What Grows in Humid Subtropical Areas?

Orange trees do well in humid, subtropical climates.

Humid, subtropical climates are found in the Southeastern United States, southern coasts of South America, coastal southeastern Africa, south and southeastern Asia and the eastern coast of Australia. The climate has warm summers, mild winters and high levels of humidity and precipitation. Numerous plants thrive in this climate, including live oaks, kudzu, citrus trees and sugar cane, as well as tropical flowers, palm trees, rice, cotton and tobacco.

Live Oaks

Live oak trees (Quercus virginiana) are large, hardwood trees with thick trucks and spreading branches. Live oaks grow across the Southern United States with notable populations in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Live oaks produce edible acorns commonly roasted or milled into flour. The acorns attract many birds and small mammals. One of the most striking live oak characteristics is that they often support epiphytic plants, such as Spanish moss, which wrap around the trunk and branches in sweeping garlands.

Kudzu

Originally imported from its native Southeast Asia, kudzu (Pueraria lobata) are hearty, fast-growing vines that quickly invade and overwhelm an area. According to Smithsonian Magazine, wild kudzu covers approximately 7-million acres in the Southern United States. Gardeners shouldn't fear kudzu. With adequate control and precaution, the vine can be cultivated responsibly and used for a variety of purposes. Its leaves brew into a tonic tea, while the vines provide inexpensive feed for domestic animals or be dried and used in the same manner as flax.

Orange

Orange trees, along with other citrus trees, grow well in humid, subtropical climates. Citrus trees are a type of evergreen, with long, slender branches. Thought to have originated in China and India, Spanish explorers originally brought orange trees to Florida and Louisiana. The tree is slow to grow and mature. Patience is required for growing a fruit-bearing tree.

Sugar Cane

The source for all granulated sugars, rum and molasses, sugar cane (Poaceae saccharum) has, according to the Cane Sugar Trust, been actively cultivated in China and India for more than 2,500 years. Closely related to perennial grasses, sugar cane grows in fibrous stalks that reach up to 20 feet high.

References

• University of Wisconsin; The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography; Michael Ritter; 2006
• University of Florida: Florida Forest Trees
• Smithsonian Magazine; Kudzu: Love It or Run; Doug Stewart; October 2000
• Purdue University Horticulture; Orange -- Fruits Of Warm Climates; Julia F. Morton; 1987
• Cane Sugar Trust Co. Ltd: Cane Sugar

Resources

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Native Plants for Your Backyard -- Southeastern United States