undecomposed Plants for the Florida Keys
Located on Florida ’s southern - most tip , the Keys bid occupant a predilection of sunshine , gumption , salt , and year - round warm temperature , as well as a vast and varied compartmentalization of plant hardy to the part . Whether you ’re looking for a groundcover , establish that flower , or something that grow directly on the oceanfront , there ’s a wealth of hardy choices .
The best plants for the Florida keys are plants that can withstand the tropic and salty climate . Some dependable examples of plants that will thrive in the winder are Bay Cider , Bougainvillea , Gumbo Limbo , Pigeon Plum , Sea Oats , Crinumum Lilly , and visualise Palmetto .
The best plant for abidance located in the Keys need to be able to hold conditions that are consistently hot , sunny , dry and with a dash of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks spray mixed in .
as luck would have it , plant choices are many and include evergreen plant , blossoming , deciduous , native , and those that attract pollinators .
Whatever your aim style or area ’s conditions , there ’s a stout plant action those needs that will thrive in your environment . uphold read because we outline some democratic plants brave to maturate in your Keys landscape painting .
Plant Choices & Characteristics
When considering what type of plants will grow considerably in your location of the Keys , it ’s best to cognize the environmental conditions of the proposed expanse where the plants will be growing . Familiarizing yourself with the area ’s dirt and light conditions helps in selecting appropriate plants for the area .
Additionally , it ’s good to familiarize yourself with the develop conditions the particular plant life prefers for healthy growth .
For deterrent example , you do n’t want to plant something that grows good in full sun in a site that receives piffling sunlight . plant the right-hand plant in the right place go a farseeing way of life in promoting years of criminal maintenance - free and problem - spare growth .
Bay Cedar
Native to South Florida , bay cedar ( Suriana maritima ) prosper in wind , salinity , drought and heating plant , making it a perfect choice for landscape in the Keys .
Performing as a large bush or prune into a tree , bay cedar grows anywhere from 5 to 20 feet tall more often than not with multiple trunks with attractive brownish bark . The curve branches fill with small , fleshy , grey - green leaves treat in downy .
invisible clusters of cupful - mold , yellow-bellied flower efflorescence year - stave that attract butterfly . Bay cedar works well as a hedge , mass planting , specimen , or used in beachfront landscape painting .
It prefers a cheery situation with grunge that drains well .
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea ( Bougainvillea spp . ) adds flamboyant vividness to landscapes with its colorful flower bracts in hues of purple , whitened , red , pink and yellow .
They fill the evergreen and shrubby vine ’s canopy with a riot of colour class - round . Depending on the variety , bougainvillea can easily give top of over 20 feet with a spread of 40 feet .
Its sizing makes it useful as a projection screen and its heavily thorn lined branch add to its utilisation of adding privateness . For the best performance , grow in a sunny site in a diversity of well - drained land . Bougainvillea has a high-pitched tolerance to drought and grow well in coastal areas .
Bleeding Heart
Bleeding heart vine ( Clerodendrum thomsoniae ) fly high in the warm shape of the Keys , but requires a sheltered location for protection from winds .
The evergreen , sprawling vine makes an attractive addition used on an arbour , pergola , treillage or fence region located in full sun to fond shade . However , the more nuance the plant gets , the fuller and denser the foliage coverage .
The glossy , dark light-green foliage makes an attractive direct contrast against the clusters of white flower bracts with red bakshis that bloom year - orotund . As the cherry bloom falls from the cluster , the bracts change to an eye - catching violet - pink color . For the best operation , grow in fertile dirt kept moist through regular water applications .
Frangipani
Those depend for a fragrant flowering small-scale Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that gives a tropical prayer to coastal landscape should take care no further than frangipani ( Plumeria spp . ) .
The blimp - similar branches take with foot longsighted , greenish , deciduous leaves in late spring , adopt by heavily fragrant blooms in shades of white , yellow , red , pink or a admixture of several hues .
Trees have a high tolerance to salt and drought , grow best in full sun to fond shade and in a variety of well - run out soils . Frangipani ca-ca an attractive addition to planter , used as a specimen or tropical gardens .
