Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum 'Dark Opal'

Non-native, Florida-friendly, fragrant edible perennial herb. African Blue Basil is a hardy herb that prefers full sun in winter and light shade in summer. Grows to be 3’-4’ tall. Average, composted soil, frost protection required. Pollinators, especially honey bees, love this shrub.

Sagittaria lancifolia

Arrowhead is a native, perennial wetland wildflower. It grows 3’-6’ tall and 2’-3’ wide, thriving in full sun and very wet soil, mud, and pond muck with a high content of organic material. Its white summer blooms are highly attractive to bees and butterflies, and the plant also serves as a food source for waterfowl, songbirds, frogs, and fish. It spreads reliably via underground rhizomes to stabilize muddy shorelines and naturally absorb excess nutrients from the water.

Persea americana

Florida-friendly, evergreen, fast-growing fruit tree; 30’-50’ tall, but can be kept at 10’ tall for easy fruit picking. Full sun is best for fruit production, with average to dry, well-drained soil; not flood-tolerant. Should be planted 25’-30’ away from trees or buildings.

Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress is a majestic deciduous conifer native to the southeastern United States that can reach 50’-120’ tall with a distinctive buttressed base when growing in water. This long-lived species features feathery, light green needles that turn brilliant russet-orange in fall before dropping, and fibrous, reddish-brown bark. Its most distinctive characteristic is the development of "knees" - woody projections that grow upward from the root system when the tree is in standing water or wet soils. Naturally occurring in swamps, bayous, floodplains, and along rivers from Maryland to Texas, it's remarkably adaptable, tolerating both permanently flooded conditions and surprisingly dry soils once established. This iconic tree provides critical habitat for wildlife, including nesting sites for wood ducks and various wading birds, and serves as an excellent specimen or street tree in zones 4-10.

Malpighia emarginata

Barbados Cherry is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean that grows up to 12 feet tall and wide with a rounded, multi-trunked form. This fast-growing tropical plant features delicate foliage and produces small, attractive pink flowers intermittently from spring through fall, followed by bright red, cherry-like fruits. The tart, edible fruits are exceptionally high in vitamin C—containing 30 times more than oranges—and ripen about one month after flowering. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soils, it's drought-tolerant once established and serves as an excellent ornamental shrub, specimen plant, or container plant in zones 9B-11, attracting butterflies and providing edible fruit for both wildlife and humans.

Suriana maritima

Bay Cedar is a slower growing, native, evergreen coastal shrub that is naturally found on sand dunes and beaches. This hurricane resistant shrub can weather storm surges, and is salt spray and drought tolerant! The Bay Cedar is excellent for erosion control of dunes and beaches. Small yellow flowers bloom year round and attract pollinators, and it is a host plant for certain hairstreak butterflies.

Impomoea imperati

Beach Morning Glory is a native, long-lived, perennial, low-growing, flowering vine that grows along the ground. It is wonderful for coastal sites or full sun, dry sandy soils. It is highly drought and salt tolerant and has showy white flowers that are great for bee, butterflies and pollinators including hummingbirds.

Capsicum annuum 'Pequin'

Bird Pepper is a native edible pepper that grows to be 12”-24” tall and 12”-18” wide. They grow best in full sun and well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil. They have small, dark-green pointed leaves and white flowers that are followed by very small, but very spicy, edible orange peppers. While the spice is on the higher side, they have a unique, smoky and citrusy flavor that works well in a variety of culinary applications.

Averrhoa carambola

Carambola or Star Fruit is a non-native, Florida-friendly, small evergreen fruit tree that grows to be 22’-33’ tall and 20’-25’ wide. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. They have soft-green leaves and yellow, star-shaped fruit that have a delightful sweet-tart taste.

Acacia choriophylla

Native evergreen tree, ranging from 15-25ft. Cinnecords have dark green foliage and fragrant yellow pom-pom flowers that attract pollinators and people alike. They are fast-growing and salt-tolerant, growing in full sun with well-drained sandy soils. In addition to attracting pollinators, Cinnecords also provide habitat and seeds for birds.

Aster carolinianus

Climbing Aster is a perennial, flowering, vine-like shrub, that can be trained to grow up a trellis or can be trimmed to a more formal shape and lower height. It prefers average to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. In the late summer through winter, it is covered in small lavender aster flowers. It’s a pollinator favorite!

Zamia integrifolia

Coontie is perfect for a dry sunny or shady spot in the garden. It is extremely hardy and drought tolerant and is successful in harsh conditions like highway medians. It generally stays under three feet tall and 3 feet wide and has a tropical Florida feel. Coontie is an ancient plant and is Florida’s only living cycad. It is the important host plant for the Atala butterfly.

