Orange Geiger an ideal coastal tree for Florida beachfront homes.
Orange Geiger is a splendid coastal tree for Florida beachfront homes misted with salty sea spray. No wonder Sarasota and Venice residents have a crush on this orange beauty, as do the landscape designers at Venice-based ArtisTree Landscape. Here’s why.
For starters, let’s talk about those deep-orange crinkly blossoms that look like crepe paper. This is a “look at me” tree that shines from afar, blooming year round but especially so in Florida’s spring and summer seasons. Their frothy frills bloom in profusion continuously, especially in full sun.
Orange geiger trees grow up to 25 feet or so with dense, shrubby foliage known for its compact, horizontal spread (up to 20 feet wide). We like a strong simple trunk but you can buy multi-trunk specimens, too. You’ll find they bloom in orange, yellow or white, although for some reason hummingbirds prefer the orange ones on their menu. These evergreens also do well in containers.
Plant care
These smallish trees love sun, hate cold and do well in sandy, alkaline soil — a perfect salt-tolerant, coastal tree choice for Florida beach homes. No need to amend the soil either. Sure, we classify them as low maintenance with the caveat that you plant them in a frost-free area protected from winter gusts. (Even though they’re evergreen, they may drop a few leaves if temps get below 40 degrees). Once established, orange geigers are drought tolerant, too – even better news.
Some homeowners boast they never have to fertilize their orange geigers, although a good-quality granular three times a year won’t hurt. And just to maintain its size, you’ll want to cut yours back in late March or early April. Otherwise, you can trim lightly anytime to keep its tight, shrubby look.
Would an Orange Geiger (or two or three or four) look good at your beachfront residence as a free-standing specimen or a framing tree? Find out more about this coastal dazzler by calling one of ArtisTree’s award-winning designers. We’ll walk your property, listen to your vision and present you with a thoughtful, thorough plan to enhance the beauty and value of your home. Contact Jenni Lassen at jennil@artistree.com or 941.488.8897, ext. 312.
ArtisTree proudly serves Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and South Hillsborough counties. Call 941.488.8897, ext. 312, to meet with one of our landscape designers and let’s get your dream project off the ground!
ArtisTree also offers full landscape-maintenance services for HOA communities. Contact Mike Casper for your custom proposal at mikec@artistree.com or 941.488.8897, ext. 321.
