Try also posting this on the FLORIDA forum. People here are probably more aware of trees from Zones 4-9..., south of Zone 9, things get very different.

Also really helps to look around your own neighborhood at mature trees. If you see one you like but you don't know what tree it is, you can post a photo and someone will ID it for you.

crepe myrtle 'natchez'

crepe myrtle 'carolina beauty'

triadica sebifera

cassia fistula

albiza julibrissin

magnolia grandiflora

hard to suggest, not many trees that will grow in your climate.

Lots of trees will grow in your climate, you just need someone who knows the area! The first two suggestions were good.

some of these large growing crepe myrtle cultivars get big enough to be considered a shade tree

I see a lot of sources list Magnolia grandiflora good through Zone 9 (not 10), and in fact, I don't recall seeming them in the Miami area. In fact, years ago, I brought my friend in Miami down a M.g. from here in NJ.. I think of Crapes as being a lower zone tree as well. (Aren't they deciduous too in Southern Friday?) I recall loving the Sea Grapes down there though don't know if they are good shade trees. Poiniciana is a gorgeous tree too (though it is semi-deciduous as leaves fall off in the dry season, (i.e., Winter). What about some tropical fruiting trees (Mangos, Avocados, Zapote, etc..)? As far as Albizia is concerned, Mimosa is considered an invasive from Zone 7 on down. Again, take you advise on the Florida forum.

Right^...the Florida Gardening forum has lots of good peeps and good ideas. Honestly, there are just so many options for shade trees down there.

One that is probably on the invasive list but which I saw quite a few of last time I was in SW Florida was/is the African tulip tree-Spathodea campanulata-is a great and large-growing tree which would serve well. But that's just one little idea-there are so, so many more. Talk to Floridians, especially experts, like Stephen Brown, the Lee County Horticulture agent. You'll get so many ideas, your head will spin.

Cassia grandis?

Albizia saman?

Taxodium mucronatum (montezuma cypress)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjEleCf8arOAhXMHB4KHQ_6DKgQFggeMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhort.ufl.edu%2Fdatabase%2Fdocuments%2Fpdf%2Ftree_fact_sheets%2Ftaxmuca.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFPco9USfjd1s_75F296AmyyA-U_w

quercus polymorpha (Mexican white oak)

You do realize that it will take many years for any trees, no matter how large- and fast growing to produce shadows of much size, right? How long are you willing to wait, to get the effect you are visualizing, using trees alone as the only source of shade? It's not going to happen in an instant - far from it.

And do you really want to end up with multiple large-growing trees on part of 1/2 acre? (One definition of a large tree is anything that gets over 60 ft. tall). There is a shared perception that trees or shrubs occupying defined spaces look in scale when about 1 1/2 times as high as the width of the space at the point where they are planted. Much beyond that and they are "too tall".

Also where you are you will probably have to consider hurricane effects when choosing and planting trees of much height - fast growing kinds that shoot up tall may perhaps be more likely to blow over later.

Live oak ( Quercus virginiana) does grow into zone 10, they grow in the Fla keys, Miami. They get huge and grow pretty fast, I would get a small tree, they will establish quickly vs a big transplant. They will live 100's of years, vs Laurel oak. That's what I would do anyway. They will shade 80 feet wide and more in many years, but, will surely reach 30 feet within 10-12 years. You can get the smaller ones cheap by mail order if your local big box can't get them. Mossy oak natives nursery has them very cheap. You have to have an order of $20 bucks or more though. You could share an order with someone maybe. But, otherwise, I know there are many tropical trees you can grow Madrones, ebony, not sure how they are as shade trees, but, Live oaks are wide spreading shade trees. Used widely in the southern states.

They don't make the best shade trees, because of the shape of their growth, but there are many tropical fruit trees that grow great in the climate of southern Florida. I would suggest Lychee (the small fruit is delicious and tastes like roses), but grapefruit trees on their own roots can get to be quite large as well (up to 45 feet).

If you live in the very warmest part of Florida it is possible to grow Malay Apple. They have very ornamental bright exotic-looking magenta flowers (the species is distantly related to bottlebrush). The fruits are light and refreshing as well. Tree is fast growing.

http://www.fruitipedia.com/malay_apple%20Syzigium%20malaccense..htm

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2189733/malay-apple-leaves-not-glossy-and-light-green

