Florida Landscape Plants: Best Plants for Your Florida Yard

Have you ever strolled through a flourishing Florida garden and wondered which plants could make your yard look just as stunning? Florida’s climate, known for its hot summers and mild winters, provides an ideal environment for growing a garden that is both lush and strong.

Choosing the right plants is like curating an art gallery where every piece complements the next, creating a harmonious and stunning outdoor living space. Whether you envision a tropical oasis with majestic Palms, a vibrant butterfly garden with buzzing pollinators, or a tranquil shaded haven under Magnolia leaves, the right choices can turn your garden dreams into reality. In this article, we’ve rounded up the best native Florida landscape plants to transform your average-looking yard into a verdant oasis that feels right at home.

Azaleas

Perfect for both north and central Florida, Azaleas are the spirit of a Southern spring, bringing an explosion of color to your garden. They bloom profusely in shades of pink, red, white, and purple, breathing life into an inviting outdoor space. To get the best results and build a full-of-life yard, plant azaleas in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Also, they prefer acidic, sandy soils typical of the region, making them a staple in Florida landscape designs.

Want to envelop your Florida garden with an unmatched sense of calmness, serenity, and purity? Don’t think twice and just go for the Alaska Azalea. The simplicity of its angelic white blooms resonates with timeless grace. You can also portray nature’s expressive romance with the captivating red blooms of Azalea ‘Amagasa’, transforming your outdoor space into a romantic retreat.  

To add a touch of feminine elegance to your yard, consider growing Azalea ‘Conversation Piece’. This variety showcases a stunning display of multicolored blooms ranging from soft pinks to bold fuchsias, often with enchanting splashes of white. Each flower has a unique, photo-worthy appearance.

Not your cup of tea? Are you looking for a more of a royal scene that brings a sense of luxury to your Florida landscape design? The lavender-colored blooms of Floramore® Azalea ‘Lavender’ offer you this and much more! But, if you want a burst of sunshine that spreads cheer, joy, and warmth, the luminous yellow petals of Lemon Lights Azalea breathe life into any average yard.

Simply put, you don’t need to worry. There’s an azalea for every homeowner no matter their style!

Crape Myrtles

Many people call Crape Myrtles the “lilacs of the South,” and for good reason. These resilient trees, native to Florida, showcase both their beauty and durability. They offer a variety of features such as smooth, mottled bark and long-lasting summer blooms in shades of pink, red, purple, and white. Growing best in full sun, Crape Myrtles can become the centerpiece of a sunny, Florida yard. Also, if you want to reduce water usage without sacrificing your yard’s aesthetic appeal, this drought-tolerant plant is a superb choice for you.

Looking for a trusted garden marketplace to give your outdoor space a soothing embrace with the full-of-grace beauty of Crape Myrtles? At ShrubHub, we guarantee premium quality, fast delivery, competitive pricing, and an extensive selection of show-stopping plants. Our range includes evergreen shrubs, trees, flowering trees, fruit trees, palm trees, perennials, and hedges.

While browsing ShrubHub’s Crape Myrtle collection, you’ll find options like Black Diamond Purely Purple, Black Diamond Shell Pink, Crepe Myrtle Bellini Strawberry, and First Editions Midnight Magic.

Junipers

For structure and year-round greenery, junipers are an unbeatable choice. They range from groundcover to towering trees, providing options for every garden need. In Florida, junipers fill the role of both functional and ornamental plants, serving as excellent candidates for windbreaks, privacy screens, or pivotal landscape specimens.

Their tolerance for drought and poor soil makes them particularly suited to Florida’s environment. Junipers require little care once established, thriving in full sun with minimal watering, making them a great option if you are looking for hustle-free, low-maintenance yet highly effective landscape solutions.

While most junipers promise year-round greenery, each of these plants has its own character and brings to the scene a unique touch. For example, if your garden is dying for a splash of color, you can stretch out Blue Rug Juniper. One of the best native species, this groundcover creates a dense mat that helps prevent soil erosion and suppresses weeds. Blue Point Juniper grows in a dense, pyramidal form, making it ideal for creating natural, living fences that offer year-round seclusion.

As for Gold Lace Juniper, it showcases a brilliant array of gold-tipped needles, creating a radiant contrast against the deeper green hues of its older foliage. The vibrant golden tips intensify in color during the colder months, adding warmth to your winter garden.

Lantanas

A magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds, Lantanas bring your garden alive with fluttering beauty and bursts of color. Their vigorous growth habit and clusters of vibrant flowers in yellow, pink, orange, and multicolor patterns bloom continuously in the Florida heat. Lantanas are extremely drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun with well-drained soil. They are commonly used in low-maintenance landscapes and are an excellent option for those who want to incorporate sustainable lawn care practices and eco-friendly solutions into their gardening.

Whether used as groundcover, in containers, or as accent plants, lantanas add a touch of wild beauty to any garden setting. Each of their vibrant colors has its own psychology, which is reflected in your landscape design. That’s why it’s quite important to think deeply about choosing the right plant.

Reminiscent of a warm sunset, Lantana Bloomify™ Orange, adds shades of orange and yellow, creating a bold statement against the verdant foliage. For an overpowering sense of serenity, you need to choose some angelic white blooms like that of Mohican Viburnum. The hot pink color of Lantana, Athens Rose Lantana Patio Tree, emanates powerful playfulness and fearlessness that is further softened up by touches of yellow.

Magnolias

Nothing says Southern Garden is quite like the irresistible majestic beauty of Magnolias. With their large, glossy leaves and grand, fragrant flowers, Magnolias are a symbol of grace and beauty. They not only offer year-round greenery but also provide spectacular spring and summer blossoms. They prefer a sunny to partially shaded spot in the yard and well-drained, acidic soil, thriving across much of Florida, from north Florida to parts of the south. While they can take some time to establish, once they do, Magnolias become a stunning and enduring feature of the landscape.

Not sure how to incorporate magnolias into your Florida landscape design? Get help from the experts then! At ShrubHub, we combine the state’s unique natural beauty with the refined tastes of each homeowner, creating a well-balanced space that promises an unrivaled outdoor experience.

Whether you prefer the striking Betty Magnolia or the more subtle Sweet Bay Magnolia, both are beautiful choices for your yard. The Betty Magnolia features grandiose pink blooms and glossy, evergreen leaves, while the Sweet Bay Magnolia is perfect for smaller spaces. ShrubHub’s team knows how to harmonize these magnificent trees, whether it’s the fragrant, creamy-white flowers or the cheerful vibes of the lemony yellow blooms of Magnolia Yellow Bird Tree, within your landscape.

Palms

No Florida garden is complete without the iconic silhouette of palm trees swaying in the breeze. Palms such as the grand Windmill Palm tree or the exotic Coconut Palm are among the varieties that adapt well to Florida’s sandy soil and coastal conditions. They require varying degrees of sun exposure and water, with most needing well-drained locations, that’s why they thrive best in central and south Florida. These palm trees not only evoke the lively ambiance that signifies the state, but also offer various uses in the landscape, from focal points to privacy screens.

Dreaming of adding a touch of the tropics to your Florida landscape design? Look no further than the Windmill Palm, a stunning palm tree that has what it takes to build a tranquil tropical sanctuary with its unique charm and resilience. This magnificent palm is a wonderful addition to any Florida landscape design, offering many benefits that make it irresistible to homeowners seeking both beauty and durability.

For helpful gardening tips and expert advice, visit ShrubHub’s blog. We have an extensive collection of articles on plant care, gardening advice, and landscape design ideas available 24/7 to make your gardening journey easier.

Salvias

Salvias, with their rich spectrum of colors, are an excellent choice for adding vibrancy and attracting wildlife to your Florida garden. These hardy plants tolerate the heat and humidity well and come back year after year with minimal care. Salvias are reliable for long-lasting blooms that attract bees and butterflies. You can either plant them in mass for a stunning visual impact or use them as accents in mixed borders. Plus, their drought resistance makes them a smart pick for every environmentally conscious gardener.

So, if you want a drought-tolerant salvia that mirrors your bold personality and gives your Florida yard a unique, daring look, go for East Friesland Salvia. For a salvia that evokes playful romance and brightens up any lifeless space with its lively red and white blooms, grow Hot Lips Salvia. Want something a little more unconventional? Bring the electric shades of the ocean home with Salvia Blue Hill.

Build Your Florida Oasis With ShrubHub

Creating a lush, thriving garden in Florida means working with the climate, not against it. Choose Florida landscaping plants that thrive in the heat, humidity, and soil conditions of the Sunshine State for a beautiful, resilient yard all year. Whether you’re experienced or new to gardening, including these plants in your garden plan can create a beautiful outdoor space that showcases Florida’s natural beauty.

Need assistance breathing life into your Florida landscape design? Option 2: ShrubHub’s team of experienced designers collaborates closely with you to turn your vision into reality. Whether you desire the lush, tropical vibes of a Miami beachfront, the serene, natural beauty of the Panhandle, or the vibrant, colorful gardens of the Keys, we’ve got you covered.

Sign up now for free and get a 70% discount on your Florida landscape design!

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