Hamelia Patens 'Compacta’

Compact Firebush is a dwarf cultivar of the Florida-native Firebush that grows to be 4’-6’ tall. These plants grow best in full sun to partial shade and average, well-drained soil. With its red and green leaves and red to orange flowers, Compact Firebush can be used as part of a hedge or as a specimen plant. The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, particularly the Zebra Longwing, which often feed on the nectar and pollen of Compact Firebush flowers. The flowers are followed up by small, dark berries that have a long history of medicinal use, but can also be used to make syrups and wine.

Lonicera sempervirens

Coral Honeysuckle is an easy-to-grow, well-behaved and showy native vine that stays green all year. It thrives in sun or partial shade. You can let it climb a fence, use it as a groundcover, or let it grow like a shrub. Its bright coral flowers bloom nearly year-round, making it a favorite for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Stachytarpheta mutabilis

Coral Porterweed is a non-native, Florida-friendly fast-growing flowering shrub, growing 4’-6’ tall and 3’-5’ wide. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and average sandy soil, with moderate drought tolerance once they’re established. They bloom throughout the warm months, with salmon-colored bloom spikes that are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

Passiflora suberosa

Corkystem Passionvine is a fast-growing, native, flowering vine that can grow to be 10’-15’ long with proper support. They can be grown in full sun, partial shade, or light shade and moist, well-drained, sandy, loamy, and limestone soils. They have small, greenish-yellow flowers for pollinators and dark berries that are loved by birds. They also serve as a host plant for Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and Julia butterflies, making them an excellent option for pollinator and butterfly gardens.

Eryngium aquaticum

Corn Snakeroot is a standout plant that will call attention to your rain or bog garden. The showy blue flower spikes are are unique and can be used as cut flowers! This Eryngium is one of the best species to add to your moist pollinator garden as they attract the one of the most diverse numbers pollinators in the state.

Hibiscus acetosella

Cranberry Hibiscus is a non-native, Florida-friendly flowering shrub that grows to be 3’-5’ tall. These fast-growing plants feature dark red stems, foliage, and flowers, making them a dramatic addition to gardens and landscapes. They grow best in full sun and loose, rich organic soil. In addition to bringing in butterflies, pollinators, and hummingbirds, their flowers are edible for humans, and can be used to make teas, along with the young leaves.

Bignonia capreolata

Crossvine is a perennial, evergreen vine that can bloom late winter through spring through mid summer. Crossvine’s red tubular flowers are an important food source for hummingbirds but also attracts butterflies and other pollinators. It can be grown in full shade or full sun, is cold hardy, drought tolerant and prefers moist soils that are well-drained. It can be controlled if planted on a trellis or in an large container, but can also be planted at the base of large trees like native Live Oak to add flowers to the tree branches and protection for songbirds from birds of prey.

Ilex cassine

Dahoon Holly is a native, evergreen tree, with heights ranging from 20-30ft and it grows best in full sun to partial shade with moist, clay, loamy, or sandy soils. While they are moderately drought tolerant, they may need irrigation in dry, sandy conditions. Moderately salt-spray tolerant. Their foliage is dark green, with clumps of white flowers in spring that are replaced by red berries in fall and winter that provide food for birds and small mammals.

Vaccinium darrowii

Darrows Blueberry is a native perennial shrub that grows to about 2’ tall with a 2’ spread. Full sun to light shade, sandy, acidic, well-drained soil. Darrows Blueberry has attractive, rainbow-colored foliage with white flowers in spring followed by tiny purple, blue, or black wild blueberries. Great pollinator plant for bees, especially native bees!

Sabal minor

Dwarf Blue Stem Palmetto is a small, clumping palm that typically grows 3-6 ft tall with a trunkless or short-trunked form. It is extremely cold-hardy, flood-tolerant, and drought-tolerant once established. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with average to moist soil. This low-maintenance native requires little care and provides excellent textural interest and tropical appeal to landscapes. Its fan-shaped fronds create dense, attractive foliage year-round, making it ideal for understory plantings or as a distinctive accent plant.

Tripsacum floridana

Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass is a Florida-native ornamental grass with dense, clumping foliage that can reach 2’-3’. It does well in full sun to partial shade with average to moist soil. Perfect for rain gardens, borders, and erosion control, this grass produces graceful, spiky foliage and unique, showy flower spikes. The foliage provides shelter for birds and small mammals, the seeds are a food source for many birds, and the foliage is a larval host for several Skipper butterflies.

Clusia guttifera ‘Nana’

Dwarf Pitch Apple is a compact, slow-growing cultivar of the native Florida pitch apple that stays low to the ground as a spreading shrub. This semi-succulent plant features the same distinctive thick, leathery paddle-shaped leaves as its full-sized parent but in a much more manageable form, typically reaching only 2-4 feet in height and spreading wider than it is tall. It produces waxy pink and white flowers with apple-like buds and can develop aerial roots, adding to its unique tropical appearance. Extremely low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and serves as an excellent border plant or accent specimen for South Florida landscapes in zones 9-11.