Gumbo Limbo
Native to the Keys and earning its cognomen “ The Tourist Tree ” due to its red peeling bark , Abelmoschus esculentus - limbo ( Bursera simaruba ) trees have a baffling nature , stomach up to table salt , drought and impregnable wind .
The semi - evergreen tree quickly grows up to 40 ft tall with a similar spread , performing well in full sun to partial shade and in well - drained soils . Gumbo - limbo seduce an attractive specimen , shade , or residential tree set away from powerlines .
Jamaican Dogwood
Jamaican dogwood ( Piscidia piscipula ) is a Keys aboriginal and grade into an attractive but underutilized residential tree diagram . The deciduous tree averages around 45 feet marvellous and is covered in leaf topped in green with grayish - green undersides .
In late spring , pea plant - corresponding clusters of white flush touch in red and pinkish peak follow by long seedpods . The stout tree diagram is tolerant to salt , drought , and casual brackish and seawater implosion therapy . It mature best in full sun to partial shade and in well - drained soil .
West Indian Mahogany
Keys native West Native American mahogany ( Swietenia mahagoni ) trees make fast - growing and attractive improver to landscapes used as a tincture tree or for frame . However , its invading roots imply the tree diagram should be planted aside from structure or walk .
Averaging around 40 feet tall and wide , it forms a loose symmetric canopy filled with 4 - inch fleeceable , semi - deciduous leaf that cast lite shade . The sturdy wood is malarkey - large-minded and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is drought- and saltiness - tolerant .
West Amerind mahogany tree produce well in full sun to partial shade and in soils that debilitate well .
Buttonwood
Buttonwood ( Conocarpus erectus ) , also called light-green buttonwood , is aboriginal to the Keys and boom in windy and salty coastal conditions .
With its low - branching wont with multiple trunks , buttonwood makes an attractive large shrub or evergreen tree fill up with blue - green foliage . In springtime , invisible greenish flower bloom , follow by small cherry-red - brown , cone - corresponding fruits .
raise around 30 feet tall and with a 20 to 30 - foot bedspread , it works well as a hedging , planted by a patio or deck of cards , or utilized as a intermediate - sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . sturdy Platanus occidentalis grows well in sandy to brackish stain located in full sun to fond spectre .
Pigeon Plum
aboriginal to the Keys , pigeon plum ( Coccoloba diversifolia ) variety into an attractive evergreen tree with a symmetrical canopy make full with obtuse , lustrous evergreen leafage that is green once mature but emerges as blood-red .
bestow to the tree ’s attractiveness are the panicles of white bounce flowers adopt by the little edible fruit that are purple . to boot , the greyish - brown bark skin from the trunk exposing a drab purple , bestow even more colouration .
Growing 15 to 25 feet magniloquent with a similar width , this hardy tree tolerates idle words , drouth , and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks , thrive in well - drain soils located in full sun to fond shade . Pigeon plum makes an middle - get shadowiness tree or specimen .
Fiddlewood
Fiddlewood ( Citharexylum spinosum ) , a South Florida indigene , grows well as a tall bush or tree , making it useful as a hedge , covert or planted near a terrace or deck .
spring up 15 to 35 feet tall with a spread of 8 to 25 feet , fiddlewood fills with dark leafy vegetable to yellow evergreen plant leaf on top and lighter green on the bottom .
bunch of fragrant , humble white , and trumpet - shaped flowers bloom year - round , followed by small clustering of orange fruit eventually change to black . This showy flora is heat- , salt- and drought - tolerant , thriving in well - drain soils and fond sun .
Satinleaf
aboriginal to Florida and the Keys , caimitillo ( Chrysophyllum oliviforme ) makes an attractive shade tree or specimen with its showy evergreen foliage that ’s unripe on top and bronze on the bottom encompass the ellipse canopy .
tree spring up 35 to 45 feet marvelous with a cattle farm of 18 to 25 feet . Satinleaf blossom off and on year - round producing white bell - shape blooms followed by unripened olive - shaped fruit that change to pitch blackness when advanced .
The tree grows well in fecund , well - drained soils kept moist and situate in partial shade to full sun . Satinleaf is heat- , salt- and drouth - tolerant .
Pitch Apple
pitch shot apple ( Clusia rosea ) earns its common name from the resinous cloth surrounding the red seeds , which was once used for caulking on boat wrinkle .
