TREE SPECIES RATINGS FOR FLORIDA
Revised: January 2016
The below tree species ratings are designed to help arborists complete various appraisal
formulas that require a ‘species rating’. This list was creating using the expertise of arborists
and other tree experts throughout the State of Florida. This list is intended only as a guide. The
individual appraiser’s judgement is a very important consideration in making a final
determination of the species percentage in valuation formulas.
Tree species were rated based on their suitability and performance as ‘urban trees’. Rating
arborists were asked to rate them based on the following criteria:
ce
Each tree was rated, using the above criteria, in each of four Florida geographic zones: north,
central, south, and sub tropic. The counties comprising the four zones are shown below.
COUNTIES IN EACH ZONE
The north zone is made up of USDA Hardiness Zones 8a and 8b and includes the following
counties:
Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf,
Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee,
Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Lafayette, Gilchrist, Dixie, Nassau, Duval, Clay, Alachua,
Marion, Putnum, and Levy.
The central zone is made up of USDA Hardiness Zones 9a and 9b and includes the following
counties:
Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns, Seminole, Orange, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco,
Pinellas, Polk, Hillsborough, Osceola, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, Hardee, De
Soto, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Beach, Hendry, and Charlotte.
The south zone is made up of USDA Hardiness Zones 10a and 10b and includes the
following counties:
Lee, Collier, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade
The subtropical zone is made up of USDA Hardiness Zone 10a and includes the following
county:
Monroe
Scientific Name
Acacia auriculiformis
Acacia farnesiana
Acer buergeranum
Acer saccharum susp floridanum
Acer negundo
Acer palmatum
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum
Aesculus pavia
Albizia julibrissin
Albizia lebbeck
Aralia spinosa
Araucaria bidwilli
Araucaria heterophylla
Averrhoa carambola
Avicennia germinans
Bauhinia spp.
Bauhinia x blakeana
Betula nigra
Betula pendula & cvs.
Bischofia javanica
Bombax ceiba
Bucida buceras
Bulnesia arborea
Bursera simaruba
Caesalpinia granadillo
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Callistemon rigidus
Callistemon viminalis
Calophyllum inophyllum
Carpinus caroliniana
Carya glabra
Carya illinoinensis
Cassia fistula
Casuarina equisetifolia
Cedrus deodara
Ceiba pentandra
Celtis laevigata
Cercis canadensis
Chionanthus spp.
Chorisia speciosa
Chrysophyllum cainito
Common Name
earleaf acacia
sweet acacia
trident maple
Florida maple
boxelder
Japanese maple
red maple
silver maple
red buckeye
silk tree; mimosa*
woman’s tongue
devil’s walkingstick
bunya bunya
Norfolk Island pine
carambola
black mangrove
orchid tree*
Hong Kong orchid
river birch
weeping birch; silver birch
Javanese bishopwood*
red silk cotton
black olive; oxhorn bucida
bulnesa
gumbo limbo
bridalveil
Pride-of-Barbados; dwarf poinciana
rigid bottlebrush
weeping bottlebrush
Alexandrian laurel
American hornbeam; blue beech
pignut hickory
pecan
golden shower
Australian pine; horsetail casuarina*
Deador cedar
kapok tree
sugarberry; hackberry
eastern redbud
fringe tree
floss-silk tree
star-apple
< 21%
N C S ST
X X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X
X X X
X X
X X X X
X X X X
X X X
X
X
X
X X X
X
X
X X X
X X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
21-40%
N C S ST
X X
41-60%
N C S ST
X
X
X
X
61-80%
N C S ST
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X X X X
X X X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X
X
X
X
X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
X
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
X X
NO
X
NO
X X
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
YES
X X
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
X
YES
X X
YES
YES
X
NO
NO
NO
X
NO
YES
YES
X
YES
X
NO
X
NO
Scientific Name
Common Name
Chrysophyllum oliviforme
satinleaf
Cinnamomum camphora
camphor tree*
Citrus spp.
citrus trees
Clusia rosea
pitchapple*
Coccoloba diversifolia
pigeon plum
Coccoloba uvifera
seagrape
Conocarpus erectus
buttonwood
Cordia bossieri
white geiger; Texas olive
Cordia sebestena
largeleaf; geiger tree
Cornus florida
flowering dogwood
Cornus kousa
kousa dogwood
Cornus stricta
swamp dogwood
Crataegus spp.
haw/hawthorn
Cryptomeria japonica
Japanese cedar
Cunninghamia lanceolata
Chinese fir
Cupaniopsis anacardiodes
carrotwood*
Cupressus sempervirens
Italian cypress
Dalbergia sissoo
Indian rosewood*
Delonix regia
royal poinciana
Diospyros virginiana
common persimmon
Eleocarpus decipens
Japanese blueberry
Eriobotrya japonica
loquat
Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. acuta
river redgum
Eucalyptus cinerea
silver dollar eucalyptus
Eucalytpus grandis
grand eucalyptus
Eucalyptus robusta
swamp mahogany
Eucalyptus torelliana
Torell’s eucalyptus; cadaga
Eugenia axillaris
white stopper
Eugenia confusa
redberry stopper#
Eugenia foetida
Spanish stopper; boxleaf stopper
Eugenia rhombea
red stopper
Ficus aurea
strangler fig
Ficus benjamina
weeping fig
Ficus elastica
Indian rubber plant
Ficus lyrata
fiddleleaf fig
Ficus microcarpa
Indian laurel*
Firmiana simplex
Chinese parasol tree
Forestiera segregata
Florida privet
Fraxinus americana
white ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanicum
green ash
Ginkgo biloba
maidenhair tree
Gleditsia aquatica
water locust
< 21%
N C S ST
X X
X X X X
21-40%
N C S ST
41-60%
N C S ST
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X X
X
X
X X
X
X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X X
X
X X
X
61-80%
N C S ST
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X X
X X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X X
X X
X X
X X
X X X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X X
X X
X X
X
X
X X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
X
YES
NO
NO
X X
YES
X X
YES
X X
YES
X X X
YES
YES
X
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
X
NO
NO
NO
NO
X X
NO
YES
X X
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
X X
YES
X X
YES
X X
YES
X X
YES
YES
X
NO
X
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
Scientific Name
Common Name
Gleditsia triacanthos
honey locust
Gordonia lasianthus
loblolly bay
Grevillea robusta
silk oak*
Guaiacum sanctum
lignum vitae#
Halesia diptera
two-wing silverbell
Handroanthus chrysotrichus
yellow trumpet tree
Hesperotropsis leylandii
Leyland cypress
Hibiscus tiliaceus
mahoe*
Ilex x attenuata
East palatka holly; topal holly
Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri'
Foster's holly
Ilex x attenuata 'Savannah'
Savannah holly
Ilex x Burfordii
Burford holly
Ilex cassine
dahoon holly
Ilex latifolia
lusterleaf holly
Ilex x Nellie R. Stevens
Nellie R. Stevens
Ilex opaca
American holly
Ilex rotunda
round holly
Ilex vomitoria
yaupon holly
Illicium floridanum
Florida anise tree; Florida anise
Jacaranda mimosifolia
jacaranda; black poui
Juglans cinerea
butternut
Juglans nigra
black walnut
Juniperus silicicola
southern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana
eastern red cedar
Kigelia pinnata
sausage tree
Koelreuteria elgans subsp. Formosan
flamegold
Koelreuteria paniculata
golden rain tree
Lagerstroemia spp
crape myrtle
Lagerstroemia speciosa
pride of India
Laguncularia racemosa
white mangrove
Leucaena leucocephala
white lead tree*
Ligustrum japonicum
Japanese privet
Ligustrum lucidum
glossy privet*
Liquidambar styraciflua
sweetgum
Liriodendron tulipifera
tulip tree; yellow poplar
Litchi chinensis
lychee
Lysiloma latisiliquum
false tamarind
Lysiloma sabicu
sabicu
Magnolia x soulangeana
saucer magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
southern magnolia
Magnolia macrophylla
big-leaf magnolia
Magnolia stellata
star magnolia
< 21%
N C S ST
X X X
X
X
X X
X X
21-40%
N C S ST
X
41-60%
N C S ST
X
61-80%
N C S ST
X
X X X
X
X
X
X X X X
X X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X X X
X X X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X X X
X
X X X X
X
X X
X
X X
X X
X X X
X
X X
X X X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
NO
X
YES
NO
X X
YES
YES
X X
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
X X
NO
X
YES
NO
X X
NO
X
YES
NO
X X
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
X X
YES
X X
YES
NO
NO
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X X
YES
NO
X X X
NO
NO
YES
X
YES
X X
NO
X X
YES
X X
YES
NO
X
YES
X
NO
NO
Scientific Name
Magnolia virginiana
Malus angustifolia
Mangifera indica
Manilkara zapota