Baccharis dioca

Also known as Broombush and Falsewillow

This hardy, lower-growing native shrub always seems to look great in a garden setting and it does well in a lot of different garden conditions. It holds its space well and has beautiful texture year round. The flowers bloom late summer through early fall and attract numerous pollinators. It is drought tolerant but also high tolerant of salt spray and salt inundation.

Myrcianthes fragrans ‘Compacta’

Dwarf Simpson Stopper grows to 4’ and creates a nice low hedge or border planting. Cream puff blooms and vibrant red berries add color and texture to any landscape. Drought tolerant once established, these small shrubs work well in non-irrigated landscapes. Of course, they don’t mind irrigation either!

Ilex vomitoria 'Schillings Dwarf'

Dwarf Yaupon Holly is a super hardy and adaptable small shrub that makes a great low growing border or mass planting. It’s easily prunable and it’s full height is 3-4 ft. It does well in full sun to partial shade with dry to moist (well-drained) soils.The dwarf plants are male and produce a flower but no berries, however they help to pollinate female upright Yaupon Hollies and the Yaupon Holly cultivars like Weeping Yaupon Holly.

Sambucus canadensis

Elderberry is a fast-growing native shrub that offers beauty, food, and unmatched wildlife value. This versatile plant thrives in moist soils and adapts easily to sun or partial shade, reaching 6-20 feet to create a lush, pollinator-friendly hedge or specimen plant. In early summer, you'll enjoy massive clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract butterflies, followed by nutrient-rich dark purple berries perfect for homemade syrups and jams. As a cornerstone of the native wildlife garden, Elderberry is a favorite for songbirds and beneficial insects alike.

Eragrostis elliotti

Elliott's Lovegrass is a native perennial bunchgrass. This delicate species produces silvery blue-green foliage topped by airy panicles of tiny beige to pinkish flowers that create a billowy, cloud-like appearance when in bloom from late summer through fall. It demonstrates remarkable tolerance to both drought and periodic flooding with fresh water and salt-wind spray. This re-seeding and adaptable grass thrives in sandy, low-nutrient soils and provides excellent texture and late-season interest for naturalized plantings.

Psychotria nervosa

This evergreen native shrub is loved by pollinators and birds. Staying small at 2' or shorter, Extra Dwarf Wild Coffee is perfect as a low ground cover in shady areas, under oaks or as a border plant. Flowers bloom through summer turning into red berries in fall and winter.

Morus nigra

Florida-friendly, dwarf variety. The Everbearing Mulberry is a low-maintenance, self-fertile, edible black mulberry. Perennial shrub or small tree. They do well in full sun, with moist, but well-drained soil. Use an organic, slow release fertilizer. They bloom year-round and fruit Spring through Summer. Also works well as a potted plant!

Tripsacum dactyloides

Fakahatchee Grass is a large Florida-native ornamental grass with dense, clumping foliage that can reach 4’-6’. It does well in full sun to partial shade with average to moist soil. Perfect for rain gardens, borders, and erosion control, this grass produces graceful, spiky foliage and unique, showy flower spikes. The foliage provides shelter for birds and small mammals, the seeds are a food source for many birds, and the foliage is a larval host for several Skipper butterflies.

Odontonema callistachyum

Firespike is a Florida-friendly, vibrant, shade-loving shrub with showy trumpet shaped blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It is found in a variety of colors with red being a common favorite amongst hummingbirds. Responds well to pruning.

Ruellia caroliniana

Petunia’s are a beloved household wildflower that grows and reseeds prolifically in Florida. Often dappling the floors of woodlands and forests, this wildflower likes average to moist soils with dappled sunlight to full shade. It attracts many pollinators but is favored by bees.

Coccothrinax argentata

Florida Thatch Palm is native evergreen palm that grows to be 6’-15’ tall and 5’-7’ wide. They grow best in full sun and are highly adaptable with their soil environment once established. With flowers in summer that bring in pollinators, followed by berries that bring in birds, Florida Thatch Palm is the perfect plant for attracting wildlife to the space. They are also highly salt and drought tolerant, and can stand up to hurricane winds.

Phyla nodiflora

One of our favorite native plant “lawn alternatives,” Frogfruit is a low growing, perennial evergeen groundcover that grows in full sun to partial shade and in dry to moist soils. Frogfruit is highly salt-tolerant, fast growing, mow-able and lightly walk-able. It’s also an important host plant to the Phaon Crescent, White Peacock and Common Buckeye butterflies and is a nectar source pollinators including hummingbirds.

Chrysopsis mariana

Golden Aster is a native perennial wildflower that grows 1’-2’ tall, with showy yellow flowers that bloom from late spring to fall. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moist to dry sandy soil. The flowers provide a nectar source for butterflies and other pollinators, and add a bright pop of color to the garden.

