Drought & Freeze Tolerant Florida Shrubs & Plants
- There are a variety of freeze and drought-tolerant Florida plants.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Florida's weather conditions can be hot and dry, calling for drought-tolerant plants in the landscape. Portions of North and North-Central Florida experience winter weather, which includes periodic frosts and freezes. Landscaping in these areas requires plants that tolerate the cold temperatures. Even with these extremes in weather conditions within the state, there is a wide range of plants suitable for growing in the landscape. - The dwarf palmetto tolerates frost and drought and grows throughout Florida.palm image by Dave from Fotolia.com
Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor), also called blue palmetto, is a native that grows well statewide. Belonging in the family Areacea/Palmae, dwarf palmettos grow wild throughout Florida and are smallish palm plants. The foliage resembles a fan, with a bluish-green tinge. Butterflies are attracted to the small blooms, and birds and other wildlife use the black fruits as a food source. This small, evergreen palm works well planted underneath taller palms or oaks, at edges of wilderness areas or used as an accent.
The palmetto grows relatively slowly, reaching mature heights of up to 9 feet, with a spread of up to 8 feet. An established plant has a high tolerance to drought conditions and it tolerates freezes, so it grows well in North Florida weather. It grows well in full sun or shade, with partial shade being optimum. Dwarf palmetto has a medium tolerance to salt spray. - Rusty lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea) is a native shrub that grows well throughout all regions of Florida. Sometimes called crookedwood, due to its habit of having twisted branches, various craft projects use the plant's wood. Often found growing wild in scrub areas of the state, plants have an open and airy canopy. White and pink flowers bloom in springtime, and blackish, berry-like fruits follow. The large shrub attracts butterflies, making it suitable for wildlife gardens. It works well as a backdrop plant next to wilderness areas, or used in mixed or native gardens.
Plants grow relatively slowly, reaching a mature height of up to 25 feet with a spread of 10 feet. They have a high tolerance to drought conditions and prefer growing in well-drained soils. Rusty lyonia's tolerance to salt spray is low. It grows in full sun to partially shady areas in the landscape. It tolerates freezing conditions, as its planting range includes frosty North Florida. - Southern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a large, native tree belonging in the Cupressaceae family. As with most cedars, its foliage and bark have an odor, repelling insects. Often used in furniture making, the wood once was the main wood ingredient in pencils. Trees have a pyramid, upright habit and a thick canopy. Various birds use the tree for building nests. The bark is brownish-red. Sometimes, Christmas trees are southern red cedar. It works well as a specimen tree, or used in areas experiencing high winds as a windbreak. Trees grow quickly up to 40 feet tall, with 20-foot spreads. It prefers growing in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Southern red cedar is highly drought tolerant and freeze tolerant, as it grows throughout northern regions of Florida, where freezes are common.
