Southwest Florida is a unique area with its own unique set of conditions. The humid, subtropical climate and sandy soil of the region make it an ideal spot for growing native plants. Native plants are well-suited to the local environment, requiring less water and care than their non-native counterparts.
If you’re looking for the perfect native plants to bring a natural beauty to your outdoor space in Southwest Florida, then this blog post is just what you need. We will be combing through the most distinguished landscaping options available, as well as offering unique suggestions that can give your outdoor area an exquisite flair.
The Best Native Plants for Landscaping in Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida has its own unique set of conditions which makes it ideal for growing certain types of native plants such as:
- American beautyberry
- Azaleas
- Black-eyed susan
- Blazing star
- Buttonwood
- Carolina jessamine
- Coral bean
- Coral honeysuckle
- Elliott’s aster
- Fakahatchee grass
- Fern natives
- Firebush gumbo-limbo tree
- Lanceleaf blanketflower
- Marsh hibiscus
- Milkweed natives
- Muhly grass
- Oakleaf hydrangea
- Palm natives
- Powderpuff mimosa
- Scarlet salvia
- Sea grape
- Southern live oak
- Southern wax myrtle
- Star anise
- Tickseed
- Walter’s viburnum
- Wild coffee
- Yucca native species
These plants require minimal maintenance while providing maximum color and interest all year round!
American beautyberry
The American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is an excellent choice for landscaping in Southwest Florida. This deciduous shrub, native to the southeastern United States, can grow up to 6 feet tall and produces clusters of small pink or lavender flowers in summer. It has lush green leaves that turn deep purple in the fall, followed by white or purple berries, which are edible and attract birds. During winter months, the bark turns gray and will form a unique pattern as it sheds its outer layer.
American beautyberry is very tolerant of heat and humidity and prefers full sun with moist soil. It makes a great addition to any landscape design with its ornamental foliage, bright berries, and eye-catching bark. It’s also quite low maintenance; once established it only needs occasional pruning for shape control and minimal fertilization for optimal growth and bloom production. Its hardiness allows it to thrive in Southwest Florida’s climate without needing extensive care or water. Furthermore, it provides a valuable source of food for local wildlife such as songbirds, so planting this native species can help promote biodiversity. In conclusion, the American beautyberry is an excellent choice for adding color, texture, interest, and value to your Southwest Florida landscape design!
Azaleas
Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are a popular choice for landscaping in Southwest Florida. These flowering shrubs come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, making them a great addition to any outdoor space. Native azaleas prefer partial shade and well-drained soils; they can also tolerate some drought conditions once established. They flower profusely in the spring months with beautiful clusters of white, pink, yellow, or red blooms that contrast nicely against their evergreen foliage.
Azaleas offer long-lasting color with minimal maintenance required. They are generally pest-resistant and require very little pruning or fertilization to thrive in Southwest Florida’s climate. In addition to their visual appeal, these shrubs can also help attract birds and butterflies to your garden. Planting azaleas around the edges of your landscape will bring a soft, natural feel to your outdoor area and will provide a beautiful backdrop for the rest of your design.
Black-eyed susan
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are another great choice for landscaping in Southwest Florida. This native wildflower is hardy and low maintenance, making it a popular addition to many outdoor spaces. The daisy-like blooms come in shades of yellow and orange and attract bees, butterflies, and birds, which makes them excellent for creating wildlife-friendly designs.
Black-eyed Susans require regular watering during their first year but can be drought tolerant once established. They prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade; they also do best in well-drained soils with moderate fertilization. These flowers are quite easy to propagate so you can easily create an impressive display of color throughout your landscape. Planting Black-eyed Susans around the perimeter of your property or along walkways will bring a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere to your outdoor space. By combining them with other native plants, you can create a beautiful, sustainable landscape design for Southwest Florida!
Blazing star
Blazing star (Liatris spp.) is a great addition to any Southwest Florida landscape. This native flower produces vibrant clusters of magenta or purple blooms that make it a unique and eye-catching choice. It has tall, grass-like foliage and is quite easy to maintain; once established, it only needs occasional watering and minimal fertilization.
Blazing star grows best in full sun with well-drained soils and can take some shade during the hottest summer months. Planting this drought tolerant plant along walkways or mixed into beds will add texture and color to your outdoor space without needing excessive care or water. It provides a valuable source of food for wildlife such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds which makes it an excellent choice for promoting biodiversity in your backyard. Blazing star is a great option for adding interest to your Southwest Florida landscape design!