Ernodea littoralis

Golden Beach Creeper (Ernodea littoralis) is a low-growing, prostrate ground cover with small, green, succulent leaves on bright red stems. This hardy plant is extremely salt and drought tolerant, naturally occurring in dune systems and adapted to harsh coastal conditions, including salt winds. It produces inconspicuous pinkish-white tubular flowers and round golden-colored fruits that provide food for birds.

Canna flaccida

Golden Canna is a native, upright flowering wetland plant growing 2’ tall. This plant thrives in very moist to wet, soggy soil, and full submersion up to 6”. It has large, butter-yellow blooms that are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; it also serves as a vital larval host plant for the native Canna Skipper butterfly.

Conocarpus erectus

The Green Buttonwood is an evergreen, coastal, native small tree or large shrub that can reach 20' and has vibrant green leaves and small brown berries that look like wood buttons. This buttonwood is considered the 4th type of mangrove and really thrives in coastal conditions, and can take salt water inundation and salty soils. The Buttonwood also has high wind tolerance making it a great windscreen on coastal properties.

Serenoa repens

The Green Saw Palmetto is a tough, drought-tolerant Florida native fan palm perfect for coastal landscapes and understory planting. It features sprawling horizontal stems, brilliant green fronds, and distinctive saw-toothed leaf stalks. In spring, it produces fragrant blooms that attract pollinators, followed by wildlife-supporting berries. Plant in full sun or shade and dry, sandy soil.

Bursera simaruba

Native semi-deciduous tree. Gumbo Limbos have smooth, red peeling bark that have earned them the nickname “tourist tree”, due to their resemblance to sunburned tourists. For best growth, plant in full sun to partial shade with sandy or rocky soils. They have green leaves that drop but are quickly replaced during dry seasons, and a thick trunk with a wide, rounded canopy, making them a great shade tree. Once established, they are drought and salt-spray tolerant.

Chrysobalanus icaco var. ‘Horizontal’

Horizontal cocoplum is a lower-growing, sprawling and easily trim-able native relative of the upright red-tipped or green cocoplum. It does well in coastal conditions because it is highly salt-tolerant and can withstand full sun. It has flowers for pollinators and its fruits are edible for birds and people.

Passiflora 'Incense'

Incense Passionvine is a non-native, Florida-friendly hybrid passionvine that is a cross of the native Maypop Passionvine and a South American variety. They can grow 10’-20’ with support, and do well in full sun to shade, with well-draining, rich organic soil. These vines have dark green leaves and beautiful, fragrant blooms that bring in butterflies and pollinators. They also serve as a larval hot for Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and Julia butterflies.

Acrostichum  danaeifolium

A majestic and prehistoric-looking native fern that makes a bold architectural statement in the landscape. It features large, upright, leathery fronds that can reach impressive heights of 6 to 12 feet. This robust fern thrives in full sun to deep shade and is particularly well-suited for wet areas, pond edges, or low spots in the garden. It is highly salt-tolerant and adds a lush, tropical texture to any damp or aquatic setting.

Cymbopogon citratus

Lemongrass is a non-native, Florida-friendly, perennial edible grass that grows 3’-4’ tall and 2’-3’ wide. They require full sun and rich, well-draining, loamy, clay, or sandy soil. When crushed, their leaves give off a lovely citrusy scent, and their lower stalks can be used to flavor soups, curries, and teas. As large clumping grass, they also make great border plants for folks who want to add some texture to their landscape.

Guaiacum sanctum

The “Wood of Life” tree has a rich ethnobotanical history due to its dense wood and spectacular flowers. For best growth, plant in full sun to partial shade, with well-drained soil. This small tree is slow growing but worth the wait. Rich blue blooms lead to orange fruits which Catbirds adore. Its drought tolerance, hurricane resistance and ability to take salt spray make this tree a great choice for coastal landscapes.

Bourreria cassinifolia

Little Strongbark is a native, evergreen, lower-growing flowering shrub native to pine rocklands of southern Florida. It is listed as endangered in Florida but is found throughout the West Indies. It enjoys full sun to light shade, moist to average well-drained soils. The small white flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds. They produce little orange berries that are a favorite food source for birds.

Quercus virginiana

Live Oak is a magnificent, slow-growing evergreen oak native to the southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas that can live for centuries. This iconic tree typically grows 40’-60’ tall but spreads dramatically wider, with massive horizontal and arching branches forming a broad, rounded canopy that can extend 100’ or more. The thick, leathery leaves are dark green and elliptical, often draped with Spanish moss in its native range. It produces inconspicuous flowers followed by acorns that provide critical food for squirrels, deer, and numerous bird species. Extremely durable and salt-tolerant, it thrives in sandy coastal soils and can withstand hurricanes, making it a symbol of the Old South and an excellent choice for large landscapes, parks, and street plantings in zones 8-10.

