Mast Trees Tampa – Wholesale

Looking for a columnar-shaped tree similar to the Italian Cypress to incorporate in your Tampa landscape design? Consider the spectacular wholesale Mast Trees available from Palmco! They are a great choice when you need a vertical accent.

Established more than 30 years ago on Pine Island, Florida, Palmco has 600-plus acres planted in the most desirable FF (Florida Fancy) palms, top quality clumping bamboos, and ornamental trees and plants ranging from exotic varieties to the most well-known.

Now you can make a stunning statement with Palmco’s magnificent Mast Trees, which are well-suited to USDA Zones 10a to 11, and the warmest areas of Zone 9b.

What is a Mast Tree?

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 in a symmetrical column to 30 to 45 feet and makes an excellent vertical accent for privacy screening, shade, or as a windbreak.

Polyalthia longifolia is native to India and Sri Lanka and is also called False Ashoka, Buddha Tree, Indian Mast Tree, and Indian Fir Tree. It belongs to the Annonaceae family, one of the largest families of flowering plants and usually referred to as the “custard apple” family.

The tree was very popular in British India because it resembled the Mediterranean Cypress and because its tall, stick-straight trunk was ideal for making tall ship masts.

Growing Polyalthia longifolia “Pendula”

Mast Trees are not very cold-tolerant. Although usually recommended for areas south of coastal Hillsborough County on Florida’s west coast or Indian River County on the east coast, they can also be happy in the humid subtropical climate of Tampa Bay where winters are generally dry and mild, and lows rarely reach freezing (32 °F).

Mast trees performs 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 tolerance to drought once established.

They are ideal for narrow areas because they grow quite tall, but remain slender. They are stunning when lining avenues or driveways, as tall hedges, privacy screens, visual dividers, architectural accents, and as windbreaks in open areas.

Mast Tree Characteristics

The Mast tree has dense layers of feathery, wavy-edged leaves that hang from the drooping branches that closely hug the trunk and cover the tree from top to bottom. The contrast of new, coppery brown leaves, older lime green leaves, and mature, shiny dark green leaves makes a spectacular show.

Once a year in spring, fragrant star-like flowers blossom 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.

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 Tampa, get in touch with Palmco at (239) 283-1329 or (855) GOPALMCO. We can help.