30 Best Native Plants for Florida

The best native plants for Florida grow beautifully on their own, without constant watering, fertilizing, or fuss. Adapted to the state’s heat, sand, and rain, these 30 Florida native plants bring color, wildlife, and low-maintenance charm to any yard.

Your natural environment is already filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, and grasses that thrive without human help. Add a few to your landscape and your yard can be as lovely and carefree as a wildflower meadow.

We’ll walk you through 30 of the best natives for Florida gardens, why they work, and how to pick the right ones for your yard. If you would rather not dig in yourself, LawnLove’s gardening services can handle the planting for you.

30 native plants for Florida

Florida’s best native plants include wildflowers like tickseed and black-eyed Susan, shrubs like beautyberry and firebush, trees like the southern live oak and gumbo-limbo, plus native palms, vines, and grasses. Here are 30 of the best, with the growing conditions each one needs.

1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

American beautyberry is a delightfully colorful shrub you’ve definitely seen around if you live in Florida. They grow everywhere. You’ll quickly recognize the beautyberry shrub for the little balls of bright purple fruits that bejewel each branch in late summer to early fall.

During this season, the fruits pop brilliantly against the broad, light green leaves, attracting the eye and attracting birds to your garden. 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 6a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Prefers nutrient-rich soils high in organic matter but also tolerates poor, sandy soils

• Duration: Perennial 

• Foliage: Deciduous 

• Mature size: 3-8 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide 

2. Azalea native species (Rhododendron spp.)

Believe it or not, when we talk about Florida native azaleas, that does not include the extremely common white or pink azaleas that line nearly every home in North and Central Florida. The azalea species you’re probably most familiar with is Rhododendron indicum, which is native to Japan. 

Though they’re less common in landscapes, Florida has a few of its own beautiful native azalea species that can set your home apart from the sea of pink and white flowers. Some examples:

• Piedmont azalea (R. canescens): Variations of white to deep pink blooms that resemble the non-native azaleas; Found in the Panhandle and North Central Florida

• Florida flame azalea (R. austrinum): Yellow, gold, tangerine, or apricot blooms; found in areas of the Panhandle

• Alabama azalea (R. alabamense): Pure white blooms with yellow blotches; found in a few counties of the North Central Panhandle 

• Swamp azalea (R. viscosum): White or pale pink tubular, trumpet-shaped blooms; found on moist streambanks and swamp edges

Maybe you can mix up your landscape a little this spring with one of Florida’s intriguing native azaleas. 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 5a-9b (varies depending on the species)

• Sunlight needs: Partial shade

• Soil needs: Well-draining, acidic soil

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Most Florida native species are deciduous 

• Mature size: Depends on the species; up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide

3. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susans look like little daisies with bright yellow petals and a stark black center. They’re a charming and classic addition to any flower garden. Even better, they can survive most harsh conditions, including drought, heat, and high salt content in the air (perfect if you live on the coast).

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 3a-9b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Tolerates just about any soil type

• Duration: Biennial or short-lived perennial

• Mature size: 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

4. Blazing star (Liatris spp.)

Blazing star, also known as gayfeather or colic root, is much beloved by pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It would do well as part of a butterfly garden.

Gardeners love blazing star, too, because it’s hardy and difficult to kill, and its purple bottlebrush-shaped blooms add an interesting texture to the garden. 

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 8a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Mature size: 2-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

5. Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus)

You can use buttonwood for many different purposes in the landscape. Continuously cut back a buttonwood plant and keep it small as a shrub, let it grow into a tall ornamental tree, or plant a row of them as a privacy hedge.

If you let buttonwood grow tall, its trunk will form a twisted, leaning sort of shape. 

• Growth habit: Tree or shrub

• Hardiness zones: 10b-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Can grow in pretty much any soil 

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 15-20 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide

6. Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Use this clump-forming vine to cover a trellis, stone wall, or another landscape feature. The vine has dark green, spear-shaped leaves year-round and blooms with light yellow trumpet flowers in late winter to early spring.

Carolina jessamine might look beautiful, but it’s highly poisonous if eaten, so it may not be a great choice if you have pets. 

