Unknown tree

10 years ago

Mom and I were at a yard sale when we spotted this tree on a heavily wooded lot that has us confused as to what it is. When I first spotted it my first thought was that it was the largest mimosa that I'd ever seen and then I realized that it couldn't be a mimosa but everything else that I know of with that type of leaf shouldn't grow to this size up hear in zone 9a. Can anyone identify it?

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Comments (8)

ritaweeda
10 years ago
I wonder if it's and ear tree?

Here is a link that might be useful: Eat the Weeds
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
10 years ago
There are many varieties of mimosa and I'm not sure if that is a mimosa, but mimosa Albizia julibrissin is reported to be hardy from zones 6a to 10b.

Carol in Jacksonville
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KaraLynn
Original Author
10 years ago
I looked up the ear tree and it does look like a match but if it is then it's growing quite a bit north of where it's supposed to be able to grow!

I know thatit's not a mimosa as the seed pods are completely wrong.
joydveenc7
10 years ago
Could it be a locust tree?
Michael AKA Leekle2ManE
10 years ago
My wife came home with a seed pod for an ear tree that she picked from up in Ocala, so it does sprout and grow in the northern area of 9a. With climate changes, it would seem a lot of plants are slowly creeping farther and farther north. I did not try sprouting them because while doing my research on them, I read that they were quite susceptible to wind damage and, with my small yard, it just wasn't worth the risk.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
10 years ago
Seedpods definitely look like those of ear tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)...

Here is a link that might be useful: Ear tree @ IFAS
eric_9b
10 years ago
It is an Ear Tree but the species common in FL is actually Enterolobium contortisiliquum. They have been mistakenly ID'ed as E. cyclocarpum for a long time. E. contortisiliquum is a much hardier tree, grows into the warmer parts of 9A. Young trees are tender but older trees handle mid 20s, below around 25-26F damages them and low 20s will severely damage or kill them back. E. cyclocarpum is a zone 10 tree, upper 20s will damage them.

Do not plant one unless you have room. They make huge spreading trees with a large root system. In an appropriate location they make awesome specimens but too often they are growing in too small a location and the roots can cause damage. Also, if the structure isn't trained while it is younger it will often develop weak branches which are easily shed in storms.
KaraLynn
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the additional info, Eric.

I think I will go back periodically to check for fallen fruit. I have a 3/4 acre lot and the lots behind me belong to my parents so if I plant one at the very back it should have plenty of room and be far enough away from my septic drain field to be safe.