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca viminalis
Melia azedarach
Melicoccus bijugatus
Morus rubra
Myrcianthes fragrans
Nectandra coriacea
Noronhia emarginata
Nyssa aquatica
Nyssa sylvatica
Olea europa
Ostrya virginiana
Oxydendrum arboreum
Pandanus odorifera
Parkinsonia aculeata
Peltophorum pterocarpum
Persea americana
Persea borbonia
Photinia x fraseri
Pinus clausa
Pinus elliottii
Pinus glabra
Pinus palustris
Pinus serotina
Pinus taeda
Piscidia piscipula
Pistacia chinensis
Platanus occidentalis
Platycladus orientalis
Plumeria obtusa
Podocarpus macrophyllus
Podocarpus nagi
Pongamia pinnata
Populus alba
Populus deltoides
Populus heterophylla
Prunus angustifolia
Prunus caroliniana
< 21%
N C S ST
X
X X
X
X X X X
X X X X
Common Name
sweetbay
southern crabapple~
mango
sapodilla*
punk tree*
bottlebrush
Chinaberry*
X X
Spanish lime
X X
red mulberry
twinberry; Simpson’s stopper
lancewood
X
Madagascar olive
X X
water tupelo
blackgum
olive
eastern hophornbeam
X
sourwood
fragrant screw pine; kewda
X
Jerusalem thorn
yellow poinciana
X
avocado
X
red bay
Fraser’s photinia
sand pine
slash pine
spruce pine
X
longleaf pine
pond pine
loblolly pine
Florida fishpoison tree; Jamaican dogwood
X X
Chinese pistache
American sycamore; American planetree
oriental arborvitae
frangipani
X
yew plum
broadleaf podocarpus
karum tree; poonga-oil-tree
X X
white poplar; silver poplar
X
eastern cottonwood
swamp cottonwood
chicksaw plum
Carolina laurel cherry
21-40%
N C S ST
41-60%
N C S ST
X
X
X
X X
X
X X
61-80%
N C S ST
X X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X X X X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X X
X X
X X X
X X X X
X X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
X
YES
YES
X X
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
X
NO
YES
X X X
YES
X X
YES
X X
NO
YES
YES
NO
X
YES
YES
X X
NO
NO
X
NO
X X
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
X
YES
X
YES
YES
X
YES
X X
YES
NO
YES
X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Scientific Name
Prunus serotina
Prunus serrulata
Prunus umbellata
Pseudobombax ellipticum
Psidium cattleianum
Psidium guajava
Psidium littorale
Pyrus calleryana
Quercus austrina
Quercus chapmanii
Quercus falcata
Quercus incana
Quercus geminata
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus laevis
Quercus lyrata
Quercus marilandica
Quercus michauxii
Quercus myrtifolia
Quercus nigra
Quercus phellos
Quercus shumardii
Quercus stellata
Quercus virginiana
Ravenala madagascariensis
Robinia pseudoacacia
Rhizophora mangle
Salix babylonica
Salix caroliniana
Sambucus canadensis
Sapium sebiferum
Sassafras albidum
Schefflera actinophylla
Schinus terebinthifolius
Simarouba glauca
Spathodea campanulata
Styphnolobium japonica
Swietenia mahagoni
Syzygium cumini
Tabebuia aurea
Tabebuia heterophylla
Tamarindus indica
Common Name
black cherry
Japanese flowering cherry
flatwoods plum; hog plum
shaving brush tree
strawberry guava*
guava*
cattley guava
callery pear
bluff oak
chapman oak
Spanish oak; southern red oak
bluejack oak
sand live oak
laurel oak; diamond oak
turkey oak
overcup oak
blackjack oak
swamp chestnut oak
myrtle oak
water oak
willow oak
Shumard’s oak
post oak
live oak
Traveler’s tree
black locust
red mangrove
weeping willow
Carolina willow; coastal plain willow
American elder
popcorn; Chinese tallow*
sassafras
Australian umbrella tree; octopus tree*
Brazilian pepper*
paradise tree
African tulip tree
Japanese pagoda tree
West Indian mahogany~
java plum*
Caribbean trumpet tree
white cedar, pink tabebuia
tamarind
< 21%
N C S ST
X
X X
X
X
X X X X
X X X X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
21-40%
N C S ST
X
X
X
41-60%
N C S ST
X
X
X X
X
61-80%
N C S ST
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X X X
X X
X
X X X X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
YES
NO
YES
X X
NO
NO
NO
X X X
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
X X X
YES
YES
YES
X
YES
X
YES
X
YES
X
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
X X X
YES
NO
YES
X X X X
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
NO
NO
X X
YES
NO
NO
X X
YES
NO
X
NO
X
NO
X X
NO
Scientific Name
Taxodium ascendens
Taxodium distichum
Terminalia catappa
Tibouchina urvilleana
Tipuana tipu
Tilia spp.