Gynura procumbens

Longevity Spinach is a non-native, Florida-friendly, edible trailing vine that grows best in indirect sun or partial shade, with rich, well-draining soil. Unlike some greens, Longevity Spinach is known for its extreme heat and humidity tolerance, making it an ideal choice for many Florida gardens and landscapes. The leaves can be enjoyed raw or cooked, and have a variety of culinary applications, such as salads, smoothies, and soups and stir-fries.

Pinus palustris

Native, evergreen, long-needle pine tree, can grow to be 125’ tall. Native to Florida sandhills, this tree does best in full sun with well-drained sandy soils. Very drought tolerant once established. Younger trees will grow slowly while they establish a healthy root system, with growth picking up after the first 5-7 years. While Longleaf Pines can make a lovely addition to a landscape, in their natural habitat, they are part of an incredibly biodiverse ecosystem, supporting deer, wild turkeys, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, due to the frequent natural fires that provide rich undergrowth which provides food and shelter for many different species.

Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat is a non-native, Florida-friendly, evergreen fruiting tree that grows 15’-25’ tall. They grow best in full sun to partial shade, with average, well-draining sandy, clay, or loamy soil. Their flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, and their apricot-like fruit can be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike.

Salvia lyrata

Lyreleaf Sage is a long-lived, reseeding, perennial, evergreen, ground-covering wildflower that blooms in the spring and summer. Lyreleaf likes sun to shade and dry to wet (well-drained) soils. The purple flowers attract hummingbirds as well as other pollinators like butterflies. The young leaves are edible and the plant is used medicinally.

Swietenia mahagoni

Native semi-evergreen tree that grows to be 40’-70’ tall. The foliage is dark green, with inconspicuous white and yellow flowers. Plant in full sun to partial shade, with moist, but well-drained sandy soil. Salt-spray resistant once established, with dense, strong wood that is wind-resistant if properly trained. Mahogany is prone to growing multiple leader trunks, which reduces wind-resistance, so prune the tree to promote strength against wind.

Passiflora incarnata

Maypop Passionvine is a Florida native passionvine that is evergreen, perennial and showy. It’s planted both as a medicinal plant for people and as a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and Julia butterflies.

Muhlenbergia capilliaris

Native, perennial, weeping and thick clumping grass. Full sun to light shade, average soil, 4'. Moderately salt-tolerant, can usually spread by self-sown seeds. Attractive foliage year-round, but showiest in the fall with purple/pink flowering plumes. Combines well with wildflowers.

Myrsine cubana

Myrsine is native, upright evergreen shrub that grows 15’-20’ tall and 8’-12’ wide. They grow well in full sun and full shade, and are highly adaptable with their soil, tolerating poor drainage and drought once they are established. They have shiny, leathery green leaves, inconspicuous green flowers, and clusters of dark berries that provide food for both native and migratory birds.

Cordia sebestena

Orange Geiger is a small, native, coastal, evergreen, flowering tree that likes full sun to light shade and well-drained soils. Orange Geiger is drought, wind and salt tolerant with large dark green leaves and showy orange flowers almost all year that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Simarouba glauca

Paradise is a native, evergreen, tropical tree with shiny, leathery, oval shaped green leaves and a rounded canopy, reaching 40’-50’ tall and 25’-30’ wide. They grow well in full sun to partial shade and are highly adaptable to different common Florida soil types. They have yellow-white flowers in spring that attract pollinators and dark summer berries that provide a food source for birds.

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

Paurotis Palm is a Florida native palm that grows to be 15’-25’ tall and 8’-15’ wide. They grow best in full sun and moist to wet sandy soil. They can tolerate standing water, but they are surprisingly drought tolerant once they are established. They are very salt-tolerant, and their dense, multi-trunk growth habit provides cover for local wildlife.

Ananas comosus

Pineapple is a non-native, Florida-friendly edible plant that can grow 2’-3’ tall. They grow best in full sun with average to dry sandy soil. Each plant will produce one pineapple fruit, and they can be planted in the ground or grown in containers.

Aristolochia macrophylla

Pipevine is a Florida-friendly deciduous climbing vine that grows up to 15ft with large, heart-shaped leaves reaching 12in long. The leaves overlap in a shingle-like pattern to create dense screening, making it excellent for privacy on arbors, trellises, or fences. In late spring to early summer, it produces distinctive pipe-shaped flowers that are greenish-yellow and mottled with burgundy, though they're often hidden beneath the lush foliage. Native to moist woodlands and stream banks, it serves as the primary host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. This shade-tolerant vine prefers rich, moist soil and requires consistent moisture, making it unsuitable for dry conditions.

Clusia guttiferra

Non-native, Florida-friendly, prunable evergreen shrub. Pitch Apples can reach a height of about 15’, with a 15’ spread. These shrubs do well in full sun to shade, well-drained sandy or loamy soil, and are salt-tolerant once established. They are fast growing, and make a great hedge or buffer, specimen, or container plant.