• Growth habit: Vine

• Hardiness zones: 7a-9b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Well-draining acidic to slightly alkaline soil

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: Spreads 10-20 feet 

7. Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)

The coontie is a cycad, which is a group of plants that have been on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Coontie plants are native to South Florida, and they’re the only native cycad in North America.

So you can feel very special if you have one of these in your yard.

Coonties have feathery leaves like palm fronds, and they grow low to the ground. They have a softer texture than other cycads and no sharp edges. You might use a group planting of coonties to border a garden or provide ground cover.

Warning: All parts of coontie plants are toxic if ingested, and eating even a few seeds could be fatal. Never plant coonties where pets or small children might get into them. 

• Growth habit: Low-growing clumps or ground cover 

• Hardiness zones: 8a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Grows well in any light conditions, from full sun to full shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 2-3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide 

8. Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea)

Coral bean loves the hot South Florida climate, and it can grow into a tall shrub or small ornamental tree there. In the rest of the state, it usually doesn’t get larger than a tall flower.

Wherever you are, coral bean’s skinny, bright red blooms look like seed pods that grow on tall stalks and make a striking addition to any landscape. 

Beware that coral bean produces poisonous seeds, so once again it isn’t the best choice for a pet-friendly landscape. Even though pets should stay away from it, wildlife like hummingbirds and butterflies love coral bean’s flowers.

• Growth habit: Flower (North and Central Florida) or tall shrub or small tree (South Florida)

• Hardiness zones: 8a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Prefers fast-draining sandy soils but can do well in any soil type as long as it has sufficient drainage

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Deciduous 

• Mature size: 5-15 feet tall

9. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Coral honeysuckle, also known as trumpet honeysuckle, is a clumping vine with showy, bright red flowers. The flowers are thin and tubular with bright yellow stamens sticking out of the ends, and they grow in clusters that hang down from the vine.

Coral honeysuckle blooms throughout spring and early summer and attracts many birds and butterflies. 

• Growth habit: Vine

• Hardiness zones: 4a-9b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen in Florida’s warm climate

• Mature size: Spreads 3-20 feet

10. Elliott’s aster (Symphyotrichum elliottii)

Most flowers bloom in spring or summer, leaving your landscape bare and colorless for half the year. Enter Elliott’s aster. These lavender flowers unfurl their petals in late fall to add a pop of color when your garden needs it most.

The blooms are fragrant and plentiful, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. 

One potential issue: Elliott’s aster spreads aggressively, so you’ll have to cut it back regularly (unless you want to turn your whole yard into a blanket of purple blossoms). 

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 8a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Moist soils (like those near stream banks or wetlands)

• Duration: Perennial

• Mature size: 3-5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide

11. Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides)

Want tall ornamental grass to border a flower bed or driveway? Fakahatchee grass is a native option. In appearance, it’s pretty standard for ornamental grass, with long, crisp, spear-shaped blades. In South Florida, it may sprout red spikes of flowers in late spring to mid-summer.

Fakahatchee grass is impressively hardy and can survive both drought and flooding (making it an excellent choice for rain gardens). 

• Growth habit: Ornamental grass

• Hardiness zones: 8a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Can survive in most soils as long as they have some drainage

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 4-6 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide

12. Fern native species 

Ferns come in all shapes, sizes, and textures, and Florida’s native ferns don’t disappoint in variety. Whether you want a ground cover, a garden backdrop, a potted porch plant, or an interesting specimen, you can find a Florida native fern to fit the bill. 

Here are a few examples:

• Southern shield fern (Thelypteris kunthii): Grows 1-3 feet tall and works well as a ground cover; soft and feathery fronds with sawtooth-patterned leaves

• Swamp fern (Telmatoblechnum serrulatum): Grows 2-3 feet tall and occurs naturally near swamps and wetlands; wide fronds with leathery, glossy leaves

• Giant leather fern (Acrostichum danaeifolium): Grows 6-12 feet tall and works well in the landscape as a background planting, specimen plant, or even a hedge; large, glossy fronds that grow in a clump, reaching up tall and cascading outward from the center 

• Venus maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris): Grows 1-2 feet tall and grows well in a container or in the ground as ground cover; light green leaves with an unusual shape, very different from your typical fern

• Long strap fern (Campyloneurum phyllitidis): Grows 2-3 feet tall and makes a showy specimen plant; long, light green leaves that look like kelp

As a general rule, ferns love moist conditions and shade. Research the specific species you want in your yard to find out what conditions it needs before you plant. 

