Clusia Trees, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Clusia tree is small-leaf clusia grown on a single trunk with a rounded canopy, a compact shade tree that does well across SW Florida, including canal and coastal lots, and suits patio shade, an entry or a privacy row above fence height. It handles salt and drought and tops out around 25 feet. We deliver and plant 25 gallon trees.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; regular while young, drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- High
Clusia Tree sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Clusia Tree | 25 Gallon |
Clusia Tree in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 25 ft tall, 10 to 15 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; regular while young, drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- High
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves burn around 30°F and the tree usually recovers; cover young trees inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Spacing
- 10 to 15 ft on center for a screening row
- Florida native
- No, a non-native ornamental
- Botanical name
- Clusia (small-leaf clusia, often sold as Clusia guttifera)
Where Clusia Tree works in a SW Florida yard
Where a hedge gives privacy at eye level, a clusia tree gives shade and screening overhead. Plant one beside the patio, a pair flanking an entry, or a row along a fence line to block the view into a second story.
The clear single trunk lets you walk and plant underneath. Keep it about 10 feet from the house and pool deck. Coontie, liriope and bromeliads fill the ground layer in the partial shade.
- Small shade tree
- Patio and pool shade
- Privacy above a fence
- Coastal and canal lots
How our crew plants it
A clusia tree needs a hole two to three times as wide as the 25 gallon root ball and no deeper. A proper install sets the root flare at soil level and stakes the tree with two or three stakes and soft ties for the first year. Our crew waters it in and cleans up.
Plant 10 to 15 feet from the house, and 10 to 15 feet apart for a screening row. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings, so the tree gets frequent soakings at first, then fewer as it roots.
Care after planting
- Water regularly through the first year, then rely on rain and your assigned irrigation days.
- Feed about three times a year with a slow-release fertilizer that includes micronutrients, skipping June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Prune for structure while young by raising the canopy gradually and thinning crossing branches with sharp hand tools.
- Remove stakes once the trunk holds the tree steady, usually after a year.
- Keep mulch two to three inches deep and clear of the trunk.
What to watch for
- Clusia shrugs off salt spray but not standing water, so trees planted in low spots that flood can decline from root rot.
- Scale insects show up as sticky leaves and black sooty mold, and horticultural oil clears them if you catch them early.
Clusia Tree questions we hear
How big does a clusia tree get?+
Most reach 15 to 25 feet tall with a rounded canopy 10 to 15 feet wide, at a moderate to fast pace. Pruning can hold it lower. That compact size is why it suits patios and entries better than big shade trees like live oak.
Is a clusia tree the same as a clusia hedge?+
It is the same small-leaf clusia, but trained to one trunk with a rounded canopy instead of growing as a multi-stem hedge. The salt and drought tolerance are the same. A tree gives overhead shade and screening, while a hedge screens all the way to the ground.
How close to the house or pool can I plant a clusia tree?+
Keep the trunk about 10 feet from the house, pool deck and drain lines, and prune branches back from the roof. Place it where fallen leaves will not clog the pool. A planting 10 to 15 feet away gives the canopy room to develop.
Is a clusia tree good for privacy?+
It screens overhead and at canopy height, so it is good for blocking a neighbor's second story. For privacy at eye level, pair it with a clusia hedge or shrubs below, since the trunk is bare near the ground. A row spaced 10 to 15 feet apart closes up as the canopies meet.
Is a clusia tree salt tolerant?+
Yes, it is one of the better trees for salt spray on canal and coastal lots, and it handles drought once rooted in. Avoid planting it where water stands after rain or in the path of storm surge, because roots in saturated or salty soil decline.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Clusia Tree
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.