Drive around your neighborhood, at least 10 miles in each direction from your house, and see what's growing well. Avoid anything that's invasive (there's a list) and anything that's totally deciduous (you don't want a lot of leaves and for that matter, flowers on your patio.) There are several good books about Native Florida trees; check out the local library or do an internet search.

What ever you decide to buy, buy it as big as you can afford it.

Joey, it would be helpful if you would tell us in what city you are located. There are eight plant hardiness zones in Florida. (The Florida Keys are Zone 11b.)

Carol in Jacksonville

This post was edited by love_the_yard on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 21:00

I always thought I was 9a, but according to the zone chart I'm in 8b.

Fallen leaves don't bother me I'll just mow over them since I mow once a week anyways, but it would be nice for it to be evergreen. I do live in a neighborhood with nothing but mature pecan trees so seems like I have shade on most of my 3 acre yard except around the house.

This post was edited by Joey83 on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 21:59

The USDA zone map was recently updated so your zone may have changed without your moving. :)

See link below for discussion about shade trees - and that thread contains several more good links to same type of discussion.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Shade Tree For Small Central Florida Yard

Can anyone tell me what this tree is?

Pic reposted to rotate. Take cell pictures in landscape mode with bottom of your phone to your right and you will never have orientation issues.

A little hard to tell - it may be a Drake Elm? Do you have a picture of the leaves?

Carol

Here you go. Thanks

Those do look like elm leaves.

How risky is it to plant an elm tree? I keep reading about the dutch elm disease, but the ones planted here look very healthy.

I had camphor tree that grew very fast. So large that they had to be taken down too close to the house. The camphor berries produce loads of seedlings every year. My neighbor now has trees higher than his house from these seedlings.

We do not have dutch elm disease in Florida. I have numerous elm trees.

We do not have dutch elm disease in Florida. I have numerous elm trees.