Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes

Trees

• Trees make up important parts of home landscaping, being focal points in yards and offering a wider breath to the height dimension. Palm trees are particular common in landscaping. The Florida Thatch Palm is a low-maintenance and smaller than average, and it blooms white flowers in the summer. For a larger palm, the Florida Royal Palm should be considered which can grow up to 100 feet tall. Other native trees include the Chicksaw Plum, which bears summer fruits and offers a dash of red and yellow with its spring-time flowers, and the Gumbo Limbo, which has a unique red and peeling bark.

Wildflowers

• Wildflowers are the perfect way to spruce up any landscaping project with a hefty dose of color. In Florida, there are many native species that can be chosen. In particular, many of these species are specifically native to Northern Florida. The Columbine is a red and yellow perennial, for example, that is particularly good for attracting hummingbirds, thus finding use in gardens and flower beds for that reason. Landscaping done in hot, dry climates can incorporate the Sundial Lupine, Lady Lupine, or Drummond Plox, all of which thrive in the climate. On the other end, wildflowers that do well in moist climates include the Starrush and Yellow Colicroot.

Shrubs

• Shrubs can be used to add color and depth to any landscaping project, and can also be used to separate and border various areas of a lawn. There are many native shrubs in Florida. Firebush is very popular because of it's red coloring and black fruit, which can be seen year-round. Coastal landscaping may employ Inkberry or Sea Lavender shrubs as they thrive there. Smaller shrubs, like the Adam's Needle, are particular useful for rock gardens. Large shrugs, on the other hand, like the Golden Dewdrop, can reach heights of around 18 feet and are good landscaping plants for background use or to screen lawns.