During the summer when the heat is stifling, it’s important to take advantage of shade when you are outdoors.  If your yard has no shade trees you may not have much respite from the heat. Shade on your home and air conditioner may also decrease your energy costs in the summer.  With all of these benefits you may be considering planting shade trees on your property.  Planting a tree is a (hopefully) long-term commitment so you want to choose the right tree from the start. 

If you choose an evergreen tree you will have shade year-round while deciduous trees will shade your house in summer but allow the sun to warm your house in winter when they lose their leaves.  You can plant shade trees at any time of year; just be sure to follow UF recommendations for proper planting practices.   To learn more about these practices visit Planting and Establishing Trees at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP31400.pdf.

Pinellas County is unique in several ways- most of us have smaller lots to work with, some have salt breezes from the water to contend with, and we all have wind storms.  You may be wondering what shade trees can we plant here that will thrive in our unique environment?  A favorite shade tree in our county is the Live Oak, Quercus virginiana (large tree, zones 8-11).  Live oak is a great choice but grows very large- up to 40 to 60 feet in height with a 60 to 100 foot spread.  It is drought and salt tolerant as well as wind resistant, which is why it’s a popular choiceif you have the room. 



Sparkleberry, Vaccineum arboreumSweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua





























If you have a moist but well-drained site and space youcould consider Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua (large tree,zones 5b-10a) or Sparkleberry, Vaccinium arboreum (small tree, zones7-10).  These two choices are deciduous,so they will lose their leaves in winter when you would probably prefer moresun anyway.  Their leaves also turnbeautiful colors before they fall bringing seasonal color to yourlandscape.  Sparkleberry has high windresistance and sweetgum is considered to have medium-high wind resistance.  Sparkleberry also flowers profusely if grownin full sun.

Silver variety of Buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus
For smaller property with drierconditions you might consider the following small trees, all of which are saltand drought tolerant and have high wind resistance: Buttonwood, Conocarpuserectus (small tree, zones 10a-11), Simpson’sStopper, Myrcianthes fragrans (smalltree, zones 9-11), and Yaupon Holly,Ilex vomitoria (small tree, zones7-10).  These three choices are allevergreen and will provide year-round shade. All three of these choices can be grown as a large shrub or a smalltree.  Each of these have uniquecharacteristics that take them beyond a simple shade tree: Buttonwood has a silvervariety that has silvery leaves that shimmer in the sun and the wind, Simpson’sStopper has reddish, flaking showy bark and Yaupon Holly produces beautiful redfruit in the fall and winter on the female plants (males must be present forfruit production). 
Yaupon Holly, Ilex Vomitoria
Yaupon Holly fruitThe right shade tree for you may not be on this short list,but remember to consider size, evergreen vs. deciduous, color, seasonalinterest, and match growing conditions to your site conditions for the greatestchance of success.  For more guidancewith this and other plant choices inyour landscape please visit the interactive plant selector Florida-friendlyPlant Database at http://floridayards.org/fyplants/.  For information onthe health and maintenance of shadetrees please visit: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/maintenance.shtml.

*Northern Pinellas County is in zone9b, central and southern Pinellas County is zone 10a.