Forest of options

Tree giveaway offers many native species

Eight years after Pompano Beach mapped plans to reintroduce a tree canopy to a thoroughly urbanized area— the city is hosting another tree giveaway.

On July 15 and July 22, Pompano Beach residents with identification can choose as many as two from among thousands of a variety of native trees. Among them: Simpson Stopper, a glossy leaved shrub with fragrant white blossom sand red berries favored by the mockingbird, the blue jay and cardinal.

“They are gorgeous, wonderful trees,” said Wilton Manors resident Joan Brookwell, co-author of a book on Florida gardening.

Not into berries? Residents can choose a blossoming tree, or one of a variety of palms and shade trees including Live oak, which Brookwell said is not as slow-growing as other types of oak.

“They are good, strong, stable trees,” she said. “They don’t break up in a hurricane and provide great shade all year round. They are not deciduous.”

While the palm trees may be familiar, other species might need to be researched. Take Clusia Rosea, for example, knownas the “autograph tree” for its leathery leaves that lend themselves to writing.

Other available species include Mahogany, Silver buttonwood, Purple tabebuia, Dahoon Holly, and three types of palms: Queen Palm, Thatch and Triangle Palm.

Early arrivals will have the best choice and — as Pompano Public Works Director Robert McCaughan pointed out so many years ago — diversity is a good way to go. That way, if disease eradicates a particular species the rest survive.

In Pompano Beach, which has distributed thousands of trees over the course of its tree giveaway program, aesthetics is key.

“Native trees are low-maintenance, require less water, and not only provide shade, but have beautiful flowers, and provide habitat for birds,” Brook well said.