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Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes ¹

R. J. Black²

Of all the states, Florida has the greatest wealth of native plants for use in the average rural or urban home landscape. Native plants desirable for home use range from the spectacular southern magnolia to the miniature creeping vine of the partridge berry. The state has nearly half of the species of trees available in North America north of Mexico. So many of Florida's native plants are useful that the tables included here list only those with the greatest potential landscape use.

Native plants are equally practical and attractive on rural and urban home grounds. You may already know and appreciate some native plants but be unfamiliar with many others that could be used freely. Native plants are adapted to the climate and soil conditions of a given area and usually have fewer pest problems. Therefore their use in landscaping can decrease maintenance. Some plants have specific growth requirements; others thrive under a variety of climatic and soil conditions. You need to consider the native habitat of a plant and plan its use in a similar environment.

Remember that Florida's native wild plants are protected under the Plant Protection Law.^† Under this law both preservation and propagation are encouraged. It is against the law to destroy, injure, harvest, collect, pick or remove any plants covered by the law without prior written permission from the landowner or legal occupant of the land. Another Florida law specifically protects sea oats and sea grapes. It is against the law to dig up or remove these plants whose growth helps prevent beach erosion. Some nurseries stock native plants.

In the tables of native Florida plants included here, plants are first grouped by type such as ground cover or small tree. Within a type they are listed alphabetically by common name.

• Table 1 . Ground Covers.

• Table 2 . Vines.

• Table 3 . Shrubs.

• Table 4 . Small Trees.

• Table 5 . Large Trees.

• Table 6 . Palms.

Endnote

^† Note on Plant Protection Law: Section 581.185 of the Florida Statutes is an act to preserve the state's native trees and plants. Section 370.041 prohibits the removal or digging up of sea oats and sea grapes. Copies of the entire law and the plant list are available on request from the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, P. 0. Box 1269, Gainesville, Florida 32601.

Tables

Table 1. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Ground Covers.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season	Light Req.3	Soil Req.	Salt Spray Tol.4
Dichondra, penny grass Dichondra carolinensis	S	2 inches	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Moist	+
Native Habitat: Hammocks over entire state. Landscape Uses: Edging, mass.
Gopher apple Licania michauxii	NCS	3-12 inches	E	White, pink	Spring, summer	Sn	Dry	+
Native Habitat: Pinelands and sand dunes over entire state. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Partridge berry Mitchella repens	NC	1-2 inches	E	White	Spring	S	Moist, acid	+
Native Habitat: Moist, acid sites in north central Florida. Landscape Uses: Edging, mass.
Railroad vine Ipomoea pescaprae	CS	4 inches	E	Pinkish lavender	Summer	Sn	Well drained	+
Native Habitat: Sandy shores. Landscape Uses: Costal locations.
Boston fern Nephrolepis exaltata	CS	18-36 inches	E	Inconspicuous	--	Pt Sh to Sh	Moist	-
Native Habitat: Moist hammocks. Landscape Uses: Mass, hanging basket.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

Table 2. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Vines.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season	Light Req.3	Soil Req.	Salt Spray Tol.4
Carolina yellow jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens	NC	20 feet	SEV	Yellow	Spring	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	-
Native Habitat: Woodlands south to Osceola county. Landscape Uses: Trellis, fence.
Southern honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	NC	20 feet	D	Red	Summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Any except light sands	-
Native Habitat: Pine flatwoods in northwestern Florida. Landscape Uses: Screen.
Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	NC	50 feet	D	Orange	Spring to summer	Sn	Any except alkaline	-
Native Habitat: Thoughout north and central Florida, except on alkaline soils. Landscape Uses: Screen.
Virginia creeper, Partenocissus quinquefolia	N	30 feet	SEV	Inconspicuous	--	SN	Average	?
Native Habitat: Pine flatwoods over entire state. Landscape Uses: Fences; on trees.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

