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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fragaria virginiana

Wild Strawberry is a native North American strawberry species that grows naturally in Florida's cooler, higher elevation areas and shaded woodlands. This low-growing perennial produces small, intensely flavorful berries that are much smaller than commercial strawberries but pack more concentrated taste. It's an important native plant that provides food for wildlife and for people. Does well in a hanging basket, pot, or shady garden beds.