If you just want to shade windows, two small trees come to mind:

Jatropha has pink flowers, is evergreen and everblooming, grows fast, is clean and only reaches about 12' tall.

Tibouchina granulosa has purple flowers, is clean, moderate growth rate, blooms most warm months and will top out between 12' and 18'.

If you want something larger try a Pink Tab (T. heterophylla) or one of the cassias or Sennas. Oops, they are mostly yellow. How about a crape myrtle, queen crape myrtle or one of the newer crapes that you sometimes find at sales? Hong Kong Orchid. Bauhinia monandra. How about potato tree or a very large Brunfelsia?

Geraldo

Sorry guess I didn't make it clear enough, already have 2 hong cong orchids out back...this will be on front lawn, shading 2 windows, and would like it to get tall over garage roof, the windows are in front of our home but side of garage, which get's very hot! so need tree with big spread and attractive, and yes leaves all year if possible.. our sidewalk is between house and lawn, tree will be on front lawn. If flowers need to be blue or pink....

I agree with Geraldo on the Jatropha

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That tree is lovely but need one that get's taller than 12' do not want to hide my beautiful home and what is between the windows or below....canopy needs to be much higher, also prefer single trunk...any other sugestions?
here's a pic. need tree on lawn which does slope, but want it for on lawn side of sidewalk and not to hide windows or statue etc. but to get tall enough for shade there.

Here is a link that might be useful:

What was planted in my yard 10 years ago are native oak trees, 1 in the front and 1 in the back and I really love the shade they provide.
The newer varieties (Shady Lady) I have heard are even better. Mine drops a few nuts that make a few marks on the driveway but really nothing much. The monarchs use it to roost and it is green all year.
I'll try to take a photo when I get a chance.
I would be hardpressed to choose a different tree if these fell over in a storm. probably get the same.

A Live Oak is out of the question, had 4 about 30+' high, we raised from small, they were gorgeous, across the back of our home, and 3 went down in hurricane charley of which we took a direct hit, had one been out front it would have been on the house, the rear trees went down in the swale. We still have one left in the middle shading our huge rear window, and have flanked each side of it with a bauhinia orchid, so back to sq. 1 for a shade tree out front?? Here's a pic. of remaining oak tree with orchid tree on closest side.. more sugestions please?? no crepe myrtle, have 3 and are more bushes than trees, also have a magnolia and a holly tree, would like something different..

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This is really reaching here however, you did say you want something different. Have you considered a Macadamia tree?

There are several through out Orlando and look great. Nice and dense at top, seem to grow straight.

The nuts dont seem to be a problem. I have one that has been here through the storms and it is a lil twisted up and not a good sample unfortunately. I have yet to see a nut on the ground and I do look for em.

There has to be something that will melt your heart!

I don't think my trees are live oaks.

I'll post the photo in case anyone else is looking for a nice shade tree. I like the fact that it's a native oak.

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Here's a close up I just took of my Oak tree which here in sw fl. is called a live oak and sure looks the same...they are all over the place here in our development, of course many are crooked now or went down in charley..

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I looked up Floridata to see what my tree actually is and couldn't see anything like it.
However mine definitely isn't a live oak because it doesn't have the blooms or "catkins" they show.
I wish it was a live oak because they are stunningly beautiful trees.

Here is a link that might be useful: live oak photo on Floridata

The East Palatka Hollies can grow tall and narrow. They do not mind being trimmed or sheared. Also, The Dahoon Holly is a nice tree that does not being pruned to shape.

Tony, your front yard is beautiful! What is that variegated leaf plant that I see to the right of the Jatropha? It looks like a Tapioca plant but I didn't think that they got that tall.

Hi regine,

Yes, good eye, it IS a tapiocca. Has to be one of my fav plants.

I wouldnt say the yard is looking its best at the moment. I have been killing grass with plans on expanding the flower beds.

The tapiocca was actually twice that size but a wind storm leveled it to the ground. Thats about 2-3 months new growth.

tony

I like that jatropha pic. Is that a spicy jatropha? Which is my personal favorite butterfly bush. But never see it get higher than 6'.

Willow trees provide nice shade and are very nice. Come in some nice varieties. One cassia tree is very nice called "golden wonder" that flowers all the time. But, both of these are butterfly host plants. In case you don't want caterpillars in your yard I thought I better point that out.

The gumbo limbo tree is native to South Florida and quickly grows into 20' foot tall tree with a wide canopy that will arch over a roof. I've used it to shade my windows in Davie. It provides dappled shade, not dense shade. The trunk has interesting bark and texture after the first 5 years. The only drawback is that its limbs are brittle and will break in high winds, but the limbs will regrow after a few years. The mahogany is another native but is much more dense and prone to breakage in high winds.

Thank You for suggestions, will jot down names which may apply, only 2, I believe,as I do not want a tree,that breaks easily,(breaking my windows, plants etc.) do not want any colors except pink or blue, although, I do allow my Dahoon Holly pictured here, with it's subtle red berries at times, do not want an up right tree, but rather a long trunk( more than 12') with a full canopy to give shade but not cover view of our home..some people want a jungle or what they call lush landscaping in front of the home, completely hiding the beauty of the home,I constantly prune to keep plants smaller, to show the blue band color across the front, you can have a jungle in one year here in Fl. if your not careful, as we do live in a hothouse. Here's my holly tree, that shades my large dining room window:

Here is a link that might be useful: