Overlooked Native Shrubs for South Florida Landscapes.
General Landscape Uses: An excellent specimen or accent shrub in formal and informal landscapes in a wide variety of conditions. It also make a great addition to buffer plantings. Learn more about gardening with marlberry for birds and other wildlife in Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens. Ecological Restoration Notes: A common element in coastal and interior hammocks and thickets.

Native plants are often a good bet for the Florida gardener. A wide range variety could work in your landscape, from vines and groundcovers to shrubs, trees, and palms. Many can serve as good sources of food for wildlife. Some popular natives in Florida include beautyberry, muhly grass, coontie, and Southern magnolia.

The people are trying to grow the plants they know from home, maybe 4 hardiness zones north. The plants are unhappy. I was surprised by the number of folks trying to grow Lilacs in South Florida. Lilacs grow in the Northern US, not South Florida. South Florida may be the mold and mildew capital of the world and Lilacs are extremely susceptible.

Eco-friendly gardeners insist that this South and Central Florida native is the very best choice for Orlando hedges. Exceptionally hardy, Walter’s viburnum will grow in almost any soil, thrives in sun to partial shade, is salt, smog, disease and pest resistant, and is tough enough to take heavy pruning.

All of the hedging plants we sell are fast growing and completely suitable for South Florida. Spacing: Hedge plants are usually spaced 2 feet apart for 3-gallon and 7-gallon plants sizes. And 3 feet apart for 15-gallon and 25-gallon sizes. Clusia. Clusia Guttifera (Small Leaf Clusia) is rapidly becoming the most popular hedge plant in South.

Many fine shrubs, both native and cultivated are overlooked in south Florida in favor of the quick solution ficus hedge. In the long run, a mature hedge of Ficus benjamina will turn out to be the costliest of all hedges to maintain.

Accent tree 8b-11 Joewood Jacquinia keyensis H P, Sun 06x15' S Evergreen Round, compact shrub or small tree native to coastal south Florida and the Keys. Fragrant flowers and blue-gray bark.