Mast Trees for Sale in Florida
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When you are unable to grow Italian Cypress in south Florida but want the look of the tall, slender tree in your landscape, Palmco has Mast Trees for sale that will make a spectacular substitute.
The Mast Tree, or Polyalthia longifolia “Pendula”, is a beautiful evergreen tree that is covered from top to bottom with graceful, shiny pendulous leaves. It grows symmetrically to 30 to 45 feet and provides an excellent vertical accent for privacy screening, shade, or as a windbreak.
A native of India and Sri Lanka, the Mast Tree is also known as False Ashoka, Buddha Tree, Indian Mast Tree, and Indian Fir Tree. It became popular in British India for its resemblance to the Mediterranean Cypress and because its tall, stick-straight trunk made it ideal for building ship masts.
Mast Tree Characteristics
“Poly” means “many,” “longifolia” means “long-leafed,” and “pendula” means “pendulous” or “dangling.” Although it may appear that the ornamental tree has no branches, its layers of feathery, wavy-edged leaves hang from drooping branches that closely hug the trunk.
The dense leaves of the Mast Tree start out a coppery brown color, turn a light lime green as they age, and eventually become a shiny dark green. They remain on the tree in all seasons, almost completely covering the trunk. The natural color contrast of the leaves makes a spectacular show.
In spring, the tree is covered with inconspicuous but fragrant star-like pale green flowers that typically last for two to three weeks. The tree then bears clusters of fruit that are initially green but ripen to purple or black.
It is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.
Mast Trees are not tolerant of cold weather (below 32° F), which means they are best suited to USDA Zones 10a to 11. They are not recommended for use north of coastal Hillsborough County on Florida’s west coast or Indian River County on the east coast.
To get maximum enjoyment from your trees, plant them in full or partial sun in rich clay, loam or sandy soils, and make sure the soil is well-drained. Mature Mast trees are drought-tolerant.
The Mast Tree is a spectacular subtropical substitute for the Italian Cypress which prefers the cooler temperatures of Zone 9b and northward.
Using Mast Trees in Your Landscape
Mast Trees are perfect for narrow areas because they grow quite tall but stay slender. In India, the leaves are used as temple decorations, and the trees are commonly used as street trees to reduce noise pollution. They are suitable for:
- lining a driveway or avenue
- privacy screening
- tall hedges
- shade
- architectural accents
- visual dividers
- noise pollution screening
- windbreak in open areas
- xeriscaping
Palmco serves all of Florida and the contiguous U.S., providing a wide selection of palms, bamboos, and ornamental plants with different heights, shapes, textures and even colors. We pride ourselves on our environmentally conscious growing process and exceptional customer service that is known throughout the industry.
The Mast Tree has become a prime choice of savvy Florida landscape designers. You’ll find them for sale at Palmco! Call us today at (239) 283-1329 or (855) GOPALMCO to learn more.
