Mastic
Sideroxylon foetidissimum

This is probably our tallest South Florida tree. Naturally found from the Keys through Merrit Island along the coast, yet ocassionally inland growing in dry, fertile soils. Along the eastern edge of Lake Ockeechobee near Route 76 are trees 80 or more feet tall with four foot diameter trunks.

Dioecious with the female trees producing olive sized orange fruit with sticky pulp and a large single seed. You may want to plant this away from pavement.

Very tolerant of salt air and short periods of salt water flooding. Mixes nicely with other tall coastal trees like live oak, gumbo limbo, pigeon plum, strangler fig and red mulberry. Plant along the sunny edge of this group with your favorite hammock shrubs. Only the most shade tolerant shrubs or herbs can be planted in the deep shade of this tree. Try wild coffee, marlberry, wild plumbago dicliptera and basket grass.

The fruit ripen in February and are an important food for wildlife. They are mildly sweet and sticky. Just remember that you will need a male and female tree.