Mast Trees Cape Coral, Florida
If you are thinking of planting mast trees on your client’s property in Cape Coral, Florida, it is important to understand their requirements. In the right location, Mast Trees makes a strong statement. They are drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. They are also remarkably flexible; during storms, mature trees will bend like bamboos.
What is a Mast Tree?
When landscaping luxury residential properties, resort hotels, golf courses, and other locations in South Florida, there are too few choices for tall but narrow columnar tropical trees with beautiful evergreen foliage that can be used line avenues and driveways, as tall hedges, as architectural accents, and as privacy, noise and windbreak screens.
The usual choice, Italian Cypress, can be a challenge to grow because of our abundant rain and high humidity, which makes the trees more susceptible to root rot and to fungus and cypress canker disease, causing the tree to develop brown patches and die back.
The Mast Tree, or Polyalthia longifolia “Pendula”, is a great substitute! Also known as False Ashoka, Buddha Tree, Indian Mast Tree, Weeping Mast Tree, and Indian Fir, this tree is best suited to USDA Zones 10a to 11 and will grow in a narrow vertical form to about 30 to 45 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 to 10 feet.
Layers of feathery, wavy-edged leaves hang from drooping branches that closely hug the straight, thin trunk. Their colors range from coppery brown when new, to light lime green, to a shiny dark green as they age, offering a spectacular show in your landscape.
Mast trees prefer full or partial sun and well-drained rich clay, loam or sandy soil. Mature trees are drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. Young plants need protection from winds, but, once mature, the trees are remarkably flexible and will bend like bamboos in a storm.
Consider Mast trees when you need unique, eye-catching, easy-to-maintain trees that few others will have!
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, living walls, privacy screens, visual dividers, architectural accents, and as windbreaks in open areas.
When you’re looking for narrow, columnar evergreen trees for your landscape design in Cape Coral, Florida, contact Palmco about the wholesale Mast Trees we have for sale. Give us a call at (239) 283-1329 to find out more about them.
