Mast Trees Boca Grande, Florida

Mast Trees from Palmco are becoming a prime choice of savvy landscape designers in Boca Grande, Florida, who are starting to appreciate their versatility as a tropical substitute for the Italian Cypress.

Palmco serves the contiguous U.S. from our 600-acre farm in Bokeelia on Pine Island, Florida, providing a wide selection of wholesale FF-grade palms, top-quality bamboos, and spectacular ornamental plants.

We assist landscape contractors, architects and developers with everything they need to beautify a resort, golf course, commercial properties, residential estates and more, by providing large tree transplants and specimen trees throughout the country and worldwide.

Our truly beautiful specimens include one of the most unique South Florida landscape trees – the Mast Tree, or Polyalthia longifolia “Pendula”, which is a native of India and Sri Lanka that is also known as False Ashoka, Buddha Tree, Indian Mast Tree, and Indian Fir Tree.

Growing and Caring for the Mast Tree

Not terribly cold-tolerant, Mast Trees are best-suited to USDA Zones 10a to 11 and the warmer areas of Zone 9b. We don’t recommend them for areas north of coastal Hillsborough County on Florida’s west coast or Indian River County on the east coast.

Features of the Mast Tree:

  • Elegant vertical column-like form
  • Evergreen ornamental foliage
  • Suitable for narrow spaces
  • Moderate growth rate
  • Tolerates direct sun to partial shade
  • Average watering requirements
  • Easy to maintain
  • Drought tolerant
  • Salt tolerant
  • No notable pest threats

Mast Trees perform best in full to partial sun and in rich, well-drained clay, loam or sandy soils. Young plants need protection from winds, especially when the weather is hot and dry, but have excellent drought tolerance once mature and will bend like bamboos in a storm.

They are ideal in narrow areas because they grow quite tall (30 to 45 feet), but stay slender (4 to 5 feet wide). Use them to line avenues or driveways, as tall hedges, privacy screens, visual dividers, architectural accents, and as windbreaks in open areas.

Once a year in spring or summer, star-like flowers blossom appear on the tree and last for two to three weeks. The flowers are pale green and blend inconspicuously with the leaves. Clusters of green fruit follow, ripening to purple or black. These features make the Mast Tree attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.

To water Mast Trees, lightly soak the soil and then do not water again until the top two inches have dried out. Avoid overwatering, which may ultimately kill the tree.

When you’re looking for a Florida nursery with the expertise to help you with wholesale Mast trees and other specimens that will grow beautifully in Boca Grande, get in touch with Palmco at (239) 283-1329. We can help.