📌 Quick Reference — Key Takeaways
- Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) reaches 30–40 ft tall, grows at a slow-to-moderate rate, and is commonly planted as an urban shade/street tree in warm climates.
- Its seeds and fruit are toxic to pets and mildly toxic if ingested by humans — filter the table for "Pet Toxicity: None" for a safer alternative.
- It is regulated/invasive in Florida — filter for "Invasive Concern: No" if planting in the US Southeast.
- Fast-shade seekers should sort by Growth Rate = Fast.
- Low-maintenance seekers should sort by Maintenance = Low.
Data compiled from/expanded on this guide: cupaniopsis anacardioides.
| Tree (Common / Botanical) | Mature Height | Mature Spread | Growth Rate | Evergreen | Pet Toxicity | Human Toxicity | Invasive Concern (Region) | Primary Use | Maintenance | Climate Zone (USDA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrotwood — Cupaniopsis anacardioides | 30–40 ft | 30–40 ft | Slow–Moderate | Yes | Yes (fruit/seeds) | Mild (seeds) | Yes (FL, regulated) | Street/shade | Low | 9b–11 |
| Live Oak — Quercus virginiana | 40–80 ft | 60–100 ft | Slow | Yes | None | None | No | Shade/specimen | Low | 7b–10b |
| Southern Magnolia — Magnolia grandiflora | 60–80 ft | 30–50 ft | Slow–Moderate | Yes | None | None | No | Shade/ornamental | Moderate | 6–10 |
| Chinese Elm — Ulmus parvifolia | 40–50 ft | 35–50 ft | Fast | Semi-evergreen | None | None | Mild (some regions) | Shade/street | Moderate | 4–9 |
| Camphor Tree — Cinnamomum camphora | 50–60 ft | 50–60 ft | Fast | Yes | Mild | Mild | Yes (FL, CA) | Shade | Low | 9–11 |
| Jacaranda — Jacaranda mimosifolia | 25–40 ft | 25–40 ft | Moderate | Deciduous | None | None | Mild (CA) | Ornamental/shade | Moderate | 9b–11 |
| Crape Myrtle — Lagerstroemia indica | 15–25 ft | 15–20 ft | Moderate–Fast | Deciduous | None | None | No | Ornamental/street | Low | 6–9 |
| Bottlebrush — Callistemon citrinus | 10–25 ft | 10–15 ft | Fast | Yes | None | None | Mild (CA) | Street/hedge | Low | 8–11 |
| Tabebuia (Trumpet Tree) — Tabebuia spp. | 25–30 ft | 20–25 ft | Moderate | Deciduous | None | None | No | Ornamental | Low | 9b–11 |
| Ficus (Laurel Fig) — Ficus microcarpa | 25–60 ft | 50–60 ft | Fast | Yes | Mild | Mild | Yes (invasive roots) | Shade | High | 9b–11 |
| Silk Oak — Grevillea robusta | 50–100 ft | 25–40 ft | Fast | Yes | Mild (allergen) | Mild (allergen) | Yes (CA, HI) | Shade/timber | Moderate | 9–11 |
| Chinaberry — Melia azedarach | 30–50 ft | 30–40 ft | Fast | Deciduous | Yes (berries) | Yes (berries) | Yes (Southeast US) | Shade | Low | 7–11 |
| Green Buttonwood — Conocarpus erectus | 20–40 ft | 20–30 ft | Moderate | Yes | None | None | No | Coastal/street | Low | 10b–11 |
| Gumbo Limbo — Bursera simaruba | 25–40 ft | 25–35 ft | Moderate | Semi-deciduous | None | None | No | Shade/native | Low | 10–11 |
| Chinese Tallow — Triadica sebifera | 20–40 ft | 20–35 ft | Fast | Deciduous | Yes (seeds/sap) | Yes (seeds/sap) | Yes (highly, banned in some states) | Shade (historic) | Low | 8–10 |
| Mahogany (West Indian) — Swietenia mahagoni | 40–60 ft | 40–60 ft | Slow–Moderate | Yes | None | None | Mild (FL) | Shade/timber | Low | 10–11 |
| Golden Rain Tree — Koelreuteria paniculata | 20–35 ft | 20–35 ft | Fast | Deciduous | Mild (seeds) | Mild (seeds) | Mild (some regions) | Ornamental/shade | Low | 5–9 |
| Weeping Bottlebrush — Melaleuca viminalis | 15–20 ft | 10–15 ft | Fast | Yes | None | None | No | Ornamental | Low | 8–11 |
Q: Is Carrotwood safe to plant near a home with dogs or small children? A: Not ideal. Its fruit and seeds carry mild toxicity if ingested. Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, or Green Buttonwood are non-toxic alternatives with comparable shade coverage.
Q: Why is Carrotwood restricted in Florida? A: It's classified as invasive there due to prolific seed dispersal and displacement of native coastal vegetation. Gumbo Limbo and Green Buttonwood are Florida-native substitutes with similar form.
Q: What's the fastest-growing tree in this list with low toxicity risk? A: Chinese Elm — fast growth, non-toxic, moderate maintenance.
Q: Which trees on this list handle coastal/salt conditions like Carrotwood does? A: Green Buttonwood, Gumbo Limbo, and Carrotwood itself are all salt-tolerant coastal performers.
Q: My tree's leaves are yellowing — is this common across this genus/type? A: Yellowing in broadleaf evergreens (Carrotwood, Live Oak, Magnolia) is most often overwatering or iron chlorosis in alkaline soil, not a species-specific defect.