Buttonwood
Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) is a popular choice for landscaping in Southwest Florida due to its hardiness and low-maintenance nature. This native evergreen tree grows quickly, making it great for creating privacy screens or specimen trees. It also has an attractive bark that ranges from grey to reddish-brown in color; when mature, it produces small white flowers and round yellow fruit which add a unique texture and color to your outdoor space.
Buttonwood tolerates many soil types but prefers full sun and well-drained soils. It requires minimal pruning or fertilization and is generally pest resistant. Planting this tree around the perimeter of your property can provide some much needed shade during hot summer days and will help create a more inviting outdoor atmosphere. Buttonwood is an excellent choice for Southwest Florida landscaping!
Carolina jessamine
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a great option for adding a colorful, fragrant accent to your Southwest Florida landscape. This evergreen vine grows quickly and produces bright yellow blooms that are especially attractive in the spring months. The flowers have an intensely sweet scent that will fill your outdoor area with fragrance.
Carolina jessamine tolerates many soil types but prefers well-drained soils; it also does best in full sun or partial shade. It can be grown as a ground cover or trained up a trellis for added height and texture. Planting this hardy vine around the perimeter of your garden will help create beautiful, fragrant accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water. Carolina jessamine is an excellent addition to any Southwest Florida landscape design.
Coral bean
Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) is a great option for adding textural interest and vibrant color to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native shrub flowers in the early spring months, producing brilliant coral-red blooms that will add a unique touch of color to your outdoor space.
Coral bean grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it also tolerates drought and salt spray so it’s perfect for coastal gardens. Planting this hardy shrub around walkways or along the perimeter of your property can provide extra privacy while creating beautiful accents throughout the year. Coral bean is an excellent choice for adding texture and color to any Southwest Florida landscaping design!
Coral honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a great option for creating interest and color in your Southwest Florida landscape. This evergreen vine produces bright red tubular flowers that are especially attractive in the spring months; the flowers also have an intense sweet scent which will fill your outdoor area with fragrance.
Coral honeysuckle grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be trained up a trellis to create more vertical height and texture. Planting this hardy vine around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees will help add vibrant color to your outdoor space while providing food and shelter for birds, bees, and butterflies.
Elliott’s aster
Elliott’s aster (Aster elliotii) is an excellent option for adding vibrant color to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native shrub flowers in the late summer months, producing bright yellow daisy-like blooms that will add a unique touch of color to your outdoor space. It also has attractive blue-green foliage which provides texture and interest year round.
Elliott’s aster grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be used as a groundcover or planted around walkways or along the perimeter of your property. Planting this hardy shrub in mass plantings will help create beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water.
Fakahatchee grass
Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is an excellent option for adding texture and interest to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native grass produces airy panicles of creamy-white flowers in the summer months that will add a unique touch of color to your outdoor space.
Fakahatchee grass grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be planted as a groundcover or around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting this hardy grass around the perimeter of your property can provide some much needed privacy while creating beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water.
Fern natives
Fern natives are a great choice for adding texture and interest to your Southwest Florida landscape. This group of plants includes several species that thrive in the area, such as leather fern (Acrostichum danaefolium), Florida sword fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), and Southern shield fern (Thelypteris kunthii). These native ferns can provide year-round texture and interest with their lush fronds; some varieties also produce clusters of small blooms during the spring months which provide a unique touch of color.
Fern natives grow best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; they can be used as groundcover or planted around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting these hardy ferns will help create beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water.
Firebush gumbo-limbo tree
Firebush gumbo-limbo tree (Bursera simaruba) is a great choice for adding height and texture to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native tree produces clusters of red tubular flowers in the summer months that will add a unique touch of color to your outdoor space; it also has attractive peeling bark which provides interesting texture and interest year round.
Firebush gumbo-limbo grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be planted as a specimen tree, or around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting this hardy tree around the perimeter of your property can provide extra privacy while creating beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water.
Lanceleaf blanketflower
Lanceleaf blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella) is an excellent choice for adding vibrant color and texture to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native wildflower produces daisy-like blooms in summer months, with a unique combination of colors – yellow-orange outer petals and ruffled red inner petals – that will add a bright and cheerful touch to any outdoor space. It also has attractive green lanceolate leaves that provide interesting texture year round.
Lanceleaf blanketflower grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be used as groundcover or planted around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting this hardy wildflower in mass plantings will create beautiful accents throughout the year without requiring excessive care or water. In addition, this plant is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and highly attractive to pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; its showy blooms also make it a great cut flower for indoor arrangements. Furthermore, it will attract beneficial insects like lacewings which feed on destructive pests such as aphids and mites – making it an excellent choice for organic gardening.
