How do you choose the right native plants for your Jacksonville home?<\/p>
Jacksonville falls between USDA Hardiness Zones 8B and 9A<\/a>, so look for plants that can thrive in that area under those climatic conditions. Also, keep in mind that the soil composition in and around Jacksonville is mostly sand and clay, which most native plants are accustomed to. <\/p> There are more than 2,400 native species in Florida. Whether you\u2019re looking to plant shrubs, wildflowers, or trees, here are 13 of the best native plants for your Jacksonville home.<\/p> Black-eyed Susans<\/a> are drought-resistant wildflowers that range in color from yellow to orange to red. They thrive in Florida\u2019s coastal landscape and can do well in most soil types. Black-eyed Susans are durable, easy to grow, and perfect for anyone wanting to attract butterflies to their garden. <\/p> In addition to being a classic component of tropical landscapes, the sabal palm<\/a> (also known as cabbage palm) is the state tree of Florida. It gets its name from its edible leaves, which have a flavor similar to cabbage. <\/p> Bees love a sabal palm’s tiny white flowers, and other wildlife will consume the small black fruit. Keep an eye out for signs of lethal bronzing, such as dead lower fronds and flower spikes.<\/p> Add some brilliant color to your landscape with blanket flowers<\/a>. This is a very popular garden plant for the area because it is drought-tolerant, disease- and pest-resistant, and adaptable to Florida\u2019s environmental conditions. These beautiful wildflowers range in color from yellow, orange, and red to reddish-purple.<\/p> Blanket flowers bloom from spring to fall in Jacksonville and North Florida. Blanket flowers are a real magnet for butterflies and small birds. Blanket flowers spread quickly and can make a beautiful ground cover.<\/p> Azaleas<\/a> are a show-stopping species of shrub that will make your yard pop with bursting pink, white, and red flowers. Azaleas are low-maintenance and drought-resistant plants, only needing occasional pruning to stay healthy.\u00a0<\/p> Most evergreen azaleas are hybrids originating from China. You can tell if an azalea is native because it will be fragrant, whereas non-native azaleas lack a fragrance. Common native varieties include the Florida flame azalea<\/a> and bush honeysuckle<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> Beach sunflower<\/a> is a drought-resistant plant that thrives in sandy soils — perfect for coastal area homes in Jacksonville. This is a very low-maintenance plant that many gardeners use for ground cover. Be careful not to overwater because it can slow the plant\u2019s growth and cause damage and disease, such as sunflower rust.\u00a0<\/p> Beach sunflowers will bring life to your garden by attracting birds and butterflies. Their yellow flowers remain bright year-round, as long as temperatures remain above freezing.<\/p> Does your backyard get a lot of shade? Oakleaf hydrangea<\/a> is a native plant that thrives in the shade. It has large green leaves and clusters of small flowers which appear during the summer and range from white to light pink and purple.\u00a0<\/p> Having a sunny yard won\u2019t bar you from growing this beautiful shrub. Plant it near a tree to ensure it gets the shade it needs to thrive. Oakleaf hydrangea is a low-maintenance plant, requiring little water or upkeep, making it a great choice for new gardeners.\u00a0<\/p> Do you want your garden to stand out from the rest? Coral bean<\/a> is a unique-looking and low-maintenance native plant. Birds (especially hummingbirds) and butterflies are drawn to its red, tubular flowers. In Jacksonville and North Florida, the coral bean grows as a large flower, but it is considered a deciduous shrub in other regions where it can grow to be 20 feet tall.\u00a0<\/p> Be sure to keep pets and children away from coral bean plants in the fall, which is when they produce poisonous red seeds.\u00a0<\/p> Chickasaw plum<\/a> is a small, quick-growing tree that will attract plenty of pollinators to your yard. Clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, then grow into tart plums that you and surrounding wildlife can enjoy. Chickasaw plum produces suckers along the bottom of its trunk, which – if left alone – can grow into a thicket, making it a potential home for many types of wildlife.\u00a0<\/p> In addition to being low-maintenance, Chickasaw plum is also pest- and disease-resistant. This makes it a great option for busy households and new gardeners.\u00a0<\/p> Make a long-term investment for the future by planting a southern live oak tree<\/a>. You\u2019ll need to allocate a lot of room for this tree to grow because southern live oaks are huge: They grow up to 60 feet and their branches can spread out up to 100 feet. Southern live oaks can live for hundreds of years, so you\u2019d be leaving a beautiful legacy from just planting one.<\/p> For such a majestic tree, the southern live oak is low-maintenance. For branches to develop wind resistance — which is important for hurricane-resistant landscaping here in Jacksonville — southern live oaks need to be pruned when they\u2019re young. Southern live oaks need to be watered only once a month and have pretty good salinity tolerance. <\/p> If you plant a southern live oak in the right place, it can shade your home from the sun and keep your electricity bills low.<\/p> Beautyberry<\/a> (or American beautyberry) is a striking plant that birds love. Its most prominent feature is its clusters of dazzling purple fruits. In the spring and summer, the plant is covered with light lavender-pink flowers which turn into fruits in the fall.\u00a0<\/p> Beautyberry can be planted at any time of the year. Like most other native plants, it is drought-tolerant. Make sure to prune the beautyberry before it flowers to keep the plant compact and healthy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Want a fun-looking plant to spice up your garden? Powderpuff mimosa<\/a> is a pink, puff-shaped flower that is increasing in popularity. It is a low-growing and quick-spreading ground cover that can handle mild foot traffic.\u00a0<\/p> You can safely mix powderpuff mimosa with turfgrass and other plants without worrying about it taking over. Powderpuff mimosa can be pruned or mowed, and it is drought-tolerant and insect- and disease-resistant.\u00a0<\/p> 1. Black-eyed susan (rudbeckia hirta)<\/em> <\/h2>
2. Sabal palm (sabal palmetto)<\/h2>
![\"large](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_25462319830_2f98bd8b18_c.jpg\")
3. Blanket flower (gaillardia)<\/em><\/h2>
4. Azaleas (rhododendron)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"bright](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_17202328785_d0c2d6442c_c.jpg\")
5. Beach sunflower (helianthus debilis) <\/em><\/h2>
6. Oakleaf hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"clustering](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_179398356_47403332b0_c.jpg\")
7. Coral bean (erythrina herbacea)<\/em><\/h2>
8. Chickasaw plum (prunus angustifolia) <\/em><\/h2>
![\"single](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_3622556499_ff1a09b260_c.jpg\")
9. Southern live oak (quercus virginiana)<\/em><\/h2>
10. Beautyberry (callicarpa americana)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"vibrant](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_31047861792_c658a7fd61_c.jpg\")
11. Powderpuff mimosa (mimosa strigillosa)<\/em><\/h2>
12. Coontie (zamia integrifolia)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"large](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_24811287224_43abfaef69_c.jpg\")