accent tree is usually incorporated
into the border planting and has
outstanding characteristics when
compared with nearby plants.
 Patio trees can be evergreen or
deciduous and should be selected
primarily for small size and for
creating interesting trunk, branch
and leaf shade patterns on the
patio. Evergreen patio trees are
useful in areas where warm tem-
peratures persist throughout most
of the year. In colder areas, decid-
uous trees are a better choice since
sunlight will warm the patio area
during winter months. Patio trees
should not have objectionable or
large fruits, flowers or seeds that
might stain paving material or fall
on people using the patio.
 Seaside trees are those recom-
mended for planting in areas sub-
ject to salt water spray, high winds
and in sandy, high-salt-level soils.
 Trees for tropical effects, of
course, are those associated with
tropical areas. When planning a
Florida landscape most homeown-
ers like to include some trees that
will give this effect. Trees recom-
mended for this purpose usually
have leaves of striking size or
shape, flowers of unusual shape,
size or vivid color, and trun k
shapes and characteristics not
found in trees of northern and
temperate climates.

 Climate and Trees
 Trees for landscape plantings
must be well adapted to their en-
vironment for vigorous, thrifty
growth. Subtropical, less cold-
hardy trees planted in areas sub-
ject to low temperatures will ulti-
mately prove disappointing as will
many species from cold regions


when planted in subtropical sec-
tions.
 Relatively few trees are adapted
to all parts of Florida because of
temperature differences between
northern and southern sections
during winter months. E ven
though these low temperature dif-
ferences are not great, the range is
too critical for many subtropical
plants. They may suffer severe
damage or death when exposed for
several hours to below freezing
temperatures.
 Many trees of temperate regions
of the United States and northern
Florida are not suitable for central
and southern sections of the state.
They have a chilling requirement
and period of dormancy that can-
not be obtained in central and
southern areas due to warm win-
ters. The primary choice of a tree
for a given locality, therefore,
should be climatic adaptation.
 Normal prevailing winter tem-
peratures have caused designation
of northern, central and southern
Florida regions, to which certain
trees are climatically adapted.
These areas are not separated by
distinct or regular lines of demar-
cation because of the influence on
temperature of elevation, large
lakes or proximity to the ocean
and the Gulf Stream. Delineation
of sections or areas according to
a specified seasonal temperature
minimum will fluctuate from year
to year so that boundaries cannot
be sharply defined.
 The northern area generally in-
cludes that part of the state lying
north and west of Ocala and is the
area receiving heaviest frosts. The
southern, warmest area extends
from Key West northward along