like some of the seedling hickories growing here. Should be a simple matter to gently probe around the base and find out if there's a hickory nut there or not, to seal the argument.
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Comments (6)
flowers are larger, up to probably 10-12 inches wide by the same height. ===>> single flower of that size in fall in MI ... or you mean clusters that size .. i was going to say 7 sons is about the only thing blooming in my yard ... the only other thought is that other thing in my yard that is escaping me.. oh.. the shrub hydrangea ... oak leaf hy.??? .. the old flowers are pretty beat up.. but at 65 mph.. they might be close. lol .. brave enough to drop a note in the mail box???? .. if you could find it.. lol.. try bing map satellite view ... mapquest might even generate an address to mail a note ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link
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cindygardens
16 years ago
It looks like a camphor tree to me.Cindy
drewsmaga
16 years ago
It looks like my Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig.) I've had mine (potted) for 18 yrs. and it's never bloomed.
JerryatTreeZoo
16 years ago
I vote for Java Plum also (Syzigium cumini). Especially if it has red new leaves.

Jerry
goldenpond
Original Author
16 years ago
AHA I finally discovered the problem.After reading everything on Java Plums thinking it must at least be in the same family ,,, I came to a site that says
Does not produce fruit in cooler weather!
I guess Vero is considered cooler!
Thanks to all who helped!
bodiggly
16 years ago
Java plums produce in Melbourne, so they should in VB. How large is the tree? We had one in our neighbor that was really messy. The plums were all over the road.

I think these trees are considered invasive.
flashawnee
16 years ago
Does it get tiny red berries, like a holly?
If not I say it is a ficus. Nice snake BTW
manature
16 years ago
Looks like a ficus to me, too, but I'm no tree expert. Will be interested in seeing what the final decision is.

Marcia
goldenpond
Original Author
16 years ago
No berries ,no funky roots.No pop up saplings ANYWHERE.
That is why I find it hard to believe it could be invasive
though I know invasive comes with the right conditions.It is multi trunked but not like ficus.It did snap off in the storms of 2004 and immediately grew quite tall again. The neighbors do not recall ever seeing flowrs or frit. Trust me they would complain. Wildlife seem to use it and have found GORGEOUS giant leopard moths on it.

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