Parker, I would say that in South Florida the Live oaks get lots of Spanish moss on them that thins out their leaves, but, there are areas in the south that Live oaks are nice wide spreading shade trees with thickly growing leaves, and are great shade trees. I guess that you haven't seen any that look like those I've seen. I will admit when I was in Florida I hadn't seen lots of thickly branched Live oaks, but, they were usually in groves. Those at Webster Floridas flea market looked nice, but weren't super deep shade, but, they were limbed up pretty high. I have pics of Live oaks that show them as very thickly leaved, widely branched excellent shade trees. BTW, Parker were you talking about Live oaks? I guess that Live oaks may not be as robust in Florida as they are in South Carolina( a place I KNOW they get nicely thick leaves and are great shade trees, even with the sp. moss) Maybe there is a good reason folks in Florida don't rave about them. Maybe the sandy soil makes them grow not as impressive as they are in Ga, and S. Carolina, maybe the soil is more "rich". I must say that the Live oaks in Webster, in the rural places, grew very wide and shaded a large area, there were cows under them, and they weren't thin at all. I think if I ever moved to Florida, I would want to live in Webster. Webster is a rural area, with lots of area with no people right next to each other, but, you do have neighbors a small area from you. It is perfect, people not too close to you, or too far away. Parker, look up the ANGEL OAK in South Carolina, to see the Live oaks potential to be a GREAT shade tree. If you meant the Madrone erm..... sorry.

Live oaks are fine trees in S. Florida. Not sure exactly what distinctions you're trying to make, poaky, but I've been down in the Fort Myers area a lot, and the live oaks around there are big, majestic trees. Nor was I aware of any negative attitudes generally towards this tree in that state. Where is that coming from?

Tom, because parker25mv said they don't make the best shade trees because of the shape of their growth. Did I misunderstand something? I assumed they were talking about the Live oak because that is what I was talking about in the post above theirs.

But if I lived in south Florida, with so many options in tropical/subtropical trees, would I plant a Live Oak? No way. Way too common.

An old-timey thing was to plant one or more "royal poinciana" trees-Delonix regia-to the S of your home, thereby avoiding the need for this new-fangled air-conditioning thing they're talking about. For real, that was one of the means whereby they withstood the heat down in the deepest of deep south in S. Florida. Those are some very interesting plants as they age and develop too, those "flame trees". I wish I had property down there just to grow this tree.....easily one of the most amazing sites there is-a full-grown Delonix regia, in full bloom. May as well keep a Jacaranda or two around-most years I think the bloom of the jac would overlap that of the flame tree. Plus, both are roughly similar, other than the flowers being quite different....both have the Fabaceae compound leaves thing going on. What a sight it would be!

I can see that point. I just thought that they were really beautiful trees and get huge, but, they take many years to get that big. But, I guess that they are everywhere down there. I don't know many tropical trees that would top it, but, maybe a Ceiba tree. They get huge with prop roots taller than a person, and shade whole markets in Guatemala, but, you better have a large property. I think they need a long time to get very big also. I guess there are likely many tropical trees that will be as impressive as Live oak. I am going to look up the trees that Tom mentioned above.

The Royal Poinciana, Is a beautiful tree, but hardly big enough to shade a largish house. I went to Yahoo images. I think that if I was in zone 10 I would plant one, but, if I had the room I would still choose a Live oak for shade. Maybe put the Flame tree on the western side. Maybe SW side. I know I am Live oak obsessed and living in the North east, where they don't grow. I'm trying to grow the most hardy Live oak there is here. I will be looking up on the internet about tropical trees because of this post, it's an interesting subject. I stayed with a friend for a week in the Florida keys (Big Pine Key) when she had been living there, but, I didn't see any trees that made me stop and say "wow, what a nice tree". The Norfolk Island pines were nice, and there were trees with giant long brown seed pods, that had leaves like Honey Locust trees, and large seed pods that were brown and about 2 ft long. I only got to see other peoples yards when we went shopping, and once when she showed me some of the island. I did see a few trees behind some of the stores that were nice looking, but, who knows what they were. We went to a botanical garden, I THINK it was on Key west. I loved the Madrone tree and Ironwood trees. The Ironwood looks like a Beech tree on hormones. I just realized that Irishrich, is the original poster, I thought that it was the original poster that nixed the Live oak tree idea. It was actually Dave in Nova. Irishrich Live oaks are popular because they grow wide and are great shade trees in the south. You may have enough room for more than one shade tree, but, Live oaks can get to shade 80 feet eventually. I would sow several Live oak acorns where you want a tree and keep the faster growing tree. I would go in late August to Sept and look for acorns. If you aren't sure about what a Live oak is google it and you will likely see lots of them around your area. I would guess you know what they are, though. Then you have your whole back yard to plant a fancy tree like a Royal Poinciana. I have about 2 acres, so I think a half acre in your front yard may be enough for you to plant a Live oak and another tree also, then a couple (maybe, depending on your back yard size) other trees. No disrespect Dave in Nova, but the OP may like a Live oak tree. Later guys

For certain, if I had the opportunity to be looking for a shade tree for zone 10, I'd indeed be checking out a great many tropical plants-the Ceiba, or kapok tree, or perhaps a rainbow eucalyptus.....or one of those African tulip trees....or a....

Oh to be able to grow a rainbow Eucalyptus! I'm trying a Ceiba...we'll see if it can take our winters.

Wow that would be great if they could live in the US, I hope the moisture is the same Sara

Poinciana tree period! They bloom beautiful red flowers and tree will grow Fast. I use to walk outside and always feel like I'm in a tropical paradise