PHOTO BY TOM NEWTON
more native trees than any other state except
Hawaii, so there’s no way we’ll be able to list
them all here.
One of the most photographed trees in
our area is the Banyan tree. These grand trees
form canopies along Manasota Key Road
and on the aptly named Banyan Street in
Boca Grande. The Southwest Florida region
is also home to the majority of Florida’s
Red, Black and White Mangroves and the
Buttonwood. These tropical trees grow along
the shore and are crucial to many aquatic
species, and so are protected by local and
state regulations. Other trees common to the
area are slash and spruce pines, the laurel and
diamond oak and unfortunately, the invasive
Brazilian Pepper, an especially troublesome
species as contact with it can cause a nasty
skin reaction.
Of course our area is also home to many
fruit bearing trees. The lemons, grapefruit,
oranges and mangoes on your table could
come from trees in your own backyard or
from down the street.
PHOTO BY DONALD BLOCK
Flowers you’ll find here include the classic
beach sunflower, orange canna lily, bromeliads
and hibiscus of all colors and many more.
If you want to know more about planting a
garden or are just curious about the plants
and trees you see every day, visit the Florida
Native Plant Society website www.fnps.org.
Editor’s Note: Our community is so rich with
wildlife and vegetation we can’t begin to present
all of it here.
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/www.fnps.org