The Value of Planting Canopy Trees

As a co-owner of a native plant nursery, I am surrounded by a wonderful community of people who share a passion for native plants and natural ecosystems. This supportive network has helped me maintain a positive outlook during challenging times for our environment. Hope and optimism are powerful tools that we must nurture within ourselves and in one another.

Over time, I have developed a deep appreciation for many native plants. From the extravagant beauty of orchids to the subtle grace of grasses, each species has its own unique story to tell. These stories feature a diverse range of characters, including caterpillars munching on leaves, bees spreading pollen, wind scattering seeds, and, of course, human influence.

One way for humans to cultivate optimism is by recognizing that we have the power to improve the environment. Planting native canopy trees, which grow to over 50 feet at maturity, is a meaningful action we can all take to combat the negative effects of climate change while providing significant benefits for both humans and the environment.

Large trees, such as oak, pine, black cherry, hickory, maple, and sycamore, rise above all other trees because of their size, beauty, and stature. Their trunks and leafy branches stretch skyward, providing a vast habitat for a multitude of insect and animal species. These trees provide shade in urban areas, which can help lower cooling costs for nearby buildings. As moisture evaporates from their leaves, they absorb heat, creating a cooling effect similar to that of ten room-sized air conditioners operating for 20 hours a day (USDA Sustaining America's Urban Trees and Forests).

A single tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, sequestering one ton by age 40 (Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University). A mature tree produces enough oxygen for two people (Mike McAliney, 1993) and generates nearly $32,000 in oxygen and $62,000 in air pollution control over 50 years (Urban Forestry Network). Trees also filter air pollutants like carbon monoxide and lead, as well as absorb stormwater runoff, reducing sediment and pollutants in streams.

Selecting the right location for a canopy tree is vital for proper growth. Avoid obstructing views or creating unwanted shade over gardens, and steer clear of planting near power lines and buried utilities. While it may be tempting to select the most mature tree available for a quick enhancement of your landscape, these larger trees are often more expensive and require heavy equipment for planting. Trees in 7-gallon pots or larger are also more susceptible to stress from transplanting and may take longer to acclimate to their new environment.

For the best results, start with a bare-root tree seedling, typically available from nurseries in winter. If that's not possible, select a 1-gallon or 3-gallon potted tree. In Tallahassee, the ideal planting time is from December to February. Planting young trees in groups also provides better protection against strong winds and hurricanes. Their intertwined roots form a stronger and more stable foundation compared to a single isolated tree. Additionally, the overlapping branches help absorb and dissipate wind force.

It's important to be mindful of our actions today and their impact on future generations. Planting a canopy tree is a significant step that directly benefits the local ecosystem, improves our physical and mental well-being, and adds beauty to our environment. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder that the natural world is a valuable treasure that we must all strive to protect.

Water World: Planting In The In-Between

When it comes to bodies of water, whether a river, ditch, or rainwater runoff pond, people are often intimidated with how to landscape. But I believe the true beauty of Florida is what lies in the water. There is an overwhelming amount of native plants that are the happiest with wet feet, ranging from stunning wildflowers, sturdy shrubs, to great canopy trees.

Lizard Tail, Saururus cernuus, is an extremely common native wetland perennial, found throughout the eastern United States. It thrives in saturated soils, and loves to live in even up to a foot of water. Atop heart shaped leaves, Lizard Tail has a unique bloom in late spring and early summer. As the name suggests, its flower resembles a floppy lizard’s tail. It is creamy white in color, and stands out well against an overall green landscape. I tend to always see tiny bees, wasps, and flies enjoying the sweet flowers. Lizard Tail has a vigorous spreading habit, making huge swaths in roadside ditches, lakesides, river and creek banks, and even in lowlying hardwood forests. It is extremely tolerant of deep shade, and one of my favorite places I had the joy of visiting this past summer was Congaree National Park in South Carolina, which is an old growth bottomland hardwood forest, where Lizard tail, White Swamp milkweed, various sedges, and River Cane are in their prime.

Pickerelweed, Pontederia cordata, is probably our most recognizable native wetland perennial. It has a distinct violet spike for a bloom in late spring and early summer, standing tall amongst glossy, lance shaped leaves. Like Lizard tail, its favorite places to live are river edges, lakesides, and roadside ditches. It can even form dense floating mats, clinging on to fallen trees and debris in the middle of the river. Pickerelweed prefers the sun, but does tolerate some light shade. It is a spreading wildflower, sending rhizomes through the muck creating colonies, and dispersing seeds via water fowl. A great place to see Pickerelweed is along Lake Piney Z, the Wacissa River, or pretty much any body of water here in the Tallahassee region. Be wary not to confuse this native wildflower with the invasive species, Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. Water Hyacinth also has a purple bloom, but is much shorter and stockier, and floats on the water's surface due to its buoyant leaves, clogging our natural areas from proper water flow and suffocating our native wetland species.

