A Guide To The Best Plants For Central Florida
Central Florida is home to a wide variety of plants, both Florida native plants and exotic ones. Many of these plants can be used as landscape or indoor plants and add beauty and functionality to your home or office.
Some of the most common plants found in central Florida include palms, milkweed, and passion flower.
Read further to discover the ten best plants that can be found in central Florida!
1. Muhly Grass
Muhly Grass is a natural landscape grass that is perfect for central Florida. This grass has many benefits and uses that are unique to this area.
First of all, Muhly Grass is long-lasting and does not require a lot of maintenance.
Secondly, it creates a textured and interesting background in your garden or yard.
Lastly, Muhly Grass is drought-tolerant, so you can be sure it will remain healthy even if there are extended dry spells in your area.
If you’re looking for beautiful grass that will add character to your home environment, Muhly Grass is your answer!
2. Seagrape
Seagrape plants are typically found in salt water but can grow in freshwater. They have large leaves and long stems up to two metres tall.
Seagrass is a popular plant for coastal areas due to the many benefits of growing seagrasses in central Florida.
First, seagrape helps reduce coastal erosion. Their long stems can reach deep into the sand, and their roots hold the sand together. This makes seagrass gardens an effective way to prevent beach loss.
These plants provide habitats for fish and other aquatic creatures. They provide shelter from waves, sun, and food sources such as plankton, which help sustain these animals.
3. Fakahatchee Grass
Fakahatchee Grass is an excellent plant for central Florida because of its many benefits. First and foremost, this grass is an excellent choice for Florida-friendly landscaping because it is drought-tolerant and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Additionally, Fakahatchee Grass provides beautiful texture and colouration to gardens and landscapes, making it popular among homeowners and gardeners alike.
Another advantage of Fakahatchee Grass is that it has a long blooming season. This means that you will be able to enjoy the flowers throughout the summer months.
Finally, Fakahatchee Grass is considered an environmentally friendly plant because it requires little maintenance.
4. Milkweed
Milkweed is a common name given to plants in the family Asclepiadaceae. There are many different milkweed species, and they can be found worldwide.
Milkweed is an excellent plant for central Florida because it grows well in soil that is sandy, moist, and has good drainage. The leaves of milkweed are alternate, lance-shaped, and have serrated margins.
The milkweed flowers are small and white, producing spikes of tiny flowers. The pollen from the milkweed flowers can help improve allergies in people allergic to other plants. Some people use the stalks of milkweed as toothpicks or to make tea from the leaves.
5. Passion Flower
Passion Flower is a popular choice for central Florida gardens. This hardy perennial has many benefits and advantages over other plants, making it an excellent choice for various gardens.
A Passion Flower has the ability to attract pollinators. Many insects are attracted to Passion Flowers, including bees, butterflies, and birds.
Passion Flowers can help increase your gardening yields by providing food for these beneficial insects!
6. Coontie
Coontie is a flowering plant native to Northern Florida. It can be found in the wild in central and South Florida, as well as parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
This species is considered an invasive weed in many other parts of the world. However, it has many benefits for central Florida gardens, including:
- The plant is low maintenance and easy to grow;
- It produces large amounts of flowers;
- The flowers are pollinated by bees;
- The leaves can be a food source for birds and other wildlife;
- The fruit can be eaten by humans.
7. Southern Wax Myrtle
Southern Wax Myrtle is a beautiful ornamental tree that can be grown in central Florida. This evergreen tree has soft, silvery-white waxed leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers in late winter or early spring.
Southern Wax Myrtle is an excellent choice for a hardy tree that can grow in wet and dry climates.
Some benefits of growing Southern Wax Myrtle include its ability to tolerate various soil conditions, including wet and dry soils, low light levels, saltiness, and poor soils.
The tree also produces showy white flowers in late winter or early spring, which add beauty to any landscape.
8. Walter’s Viburnum
Walter’s Viburnum is an excellent plant for central Florida due to its many benefits and advantages.
Walter’s Viburnum is a drought-tolerant small shrub growing up to six feet tall and wide. It has large leaves and flowers that are dark blue or purple. The flowers are fragrant, and the leaves are attractive on the tree when young but turn a dull green as they mature.
Another advantage of Walter’s Viburnum is that it does well in full sun or part shade. It also does not require much care once established, as it is hardy to Zone 8 or 9. The flowers of Walter’s Viburnum attract wildlife, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
9. Firebush
Firebush is a beautiful, hardy small shrub in many parts of the world. Some people consider them to be the best plants for central Florida because of their easy maintenance and their many benefits.
One of the most important things to remember about fire bushes is that they need sun and water. They will do well in most soils but prefer sandy or gravelly soil with plenty of organic matter. They increase, so if you want a small bush, expect to wait six to twelve months for it to reach maturity.
Some common uses for fire bushes include friendly landscaping and urban gardens. They make excellent hedges, screening plants, and windbreaks. Their dense foliage makes them excellent candidates for hot climates, and they are not as prone to disease as other plants.
10. Palms Trees
Palms trees are a type of tropical tree that can be found in areas near the equator. They are famous for their large, fan-shaped leaves and often grow to a height of thirty feet or more.
Central Florida is an excellent place to grow palm trees because the climate is temperate, and there is plenty of sunlight. The most significant benefit of growing palm trees in central Florida is that they are excellent air purifiers.
Their large leaves can trap pollen and other airborne particles deposited on the tree’s branches and leaves. This process helps to keep indoor air clean and free from pollutants.
Additionally, palm trees are beautiful additions to any garden and can provide shade during the summer months.
Conclusion
Several plants are great for central Florida, including palms, milkweed, and passion flower.
These plants are mainly known for their fragrant flowers, which can attract bees and other pollinators to the garden. Many of these plants provide shade during the summer, helping keep temperatures cooler.
Some of the main advantages of choosing these plants as part of your home landscaping are that they are relatively easy to care for, and they often last for several years without needing a lot of maintenance.
They add beauty and character to a space, making it more appealing to visitors!
FAQs
What watering schedule can I follow for the best plants in central Florida?
During the first and second weeks, you must water your plants daily. Refrain from watering your plants when it’s raining.
Which season offers the most plant growth?
Plants will most likely go through a growing period during fall and spring, however, summer is when plants blossom because of the huge amount of sunlight it receives.
Which tools do I need to ensure that my plants grow?
Plants are simple yet complex. A healthy amount of sunlight, water, and soil would be all the tools you’ll need – don’t forget to take care of them.
