Approved Shade Trees

If you want to plant new shade trees or replace trees you are removing, view the list of the approved species you can plant in Hillsborough County.

Characteristics legend 

• N - Native

• F - Flowering

• E - Evergreen

• D - Deciduous (sheds leaves annually)

• I - Acceptable for planting in shade tree islands

• X - Not acceptable for planting in internal or terminal landscape islands elements

• L - May be planted under power lines

The view information links are for sheets or web pages on the tree, which includes pictures and/or illustrations of the trees.

Common name: Ash, Green

• Scientific name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica 

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Ash, Green

Common name: Elm, American

• Scientific name: Ulmus americana

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Elm, American

Common name: Elm, Winged

• Scientific name: Ulmus alata 

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Elm, Winged

Common name: Hickory, Pignut

• Scientific name: Carya glabra

• Characteristics: N, D

• View information on Hickory, Pignut 

Common name: Magnolia, Southern

• Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora - Includes cultivars such as: 'Blanchard', 'Bracken Brown Beauty', 'Miss Chloe'

• Characteristics: N, F, E, I

• View information on Magnolia, Southern 

Common name: Maple, Florida

• Scientific name: Acer floridanum

• Characteristics: N, D, X 

• View information on Maple, Florida

Common name: Maple, Red

• Scientific name: Acer rubrum

• Characteristics: N, F, D, X

• View information on Maple, Red

Common name: Oak, Bluff

• Scientific Name: (Quercus austrina)

• Characteristics: N, D

• View information on Oak, Bluff

Common name: Oak, Sand Live

• Scientific name: Quercus geminata

• Characteristics: N, E, I

• View information on Oak, Sand Live

Common name: Oak, Laurel 

• Scientific name: Quercus laurifolia

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Oak, Laurel

Common name: Oak, Live

• Scientific name: Quercus virginiana Includes cultivars such as: 'Highrise', 'Cathedral', 'Millenium'

• Characteristics: N, E, I

• View information on Oak, Live

Common name: Oak, Post

• Scientific name: Quercus stellata

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Oak, Post

Common name: Oak, Shumard

• Scientific name: Quercus shumardii

• Characteristics: N, D, I

• View information on Oak, Shumard

Common name: Oak, Turkey 

• Scientific name: Quercus laevis

• Characteristics: N, D, I 

• View information on Oak, Turkey

Common name: Pecan

• Scientific name: Carya illinoinensis

• Characteristics: N, D 

• View information on Pecan

Common name: Pine, Loblolly

• Scientific name: Pinus taeda

• Characteristics: N,E

• View information on Pine, Loblolly

Common name: Pine, Longleaf

• Scientific name: Pinus palustris

• Characteristics: N, E

• View information on Pine, Longleaf

Common name: Pine, Sand

• Scientific name: Pinus clausa

• Characteristics: N, E

• View information on Pine, Sand 

Common name: Pine, Slash 

• Scientific name: Pinus elliottii 

• Characteristics: N, E

• View information on Pine, Slash

Common name: Sugarberry

• Scientific name: Celtis laevigata

• Characteristics: N, D 

• View information on Sugarberry

Common name: Sweetgum

• Scientific name: Liquidambar styraciflua 

• Characteristics: N, D

• View information on Sweetgum 

Common name: Sycamore

• Scientific name: Platanus occidentalis

• Characteristics: N, D

• View information on Sycamore

Resources

• Apply for a tree removal permit

• Apply for a Single Family Duplex Natural Resources Permit

• Protective barrier requirements

• Residential Tree Removal Guide | Tree Removal Guide - Spanish

• Approved Tree and Hedge Materials List

• Hillsborough County Pruning Best Practices 

• Tree Removal in Hillsborough County webinar video

• Tree Replacement Guide

Contact

If you have Natural Resource questions that are not answered here, submit a Natural Resources Inquiry or call the Natural Resource Unit at (813) 272-5600.