Table 3. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Shrubs.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season and Fruit Color	Light Req.3	Soil	Salt Spray Tol.4
Small shrubs
Adam's needle, beargrass Yucca smalliana	NCS	4 feet	E	White	Summer	Sh	Any	+
Native Habitat: Flatwoods in northwest Florida. Landscape Uses: Rock gardens; background.
Coontie Zamia floridana	NCS	3 feet	E	--	Orange seed in winter	Sn to Sh	Any if well drained	+
Native Habitat: Pinelands and flatwoods of northcentral Florida. Landscape Uses: Border.
Eastern coralbean Erythrina herbacea	NCS	4 feet	D	Red	Spring; red seeds in fall	Pt Sh	Average	-
Medium shrubs
Native Habitat: Hammocks over the entire state. Landscape Uses: In front of large shrubs.
American beautybush Callicarpa americana	NC	8 feet	D	Purple	Spring; purple fruit in fall	Pt Sh	Well drained	-
Native Habitat: Hammocks and rich woodlands in northcentral Florida. Landscape Uses: Mass.
Fetterbush Lyonia lucida	NC	6 feet	E	White	Spring	Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Screen.
Firebush Hamelia patens	CS	10 feet	E	Red	Year round; black fruit year round	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	+
Native Habitat: Throughout central and south Florida. Landscape Uses: Foundation, base screen.
Gallberry Ilex glabra	NCS	10 feet	E	--	Black fruit in winter	Sn to Pt Sh	Acid, wet	+
Native Habitat: Flatwoods over entire state. Landscape Uses: Trimmed hedges, foundation.
Inkberry Scaevola plumieri	S	6 feet	E	White	Spring and summer	Sn	Dry	+
Native Habitat: Coasts of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia	N	6 feet	D	White	Summer	Pt Sh	Acid, well drained	-
Native Habitat: Flatwoods and swamps of northwestern Florida. Landscape Uses: Mass.
Sea lavender Tournefortia gnophalodes	S	6 feet	E	White	Year round; black fruit year round	Sn	Sand	+
Native Habitat: Beaches and sand dunes. Landscape Uses: Coastal conditions.
Strawberry bush Euonymus americana	N	8 feet	D	Pink	Summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Rich woodlands in northern Florida. Landscape Uses: Foundation.
Swamp hibiscus Hibiscus coccineus	CS	10 feet	E	Red	Summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Moist to wet	?
Native Habitat: Swamps of central and south Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Sweet pepperbush Clethra alnifolia	N	10 feet	D	White to pink	Summer	Pt Sh	Acid, well drained	?
Native Habitat: Hammocks of northwestern Florida. Landscape Uses: Natural areas, small tree.
Sweet shrub Calycanthus floridus	N	10 feet	D	Red to brown	Spring	Sn to Pt Sh	Well drained, fertile	?
Native Habitat: Rich woodland soils. Landscape Uses: Natural areas.
Walter viburnum Viburnum obovatum	NC	8 feet	SEV	White or black	Spring, summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: South to Sarasota county. Landscape Uses: Foundation, base.
Wild coffee Psychotria nervosa	S	8 feet	E	White	Spring; red fruit in summer	Pt Sh to Sh	Average	?
Large shrubs
Bay cedar Suriana maritima	S	20 feet	D	Yellow	Spring	Sn	Dry	+
Native Habitat: Coasts of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.	NC	3-15 feet	E	White	Spring; black fruit in fall	Pt Sh to Sh	Acid, well drained	?
Native Habitat: South to Manatee county. Landscape Uses: Informal plantings.
Cocoplum Chrysobalanus icaco	CS	20 feet	E	White	Spring	Sn	Average, wet or dry	+
Native Habitat: Throughout southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Screen, clipped specimens.
Devilwood Osmanthus americanus	NC	20-45 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	-
Native Habitat: South to Marion county. Landscape Uses: Specimen, foundation.
Eugenia Eugenia spp.	CS	20 feet	E	White	Summer; red fruit in fall	Sn	Average	-
Native Habitat: Most of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Clipped hedge.
Florida anise Illicium floridanum	NC	20 feet	E	Red to purple	Spring	Pt Sh to Sh	Average	-
Native Habitat: Western Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen, mass.
Golden dewdrop Duranta repens	CS	18 feet	E	Blue	Spring; yellow fruit in summer and fall	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	-
Native Habitat: Everglades and the Keys. Landscape Uses: Background, screen.
Large gallberry Ilex coriacae	NCS	10 feet	SEV	--	Black fruit in fall	Pt Sh	Fertile, well drained	?
Native Habitat: Flatwoods of northwestern Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen, informal hedge.
Marlberry Ardisia escallonioides	S	20 feet	E	White	Year round; Black fruit	Pt Sh to Sh	Moist	+
Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Screen, specimen.
Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	N	20 feet	E	Pink to white	Spring	Sh to Pt Sh	Acid, well drained	?
Native Habitat: Western Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen, patio.
Native azaleas, wild honeysuckle Rhododendron spp.	N	8-20 feet	D	Pink to white	Spring	Sh to Pt Sh	Moist, acid, well drained	-
Native Habitat: Moist, acidic soils throughout northwestern Florida. Landscape Uses: Mass.
Scrub holly Ilex opaca arenicola (I. cumulicola)	NC	15 feet	E	--	Red fruit in fall	Pt Sh	Dry	?
Native Habitat: Scrubland of central Florida. Landscape Uses: Informal hedge.
Silver bush Sophora tomentosa	S	15 feet	E	Yellow -	Year round	Sn	Dry	+
Native Habitat: Sand dunes and coastal hammocks of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Southern wax myrtle Myrica cerifera	NCS	20-30 feet	E	--	Gray fruit in summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Wet or dry	+
Native Habitat: Over entire state. Landscape Uses: Specimen, informal hedge.
Spanish bayonet Yucca aloifolia	NCS	20-25 feet	E	White	Spring	Sn to Sh	Any if well drained	+
Native Habitat: Sandy soils over entire state. Landscape Uses: Barriers, enclosures.
Varnish leaf Dodonaea viscosa	S	15 feet	E	Yellow	Summer, fall	Sn to Pt Sh	Dry	+
Native Habitat: Inland woodlands and hammocks throughout southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Informal plantings, hedges.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

