Florida Holly is Not So Festive After All

In northeast Florida as we celebrate the holidays we may enjoy the presence of "Florida Holly" trees in our yard producing red berries to enhance the season. Think again: these trees are actually a highly invasive species better known as the Brazilian-pepper tree!

Schinus terebinthifolius is also mistaken for the innocent sounding "Christmasberry" tree, but this plant is responsible for allergic skin reactions and respiratory illness (when blooming), not to mention that over 700,000 acres in Florida are covered by this weed making these areas inhospitable to native plants and wildlife.

The Brazilian-pepper tree is actually native to Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina and was introduced to Florida in the 1800s to be cultivated and sold as an ornamental plant. Why does it enjoy Florida and the rest of agricultural zones 9-11 so much? Its salt tolerance is high, it will grow in any soil, has no nutritional requirements, grows very quickly, has high drought tolerance, and loves full sun.

Not at all related to holly but rather to poison ivy, this trickster has the potential to create a dense forest canopy that shades out all other foliage and produces such a poor habitat for native wildlife species that almost nothing other than the Brazilian-pepper itself will survive. It is highly prohibited to plant Brazilian-pepper tree or encourage its growth.

On an interesting note, this plant is grown for culinary purposes in other countries and marketed as "pink peppercorns" here by itself or in spice blends. Bees love the flowers of Brazilian-pepper and make honey from its nectar. Raccoons and possums eat the fruit of the plant and contribute to its spread by passing the seeds, as do seed loving birds such as the migratory American Robin. It is believed that some birds and other wildlife adore the berries of this plant for their narcotic effects at certain times of the year.

If you have "Florida Holly" in your yard, you can use its fruit-laden branches as Christmas decorations because the small bright red berries will mature between December and January. From a professional standpoint, it is never acceptable for a landscape designer to encourage these invasive species for landscaping in Ormond Beach, St. Augustine, or Palm Coast.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid ðŸ¦š



Century Plant and Agave in the Florida Landscape Design

Newcomers to northeast Florida are often captivated by the site of the gigantic century plants thriving so impressively in landscape designs from St. Augustine to Ormond Beach. Also known as maguey or American aloe (although not in the aloe family), century plant (Agave americana) actually only lives to be 10-30 years. This waterwise ornamental plant has a large dramatic form when fully grown and is prized for modernist, desert-style landscape designs, as well as being perfectly suited for Florida-friendly xeriscaping.

The spreading rosette shape of century plant can grow as wide as 13 feet and its leaves can be almost seven feet long.  Each leaf tip is extremely sharp and can pierce skin, so do not plant this drought tolerant beauty anywhere near a childrens' play area!  Alternatively, century plants can be cultivated along a perimeter as a natural fence to keep people or animals in or out of a designated zone.  The two most commonly encountered Agaves are the blue straight leaved type and the variegated curly leaved species.  If you are drawn to more exotic varieties, landscapers can help you incorporate them into your landscape design for St. Augustine, Palm Coast, and Ormond Beach.    

These succulents will bloom only once, their unique flowers growing many feet in the air on stalks, and after they bloom they will die.  So enjoy this amazing plant for as long as it lives! Various Agaves are used to produce tequila, mezcal, and pulque in Mexico, as well as agave nectar, a healthy and natural alternative to sugar.  The fibers from certain century plants are also used in Mexican crafts and textiles. 

Amazing Facts About the Live Oak Tree

The majestic live oak tree (Quercus virginiana) is one of the world's most eye catching and fascinating species of tree and it is located throughout the southern United States including Sanford, Deltona, DeBary, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Lake Helen, Orange City, DeLand, and Ormond Beach, Florida. If you have one of these incredible species in your landscape design already, you most likely have an appreciation for its visual impact as well as its maintenance challenges.

Including new live oak saplings in a landscape design is making investments for the long term: they may not look as enticing in the beginning as they most certainly will in a few decades. A Volusia or Seminole County, Florida tree service will assist you with caring for aged live oaks.  Landscape designers will discuss all the things you need to know about incorporating potentially beautiful live oaks into your design, or designing around their already established presence. Keep in mind these facts regarding this native tree:

-There are other species of live oak, but the southern live oak is the most well known and was the first to be given that name. Live oaks indicate the evergreen types of oak tree (the ones that do not lose their leaves in the fall, as opposed to deciduous).

-Live oak is a huge, sprawling tree that reaches heights of 65 feet to 85 feet at maturity and has been known to live 500 years or longer.

-Live oak is the southern symbol of strength and the state tree of Georgia.

