Hi, I'm looking to plant a somewhat faster growing or shady tree for the backyard that is also more or less easy to keep alive in sandy, beachside soil. Not being a plant guy, we are thinking a type of mango tree or something like this... Anybody have some suggestions? What type of tree would this be?

That looks like a tree that has been smothered with strangler fig.

^I think you're right. We will probably end up getting something already 8ft tall if the budget allows. Any good nurseries around for larger trees? Would mango trees do alright 2 blocks from the beach?

I have 3 mango trees Edward, Keit & Jakarta within 3 blocks of the ocean & are doing fine except for hurricane damage to the Jakarta which was uprooted & replanted. All are +25' and more. My advice is to buy them as tall as possible. While I sold mostly 3 gallons when it came to my yard I got 8 to 10 footers from Zil's.

Gumbo Limbos cuttings can be dropped into a hole and supported at virtually any size in order to create instant shade...and they grow relatively fast and can handle salt.

Other options that I have experimented with in my salty ~2 block from beach environment that have excelled:

Fruit - Tamarind, Mulberry (recommend Pakistani Mulberry - large tasty fruit), Guava, Mangoes (but require some shelter from wind to really enjoy life), Sapodilla (one of the best wind and salt tolerant of fruit trees for our area), Jambolan or Java Plum

Non-Fruit - Poinciana, Gumbo Limbo, Rainbow Eucalyptus (Limbs break in wind), Sea Grape (great native, salt tolerant, kind of edible fruit, bees love flowers, and "sprawling" limbs to stabilize in winds)

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If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

BTW, are you removing the ficus? Is that your yard? If so, it looks fairly protected, which would give you lots of options.

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If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

You may have a branch off our gumbo
Tree for replanting if u like. They make for
Nice trees and enjoy the beach environment.
We have nice mango tree as well but you
Have to pick up all the fallen mangoes from critters And they lose their leaves/shade
During winter.

Other seemingly tolerant plant species
That we have grown in our beach garden.cassia trees
Queen Emma, jatrophia, outdoor bromeliads,
Plumbagos, bird of paradise, Mexican petunia Hibiscus, helicondia, palms, orleander,
Bamboo, amaryllis, royal poinciana,coontie


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Style is what you make it!

Edited: 08/20/2018 at 08:30 AM by palerider