Eragrostis spectabilis

Purple Lovegrass is a warm-season bunchgrass native to eastern and central North America that forms low, mounding clumps 1’-2’ tall and wide. This drought-tolerant species features flat, blue-green basal leaves topped by airy, delicate flower panicles that create a stunning purple-pink haze above the foliage in late summer. Extremely hardy and well-suited for hot, dry conditions, it thrives in sandy or gravelly soils, where few other plants can survive, and spreads slowly by short rhizomes and self-seeding. Found naturally in abandoned fields, roadsides, dry prairies, and upland savannas from Maine to Florida, it serves as an excellent ornamental grass for xeriscaping and naturalized plantings, providing late-season color and texture to challenging sites.

Passiflora edulis “Purple Possum”

Purple Passionvine is a Florida-friendly, evergreen, perennial, showy passion variety known for it’s fruit, unlike other passion varieties that are known for serving as host plants. While the fruit and the flowers are the stars of the show, Purple Possum also serves as a host plant for Zebra Longwing and Gulf Fritillary caterpillars, so you can use this plant to feed yourself, and your local butterflies! Grow in full sun with rich, well-draining sandy soil for the best blooms and fruit. The vines and fruit get heavy as they grow, so provide a sturdy trellis, arbor, tree, or fence to support them.

Stachytarpheta frantzii

Purple Porterweed is a non-native, Florida-friendly flowering shrub that grows 3’-4’ tall and wide. They grow best in full sun and average to moist sandy soil. Their purple flower spikes bloom from spring until the first frost and serve as a nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Petrea volubilis

Queen’s Wreath is a non-native, Florida-friendly, fast-growing evergreen vine. It grows best in full sun to part shade, but flowers more abundantly in full sun, and average soil; they are somewhat drought tolerant once established. These vines have showy purple flowers that bloom profusely from Feb-June, which are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Ipomoea pes-caprae

Railroad vine is an evergreen, flowering, vining groundcover. It is fast growing, does not require a trellis, and reaches 1ft in height. It thrives in full sun on coastal landscapes, is salt tolerant, but very cold-sensitive. It needs dry, sandy soils, and is great for stabilizing beach dunes. Showy pink/purple trumpet flowers are great for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Chrysobalanus icaco ‘Red Tip’

Red Tip Cocoplum is a popular cultivar of the native Florida cocoplum that grows 5’-20’ tall with an attractive upright to spreading form. This evergreen shrub is distinguished by its striking new growth that emerges bright red to orange-bronze before maturing to glossy, dark green rounded leaves. It produces clusters of small white flowers in summer followed by edible dark purple fruits that can be used for jellies and preserves. It thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soils, making it an excellent choice for hedging, privacy screens, and buffer plantings in zones 10-11.

Acer rubrum

Red Maple is a native deciduous tree that can grow 40’-70’ tall and 30’-50’ wide. They grow best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soils. They can tolerate both short dry periods and very wet soil once established. In spring, they produce showy pink to red blooms that attract pollinators, which are followed by seeds that feel local birds and small mammals.

Salvia rosmarinus

Rosemary is a non-native, Florida-friendly evergreen woody herb that serves a purpose in the garden and the kitchen. Reaching 2’-5’ in height, with full sun and dry to average, well-draining sandy or rocky soil, Rosemary is a great drought-tolerant herb that handles the Florida heat very well. With flowers for pollinators from late winter to spring, and an undeniably delicious flavor when using the leaves, this plant can be used in a butterfly garden and in teas, soups, and roasts.

Roystonea regia

Royal Palm is a Florida native palm that grows to be 50’-100’ tall and 20’-25’ wide. They grow best in full sun and moist, well-draining soil, but they are highly adaptable to different soil conditions once established. Their flowers are highly attractive to pollinators and the fruit that follow are highly attractive to birds, making them an excellent plant for bringing wildlife to the landscape.

Spartina patens

Saltmeadow Cordgrass is a perennial grass native to Florida's coasts that grows up to 3 feet tall in salt marshes and brackish wetlands. This hardy species features slender, wiry stems and narrow leaves that often form distinctive whorled patterns, creating dense clumps in the high marsh zone above the high-tide line. Highly valuable for Florida wildlife, it provides critical nesting habitat for saltmarsh sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, and boat-tailed grackles, while the seeds feed various shorebirds and waterfowl including mallards and pintails. The dense grass also offers protective cover for diamondback terrapins, marsh rabbits, and juvenile fish during high tide, while serving as foraging areas for great blue herons and snowy egrets. This salt-tolerant native grass plays a vital ecological role in Florida's coastal marsh systems, supporting both resident and migratory species.

