General Discussion

the area in which I live is either pine forest (upland) or cypress forest (wet land). The pines trees have about a fifty year lifespan but this is heavily influenced by hurricanes. I don't have any pines which could fall on my house, I had about a dozen go down during the last three hurricanes. I also don't have any large palm trees near my house although most species are less likely to fall during a hurricane. I had a fifty foot tall live oak fall during Irma. Mahogany trees, which are native here, lose branches but don't seem to fall. Mango trees should be kept below 25 feet in order not to blow over, and if blown over and uprighted immediately they may survive. Invasive earleaf acacias which can easily grow ten feet a year are only emboldened by hurricanes. The many species of beautiful and fragrant flowering trees generally stay below 25 feet and can be planted far enough away from the house not to be a problem. Kapok trees are an exception. They can get 200 feet tall and although they don't usually blow over their giant branches alone can crush a house.

I love the wonderful trees that we have here, but few trees are suitable for within fifty feet of the house and some trees are really only suitable for the botanic garden.