7 Best Trees to Plant in a Central Florida Yard: Storm-Tested

Name: McCullough Tree Service
Address: 948 Ferne Dr., Longwood, FL, 32779, United States
Telephone: (407) 734-5854
Price range: $$

By: Shelby McCullough| Published: October 21, 2026

TL;DR: For a Central Florida yard, the best trees are the ones that held up in real hurricanes. University of Florida research points to live oak, sand live oak, southern magnolia, bald cypress, sabal palm, crape myrtle and native hollies. Pick the tree that fits the spot, keep tall trees away from power lines, and plant palms and small trees during the summer rainy season.

The best trees to plant in a Central Florida yard can take hurricane winds, sandy soil and summer heat. University of Florida storm research points to live oak, sand live oak, southern magnolia, bald cypress, sabal palm, crape myrtle and native hollies. Pick the tree that fits the spot, and keep tall ones well away from power lines.

Under the 2023 USDA map, Orlando moved from zone 9b to USDA hardiness zone 10a, according to The Community Paper. That means milder winters. But in Orlando yards, from Conway to Union Park, wind is still the bigger danger. Here is how an arborist would pick trees for those yards.

What are the best trees to plant in a Central Florida yard?

Start with species that survived real hurricanes. UF/IFAS scientists studied 10 hurricanes to rank how well urban trees stand up to wind (UF/IFAS: Selecting Coastal Plain Species for Wind Resistance). A summary of that work in the ISA journal Arboriculture and Urban Forestry found sand live oak, American holly, southern magnolia, live oak, wax myrtle, crape myrtle and sabal palm had the highest survival.

1. Live oak

This is the classic Florida shade tree. It has dense wood and a wide, low crown. In UF counts, 78% to 97% of live oaks survived each storm measured. It needs a lot of room. Plan for a canopy many times wider than the tree you buy. Young live oaks also need structural pruning in their first years so they grow one strong trunk.

2. Sand live oak

This smaller cousin of the live oak grows naturally on Florida’s dry, sandy ridges. It survived at rates of 94% to 99% across four hurricanes UF measured. It is a good fit for a sunny, sandy lot where a full live oak would get too big.

3. Southern magnolia

It has big glossy leaves, white flowers and stays green all year. It held up well to hurricane winds in UF surveys. The shade is deep and it drops leaves all year, so grass under it struggles. Give it a corner where that won’t bother you.

4. Bald cypress

This is the tree for wet spots. Bald cypress sits near the top of wind-resistance lists and handles soggy ground. That makes it a fit for low areas and lake edges, which are common around Conway. It drops its needles in winter, which surprises some new residents.

5. Sabal palm

Florida’s state tree ranks among the most wind-resistant in UF’s lists. It takes up little ground, so it works in small yards and narrow side lots.

6. Crape myrtle

This small flowering tree scored high for wind survival. Varieties range from shrub size to medium trees, so read the tag for mature height. A short variety is one of the few safe picks near overhead lines.

7. Native hollies

American holly earned high survival marks. Researchers also rated hollies as a group high for wind resistance among small trees. They give birds winter berries and make good screens along a fence. UF/IFAS Orange County calls yaupon holly drought tolerant. It can usually get by on seasonal rain.

Which tree fits which spot in your yard?

The right tree depends on the space it will fill in 20 years, not the space it fills today. Use this table as a starting point.

Tree	Best spot	Size at maturity	UF/IFAS wind rating	Watch for
Live oak	Large open yard, far from house and lines	Large	High	Needs early structural pruning
Southern magnolia	Corner or side yard with shade to spare	Medium to large	High	Dense shade, steady leaf drop
Bald cypress	Low, wet ground and lake edges	Large	High	Bare in winter
Sabal palm	Small yards and narrow side lots	Tall but narrow	High	Keep soil off the trunk at planting
Crape myrtle (short variety)	Near overhead lines, entryways	Small	High	Check mature height on the tag

One more tip: plant in groups when you have room. UF Extension notes that single trees are more vulnerable than clusters, because grouped trees shield each other from wind.

How close to power lines can you plant in Orlando?

If OUC is your utility, any tree planted within 15 feet of an overhead line should top out under 15 feet tall. That comes from OUC’s own planting tips. OUC asks you to call before planting near its distribution lines or poles. It also asks you to keep plants clear of meters and the green transformer boxes in front yards.

Before you dig any hole, call 811. That service contacts your utilities so they can mark buried lines. If another utility serves your street, ask them for their planting rules.

When is the best time to plant a tree in Orlando?

For palms and small trees, summer is the easy season. UF/IFAS says Central Florida’s rainy season runs June to October. All that rain makes summer a convenient time to plant palms, shrubs and small trees. The UF Central Florida Gardening Calendar suggests planting palms in June and July, with no soil piled on the trunk.

Trees can go in other months too, but they need water until their roots spread. Winter and spring are the driest months here, so plan on hand watering. Florida Arbor Day falls on the third Friday of January. Lots of homeowners pick that day to plant.

Which trees should you think twice about?

Laurel oak, water oak and sand pine are poor choices near a house. UF Extension says water and laurel oaks grow fast but have weaker wood and shorter lives than live oaks. A UF survey after two hurricanes found sand pine should not grow large near any dwelling because its shallow roots make it easy to blow over.

Signs you should talk to an arborist before you plant:

The spot is within 15 feet of an overhead power line.
You are replacing a tree that came down and the old stump is in the way. Stump grinding before replanting clears the spot.
Water stands in the area for days after summer storms.
You want a large shade tree close to the house, pool, septic system or driveway.
You manage an HOA common area or commercial lot and need many trees placed at once.
Big existing trees may shade out or crowd the new one.

Why McCullough Tree Service for tree planting?

McCullough Tree Service is family-owned and operated, based in Longwood, and has served the Orlando area for over 30 years.

We have 3 ISA-Certified Arborists on staff who can match a tree to your soil, sun and space.

Tree planting is one of our core services, along with trimming, removal and stump grinding.

We are fully insured.

Estimates are always free, and financing is available.

You can learn more about McCullough Tree Service in Orlando on our home page.

Planning a new tree? Call (407) 734-5854 or book a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Orlando in?

Under the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Orlando and most of Orange County are in zone 10a. The 2012 map had them in zone 9b.

Should I plant one tree or several together?

If you have room, plant a group. UF/IFAS Extension notes that single trees are more vulnerable to wind than clusters, because grouped trees shield each other.

Do I need to call 811 before planting a tree?

Yes. 811 contacts your utility companies so they can mark buried electric, water and other lines before you dig. Hitting a line can cause outages, property damage and injury.

Are palms a good choice for hurricane-prone yards?

The sabal palm ranks among the most wind-resistant trees in UF/IFAS hurricane studies. Not every palm does as well, so check the species before you buy.

Does McCullough Tree Service plant trees?

Yes. Tree planting is one of our services for homes and commercial properties, and estimates are always free. Call (407) 734-5854 to set one up.

Sources

About The Author: Shelby McCullough

With over two decades of experience in the tree industry, Shelby McCullough is a highly skilled certified arborist and the proprietor of McCullough Tree Service. His unparalleled expertise and profound understanding of trees set him apart in his field.

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