Marsh hibiscus
Marsh hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is a great choice for adding height and color to your Southwest Florida landscape. This native wildflower produces showy 6–10-inch-wide blooms in summer months, with an eye-catching combination of colorful petals that range from white to pink or purple to red. It also has attractive foliage which provides interesting texture year round; its leaves are dark green on the top side and light green underneath, making it a perfect accent plant for any outdoor space.
Marsh hibiscus grows best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; it can be planted as a specimen plant, or around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting this hardy wildflower in mass plantings will create beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water. In addition, this plant is drought tolerant and highly attractive to pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds – making it a great choice for those looking to add more wildlife activity to their outdoor space.
Milkweed natives
Milkweed natives (Asclepias spp.) are a great choice for adding texture and color to your Southwest Florida landscape. These native wildflowers produce showy clusters of flowers in summer months, with an eye-catching combination of unique colors including white, pink, yellow, and orange; these blooms will add a bright and cheerful touch to any outdoor space. Milkweeds also have attractive foliage which provides interesting texture year round; its leaves are dark green on the top side and light green underneath, making it a perfect accent plant for any outdoor space.
Milkweed natives grow best in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soils; they can be planted around walkways, along fences, or at the base of trees. Planting these hardy wildflowers in mass plantings will create beautiful accents throughout the year without needing excessive care or water. In addition, these plants are drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and highly attractive to pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; their showy blooms also make them a great cut flower for indoor arrangements. Furthermore, milkweed natives will attract beneficial insects like lacewings which feed on destructive pests such as aphids and mites – making them an excellent choice for organic gardening.
Muhly grass
Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is an excellent choice for adding texture and color to a Southwest Florida landscape. This hardy native wildflower produces showy clusters of flowers in summer months, with an eye-catching combination of purplish-pink and lavender hues; these blooms will add a bright and cheerful touch to any outdoor space. Muhly grass also has attractive foliage which provides interesting texture year round; its leaves are greyish-green on the top side and white underneath, making it a perfect accent plant for any outdoor space.
Oakleaf hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the most versatile shrubs around. It is perfect for adding texture, color, and beauty to any landscape. This hardy shrub flourishes in full shade areas such as under a large tree and will reward gardeners with large, showy oak leaf-shaped foliage that can reach up to a foot wide. In addition to its striking visual appeal, it produces clusters of small white blooms in spring and early summer, followed by bright red and orange foliage in fall for some extra pizzazz! So if you need something lush but low-maintenance that will bring your landscape alive with its natural beauty, look no further than the Oakleaf Hydrangea – it’s the perfect choice!
Palm natives
Nothing screams “Florida” like a palm tree! Our state’s hot summers and mild winters provide an ideal environment for palms to thrive, and there are several native species available. With palms ranging from the state-named Sabal palm, growing up to 40 feet tall, to the low-growing Needle palm, you’re sure to find something that fits your landscape. Additionally, you may want to consider planting a Royal Palm if you’re looking for a stand-out; these impressive trees can soar up to 70 feet tall and feature cascading fronds and unique trunks of both brown and green colors. Last but not least, the Everglades palm is perfect for those who are short on space – just 8 feet tall and featuring distinct fan-shaped leaves. What better way to remind yourself of Florida’s natural beauty than by adding one of these incredible palms to your yard?
Powderpuff mimosa
If you’re looking for a great and colorful addition to your garden or outdoor space, the powderpuff mimosa flower might be just the thing! This perennial grows densely and happily along the ground, perfect for creating a whimsical ground cover. With vibrant pink “powder puffs” that bloom from spring through fall, it’s easy to be reminded of Dr. Seuss’s beloved truffula trees from The Lorax. Not to mention, powderpuff mimosa shrub is easy-care and low maintenance, making it the perfect choice for even novice gardeners.
Scarlet salvia
Scarlet salvia is an attractive choice for any garden, and is perfect for someone who loves watching hummingbirds and butterflies. Its bright red blooms are striking against other garden plants and can provide a cheerful burst of color from spring to fall. Scarlet salvia is also easy to take care of and tolerant of varying conditions – it thrives in full sun but can also tolerate some shade, and needs minimal water to remain healthy, making it great for those with busy lifestyles. Adding some scarlet salvia to your yard or flowerbed will surely bring hummingbirds and butterflies fluttering your way!
