Xeriscape Plants in Florida

Boston Fern

• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is native to Florida's humid forests and swamps. Its leaflets grow as long as 3 feet. Floridata describes them as "shallowly toothed, but not further divided." The Boston fern thrives in moist soil and very humid conditions, but it will survive short droughts. It dies to the ground at first frost but re-emerges with the warmth of spring.

Bougainvillea

• Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp) is a native of South America. It is a woody vine with a sprawling habit that produces green, heart-shaped leaves. Colorful, long bracts surround small yellow flowers. Vigorous climbers, bougainvillea vines can grow up to 40 feet high. Bougainvillea prefer rich loamy soil that drains well. It grows in full sun. Frost kills it to the ground, but it may re-emerge in the spring if the iground temperatures are warm enough during the winter.

Buccaneer Palm

• Buccaneer or Sargent's cherry palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii) is native to South Florida, Cuba and the Caribbean. It grows slowly. Its leaves are 4 to 9 feet long and its leaflets are 2 feet long. The Buccaneer palm's trunk turns light to dark gray as the plant ages. It has high drought tolerance as well as a high salt tolerance. It is hardy to a minimum temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Buccaneer palms grow 10 to 25 feet tall with canopies that extend 8 to 12 feet wide.

King Sago Palm

• King sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is native to the Far East. It will survive if the temperature occasionally dips down as low as 32 F, but you will have to provide some protection from the cold. King sago palms can reach 6 feet tall. King sagos perform best in full or partial sunlight. They grow slowly.

Live Oak

• Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is a native of Florida. It tends to be wider than it is tall. It grows in dry to moist soil, faring well in sandy, coastal soils. It tolerates salt well. Plant live oaks in full sun. They grow at a moderate rate, and are hardy down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Live oaks grow as tall as 85 feet with a wide spreading crown.

Swamp Fern

• Swamp Fern (Blechnum serrulatum) is native to Florida and the Caribbean. It grows at a fast rate. It prefers acidic soil, and does not tolerate long periods of drought. It grows up to 4 feet high. The fronds are pinnate; its leaflets have a wrinkled appearance with serrated edges. New growth is coppery pink and later transforms into a dark green. Swamp ferns prefer swampy conditions.