The showy evergreen plant and Keys native mature 25 to 30 substructure marvelous and spreads 15 to 25 feet , with its rounded canopy densely fill with great 6 - inch parting . Year - round but mainly in summer , showy 3 - column inch bloom of youth configuration in colors of pink and white appear at night and followed by lowly green fruit resemble rosehip .
With a high allowance to salt and drouth , pitch apple grows best in moist but well - drained soils located in full Dominicus to partial shade . It is suitable used as a specimen , shadiness Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , in container or a hedge or screening plant .
Passion Flower
Although there are several species of passion flowers aboriginal to Florida , Maypop ( Passiflora incarnate ) is the gaudy , producing exotic 3- to 5 - in blooms that are purple or lavender and with crinkled fringe over the flower petal .
Flowers last for a day and dark-green oval fruit form after the flower fade(which are comestible ) but said to not taste too good .
The blooms appeal a legion of pollinators from bee , butterfly , moths , hummingbirds , bat and other insects Grow passionateness flower in a sunny site in fertile well - drained soil and employ on a fence , treillage or arbor .
Locust Berry
Locust berry ( Byrsonima lucida ) is a Florida native that is considered endangered . It has an irregular branching habit growing around a foot marvelous in sandy soils lacking food but obtains a height of 8 feet in richer soils .
The evergreen shrub is covered in small unripened foliage and colour - alter heyday form in springtime . The showy flower clump start out as blank , transfer to pink and then a dark red and draw a host of beneficial pollinator .
locust tree Charles Edward Berry works well used in aboriginal or butterfly stroke gardens , as well as a screen . It bear salt and drought and performs just in fertile territory located in partial sunlight or fond wraith .
Lignumvitae
Native to the Keys , Lignumvitae ( Guaiacum sanctum sanctorum ) is a quite showy tardily - maturate evergreen plant tree that only reaches a height of 8 to 12 feet with a like bedspread .
The picturesque small-scale tree diagram delights with crooked multiple trunks , a rounded canopy filled with 2 - column inch recollective , leathery , morose dark-green foliage , and a class - one shot display of showy efflorescence clustering in a deep blue . Adding to the show , as the flowers slicing they create a shimmering haze throughout the canopy as they changed to a lighter silver - blue .
Lignumvitae is well - suited for container , used around a terrace or porch , as well as a specimen . For the well operation , turn this wind- , salt- and drouth - tolerant aboriginal in full sun to fond shadiness and in well - drained dirt .
Jamaican Caper
Jamaican caper ( Capparis cynophallophora ) is a aboriginal evergreen shrub that makes an attractive addition to butterfly and native gardens , or used as a backcloth to taller Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
industrial plant take on a vase form , lento accomplish a matured stature and spread of 6 to 15 feet . Its unequalled glossy leaves are promiscuous green on top , with the keister lined in fine brownish scales . As new foliage emerges , the leaf pen up together give them a bronze coloration .
In springtime , the shrub puts on a show with the blooming inflorescences containing clusters of up to 10 bloom . The showy blooms comprise of 2 - inch purple stamens , foresightful white anthers , and white petals that take on a empurpled color throughout the Clarence Day . farm this drought - tolerant lulu in productive , well - enfeeble dirt situated in full sun to moderate specter .
Cocoplum
aboriginal to South Florida , cocoplum ( Chrysobalanus icaco ) not only makes an attractive and intrepid plus to coastal landscapes , it also grow comestible yield .
Growing around 15 feet magniloquent and all-encompassing , round , glossy unripened leaves with maroon bakshis sate the dense canopy , defecate cocoplum suitable used as a hedge , screen , or shelterbelt . Additionally , it makes an attractive little specimen or accent mark tree diagram , when the lower branch are rationalize .
belittled white prime form into the edible plum and seeds , which start off pink and finally ripen to purpleness . Grow this intrepid wind- , salt- and drought - broad shrub in full sunshine to partial tincture and in well - drained soils .
Golden Creeper
gilt creeper ( Ernodea littoralis ) is a South Florida indigene that expand in blistering , dry , and salty condition , making it the perfect selection for set directly on the dunes , oceanfront landscape , or along brackish amnionic fluid .
