Why doesn't Miami grow more Pinus elliottii? (Hialeah, Pinecrest: homes, construction)

[WINTERFRONT]

Is it for safety reasons? Maybe they are not that strong against hurricanes? are they more expensive to come by? do they take more time to grow....? consumer more water?

What's the main reason?


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Slash_pine.jpg

[Coconut1]

Because they're ugly?

[doom1001]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

Because they're ugly?

Are you kidding me? That's one of the things I enjoy seeing whenever I get out of South Florida,it seems like the more north you go in Florida and into the other southern states the more you see them.Miami Dade barely has any as they were probably knocked down by developers to build ugly shopping centers or homes,not that I think all shopping centers and homes are ugly but at least down here in Miami it seems like 80% are built so that in 5 years they start looking like Hialeah,ugly construction,barren without a tree in sight.I actually saw the other day what appeared to be some of these small pine trees planted on US 1 by Pinecrest,at least somebody has good taste.

[polo89]

Originally Posted by doom1001

Are you kidding me? That's one of the things I enjoy seeing whenever I get out of South Florida,it seems like the more north you go in Florida and into the other southern states the more you see them.Miami Dade barely has any as they were probably knocked down by developers to build ugly shopping centers or homes,not that I think all shopping centers and homes are ugly but at least down here in Miami it seems like 80% are built so that in 5 years they start looking like Hialeah,ugly construction,barren without a tree in sight.I actually saw the other day what appeared to be some of these small pine trees planted on US 1 by Pinecrest,at least somebody has good taste.

They should plant those trees in all the SoFla cities with "Pine" in their names. But South Florida has a climate that's condusive for growing tropical plants. Anytime you live in that type of climate, you gotta take full advantage of it. There's too much water and fertile soil for people to stop growing Palms. I think they should mix the Pines and the Palms. You don't want too much of that species of Pine, because that species pretty much blankets much of the Southeast and you want to keep South Florida unique. Why look like everywhere else in the South?

[WINTERFRONT]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

Because they're ugly?

Hhahahahhahaha....LOLZ ><

They have the looks only a mom would love


As Miamians we are the mothers, let's behave more motherly like.

[straight shooter]

Most people in Miami prefer non-native palms thinking they are native when in fact trees like the slash pine are native. Another reason why you don't see them being planted more is because people fear deciduous trees and pine trees because of hurricanes. Instead they should consider the advantages that they bring. Hopefully things will change through education and with the tree program that Miami-Dade County currently has.

[Coconut1]

This mother doesn't love them! LOL!

As Polo said, pine already covers a vast majority of the south. Although they are native to Miami too, since Miami is capable of growing other varities of trees and plants that those other areas in the south are not capable of, I too agree that Miami should continue with the trend of palms and leave the pine to those incapable of growing palm. (Bad sentence but you get my point!)

And I'll add, after you've been inundated with pine you'll be begging to go back to palms. Pines are constantly dropping their needles, plus sap. They're a big mess.

[polo89]

Why not just combined them with the palms? Just but plant them, along side with the money makers(palms). So much of the South(including Florida) is already covered in Pines. Why not keep Miami unique? What's next? Build more brick buildings? I never got why people don't like when they plant non-native palms in cities like Miami and LA. If you can grow them, then grow them. Take advantage of the soil and climate.

[WINTERFRONT]

We definetly need to build more highrises though :P (but that's another topic lol)

I wouldn't go near to this tree at night though, it looks terrifying... but I think it'd be cool to have parks filled with these trees.

[popcorn247]

I love the Dade Co. pine...Pinus elliottii var. densa....but, for some unknown reason, they don't grow well outside of their normal, rockland habitat. They often suffer from nutritional deficencies and other unknown problems. They are sensitive to root damage, do not like competition from other trees, etc. I would love to see these everywhere, but often, after the first 2-3 years of being planted....they go downhill. Some people believe they require a specific type of mycorrhizae (sp.) in the soil.