Sea grape
Sea grape is an intriguing species in Florida, found naturally along its central and southern coasts. This plant species is quite sensitive to the cold, therefore it’s not recommended for northern parts of the state where temperatures can drop below freezing. For those lucky enough to live in warmer areas of Florida, sea grapes make for a unique shrub or tree depending on pruning requirements. The light green leaves of sea grape create an attractive foliage, as well as edible fruits growing in clusters with a taste reminiscent of muscadine grapes. Growing one of these would certainly be a delight!
Southern live oak
The southern live oak is an iconic tree in the southern United States. It is recognizable for its sprawling branches that reach out to span a large area, making it a perfect choice for providing dense shade and cooling off outdoor environments. Despite its ultimate size, the southern live oak grows slowly over time, so planting one does not need to be an immediate commitment. Still, you must have LOTS of room if you plan to accommodate a mature tree of this stature on your property — once planted and grown, the branches will extend dozens of feet outward from the trunk!
Southern wax myrtle
Southern wax myrtle is an excellent choice for coastal gardens due to its high salt tolerance. It’s a beautiful tall shrub with glossy olive green leaves which can grow quickly in coastal areas. Not only do these trees look great, but they also provide a great habitat for wildlife such as birds and butterflies who enjoy the berries it offers. Planting several of these together makes a wonderful hedge or windscreen, and as an added bonus provides extra wildlife habitat. So if you’re looking for a shrub to add to your coastal garden, Southern wax myrtle could be exactly what you need!
Star anise
Star anise is a versatile plant and can offer many benefits to any garden. Not only does the Illicium vera variety produce the delicious, slightly savoury spice, Florida also has two native species that may not bear the same flavourful properties but serve as a pleasant and aromatic smell when their leaves are crushed. Star anises grow quickly and can decorate any outdoor space – if left tall, it makes for an aesthetically pleasing windbreak or hedge, whilst if trimmed smaller it can make for a gorgeous ornamental plant. Best of all, star anise is hardy and tolerates a range of growing conditions while rarely succumbing to pest outbreaks.
Tickseed
Tickseed flowers, aka the official state wildflower of Florida, bring a bit of sunshine to any outdoor space they decorate. With more than 100 species and cultivars ranging from bright yellow with a brown center to shades of orange and red, you’re sure to find one that brings life to your landscape. Perfect for spring and summer gardens, because who could use an extra dose of sunshine? After planting in your own yard, these beautiful blooms should easily reseed themselves so you can enjoy the floral delight year after year.
Walter’s viburnum
Walter’s viburnum adds interest and beauty to your garden or landscape all year round. These evergreen shrubs come in a range of sizes – from dwarf varieties for small spaces, up to large trees that reach 20 feet tall. They have glossy, dark green leaves which are densely packed, creating an attractive backdrop for the masses of white flowers which bloom in spring. While Walter’s viburnum has attractive qualities, care must be taken if you do not want it to spread by root suckers and create ‘clone’ versions of the plant. Pruning and removing root suckers is necessary if you want to keep it contained to a certain area.
Wild coffee
Wild coffee shrub is a great addition to any home’s landscape, not just because of its glossy, ridged green leaves and bright red berries, which bring additional color in the summer and fall months, but also because its blooms are a source of nectar for the Atala Butterfly which is rare to Southeast Florida. Not only does it add a beautiful aesthetic touch to your garden or patio, it is also beneficial to local wildlife because its fruits attract birds and other natural inhabitants. What better way to spruce up your home while helping preserve wildlife!
Yucca native species
Yucca plants are a popular choice for those looking to bring a little bit of life and color to their garden or home. Yuccas have similar traits to succulents in that they need direct sunlight and well-draining soils. They also require minimal maintenance, making them the perfect addition to any garden or home. In areas such as southwest Florida, two of the most common species are Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia) and Moundlily yucca (Yucca gloriosa). Spanish baynet has sharp-tipped, spear-shaped leaves that fan out from the center of the plant and create drooping clusters of white bell-shaped flowers in late spring through summer. Moundlily yucca on the other hand, is marked by large rosettes with very sharp spine-tipped leaves. Its upright clusters of white flowers reach up to 6-8 feet above the foliage and are primarily found along North Florida’s coasts. With these species being native to Florida’s coastlines, growing them is naturally quite easy.
For more ideas on how to landscape your yard using native plants specific to Southwest Florida’s climate conditions, contact Corkscrew Natives today! Our team has the expertise you need to create a stunning outdoor oasis!