Table 4. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Small Trees.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season and Fruit Color	Light Req.3	Soil Req.	Salt Spray Tol.4
American cherry laurel Prunus caroliniana	NC	30-40 feet	E	White	Spring; black fruit in summer	Pt Sh to Sh	Fertile	-
Native Habitat: Hammocks and rich woodlands of northern Florida. Landscape Uses: Clipped hedge, screen.
American hornbeam, blue beech Carpinus caroliniana	NC	30 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Low areas south to Lake county. Landscape Uses: Shaded areas.
Bontia Bontia daphnoides	S	30 feet	E	Yellow	Spring	Sn	Average or dry	+
Native Habitat: Florida Keys. Landscape Uses: Foundation, specimen.
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	NC	25 feet	D	White	Spring; red to yellow fruit in summer	Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Hammocks and fence rows of northcentral Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Cinnamon bark Canella winterana	S	30 feet	E	Purple	Fall; red fruit in spring	Pt Sh to Sh	Average, well drained	?
Native Habitat: Woodlands of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Devil's walking stick Aralia spinosa	NC	15 feet	D	White	Summer; black fruit in fall	Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Low areas in northern and central Florida. Landscape Uses: Exotic specimen.
Downey serviceberry, shad berry Amelanchier arborea	N	25 feet	D	White	Spring	Pt Sh	Wet	?
Native Habitat: Woodlands and swamps of western Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen due to early bloom.
Flowering dogwood Cornus florida	N	30 feet	D	Greenish with white bracts	Spring	Pt Sh	Fertile, well drained	-
Native Habitat: Moist woodlands south to Orange county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Fringe tree Chionanthus virginicus	NC	25 feet	D	White	Spring	Pt Sh	Moist	?
Native Habitat: Low woodland areas south to Manatee county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Geiger tree Cordia sebestena	S	25 feet	E	Orange	Year round	Sn	Alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Dade county to the Florida Keys. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Lignum vitae Guaiacum sanctum	S	25 feet	E	Blue	Spring; orange fruit in summer	Sn	Average	+
Native Habitat: Rare; in Florida Keys. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Mahoe Hibiscus tiliaceus	S	35 feet	E	Yellow	Year round	Sh	Sand, well drained	+
Native Habitat: Sand dunes of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Myrtle dahoon holly Ilex cassine myrtifolia	NCS	25 feet	E	--	Red to yellow fruit in fall	Pt Sh	Moist	?
Native Habitat: Moist to wet soils over northcentral Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Redbud, Judas tree Cercis canadensis	NC	30 feet	D		Winter	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Fertile woodlands south to Marion county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Sand live oak Quercus germinata	NC	30 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Well drained	+
Native Habitat: Dunes and scrubland south to the Everglades. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Satin leaf Chrysophyllum oliviforme	S	30 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Average	+
Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks from Brevard county southward. Landscape Uses: Specimen, patio.
Sea grape Coccoloba uvifera	CS	15-25 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Sand	+
Native Habitat: Coastal hammocks, dunes and beachs. Landscape Uses: Espalier, screen, hedge.
Shining sumac, winged sumac Rhus copallina	NCS	25 feet	D	--	Red fruit in summer	Sn	Well drained to dry	?
Native Habitat: Over entire state. Landscape Uses: Screen, specimen.
Southern crab apple Malus angustifolia	N	25 feet	D	Pink	Spring; green fruit in summer	Sn	Fertile	-
Native Habitat: Western Florida to Taylor county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Southern red cedar Juniperus silicicola	NCS	25 feet	E	--	Blue fruit in winter	Sn to Pt Sh	Average to alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Limestone areas south to Sarasota county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Southern wax myrtle Myrica cerifera	NCS	20-30 feet	E	--	Gray fruit in summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Wet or dry	+
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Screen, clipped hedge.
Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria	NC	25 feet	E	--	Red fruit in winter	Pt Sh to Sh	Average	+
Native Habitat: Hammocks and stream beds of northcentral Florida. Landscape Uses: Screen, clipped hedge.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

