Trees

Our climate here in the Turks and Caicos islands is unique. With little rainfall (30 inches/year) salty tradewinds and limestone soil, many of the large tropical trees of our neighboring islands to the south struggle here. However, there is a good selection of well adapted leaf trees to choose from to provide life and energy to your garden.

Green Buttonwood
Conocarpus erectus
A well known favorite among landscapers here in the Turks and Caicos. Green buttonwood are fast growing, bushy and extremely resilient trees. Most often used for hedging and privacy screening although they can be trained as a beautiful standard tree with a thick, green canopy. They don’t require a lot of water however when well irrigated they grow denser and greener.
Soil
Thrives in all types of soil
sunlight
Full sun
fertilizer
Nitrogen heavy landscape mix
salt tolerance
Very High
Black Olive 'Shady Lady'
Bucida buceras
The Black Olive ‘Shady Lady’ is a resilient, moderately slow growing tree with a dense, terraced canopy that is relatively easy to maintain. Often used to line walkways or roads because of its elegance and uniform shape. Once established, it requires little maintenance besides watering and fertilizing 3-4 times a year with granular fertilizer.
Soil
Loamy top-soil mix
sunlight
Full sun
fertilizer
Nitrogen heavy landscape mix
salt tolerance
High
Gumbo Limbo
Bursera simaruba
You’ll find the Gumbo Limbo growing in the wild across all the islands in the Turks and Caicos. It is extremely adaptive and can establish itself in a wide range of conditions. What best distinguishes the Gumbo Limbo is its red, peeling trunk and bright green leaves. When well irrigated the Gumbo Limbo can be very fast growing. It is very wind tolerant making it one of the most hurricane resistant species known.
Soil
Thrives in all types of soil
sunlight
Full sun
fertilizer
After big rains. Nitrogen dominant
salt tolerance
High
Silver Buttonwood
Conocarpus erectus var. Sericeus
Genetically it is identical to the Green Buttonwood as the silver tinge of its leaves is purely a variegation. Grows naturally as a bush but can be trained into a standard tree by pruning lower branches. Can withstand full sun and strong winds. Its silver leaves make it an attractive alternative to Green Buttonwood. Often used as a hedge.
Soil
Thrives in all types of soil
sunlight
Full sun
fertilizer
Nitrogen dominant landscape fertilizer.
salt tolerance
High
Lignum Vitae
Guaiacum officinale
Our favorite tree here at Sunshine Nursery. Known as the ‘Tree of Life’ for the many medicinal uses of its leaves and flowers. It is one of the densest woods in the world and has been used for sculpture, ship building, tools, turbines and more for centuries. As a sought after, very slow-growing species the Lignum Vitae is now endangered. It is the national tree of the Bahamas and the national flower of Jamaica. The tree has a silver bark, dense dark green canopy and flowers several times in a year with beautiful thumbnail sized bluish/purple flowers.
Soil
Rocky limestone top soils
sunlight
Full sun
fertilizer
Not necessary but responds well to Nitrogen fertilizers.
salt tolerance
High
Tabebuia
Tabebuia pallida
The Caribbean Queen or Trumpet Tree. This variety of Tabebuia is native throughout the Caribbean. It is fast growing tree with pinkish/purple flowers. Although not native to the Turks and Caicos, it has been well established here for generations. It prefers sandier soils, can tolerate full sun and provides good shade throughout the year.
Soil
Sandy top-soil
sunlight
Full Sun
fertilizer
Nitrogen dominant landscape fertilizer
salt tolerance
Moderate
Native Tabebuia
Tabebuia Bahamensis
Found throughout the Bahamas and on several of our islands here in the Turks and Caicos, the Tabebuia Bahamensis is a hardy, drought tolerant beautiful specimen for any house here in the TCI. More slender and slow-growing then it's central Caribbean cousin - Tabebuia Pallida - the native Tabebuia also drops less leaves and as a result is tidier and easier to maintain. It's small, white trumpet-shaped flowers bloom throughout the year, especially when in full sun.
Soil
Sandy top-soil
sunlight
Full Sun
fertilizer
General purpose balanced fertilizer.
salt tolerance
Moderate
Mahogany
Swietenia mahagoni
One of the most famous tropical hardwoods of the Americas. Besides being highly praised for its high quality lumber, the Mahogany is an ideal ornamental tree here in the islands. Not only is it indigineous, but when properly irrigated and fertilized it is relatively fast growing. It maintains a lush green canopy throughout the year, providing good shade and a beautiful decor to any garden.
Soil
Sandy, loamy top soil
sunlight
Full Sun
fertilizer
Nitrogen dominant landscape fertilizer
salt tolerance
Moderately High

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