Landscaping gives you the opportunity to compliment all of the beauty of your home and extend it to the gorgeous Florida outdoors.
Although beautiful, Florida landscaping has its challenges. Knowledge of which plants thrive in our tropical climate will help you to create your own tropical paradise.
Read our landscaping tips for your Cherokee Park home in this guide.
Planning for Florida Landscaping
A beautiful landscape requires some thought about the environment, homeowner’s needs, and maintenance of plant life. Here are the things to keep in mind when landscaping your Florida home.
Environment
The subtropical environment of Florida offers unique considerations when selecting plants. Trees should have strong trunks to withstand the harsh winds of hurricanes. If you are near the coast, you will want to look for plants that can continue to thrive with salt spray.
Homeowner
Before selecting plants for your Florida yard, consider how you will use various areas of the yard. Plants that you choose should complement these uses:
- Entertaining
- Gardening
- Style
Maintenance
Unless you are an avid gardener, you may want to focus on plants that require very little maintenance. Consider the following maintenance tasks and whether you enjoy doing them before making your plant selections.
- Watering
- Pruning
- Pest control
- Erosion control
Florida Plants
When planning for landscaping plants, consider the function of the plants and size at maturity. Also, plan for areas around your yard. Will there be sections for barbecues, a pool, play areas, or gardens?
Trees
Since these are the largest plants in the landscape, plan to select and plant these first. Trees offer shade and can beautifully frame an entrance.
When selecting trees for your Florida landscape, look for varieties that will withstand high winds during hurricane season.
Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm)
When thinking of a tropical Florida yard, the strong trunks of a palm come to mind. This variety grows well and is also the Florida state tree.
Given that this tree is drought and salt tolerant, it is ideal for the homeowner looking for low-maintenance plants. The non-invasive thin roots of a palm also make them a great feature around entertaining areas that have concrete, such as pavers and walls.
It has a slow growth rate, so you can enjoy this tree for many years to come without worrying about pruning or overgrowth habits. Old fronds are replaced by the palm yearly, so just a little clean-up will keep them lush.
Magnolia
There are many varieties of magnolia that grow well in Florida, but the beauty and stateliness of a Southern Magnolia make it a favorite.
The Southern Magnolia is known for its glossy leaves and white summer blooms. This variety is a slow grower that responds well to shaping and pruning.
It prefers well-drained but moist soils. One drawback is its leaf reaction to the high salt content in watering.
Bottlebrush
The beautiful spikes of the Bottlebrush tree look stunning in a Florida yard. The spikes are usually red, but there are also varieties that bloom in white, yellow, and pink.
This type of small ornamental tree can also be used as a shrub. It requires little pruning and can be trained for single or multiple trunks.
It prefers well-drained soil and tolerates moderate salt spray.
Shrubs
Shrubs can solve many of your design and environmental concerns in the Florida landscape. They offer interest along a foundation wall, help control erosion, and act as a privacy screen when planted in multiples.
Gardenia
The pleasant scent of gardenia makes it ideal for entryways and walking paths.
This shrub can grow to be 6 feet; however, light pruning after flowering will help control its height and shape.
Gardenia likes full sun to partial shade and moist, acidic soil.
Azalea
This southern favorite offers so many possibilities in height, leaf type, and flower production.
They bloom showy flowers and look wonderful as a specimen plant or in mass plantings of different varieties.
The azalea prefers acidic soil and full sun to partial shade. Some species are evergreen, while others have leaves that are very sensitive to too much sun.
Juniper
If you favor the soothing colors of the ocean in your landscape, the silvery blue spikes of Juniper create a calming backdrop when paired with flowering plants of white, cream, and lavender.
Juniper is a low-growing shrub; however, it does spread. Prune in spring before new growth forms.
Plant in well-drained soil that is slightly acidic for retaining the blue color.
Gardens
If you are a gardening enthusiast, you’ll want to make sure you add a garden to your landscaping. Here are some Florida gardening tips that you may find useful for planting tropical fruits and stunning flower beds.
A Citrus Grove
When envisioning the Florida landscape, citrus fruits almost always come to mind.
You can plant citrus trees in straight rows for ease of picking and pruning, or consider trailing along an arbor or privacy fence for an interesting pop of tropical color. Consider the following recommended trees:
Tahiti Lime – Grows to a height of 15-20 feet. This tree has beautiful white flowers that are very fragrant. It is ideal for subtropical weather but can be susceptible to citrus canker. Inspect leaves regularly.
Meyer Lemon – The tree is a cross between a lemon and mandarin orange. It can reach a height of 10 -12 feet and also comes in a dwarf variety that is ideal for container gardening.
Valencia Orange – This tree is compact at a maximum height of 15 feet. For fresh juice daily, opt for 2-4 trees in your yard. They require very little pruning and offer visually stunning fruits for your Florida yard.
Tropical Flower Beds
Think beyond the visual display of plants when planning a tropical flower garden. Your Florida garden can become a soothing retreat with careful consideration of these elements:
- Sound
- Scent
- Privacy
When considering the sounds you would like to hear in your garden, search for plants that attract birds or thrive in water features such as ponds and small waterfalls. Canna lilies love humid, wet environments and attract butterflies and birds.
Plumeria plants are a perfect selection for fragrance. Their exotic scent becomes even stronger in the evening. They are tolerant of salt spray and prefer acidic soil. This gorgeous plant can be used as a small tree or shrub.
A retreat garden suggests privacy when thinking of the layers envisioned in the natural tropical landscape. Elephant Ears can be an attractive addition. Their leaves can grow to be 3 feet and the plant can reach a height of 6 feet.
Compliment Your Home
When planning your landscape, take into consideration the home’s style. Beautiful landscaping should always enhance rather than compete with your home.
We hope you have enjoyed this guide for Florida landscaping tips. Check out our gallery for more design inspiration.