Table 5. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Large Trees.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season and Fruit Color	Light Req.3	Soil Req.	Salt Spray Tol.4
American holly Ilex opaca	NC	50-100 feet	E	--	Red fruit in winter	Sn or Pt Sh	Fertile, well drained	+
Native Habitat: Fertile woodlands and hammocks south to Orange county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum	NCS	150 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Sh	Wet, acid	+
Native Habitat: Swams throughout Florida, except in the Keys. Landscape Uses: Shade, specimen, street.
Black olive Bucida buceras	S	50 feet	E	--	Black fruit in summer	Sn to Pt Sh	Alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Rare, in the Florida Keys. Landscape Uses: Specimen, windbreak.
Buttonwood Conocarpus erectus	S	50 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Wet or dry	+
Native Habitat: Coastal areas, south from Brevard and Levy counties. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Dahoon holly Ilex cassine	NCS	40 feet	E	--	Red fruit in winter	Pt Sh	Wet	+
Native Habitat: Swamps over the entire state. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Devilwood Osmanthus americanus	NC	20-45 feet	E	White	Winter	Sn to Pt Sh	Fertile	-
Native Habitat: Fertile woodlands south to Marion county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	NC	80 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Moist	?
Native Habitat: Swamps and rivers. Landscape Uses: Windbreak.
Florida basswood, linden Tilia caroliniana	NCS	60 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Hammocks south to Orange county. Landscape Uses: Street.
Florida boxwood, yellowwood Schaefferia frutescens	S	40 feet	E	--	Red fruit in winter	Pt Sh	Moist	?
Native Habitat: Hammocks in Dade and Monroe counties. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Florida torreya, stinking cedar Torreya taxifolia	N	50 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Pt Sh	Average	?
Native Habitat: Inland on moist sites. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Gumbo limbo Bursera simaruba	S	60 feet	D	--	Red fruit in summer	Sn	Average to alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Coasts of southern Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	NCS	75 feet	SEV	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Average	-
Native Habitat: Entire state to Everglades. Landscape Uses: Shade.
Live oak Quercus virginiana	NCS	70 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Average to alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Shade, framing.
Loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus	NC	70 feet	E	White	Spring	Pt Sh	Fertile, moist	-
Native Habitat: Flatwoods, bays and hammocks. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Longleaf pine Pinus palustris	NC	120 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Any	+
Native Habitat: Flatwoods and sandhills. Landscape Uses: Shade, windbreak.
Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni	S	50 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Dh	Acid or alkaline	+
Native Habitat: Hammocks in southern Florida and the Keys. Landscape Uses: Street.
Pigeon plum Coccoloba diversifolia	S	70 feet	E	--	Red fruit in winter	Sn	Sand	+
Native Habitat: Brevard county to the Keys. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Red maple Acer rubrum	NCS	80 feet	D	Red	Winter; red fruit in winter	Sn to Pt Sh	Fertile, moist	-
Native Habitat: Moist to wet sites. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
River birch, black birch Betula nigra	N	60 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Moist	-
Native Habitat: Stream banks south to Alachua county. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Sand pine Pinus clausa	NCS	70 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Sand	+
Native Habitat: Dunes and scrublands. Landscape Uses: Coastal locations.
Shumard oak Quercus shumardii	NC	100 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Fertile, well drained	-
Native Habitat: Well-drained soils underlain by limestone south through Marion county. Landscape Uses: Specimen, street.
Slash pine Pinus elliottii	NCS	100 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Any	+
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Shade, windbreak.
Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora	NC	100 feet	E	White	Spring	Sn	Fertile	+
Native Habitat: Fertile woodlands south to Desoto county. Landscape Uses: Specimen, street, framing.
Spruce pine Pinus glabra	NC	100 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Fertile, moist	?
Native Habitat: Fertile, moist soils. Landscape Uses: Shade.
Sweet bay Magnolia virginiana	NCS	75 feet	E	White	Spring	Pt Sh	Fertile, wet	-
Native Habitat: Flatwoods, bays and swamps. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Sweet gum Liquidambar styraciflua	NCS	100 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn or Pt Sh	Average	+
Native Habitat: South to Brevard county. Landscape Uses: Specimen, shade.
Tulip tree, yellow poplar Liriodendron tulipifera	NC	100 feet	D	Orange	Spring	Sn or Pt Sh	Moist	-
Native Habitat: Woodlands and swamps south to Orange county. Landscape Uses: Street.
Water oak Quercus nigra	NCS	75 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Average	-
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Street.
Winged elm Ulmus alata	NC	50 feet	D	Inconspicuous	--	Sn	Average	-
Native Habitat: Throughout northern Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