Hibiscus coccineus

Scarlet Hibiscus is a native, perennial flowering shrub that grows 3’-8’ tall and 2’-4’ wide, with large, lobed leaves and large red star-shaped, long-lasting flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall. They grow best in full sun to partial shade with moist to wet, rich soil. They naturally grow in very wet areas and are very tolerant of soggy soil, but they can adapt to average soil environments with adequate watering. They are very attractive to Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees!

Coccoloba uvifera 

A tropical-looking and unique native plant, Sea Grape grows to 10-30 ft tall and can be trimmed. Grow in full sun as a large shrub for screening and privacy or as a large sculptural tree in semi-shade. The leaves of Sea Grape are lightly deciduous and interesting with seasonal changes in color. The fruit grows in beautiful clusters and is enjoyed by both birds and people.

Coccoloba uvifera x diversifolia

Sea Plum is a naturally occurring hybrid between Sea Grape and Pigeon Plum that combines the best traits of both native Florida parents. This evergreen shrub typically grows 6’-12’ tall and 4’-6’ wide, though it has the potential to reach larger sizes given its parentage. It features attractive foliage that blends characteristics of both parents and produces fruit on female plants that birds readily consume. Exceptionally hardy and low-maintenance, it thrives in full sun to light shade with well-draining sandy soils and demonstrates excellent tolerance to wind, salt spray, and drought conditions. This versatile hybrid works well as a specimen plant or screening hedge and is particularly valuable for beachfront landscapes in zones 9-11.

Serenoa repens

The Blue Saw Palmetto is a tough, drought-tolerant Florida native fan palm perfect for coastal landscapes and understory planting. It features sprawling horizontal stems, blue/silver fronds, and distinctive saw-toothed leaf stalks. In spring, it produces fragrant blooms that attract pollinators, followed by wildlife-supporting berries. Plant in full sun or shade and dry, sandy soil.

Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus

Silver Buttonwood is a unique coastal native shrub or small tree that can reach 20' and has soft silvery leaves and small brown berries that look like wood buttons. While it thrives in coastal landscapes, taking salt inundation and salty soils like a champ, it can be planted inland as well. Silver Buttonwood can be used as a specimen tree, part of a natural privacy screen or pruned into hedge.

Chiococca alba

Snowberry is a native perennial vine or sprawling shrub found in coastal hammocks and disturbed habitats. Its small white tubular flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, while the distinctive white berries provide an important food source for birds that disperse its seeds. It tolerates a range of soil conditions and light levels, making it adaptable to various landscape settings including naturalized areas and native plant gardens.

Magnolia grandiflora

Southern Magnolia is a native, evergreen flowering tree that grows to be 60’-80’ tall and 30’-50’ wide. They grow best in full sun to partial shade, with moist, rich, acidic well-drained soils. With their dark green leathery leaves and their large, heavily fragrant white flowers in late spring and summer, Southern Magnolias make a great addition to Florida landscapes as part of a privacy screen or specimen plant. Their flowers predate bees, so they are instead pollinated by beetles, but their seeds provide food for birds and small mammals, and their dense branches provide year-round cover for local wildlife.

Juniperus virginiana silicoa

Red Cedar is an evergreen shade tree that is also excellent for a privacy screen or buffer planting. It’s long-lived, it can grow to approximately 30’ over many years, is adaptable to dry and moist soils and does well in full sun to light shade. It can be used as a coastal plant as it is salt tolerant. Red Cedars are an important nesting and food source for birds.

Pinus elliottii var. densa

Southern Slash Pine is a native, evergreen conifer that grows to be 30’-50’ tall and 20’-35’ wide. They grow best in full sun, and thrive in a wide range of soil types. Their dense branches are covered in long, dark green needles and provide year-round cover for local wildlife.

Myrcianthes fragrans ‘Stopper Morph’

Simpson Stopper 'Stopper Morph' is a striking variegated lower-growing cultivar that features dramatic foliage coloration. The new growth emerges in shades of white and pink before gradually maturing to green, creating a beautiful tri-colored effect throughout the growing season. This evergreen shrub requires full sun and occasional trimming to maintain its vibrant variegation. It has fragrant white flowers that attract pollinators and berries for birds. It can be used as either a specimen shrub, pruned into a small tree form, or kept low, making it an excellent ornamental choice for South Florida landscapes in zones 9-11.

Ficus aurea

Strangler Fig is a native evergreen tree that grows to be 40’-60’ tall with an equally large canopy. They have dark green leathery leaves and produce small, dark figs that provide a food source for birds and other wildlife. They grow best in full sun to partial shade, and thrive in a wide range of soil types and are moderately drought and salt tolerant once established.

Mimosa strigillosa

Sunshine Mimosa is a native perennial groundcover that grows 6–9” tall, with a deep root system and a fast-spreading habit. It thrives in full to partial sun and adapts to dry to wet soils. This hardy plant is salt-tolerant, cold-tolerant, and perfect for walkable or mowable spaces, making it an excellent choice for multi-species or “floral lawns.” Pollinators love it.