• Growth habit: Fern

• Hardiness zones: 7a-10b (varies by species)

• Sunlight needs: Partial or full shade (some species may tolerate full sun)

• Soil needs: Moist but well-draining soils (some species may tolerate drier conditions)

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Some species are deciduous and some are evergreen

• Mature size: Anywhere from 1 foot tall and wide to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide, depending on species 

13. Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Firebush is so named because from spring until winter, this shrub is covered in splashes of bright red or red-orange from many clusters of tubular flowers. While they add color to your landscape, the flowers also attract many birds and butterflies.

And the shrub itself is drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, pest-resistant, and disease-resistant. 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 8a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 8-12 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide without support; Can reach up to 15 feet if growing up a trellis or other structure

14. Gumbo-limbo tree (Bursera simaruba)

If you live in South Florida or the Keys, a gumbo-limbo is a great choice for a shade tree. It loves the hot, humid tropical climate, and it withstands strong winds, which will come in handy during hurricane season.

The leaves are bright green and stand out against this tree’s real point of interest: its reddish, peeling bark. The gumbo-limbo also produces clusters of tiny light green flowers in late winter through spring. 

• Growth habit: Tree 

• Hardiness zones: 10b-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Sandy soils or clay soils with good drainage

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Deciduous 

• Mature size: 30 to 40 feet tall with a canopy of up to 60 feet

15. Lanceleaf blanket flower (Gaillardia aestivalis)

The most common blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) is widely sold, but lanceleaf blanket flower is a similar species native to North and Central Florida. 

The lanceleaf blanket flower grows in clumps, like most species of blanket flower. Its blooms have an interesting shape with fan-like petals, and they’re usually yellow or yellow and red.

You may choose to include lanceleaf blanket flowers alongside other wildflowers in a garden or use this plant as a ground cover since it spreads in a clumping growth habit. 

• Growth habit: Flower or ground cover

• Hardiness zones: 3a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well

• Duration: Short-lived perennial

• Mature size: 1-3 feet tall and up to 2-foot spread per plant

16. Marsh hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)

Florida’s native hibiscus is the marsh hibiscus, also known as swamp mallow or scarlet rosemallow. In mid- to late summer, it blooms with huge, deep pink flowers with brown or fuchsia centers. Even though it naturally occurs near streams, ponds, and wetlands, the marsh hibiscus also can tolerate drier soils.

As a specimen plant, it adds a colorful, tropical touch to the landscape. 

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 8a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Does best in wet soils but tolerates some dry soils

• Duration: Perennial

• Mature size: 4-8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide

17. Milkweed native species (Asclepias spp.)

Milkweed is one of the best flowers for a pollinator garden. It’s most famous for attracting butterflies with its nectar and serving as a host plant for caterpillars. It also provides nectar for bees.

There are several milkweed species native to Florida with different color flowers, so you can choose the one that best fits your palette. 

Some Florida native milkweeds:

• Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa): By far the most common native species and the only native you’ll find at many nurseries; bright orange flowers

• Clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis): Pink flowers

• Curtiss’ milkweed (Asclepias curtissii): White flowers

• Pineland milkweed (Asclepias obovata): Greenish flowers

• Savannah milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata): Yellowish flowers

Most of the milkweeds you find at the nursery are non-natives, so ask about them before purchasing.

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 4a-10a (varies by species)

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Dry, sandy soils

• Duration: Some species are perennials and some are annuals

• Mature size: 1-4 feet tall and less than a foot wide

18. Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Muhly grass is an ornamental grass that’s a little more interesting to look at than the usual. It grows in clumps that sprout tufts of soft, fuzzy flowers in fall. When in bloom, muhly grass looks like a cloud of pink, white, or purple.

The visual effect works best when you plant several tufts together in a group or as a border around a landscape bed. 