Table 6. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes: Palms.

Common Name Scientific Name	Section of State to Which Adapted1	Height	Foliage2	Flower Color	Flowering Season	Light Req.3	Soil Req.	Salt Spray Tol.4
Cabbage palm Sabal palmetto	NCS	90 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Sh	Any	+
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Specimen, coastal locations.
Florida royal palm Roystonea elata	S	100 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Moist, rich	+
Native Habitat: Southern and southwestern portion of mainland. Landscape Uses: Street, specimen, framing.
Florida silver palm Coccothrinax argentata	S	25 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Sandy, well drained	+
Native Habitat: Broward county south through the Keys. Landscape Uses: Specimen, tropical effect.
Florida thatch palm Thrinax radiata	S	36 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Any	+
Native Habitat: South Florida. Landscape Uses: Street, specimen.
Key thatch palm Thrinax morrisii	S	30 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Any	+
Native Habitat: Lower end of mainland and the Keys. Landscape Uses: Street, specimen.
Needle palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix	NC	6 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Pt Sh	Fertile, moist	+
Native Habitat: Central and northern Florida. Landscape Uses: Specimen, foundation.
Saw cabbage palm Acoelorrhaphe wrightii	CS	30 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Variable	+
Native Habitat: Collier county and Everglades. Landscape Uses: Street, specimen.
Saw palmetto Serenoa repens	NCS	4 feet	E	Inconspicuous	--	Sn to Pt Sh	Variable	+
Native Habitat: Entire state. Landscape Uses: Natural areas.
1Section of State to Which Adapted: N = north Florida - Pensacola to Jacksonville and south Ocala; C = central Florida - Leesburg south to Punta Gorda and Fort Pierce; S = south Florida - Stuart to Fort Myers and south to Homestead; CS = entire state
2Foliage: E = evergreen; SEV = semi-evergreen; D = deciduous
3Light Requirement: Sn = sun; Sh = shade; Pt Sh = partial shade
4Salt Spray Tolerance: + = tolerant, exact degree of tolerance unknown for most native plants; - = not tolerant; ? = tolerance unknown

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Footnotes

1. This document is ENH-25 (which supersedes OH-25), one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date first printed: September 1985. Dates reviewed/revised: June 1997, October 2003. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

2. Robert J. Black, professor emeritus, extension consumer horticulturist, Department of Environmental Horticulture, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

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The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.

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Copyright Information

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