Duck Potato, Sagittarius lancifolia, is another native wetland perennial that we have all seen before. It has the signature flower that all species of Sagittaria have – a small and delicate white flower with three petals and a yellow or green center. On Duck potato, these flowers are in a cluster on a long stalk standing tall above its spade-like leaves. Unlike Pickerelweed and Lizard Tail, Duck Potato is not shade tolerant and prefers a ton of sun. It can grow in various water depths, ranging from a few inches to a foot. With its clumping growth habit rather than a running one, Duck Potato can look quite stately and robust along the waters edge. My favorite place to see Duck Potato is driving down Highway 98. If you happen to visit Gainesville, the University of Florida’s Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL) has a beautiful pond with a boardwalk, looming Cypress trees, willows, Buttonbush, and of course huge stands of Duck Potato paired with Blue Flag iris.

Do not fear your drainage ditch or unruly puddle. The possibilities are endless when it comes to native wetland loving plants. That unsightly wet area in your yard could be the next neighborhood haven for wildlife.

Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library Project - Native Plant and Wildflower Demonstration Garden

Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library Project - Native Plant and Wildflower Demonstration Garden Rosalynn Carter Monarch Butterfly Trail Extension to Tallahassee

By Veronica Donnelly

Tallahassee Garden Club, Babies Breath Circle, is striving to assist in local habitat improvement and environmental education via its native plant and wildflower demonstration garden at the Bruce J. Host Library, 5513 Thomasville Road, Bradfordville, Florida. Since receiving a Plant America Grant in 2023, the garden and plant identifier signs have been well received by the public. As a result, the circle expanded the project through a Ben Fusaco Grant from the Apalachee Audubon Society and a Library Wildflower Demonstration Grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation in 2024.

The application for the Ben Fusaco Grant helped the circle identify current needs for the garden expansion and narrowed the 2024 focus to additional native plantings and freshwater basins to encourage native birds, butterflies and other pollinators to use the area. The grant award gave the circle funds needed for these improvements, plus advice and counsel from Donna Legare, former owner of Native Nurseries..

Donna’s knowledge and work with the circle helped with the selection and location of the new plants purchased from Native Nurseries. Numerous consultations with her reduced the number of trial and error experiences usually suffered by novices attempting to create wildlife habitats. Her suggestions on birdbaths, stepping stones, and hardscape maintenance greatly contributed to a successful expansion. Donna’s skill in anticipating how plants will grow, spread, reseed, and fill the area will continue to be appreciated in the years to come.

The Florida Wildflower Foundation awarded Tallahassee the Pilot Library Wildflower Demonstration Garden for the Northwest Florida Region, one of three regional grants in the state. Marina Mertz from the foundation, advised and assisted with the purchase and maintenance of the garden area allocated to this project. Marina’s expertise, excitement, and teachings were well received and she continues to assist with the four year commitment to the program.

In 2025, the Tallahassee Garden Club generously donated funds to double the size of the garden so that it filled the entire area the library allows the circle to use for the project. This donation enabled the circle to buy more plants,water features, and garden structures. Identifier signs were upgraded; soil and mulch were added.  

Over the last two years, all of the garden improvements have caused an increase in native bees, birds, and butterflies at the site.The number of butterflies of various species in the garden has increased fivefold. This change in the surroundings inspired the circle to apply for, and obtain, registration as a public garden on the Rosalynn Carter Monarch Butterfly Trail. Prior to registration, the trail stopped in Thomasville, Georgia, before arriving at St.Marks.Other types of butterflies are being encouraged to the area as well, due to a careful selection of host plants.

The circle seeks to motivate library patrons to learn about native plants from our posted placards with common and Latin plant names,and QR codes. These codes are tied to our website page on the Florida Wildflower Foundation site and are meant to persuade neighbors to add plants they enjoy to their own yards. Many visitors have confessed to using some of the native plant choices in their own backyards, thanks to the library demonstration garden.

Native Nurseries has inspired and promoted this community project. The circle and The Tallahassee Garden Club, Inc., are indebted and thankful for the help. We have received an exceptional, hands-on education about native plants, regional ecology, and conservation. As undeveloped lands close to the library are developed, the demonstration garden will gain greater importance in local education about the unique ecology and biodiversity of North Florida and the need for native plantings in our own backyards.