Plants for Florida
- Attract butterflies to the garden with glossy abelia, or Abelia grandifloria. It thrives in full to partial sunlight and is hardy in USDA zones 8 and 9. This perennial shrub blooms with pink or white flowers from spring through autumn -- nearly all year in some areas of central Florida. Other shrubs, such as the pineapple guava, or feijoa, are hardy in zones 8 through 11. Pineapple guava is highly tolerant of drought, ideal for use as a hedge plant in areas that receive full to partial sunlight. It blooms with red and white flowers throughout the spring. The century plant, a type of agave, adds tropical flair to the landscape with its spiny leaves, reminiscent of the top of a pineapple. It grows to heights of 6 feet and is highly tolerant of both salt and drought.
- No discussion of Florida's plants would be complete without mention of the various palm trees that grow throughout the state. Coconut palm trees, which predominately grow throughout the southern parts of the state, are among the most well-known types of palm tree; but many other types of palms can grow in northern Florida gardens. For example, paurotis palms and pindo palms can grow nearly anywhere in the state since they are hardy in USDA zones 8B through 11 -- this includes northern cities such as Pensacola, Tallahassee and Gainesville. Both are tolerant of drought, require adequate space for spreading and bloom with white or yellow flowers during the spring.
- Lily of the Nile, or Agapanthus africanus, is a fast growing perennial that is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. It blooms with red flowers during spring, and purple and white flowers throughout the summer. Another lily that grows well throughout most of the state is the voodoo lily, or the snake lily. Flowers resemble a huge, unfurled calla lily and are known for their eye-catching shape as well as their foul odor, which lasts for three days after blooming. Gardeners in zones 8 and 9 can add color to shady areas of the garden with camellias. These shade-loving flowers bloom in late winter and boast a roselike shape.
- Caladium can be grown in the landscape as ground cover or added to container gardens. Its colorful foliage bursts with green, red, pink, white, bronze and silver (depending on the cultivar) and grows to heights and widths of 1 to 2 feet. It is hardy throughout the state. Liriope, sometimes called monkey grass, grows into a solid ground cover within a few years of planting and is hardy in zones 8 through 10. It blooms with purple flowers during the summer and can be planted in areas that receive full sunlight to full shade.
