Landscaping with Natives
Florida has so many beautiful native plants, it may be difficult to choose which ones to grow in your garden. The great thing is that there are trees, shrubs, flowers, vines, and groundcovers, so you have options to meet any need or desire.
(Click to open a printable PDF version of the information below.)
Why Native Plants?
- Adapted to Florida weather: droughts, hurricanes, heat, cold, and high humidity.
- Adapted to poor Florida soil.
- Reduced need for fertilizer and other chemicals.
- Natural food sources for wildlife, birds, bees, and butterflies, and increased biodiversity.
The Top 10+ (Because there's no way we stop at 10 plants!)
- Beautyberry
- Simpson’s Stopper
- Wild Coffee
- Bluecurls
- Sunshine Mimosa
- Tropical Sage
- Florida Pennyroyal
- Wild Petunia
- Swamp Twinflower
- Spotted Beebalm
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Cross Vine
- Silver Saw Palmetto
- Coontie Palm
- Magnolia
- Oak
- Pine
- Maple
8 Ways to Create Healthy Native Habitats
- Shrink your lawn
- Get wild
- Plant generously and in great variety
- Plant natives
- Right Plant, Right Place from Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
- Don’t spray pesticides
- Increase mowing height of lawn to three inches
- Create pollinator habitats
For more information, see Homegrown National Park® or Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ through the University of Florida.
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