Plants for a North Central Florida Landscape

Trees

• The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) quickly grows to 80 feet tall. This large tree is suitable for parks or large yards. Dark-green, needle-like leaves turn brown in the fall. A good tree to plant in wet areas, yet it adapts to periodic drought. This native tree needs full sun and tolerates any kind of soil.

  Red maple (Acer rubrum) becomes up to 60 feet tall. It tolerates most soils and full sun or partial shade. In the fall, leaves turn deep red or bright yellow.

  Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), sometimes called old man's beard, grows slowly only becoming 20 feet tall. This deciduous tree is suitable for a smaller yard. It prefers sun or partial shade and moist well-drained soil. White fragrant flowers cover it in May. In fall, dark blue berries attract birds.

Flowering Vines

• Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) branches grow quickly to 25 feet and will twine up a trellis or anything available. It produces red or yellow flowers all summer, attracting hummingbirds. In fall, dark red berries attract birds. This native vine prefers moist well-drained soil but will tolerate occasional drought.

  Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) loves the heat in north central Florida and grows rapidly in full sun. Most are various shades of red but you can purchase pink, yellow or white, too. The branches grow up to 15 feet long. You can plant and train these against a fence or wall where they will cascade over the top. They need some moisture and good drainage.

Flowering Shrubs

• Camellia (Camellia japonica) grows slowly to 12 feet. The camellia prefers partial shade and acidic moist soil, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. It is one of the few shrubs that thrive under pine trees. It has dark-green, leathery foliage and white, pink or red flowers bloom in late winter or spring.

  For a smaller shrub, plant Kleim's hardy gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). This evergreen shrub grows only 3 feet tall. It needs partial or full sun and moist well-drained soil. White, fragrant flowers bloom in spring and summer.

  Jasmine (Jasminum floridum) slowly grows 3 to 5 feet high. The foliage consists of slender, green stems that grow up and then fall over in a fountain effect. Yellow flowers bloom in spring and early summer. It prefers full sun and moist well-drained soil, but tolerates periods of drought and partial shade.