Seeking Help Identifying FL tree - urgent

12 years ago

I have a beautiful, established tree in my yard that's at least 15-20 years old. The tree was in my yard when I purchased the house, 3 years ago, and thus I don't know what it is. My HOA just sent us a violation letter (3 years later) demanding that we remove the tree, claiming that it's an invasive Brazilian Pepper Tree.

From the research I've done (I would be devastated to lose it - not only is it beautiful, but the tree is an established home to nearly a dozen orchids that are beautiful and in bloom), the tree looks like the pepper tree - but has a number of distinct differences:

- There's only one tree - we've never pulled seedlings - and despite it's age and the fact that the home was vacant/foreclosed and poorly maintained when we moved in, there were no seedlings. The pepper tree is said to be an aggressive grower and I can't believe that in all the years it's been there, there isn't a single additional plant

- The tree flowers in spring (it's in bloom right now), not Oct-Dec, and in 3 years has not once produced a berry

- My tree isn't an evergreen - it regularly sheds leaves and twice a year loses a big bulk of its leaves like our other deciduous trees (which shed around the same time)

- the terminal leaf isn't larger than the lateral leaves

- The bark looks more like a sycamore than the bark in photos I can find online

I have 25 days to remove it (which will be very costly and difficult since we can't even have any machinery behind our property - and it's outside our fence) and I am searching for a way to have a professional ID the tree, but despite the numerous publications I can't find a good contact that can help me determine whether I can appeal the HOA demand.

Any help IDing or leads would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (10)

Huggorm
12 years ago
A close up pic of the leafs, buds and bark would help a lot
Embothrium
12 years ago
Yes: you can't tell anything from this picture.
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julieinFL
Original Author
12 years ago
Sorry - I thought I had posted multiple images in the original. This is the close up of leaves and buds - I can get closer if this isn't clear.
julieinFL
Original Author
12 years ago
These are the leaves - all the same size...from what I understand the terminal leaf on the pepper tree is larger than the lateral leaves?
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
12 years ago
I'll defer to subtropical tree experts but it certainly looks like it.

The species is dioecious (separate male & female trees)...lack of fruit means you probably have a male. While most trees flower in the fall, a small percentage of individuals flower in early spring.

Male trees are still bad because they facilitate the production of fruit on female trees.
calliope
12 years ago
The HOA should have put a lien on the sale of the property from the last owner three years ago, I'd think and collected when the house sold if the previous owners had refused to remove it prior to the sale. Is there any way you can tell from association minutes if they had notified a previous owner to remove it? I am not up on trees out of my zone, but I can tell you for sure it isn't a sycamore. If it is a 'pepper tree' and you didn't plant it, my only other suggestion is to discuss this with an attorney who is versed in these types of contractual agreements. Oftentimes the initial consultation is at no cost, and should tell you right up front if you have no recourse to fight it. If you do have a chance of fighting it, you may also want to know if the previous owner had issues with the HOA and may have failed to disclose this when selling.
sam_md
12 years ago
- are you saying that the tree is bare and w/o foliage during the winter months?
- are you saying the tree is in peak bloom now? If so, show a pic of flowers,
- crush the foliage, what does it smell like?
- what smivies said, you have a male.
- isn't it likely a bird "planted" the seed since it is so near the fence?
- I think you have BP

Here is a link that might be useful: Tampa Bay factsheet
salicaceae
12 years ago
Yep - Brazilian pepper.
fishymom
12 years ago
South Florid native, it looks like a Brazilian Pepper to me. Are you required to remove invasives by county/city/town ordinance or is it just the HOA that is requiring it? Is this a new rule? I would question why this issue is just coming up now, 3 years after purchase.
salicaceae
12 years ago
South Florida native????!!! Not. It is one of the worst exotics in the state.