Miami does have a tropical climate. (St. George, Gulf Stream: home, garden, move to)

[Reptoid Humidian]

Originally Posted by Periquita

If we are not tropical then why do we have Pollo Tropical?

Bwahahahahaha!!!


I wish I could credit you points, but the forum wouldn't let me.

[jdaelectro]

A tropical climate is defined by how much rainfall/precipitation there is and if the mean temperature is 64 degrees(or higher) for all twelve months. The following counties all meet that criteria: Palm beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and parts of Collier.

So, yes Miami has a true tropical climate. 13 pages of a lot of people refusing to acknowledge facts.

[coolcats]

Ok, so I've followed this thread for a while. I've completed my 4th trip to Florida this year for work. I usually take a few hours to enjoy the area. On Friday I drove through the Everglades from the entrance down to Flamingo.

At the entrance I noticed a lot of pine and willow trees, mixed of course with grasses, mixed with tropical broad leaf trees and small palms. By the time I got down to Flamingo, the pines and willows were gone and the entire vegetation seemed more tropical. There's also a population of Cuban crocodiles at Flamingo, but not in the northern part of the park. Crocs can only live in tropical climates, but alligators can tolerate cold better. I also did a small hike at the Royal Palm visitor's center and there was a note that about 70% of the Everglades' plants are tropical.

On Saturday I drove to the middle keys. I don't recall seeing any pines or temperate-looking plants (I'm not a botanist admittedly) at all along the drive, but it seemed truly tropical.

This is just my unscientific opinion, but I believe South Florida is really at a crossroads where the transition to tropical begins. Regardless, it looks like I'll be getting monthly trips down there during the winter. So when I leave 25 degrees and snow and arrive to 75 and sunny, it will be wonderful however you classify it.

[Valhallian]

Oh god, this debate again. Nooooooooooo!!

[Reptoid Humidian]

Originally Posted by coolcats

Ok, so I've followed this thread for a while. I've completed my 4th trip to Florida this year for work. I usually take a few hours to enjoy the area. On Friday I drove through the Everglades from the entrance down to Flamingo.

At the entrance I noticed a lot of pine and willow trees, mixed of course with grasses, mixed with tropical broad leaf trees and small palms. By the time I got down to Flamingo, the pines and willows were gone and the entire vegetation seemed more tropical. There's also a population of Cuban crocodiles at Flamingo, but not in the northern part of the park. Crocs can only live in tropical climates, but alligators can tolerate cold better. I also did a small hike at the Royal Palm visitor's center and there was a note that about 70% of the Everglades' plants are tropical.

On Saturday I drove to the middle keys. I don't recall seeing any pines or temperate-looking plants (I'm not a botanist admittedly) at all along the drive, but it seemed truly tropical.

This is just my unscientific opinion, but I believe South Florida is really at a crossroads where the transition to tropical begins. Regardless, it looks like I'll be getting monthly trips down there during the winter. So when I leave 25 degrees and snow and arrive to 75 and sunny, it will be wonderful however you classify it.

I think it's notable that we are able to support Breadfruit trees here in North Miami, which are considered an ultratropical plant. For what it's worth, we also have several very healthy specimens of Baobab trees here.

[Reptoid Humidian]

That's without even mentioning our very happy coconut palms.

[kwe]

When I went on the tour to the Fruit and Spice Park, the guide (a horticultural expert with a string of degrees) pointed out that the cacao trees (chocolate) needed to be sheltered in the winter months as Miami's climate is not tropical. The native habitat of the cacao tree is west Africa (Ivory Coast). If the cacao tree needs shelter in Miami for the winter months, then surely Miami cannot be considered as a "real" tropical climate... Miami has strong elements of a tropical climate but it is not real deal.... just sayin' and sorry for prolonging the debate....

[double6's]

sub-tropical

[pslhomie]

But we have Pollo Tropical so suck on that egg LOL

[OrlFlaUsa]

After careful deliberation I'm gonna vote for tropical but not tropics. Hell even Central Florida can sustain tons of tropical plants like Cocos.

When ever I drive to Miami I can easily see the transition being made.