-Live oak trees require very little watering when first planted and when it reaches four to five feet tall, supplemental watering is no longer necessary.

-Live oaks are one of the heaviest native American hardwoods, weighing 55 pounds per cubic foot when air dry. Its strong, dense wood explains why these trees have outlasted so many Florida hurricanes.

-Live oaks support many types of epiphytic (air) plants, including Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and resurrection fern (Polypodium polypodioides). These plants do not harm the tree in any way and add to its beauty.

-The large amount of acorns produced by the live oak are food for wild turkeys, wood ducks, jays (including the threatened Florida scrub jay), quails, whitetail deer, raccoons, squirrels, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, and black bears among others.

-Bulow Creek State Park in Ormond Beach is one of the largest remaining stands of southern live oak forests in Florida. Within its boundaries is the Fairchild Oak, one of the largest and oldest live oak trees in the South.


St. Augustine Florida Landscaping - Historic and Beautiful

The oldest city in the United States is the seaside town of St. Augustine, Florida. This gently sprawling village on the northeastern coast of the Sunshine State combines both colonial British and Spanish elements in its historic architecture and narrow cobble stoned streets. Today's St. Augustine is an artsy destination with amazing tourist attractions such as the Castillo de San Marcos, the Fountain of Youth, the Pirate Museum, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and the original Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.

Landscaping and lawns vary in St. Augustine throughout the city limits as most areas in Florida tend to do. The closer to the ocean, the more salt tolerance and soil conditions become an issue with landscape design and lawn care. St. Augustine does experience the occasional frost during winter months, although tropical varieties of plants typically thrive if placed properly in the landscape design plan with sufficient irrigation. Because they enjoy a mild climate, residents of St. Augustine lean towards outdoor entertaining so hardscaping, patios, pavers, firepits, and pool landscape design are very popular.

Be sure to tour all the major sections of St. Augustine including St. Augustine Beach, Crescent Beach, Vilano Beach, Downtown, Uptown, Lincolnville, Westside, the Shores, the South, Davis Shores, Treasure/Butler Beach, and Ponte Vedra. 


Most Popular Stones for Hardscaping Design

A landscaper implements hardscaping into its professionally designed landscape plans using a variety of stone. Natural stone is categorized into two categories based on how it is cut: "fully dressed" stone is cut into very precise shapes and "semi-dressed" stone is loosely shaped with a uniform thickness.

Look for these stone types in professional hardscaping design:

Bluestone - is a specific type of sandstone that stands out because of its bluish-grey color. Bluestone is often the focal point of a rock garden, or can be used to create stone stairs, walls, or patios.

Fieldstone - this is a perfect stone for decorative walls or raised garden beds. Similar to flagstone except rounder and useful for freestanding hardscaped elements. It comes in a variety of colors and can add a level of whimsy to a landscape design.

Flagstone - an easily-installed, slab-like, durable stone made of sedimentary rock such as limestone or sandstone, and ideal for many areas of landscape design. Flagstone makes beautiful, elegant pavers but should always be tested to see how slippery they get when wet.

Slate - these rocks started out as shale that gradually metamorphosed over time. It comes in grey, green, or blue color. Slate cracks into thin slabs of rock, making it ideal for pavers and tiles. Because it is naturally water resistant it is often used with water features.

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid ðŸ¦š



Facts About Commercial Landscape Design and Maintenance

Landscapers specialize in both residential and commercial landscape design with an emphasis on Florida friendliness, elegant water features, expert hardscaping, outdoor low wattage lighting, and successful lawn maintenance. We take into consideration important components of a commercial landscape design that you may not realize:

1) Seasonal color changes - The flowers in bloom are different with each season. It is of paramount importance that a property have an eye catching amount of color no matter what time of year. Professional commercial landscapers have a well tuned knowledge of the flowers that thrive with each new season and will ensure they are planted at the right time and encouraged to their peak of beauty.

2) Handicapped accessibility - It is not just indoor spaces that must follow the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gardens and hardscaped areas of the landscape plan must be designed with disabled visitors and residents in mind. The most attentive property owners want a space that is inviting and comfortable for customers and dwellers of all ages and abilities. A landscaper determines a site plan that follows these restrictions with no effect on the gratifying overall result.

3) Ongoing maintenance - It is a rare business owner or property manager who cares for their own landscaping. We keep the lawns green, the trees trimmed, the mulch fresh, the flowers lively, and your property looking its absolute best throughout the unexpected climate shifts that can feel like a rollercoaster in our part of north and central Florida. A landscaper knows the best plants for your soil, light, and water conditions and once planted the upkeep such as pruning and fertilizing will be on a schedule for maximum success.