Summers are undoubtedly made sweeter by the presence of mangoes! The feeling of sharing ripe and juicy mangos with siblings in the courtyard is truly incomparable, which makes many people crave mangoes all year round.
What are evergreen trees?
Evergreen is a term used to describe trees that don’t lose their foliage due to the changing seasons. The foliage manages to stay green and function throughout the year into the next growing season. And the leaves that do shed off are usually replaced by newer leaves.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the trees will be growing flowers and fruits throughout the year, this might only take place seasonally.
Broad-leaved flowering plants which are native in the tropical and subtropical regions don’t lose their leaves and therefore are considered evergreen; similarly, cone-bearing trees such as pine or firs are common for growing in the Arctic region are also evergreen.
What are deciduous trees?
Deciduous trees mainly consist of giant flowering plants which begin to bloom during spring but by the time autumn approaches, they shed all their leaves, and usually, only the branches are left behind when winter arrives.
However, this doesn’t mean they are dried because by next year’s spring they will have renewed lush green foliage sprouting. Some popular deciduous trees that are very well-known in the western parts of the world are oak, maples, and beeches.
How to tell if a tree is deciduous or evergreen?
Some features that set deciduous and evergreen trees apart can be easily spotted while others may require a little botany knowledge. In order to help with that, we have added a list of tips that can help you identify which tree is deciduous and which is evergreen.
Foliage:
If you have observed a tree for a while, you can find out if they are deciduous or evergreen depending on whether they lose their foliage during autumn and winter or not.
Because deciduous plants tend to lose parts of their structure, mainly leaves during harsher cold months while evergreen trees maintain the same structure throughout the year.
Leaves:
Deciduous trees have broader leaves compared to evergreen tree leaves.
The larger size helps them produce and retain more sustenance during summer and early fall which they use to survive throughout winter because as their foliage turns yellow and falls off they lose their ability to produce food through photosynthesis.
But since evergreen trees don’t lose their leaves, it isn’t necessary for them to have border leaves and can manage with smaller leaves.
Flowers:
Deciduous trees’ flowers usually begin to grow and bloom in winter when all their leaves have shed off as this makes it easier for insects to spot the flowers and carry pollen for pollination.
But evergreen trees begin flowering mostly in spring and their leaves are present during this time.
Are mango trees evergreen or deciduous?
Mango trees are evergreen because irrespective of how hot the sun is shining or how hard the rain is falling, mango trees almost never lose their foliage completely. They maintain their canopy-shaped foliage throughout the year and the leaves that do fall give way to newer, healthier leaves.
Mango trees are tropical trees that usually thrive in the summer months, the large amount of mangoes they produce during this time is the biggest indication of this. And even though they don’t grow fruits all year round, their foliage stays intact which makes them evergreen.
And yes, there will be masses of fallen mango leaves under the trees but it is important to understand these get replaced by newer leaves and the leaves that do fall do not make that much of a difference to the overall foliage of the mango tree.
Their leaves, unlike deciduous trees, are not too broad and instead come in sizes that can easily fit in the palm of our hands.
Their small size works well for them as they produce food all year round to support themselves and do not have to store food to help themselves function during colder months.
Can a tree be both deciduous and evergreen?
There are trees that can be both deciduous and evergreen even though their characters and features are totally at odds with one another, which makes it hard to believe a tree that could be characterized as both.
But alas, there are trees that possess qualities of both deciduous and evergreen trees.
Bald cypress is one such tree, this can be found in Washington DC, specifically in Roosevelt Island near the Potomac River, this again proves that the habitat plays a huge role when it comes to whether a tree is deciduous, evergreen, or simply both!
They are classified as both because even though they have needle-shaped leaves and produce seed cones when autumn arrives they shed all their leaves, which start regrowing in the spring.
Another similar tree to Bald Cypress is the Dawn redwoods which is a Chinese native plant but is very popular in the neighborhoods of Northern Virginia, this too sheds all its leaves in autumn, leaves that are again small and needle-shaded while producing little seed cones.
Do mango trees lose their leaves in winter?
Despite not being deciduous, mango trees still lose a significant amount of their leaves during the winter months. But that still doesn’t make a huge difference to the huge canopy-like foliage that mango trees possess.
And even though the leaves that have fallen during winter months usually don’t start growing back until the weather gets warmer, the loss isn’t enough that the tree will become completely bare.
But nonetheless, mango trees like most trees mainly lose some of their thick foliage during the harsh, winter months as they are more suited for hot and humid climates.
Is mango tree good for home?
Mango trees are a good addition to any house. Let us begin by discussing the most prevalent and obvious advantage of growing a mango tree, the fruits, which are known to be the king of all other fruits. These fruits can be eaten either ripe or raw.
You can also sell them which will help you financially. And when the tree is large enough, it can provide shade for you. Mango trees don’t just provide fruits and shade for humans but also wildlife.
Mango trees are very beneficial but their placement is very crucial because this will determine if the mango tree will thrive and give you fruits for generations to come or will it perish before it reaches adulthood.
You should plant your mango tree in a spot with well-drained soil and where it will receive ample amounts of sunlight easily all year round.
Are mango trees hardwood?
Mango trees are hardwood even though hardwood comes from trees that have broader leaves. Mango trees’ hardness has been found to be 1,070 pounds per foot when measured using the Janka Hardness scale.
So, this makes it fall somewhere between Mahogany and Oak in terms of hardness. It is also quite durable but still, it is advised to use an external protective finish if you wish to use mango tree wood outdoors.
Many people choose mango tree wood to build furniture or decorative pieces not because of its hardness or durability but the natural grain patterns and markings it comes with. This results in a unique piece every single time!
When do mango trees bloom in Florida?
In Florida, mango trees begin to bloom from December and don’t stop till April. Something we must know is that dryness stimulates mango trees to bloom and Florida happens to be dry, particularly during this time which promotes the mango trees to bloom and pollinate.
However, these fruits take a while to fully ripen, so people don’t get to enjoy them till May but the good thing is from May till October, there is an abundance and variety of mangoes available in Southern Florida.
Can mango trees grow in Georgia, Texas, California, or NC?
As we know it is not possible for mango trees to grow everywhere because of the certain requirements they have. So, let’s see which city in the USA gets to relish this delicious fruit.
Georgia:
Mangoes can grow in Georgia due to their warm summers and mild winters.
Texas:
Mangoes can be grown in Texas and some even grow to be 30 feet tall in height!
California:
California is one of the hottest states in the USA which makes it a perfect place to grow mango trees in.
NC:
Mango trees have only a 20% chance of surviving in NC. So, people usually avoid planting mango trees there.
Final thoughts:
Mango trees are evergreen and eaten with a relish almost everywhere. They come in a large variety which means not all of them lose their leaves or bloom at the same time. The place where they are planted also makes a huge difference in when they will produce fruit.