Deciduous or Semi-Evergreen Shrubs Used in Florida As Outdoor Landscape Plants

American Beautyberry

• American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous shrub that grows naturally in Florida and is commonly used in landscaping there. It is moderately tolerant of salt water spray and hardy in USDA Hardiness zones 6 through 10. This is a large shrub that grows to between 6 and 8 feet tall and wide. The leaves are 6 to 8 inches long with a medium green or yellowish-green color and a finely toothed edge. Clusters of small lilac-colored flowers form along the branches at the leaf axils, beginning in the spring and continuing throughout most of the summer. In the fall the tiny flowers are replaced with bunches of 1/4-inch bright metallic-looking magenta and violet berries. This shrub grows well in most types of soil as long as it has good drainage. It is highly tolerant of drought conditions. A sunny location will encourage the best fruit production, but it can also be planted in partial shade.

Butterfly Bush

• The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is semi-evergreen in Florida due to the mild winters. These shrubs are commonly used in Florida but are not tolerant of salt water spray and should not be used for shoreline landscaping. Butterfly bushes are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 10. This is a fairly large shrub that grows to between 6 and 12 feet tall and 4 to 15 feet wide with a weeping growth habit. The foliage is gray-green with long narrow leaves measuring from 6 to 10 inches. It begins blooming in late spring and continues throughout the summer until first frost, producing 8- to 24-inch long stems covered in tiny flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They can be planted in full sun or partial shade and are not particular about soil types. They prefer a dry location. They will not grow where the soil stays wet.

Knock Out Roses

• Knock Out roses (Rosa Radrazz) are deciduous shrubs used in Florida landscaping. This variety is resistant to the blackspot fungal disease that can make growing rose bushes difficult in areas of high humidity. They are not especially tolerant of salt water spray, however, and should not be used along the shore. These shrubs are winter hardy in USDA Planting Zones 4 through 9 and bloom all year long in zone 8B and below. Knock Out rose bushes grow to a height of 4 feet and width of 3 feet. The 3 1/2-inch diameter blooms have a single row of petals and are bright cherry red. The dark purple-green foliage turns burgundy in the fall. Knock Out roses prefer a location that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight each day but will also thrive and bloom with as little as 3 hours per day. They do best in slightly acidic loamy soil with average moisture but are drought tolerant once established.