• Growth habit: Ornamental grass

• Hardiness zones: 7a-11b 

• Sunlight needs: Full sun

• Soil needs: Can grow in most soils, including flooded soils that drain poorly

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Semi-evergreen

• Mature size: 2-3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide

19. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Oakleaf hydrangea is a shrub that grows best in full shade, so it’s perfect if you need something to plant under a large tree.

It has leaves shaped like oak leaves (thus the name) that can grow up to a foot wide, and it produces clusters of small white flowers in spring and early summer. In fall, the large leaves change to bright red and orange to add fall color to your landscape. 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 5a-9a 

• Sunlight needs: Full shade

• Soil needs: Can grow in most soils but does best with good drainage 

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Deciduous 

• Mature size: 6-12 feet tall and 6-12 feet wide

20. Palm natives

Nothing says Florida like a palm tree. Palms love the state’s hot summers and mild winters, and you have many native species of different sizes to choose from. 

Here are just a few Florida native palms:

• Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto): Florida’s state tree with a classic palm look; grows up to 40 feet tall 

• Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens): Small, multi-trunked palm that grows in clumps and works well as a ground cover; grows 5-10 feet tall

• Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix): Low-growing palm that resembles a shrub with dark green, fan-shaped leaves; grows up to 8 feet tall

• Royal palm (Roystonea regia): Tall palm with a brown trunk that turns to green toward the crown and long fronds that cascade in all directions; grows up to 70 feet tall

• Everglades palm (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii): Medium-height palm that grows in clusters of multiple trunks and spreads freely; grows up to 30 feet tall 

Beware that some of Florida’s native palms don’t tolerate cold at all and may not be suitable for the northern part of the state. 

• Growth habit: Palm

• Hardiness zones: Varies a lot by species

• Sunlight needs: Some species need full sun while others can tolerate partial shade

• Soil needs: Dry, well-draining soils, like sandy soils

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: Varies a lot by species

21. Powderpuff mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa)

Did you ever read The Lorax as a child? The whimsical powderpuff mimosa flower will remind you of tiny truffula trees. Powderpuff mimosa grows along the ground and spreads quickly, so it makes a great ground cover.

The pink “powder puffs” bloom from spring through fall, and the plant also sports tiny fern-like fronds. 

• Growth habit: Flower or ground cover

• Hardiness zones: 8a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Moist loam and sandy soils that drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 3-4 inches tall and spreads up to 100 feet wide

22. Scarlet salvia (Salvia coccinea)

Scarlet salvia is a tall flower that produces a spike of bright red, tubular blooms from spring through fall. These flowers are excellent for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Scarlet salvia can thrive in a variety of conditions, and it’s drought-tolerant.

• Growth habit: Flower

• Hardiness zones: 7a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Sandy, loam, or rocky soils that drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Mature size: 1-4 feet tall and 9-18 inches wide

23. Sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera)

Sea grape grows naturally on the coasts of Central and South Florida, where it’s protected as an endangered species. It’s very sensitive to cold, so you won’t be able to grow this one if you live in North Florida, where winter temperatures occasionally dip below freezing. 

If you live in the warmer areas of the state, you can grow sea grape as a shrub or small tree, depending on how you prune it.

Sea grape’s round, light green leaves make for interesting foliage, and you can eat the tiny fruits that grow in grape-like clusters and taste something like muscadine grapes. 

• Growth habit: Shrub or small tree

• Hardiness zones: 9a-11b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Sandy soils 

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen 

• Mature size: 10-50 feet (height depends on how you prune it) and 20-30 feet wide at the crown

24. Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana)

The southern live oak is a classic shade tree throughout the southern United States, including Florida. Like most oaks, the branches of this tree sprawl dozens of feet in all directions and hang down low to the ground.

You need LOTS of space on your property if you want to plant one and watch it grow over the years.

• Growth habit: Tree

• Hardiness zones: 8a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Moist soils that drain well

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: Up to 60 feet tall with a spread of up to 100 feet

25. Southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Southern wax myrtle is a tall shrub with olive green, glossy leaves. It grows dense, so several of them together work well as hedges or wind screens. They tend to attract birds and butterflies with their berries. Southern wax myrtles do well on the coasts because they’re highly salt-tolerant. 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 7b-11b

• Sunlight needs: Can grow in any light conditions, from full sun to full shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soil conditions, even poorly draining soil that floods 

• Duration: Perennial 

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: Can grow up to 25 feet, but usually seen at no more than 12 feet in landscapes

26. Star anise (Illicium spp.)

Are you familiar with the star anise spice? It comes from Illicium vera, a star anise plant native to China and Vietnam. Florida has two of its own native species from the same family. They don’t produce the spice, but the leaves give off a strong licorice-like scent when crushed. 