Crinum americanum

Swamp Lily is a native perennial wetland plant that grows 2’-3’ tall and 1’-2’ wide. It does well in full sun to partial shade, with partial shade being ideal in the hot summer months in Florida. These plants thrive in very wet soil, mud, and pond muck, and can tolerate standing water up to 6”. They have strappy, dark green leaves and showy clusters of heavily fragrant, white, spider-shaped blooms. The flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds!

Acacia farnesiana

Sweet Acacia is a native, pollinator-attracting, small tree or large shrub. It’s fragrant, golden-yellow puffball flowers bloom in winter and spring. It's highly drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for water-wise landscapes, and attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Aloysia virgata

Sweet Almond bush is a Florida-friendly, non-native, highly scented, large, climbing vining shrub with almond colored flower drupes and nicely textured leaves. It is very attractive to pollinators including multiple butterfly species and bees. Adaptable to most garden conditions, this shrub has a place in any Florida Friendly landscape!

Magnolia virginiana

Sweetbay Magnolia is a native, evergreen flowering tree with beautiful, soft-green pointed foliage and heavily fragrant, ivory flowers that are significantly smaller than the large blooms of the Southern Magnolia. They grow to be 15’-30’ tall, and do well in full sun to partial shade and moist to wet sandy, loamy, and clay-heavy soil. Sweetbay Magnolias also serve as a larval host for the Sweetbay Silk Moth, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and the Spicebush Swallowtail, and the seeds feed local songbirds.

Rubus fruticosus 'Natchez'

Thornless Blackberry ‘Natchez’ is a non-native, Florida-friendly, deciduous, edible vining shrub that grows 4’-6’ tall and 4’-5’ wide. They do well in full sun, and rich, moist, slightly acidic soil. The flowers attract pollinators and the fruit are edible for birds and humans.

Morus hybr. ‘Tice’

Tice Mulberry is a non-native, Florida-friendly deciduous fruit tree that grows to be 15’-60’ tall, depending on the pruning methods used to maintain it. They grow best in full sun to light shade with rich, well-draining loamy soil, though they are highly adaptable to poor soil conditions. While the Tice Mulberry fruits seasonally, they fruit profusely during their season, producing many large, black, delicious berries that are edible for humans and local wildlife.

Salvia coccinea

Tropical Sage is a native, reseeding annual wildflower that is highly adaptable in the garden. It can be grown in sun to shade, dry to moist soils. It has fragrant leaves and comes in three different colors that attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.

Viburnum obovatum

Walter's Viburnum is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States that can reach up to 20’ tall but is commonly pruned as a hedge or screen. This densely branched species features fine-textured foliage and produces masses of small, fragrant white flower clusters in early spring, giving it its nickname "Florida snow," that attract butterflies and other pollinators. In fall, it develops dark blue berries that provide food for birds and wildlife. Thriving in zones 7-10, it adapts to various soil types and light conditions from full sun to partial shade, making it an excellent choice for native landscaping, wildlife gardens, and as a Florida-friendly alternative to boxwood hedges.

Sizing of cultivars:

‘Withlacoochee’ - 12’-15’

‘Select’ - 6’-8’

‘Densa’ - 4’-5’

‘Snow Fury’ - 5’-10’

aka Southern Bayberry

Myrica cerifera

Southern Bayberry is a go-to large shrub for tough conditions that require plants that can tolerate moist soils and full sun. It’s also highly adaptable to dry soils and partial shade. It is evergreen and best left untrimmed and allowed to get to its natural height of about 15’. Southern Bayberry makes a nice hedge, natural screen or buffer planting or a specimen shrub and it is an excellent wildlife attractor. The waxy berries on the female plants are a food source for birds, and also used to make traditional bayberry candles.

Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’

Weeping Yaupon Holly is a graceful cultivar of the native yaupon holly that grows 15-25 feet tall with distinctive drooping, pendulous branches that create an elegant weeping form. This evergreen cultivar features the same small, leathery dark green leaves as the species and produces inconspicuous flowers followed by bright red berries on female plants that attract birds. The cascading branches give it a unique architectural quality, making it an excellent focal point or specimen tree for large landscapes. Like its parent species, it's extremely drought and salt-tolerant, adaptable to various soil conditions, and requires minimal maintenance once established.

Lysiloma latisiliquum

Wild Tamarind is a native, semi-deciduous, small shade tree that grows to be 30’-60’ tall with a 30’-50’ spread. It grows best in full sun and well-drained sandy soil. With its fern-like leaves and beautiful, white pom-pom flowers, Wild Tamarind makes a lovely addition to pollinator gardens and landscapes that need a shade tree that won’t get too large. They also serve as a larval host for the Mimosa Yellow and Cassius Blue butterflies.