Grow with the City’s Adopt A Tree Program

November 07, 2022

The City of Tallahassee is once again offering free trees to eligible homeowners within the city limits. The Adopt A Tree program provides and helps plant native and naturalized trees to increase the community's urban forest canopy. To apply for the program, visit Talgov.com.

Homeowners may request up to two trees be planted in the front yard within 100 feet of the centerline of the roadway (within the city limits) and must agree to keep each tree watered for one year. City staff will assist the homeowner with tree placement and take care of the installation.

The trees, depending on the species, are between 5 and 8 feet in height and are species native (or cultivars of native species) to the southeast. Trees available this year include:

• Nuttall Oak: This oak species is one of the most diverse varieties of the oaks - it works well as a street tree or shade tree, can adapt to wet soils, and will tolerate moderate drought conditions. It has a beautiful canopy that changes from yellow to orange to red, displaying those wonderful fall colors! This species is fast growing and can reach upwards of 80 feet at maturity, but the canopy spread stays relatively narrow, only reaching 45 feet max in width.
• Pond Cypress: This adaptable and wind-tolerant species features a conical silhouette that loses its needles each winter and grows a new set in the spring. Its foliage begins with a soft, bright green that turns rich shades of orange, red and golden brown in the fall. This tree is a spectacular feature along pond edges or within rain gardens but can also be grown in dry locations. This tree is virtually maintenance-free, requiring no pruning, and is pest and disease-resistant! This fast-growing canopy tree can reach between 45 to 60 feet at maturity, so it does need plenty of space.
• Flatwoods Plum: This Florida native species is typically found in the hammocks and woodlands of our region. It features showy white blooms that attract a variety of pollinators, especially bees, and provides fall fruits for birds and other wildlife. Flatwoods Plum does best in moist soils with afternoon shade but is tolerant of drier soils and sun. It is a long-lived perennial species that grows between 12 and 20 feet in height. Only one Flatwoods Plum per property will be available due to a limited supply of this tree. This tree is only available for properties with overhead power lines or limited planting space. All requests for this tree will be reviewed before approval and planting.

Tree planting will begin mid-January. Trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Adopt A Tree, which plants around 300 trees each year, is one of the programs that helps ensure the health of Tallahassee's tree canopy. At 55 percent, the City boasts one of the highest percentages of tree coverage in the nation.

To adopt a tree from the City, simply visit Talgov.com and complete the online application. Questions can be emailed to adoptatree@talgov.com or answered by calling 850-891-5450.