Star anises in general are shrubs that grow very quickly. You can let them grow tall and use them as a hedge or windbreak or prune them shorter as an ornamental plant in the landscape.

They tolerate harsh growing conditions (although they have little to no salt tolerance), and they don’t usually have any problems with pests.

Here are more details on Florida’s native star anise species:

• Florida anise (Illicium floridanum): Blooms dark red, star-shaped flowers in spring; native to the Northwest Panhandle; Foliage is poisonous 

• Yellow star anise (Illicium parviflorum): Produces tiny, cup-shaped yellow blooms in spring and fruits in late summer or early fall; native to Central Florida; leaves and fruit are poisonous 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 7a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Does best in partial shade; grows in full shade but thinner 

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as there’s no high salt content and plenty of moisture

• Duration: Perennial 

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 15-20 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide

27. Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)

Tickseed flowers are like little drops of sunshine, so it makes sense that they’re the official state wildflower of the Sunshine State. There are more than 100 different species and cultivars of tickseed, but most are the brightest yellow with a ring of brown around the center.

Like most wildflowers, they bloom in spring and summer. 

You can find tickseed seeds just about anywhere in Florida, and once you have them growing in your yard, tickseeds will reseed themselves so you don’t have to plant again.

• Growth habit: Flower 

• Hardiness zones: 4a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Does best in full sun but tolerates partial shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils as long as they drain well 

• Duration: Some species are annuals and some are perennials

• Mature size: 1-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide (size depends on the species)

28. Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)

Walter’s viburnum is a shrub or small tree, depending on how you prune it. Some cultivars grow up to 20 feet tall, but there are also dwarf varieties if you’re looking for a smaller shrub. Year-round, Walter’s viburnum has glossy, dark green leaves that grow densely.

Then, in spring, masses of small white flowers stand out brilliantly against the leaves. 

Walter’s viburnum spreads by root suckers and can grow “clone” plants. If you don’t want to let it spread freely, you’ll have to be vigilant about pruning the plant and removing the suckers. 

• Growth habit: Shrub or small tree

• Hardiness zones: 7a-10b

• Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade

• Soil needs: Tolerates most soils 

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 10-15 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide

29. Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)

You can’t make a morning cup of Joe with a wild coffee shrub, but you can add a jolt of energy to your landscape. The bright green leaves are glossy and have an interesting ridged texture, and bright red berries bring an extra pop of color in summer and fall.

The contrasting red and green can remind you of the holidays even in the middle of the year.

Wild coffee’s fruits attract birds and other wildlife, and the small white flowers that bloom in spring and summer are a source of nectar for Southeast Florida’s rare and beautiful Atala butterfly.

• Growth habit: Shrub 

• Hardiness zones: 10b-11b

• Sunlight needs: Partial shade or full shade

• Soil needs: Doesn’t like heavy clay soils 

• Duration: Perennial

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 4-10 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide

30. Yucca native species (Yucca spp.)

Yucca plants are much like succulents in that they need lots of sun and fast-draining soils. They can survive long periods with no water, and they do well in high heat and humidity (hello, Florida). Yucca plants are very easy to grow, especially in their native range. 

Florida has 3 native yucca species:

• Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia): Sharp-tipped, spear-shaped leaves that fan out in a circle from the center of the plant; produces drooping clusters of little bell-shaped white flowers that stick out above the foliage in spring to late summer; native along all of Florida’s coasts

• Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa): Hard, sharp, spear-shaped leaves covered with stringy filaments that look like hair; produces large, upright clusters of bulbous white flowers for several weeks in summer; native throughout most of Florida except the extreme south

• Moundlily yucca (Yucca gloriosa): Large rosette of very sharp spine-tipped leaves; upright clusters of white flowers rise 6-8 feet above the foliage; native to a few small areas in North Florida 

• Growth habit: Shrub

• Hardiness zones: 5a-10b (varies by species)

• Sunlight needs: Full sun 

• Soil needs: Fast-draining sandy soils 

• Duration: Some species are annuals and others are perennials 

• Foliage: Evergreen

• Mature size: 2-10 feet tall and 2-6 feet wide (size depends on the species)

Read more:

• Florida’s Top 10 Most Popular Landscape Plants

• 15 Flowers That Bloom Year-Round in Florida

Why native plants?