Ulmus alata
Ulmus americana
Ulmus crassifolia
Ulmus parvifolia
Vaccinium arboreum
Viburnum odorotissimum
Viburnum obovatum
Vitex agnus-castus
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
PALMS
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
Adonidia merrillii
Archontophoenix alexandre
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Arenga engleri
Bismarkia nobilis
Butia capitata
Carpenteria acuminata
Caryota mitis
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaerops humilis
Coccothrinax argentata
Coccothrinax crinita
Coccothrinax miraguama
Cocos nucifera
Dictyosperma album
Dypsis cabadae
Dypsis decaryi
Dypsis leptocheilos
Dypsis lutescens
Howea forsteriana
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
Latania loddigesii
Licuala spinosa
Livistona australis
Common Name
pond-cypress
bald-cypress
West Indian almond
princess flower
tipuana
basswood
winged elm
American elm
cedar elm
Chinese elm
sparkleberry
sweet viburnum
Walters viburnum
lilac chaste tree
Hercules club
paurotis palm
Christmas palm, drawf royal
King Alexander palm
piccabeen palm
dwarf sugar palm
Bismark palm
pindo palm
carpentaria palm
fishtail palm
cat palm
European fan palm
silver thatch palm
old man palm
miraguama palm
coconut palm, maypan, green malayan
hurricane palm
cabada palm
triangle palm
teddy bear palm
areca palm
kentia palm, sentry palm
bottle palm
spindle palm
blue latan palm
spiny licuala palm
Australian fan palm
< 21%
N C S ST
21-40%
N C S ST
41-60%
N C S ST
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
61-80%
N C S ST
X
X
X
X X
X
X X X X
X X X X
X X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
X X X
YES
X X X
YES
X X
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
X X
YES
X
YES
NO
X X
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X X
X X
X X
X X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Scientific Name
Livistona chinensis
Livistona decipiens
Livistona saribus
Phoenix canariensis
Phoenix reclinata
Phoenix sylvestris
Phoenix dactylifera
Phoenix roebelenii
Pseudophoenix sargentii
Ptychosperma elegans
Ptychosperma macarthurii
Ravenea rivularis
Rhapis excelsa
Roystonea regia
Sabal minor
Sabal palmetto
Serenoa repens
Syagrus botryophora
Syagrus romanzoffiana
Syagrus schizophylla
Thrinax morrisii
Thrinax radiata
Trachycarpus fortunei
Veitchia arecina
Veitchia winin
Washingtonia filifera
Washingtonia robusta
Wodyetia bifurcata
< 21%
N C S ST
X
Common Name
Chinese fan palm
ribbon palm
taraw palm
Canary Island date palm
senegal date plam, reclinata palm
X
sylvester palm, wild date palm
edible date palm, medjool, deglet noor, zahedi
roebelenii palm, pigmy date palm
X
Buccaneer palm
X X
Alexander palm, solitaire palm
X
Macarthur palm
X X
majesty palm
X
lady palm
Cuban royal palm, Florida royal palm X X
sabal minor
sabal palm
saw palmetto, green or silver
pati palm
queen palm
X
arikury palm
key thatch palm
X X
Florida thatch palm
X X
windmill palm
X X
Montgomery palm
X
winin palm
X X
California fan palm
Washington palm
foxtail palm
X
*Refrence USDA Plant Database and USF Plant List 2013
# Florida Endangered Plant - Rule 5B-40.0055
~ Florida Threatened Plant List - Rule 5B-40.0055
21-40%
N C S ST
41-60%
N C S ST
61-80%
N C S ST
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X X
X X X
X X
81-100%
N C S ST FL NATIVE
X X X
NO
X X
NO
X
NO
X X X
NO
X X
NO
X X X
NO
X X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
NO
X X
NO
X X
YES
YES
X X X X
YES
X X X X
YES
NO
X
NO
1
NO
X X
NO
X X
YES
X
NO
X X
NO
X X
NO
NO
NO
NO