Pine Island is home to fourth largest sausage tree
The sausage tree found in a St. James City back yard was deemed the fourth largest tree of its kind in the state of Florida.
Long-time residents, George and Dot Birmingham knew their tree was big, but didn’t realize until recently how it measured up with the Florida Urban Forestry council,
“A couple of years ago, two gentlemen thought we should fill out a nomination form with the Forestry Council to see if our sausage tree qualified for its Champion Tree Program,” said Dot Birmingham. “We finally got around to getting the paperwork, taking the measurements and sending it in. We knew the tree was big, but we were very surprised when we were told it was the fourth largest tree the program had recorded.”
According to Birmingham, her tree’s trunk measures nine feet in diameter at four and a half feet above the ground and the umbrella measures 50 feet across.
Birmingham planted the tree shortly after she and her husband moved to Pine Island in 1973.
“I was working at one of the nurseries on the island when I purchased and planted the tree. It is now nearly 35 years old,” Birmingham said. “It turned out to be not only a beautiful tree, but a hardy one as well.”
According to Birmingham, her tree has proved to be fairly hurricane resistant as it only lost a few branches during Hurricane Charlie while other trees in the area were toppled to the ground.
The kigelia pinnata, better known as the sausage tree, is native to North Africa, but thrives well in southwest Florida. The name refers to the sausage-like fruit that is produced after the tree flowers each spring.
“Our tree usually blooms in March, but all the cold weather this year seems to have slowed the budding,” said Birmingham. “I do, however, think that is also helped increase the number of flowers the tree will produce in a week or two. The tree is loaded and should be very spectacular.”
The flowers of the sausage tree are a velvety bell shape and the blooms on this tree are a vivid deep red in color. When the flowers drop, the fruit begins to appear and each of the sausage-shaped growths can weigh as much as 22 pounds. The tree itself can reach heights of 20 feet.
The Champion Tree program began in 1940 to recognize the largest trees of a particular species and those qualifying are named in the National Register of Big Trees. The sausage trees making the list in Florida include the largest known tree in the state which is 100 feet across and can be found in Miami Springs. the second and third largest sausage trees are on the property of the Edison Home in Fort Myers and the fourth belonging to Dot and George Birmingham.
Anyone can nominate a tree for the Champion Tree Program whether it is on private or public land and the recognition is open to all species of trees that grow in Florida, whether or not they are native to the area. However, those trees considered invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council will not be eligible.
Dot and George will welcome visitors to their property when the tree is in full bloom.
“Anyone who is interested in getting a close look at our sausage tree is welcome to pay us a visit,” said Birmingham. “We suggest they plan to visit early in the day since it is a night bloomer and drops its flowers during the day. So it is most impressive around 9 a.m. We only ask that people call us first and don’t just drop in.”
To visit the state’s fourth largest documented sausage tree, call Dot or George Birmingham at 283-2124.