Native plants are any plants that naturally occur in your area. Since Florida is their “home,” they have adapted to survive in the local climate and to resist local pests and plant diseases. The results of all those adaptations are plants that essentially take care of themselves once established. 

So, native plants are easier to take care of than non-natives. There are other native plant benefits, too.

Native plants:

• Use less water than non-natives because natural rainfall is usually enough to sustain them

• Have fewer pests and diseases because they’re naturally resistant, which means they don’t need as many pesticides or fungicides as non-natives 

• Rarely need fertilizer to grow strong and healthy, as long as you plant them in a spot with the right soil and sunlight conditions

• Benefit local wildlife such as birds and pollinators by providing food, shelter, and nectar

• Help preserve the natural ecosystem of your area, unlike non-natives, which can be invasive 

Native plants are better for you and for the environment. And as you can see, there are many beautiful varieties of natives in Florida. There’s no downside. 

Choosing the right native plants for your yard

Not every Florida native plant will be right for every yard. Specific plants need specific conditions, such as sunlight and soil type, to thrive. 

Here are the things you should know about a plant before you can decide if it’s right for you.

Hardiness zones

The USDA has developed “plant hardiness zones” that represent the lowest yearly temperatures in an area. Zones go from 1a (the coldest) to 13b (the hottest). 

Florida’s hardiness zones range from 8a in the northwest to 11a in the southeast. Learn your area’s hardiness zone and always make sure a plant is suited for your zone before purchasing it. Otherwise, your plants may freeze and die in winter. 

Sunlight needs

Different plants need different amounts of sunlight every day. They may need: 

• Full sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day 

• Partial sun or partial shade: 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day

• Full shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight per day, preferably in the morning

Pay attention to how long the sun touches each area of your yard every day so you can choose the best plants for each spot. 

Soil needs

Learn your soil type and soil pH before planting anything new. Different plants thrive in soils with different levels of drainage and different acidity.

Growing plants that aren’t suited to your natural soil type will result in lots of extra work for you because you’ll have to amend your soil every season.

Duration

Duration determines how long a plant lasts. 

• Annuals bloom for only 1 season, and you have to replace them the next year. 

• Biennials bloom for 2 seasons before needing a replacement. 

• Perennials will keep coming back and blooming year after year. Short-lived perennials last only a few years, maybe less than 5, while long-lived perennials last for several years. 

Foliage

The foliage of a plant is its leaves. Evergreen plants keep their leaves all year long, while the leaves of deciduous plants change colors and fall off the branches in fall, leaving the plant bare through winter.

If you want to create a hedge or windscreen that lasts throughout the year, you’ll need evergreen plants. 

Mature size

The size of a plant when you purchase it from the nursery won’t be the size of the plant forever. Plan your garden according to the mature sizes of plants so they all have plenty of space to grow and thrive. 

Where to find more native plants for Florida

Not satisfied with these plants? There are many more Florida natives. These resources can help you find the perfect native addition to your landscape:

• University of Florida’s native plants database

• Florida Native Plant Society 

• Native plants overview from UF/IFAS

Native plants make a great foundation for a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly landscape. Once you’ve taken this first step, you’ll be all set for more low-maintenance landscaping tips like xeriscaping, using mulch, or installing hardscapes. 

Read more:

• 12 Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Ideas

• Xeriscape Ideas to Transform Your Yard (Without Living in a Desert)

FAQs

Let LawnLove handle your Florida yard

Native plants make a beautiful, low-maintenance foundation for your landscape, but even easy gardens need an occasional helping hand. Let LawnLove’s local lawn care pros take care of the work so you can sit back and enjoy the Florida sunshine instead of working and sweating in it.

Main Image Credit: James St. John | Flickr | CC BY 2.0