Many temperate-zone tree species reach their southern limits in Florida. Lack of winter chilling becomes an increasingly important factor with decreasing latitude. Drought is significant at times, especially in central and southern areas.

The range of Red Maple (Acer rubrum) extends all the way to southern Florida. This Google Street View shows several young specimens in cultivation at Immokalee Middle School.

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Here is a collection which includes deciduous trees normally associated with places far poleward of this west-central Florida location. There are hybrid Poplars (TXD15-29, Populus deltoides x P. trichocarpa), American Elm (Ulmus americana var. floridana), Freeman Maple 'Autumn Blaze', Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), Red Maple, Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Winged Elm (Ulmus alatus), Princeton Elm (Ulmus americana cv. "Princeton"), Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) along with species familiar to Florida -- Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia). The site is enriched with seepage from an irrigated cash crop field behind.

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Tulip Tree, semi-evergreen East Central Florida ecotype, in Orlando.

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