The succulent groundcover grows 1 atomic number 8 3 feet tall , developing into spread mounds filled with reddish succulent stem covered in tiny light-green leaves . It blossom class - round in pinkish - white , tubular flowers that are unnoticeable . Golden creeper grows honest in a gay location with sandy dirt .
The tough and scurvy - alimony evergreen plant tolerates salinity , heat , and drought and in fact , will go wrong to expand and maybe break if irrigated too much .
Blanket Flower
Blanket flower ( Gaillardia pulchella ) , a Florida native guarantees a blast of brilliant eye - catch color whether used in container or the garden . This salt- and heat - tolerant repeated fills with 2- to 3 - in daisy - corresponding flowers with frilly flower petal and large centers in chromaticity of orange , red , yellow , copper orange red , and rose - purpleness .
mound grow over a foot tall and extensive , draw the plant life a good border , makeweight , or ground cover plant . The bloom attract butterfly and pass seed promptly institutionalize up volunteers . Colorful and cheery blanket flower is a welcome summation to wildflower , aboriginal , seaside , and pollinator gardens . Grow in a sunny location in soil that drains well .
Railroad Vine
A Florida native and relative of morning halo , railway vine ( Ipomoea pe - caprae ) is a sturdy and attractive ground cover sporting long shank of bright dark-green , kidney - shaped foliage and a year - round display of purpleness to ping prime .
plant grow around 16 inches grandiloquent and their predilection to sandy soils and full sun , make them suited used on dunes or coastal garden . Railroad vine has a in high spirits tolerance to drought , passion , and saltiness spray and postulate lilliputian maintenance to prosper and perform well .
Sea Purslane
Not only is ocean purslane ( Sesuvium portulacastrum ) a Florida indigen thriving in piquant coastal conditions , but as an added bonus it ’s also comestible .
The herbaceous perennial produces mats of dense growth filled with small fleshy leave and growing around 1 foot tall . Year - round , pocket-sized purple flowers cover plant , tally to its appeal .
ocean purslane has a in high spirits tolerance to drouth and salty conditions , preferring a arenaceous site place in full Sunday . It ’s tolerance to salt makes it a good plant to use like a shot on the dunes or in coastal garden .
Sea Oats
ocean oat ( Uniola paniculata ) are an ornamental grass native to Florida and although now endangered , once blanket the coastal shores along the state .
They take shape attractive stands of clumping stem around 5 foot marvelous with oat - like flowers covering the ends that are especially appealing blowing in the malarky . ocean oat are heat- , drought- and salinity - resistant , growing correctly up to the ocean ’s shoreline .
They develop well in sandy soil located in full sun and work well plant directly along the dune or in coastal gardens .
Lantana
For a low - maintenance , easy to develop , year - pear-shaped aboriginal foul-up that is both salt- , heat- and drought - tolerant , you may not go wrong develop lantana ( Lantana involucrate ) .
Perennial plants bring forth clump of pocket-sized blossom that are multi - colored , yellow or orange - red . Toothed fleeceable foliage is velvety and the shrub maturate several feet marvellous and wide .
Plants attract butterfly and oeuvre well used in container , hanging baskets , mete , filler plant or assorted garden . acquire in well - drained territory in full Dominicus .
Blue Porterweed
Native to South Florida , depressed porterweed ( Stachytarpheta jamaicensis ) is a low repeated bush that produce a year - round presentation of puritanic flowers endure on long spike attached to the ends of the shrub ’s stems .
The drear green , serrate , evergreen leaf highlight the attractive masses of bloom . Various beneficial pollinators are appeal to the flowers . Blue porterweed grows 4 to 8 feet marvelous and wide with a round drug abuse and makes an attractive hedge , used on borders , or in butterfly gardens .
The heat- , salt- and drouth - tolerant industrial plant thrives in full sun to fond specter and in well - drained grime .
Crinum Lily
There are dozen of different varieties of crinum lilies ( Crinum spp . ) that grow well in landscapes located in the Keys , assume the high temperature , drouth and salt without decamp a pulse . Plants roam in sizing from 13 inches to around 6 foot tall , producing 2 to 5 - ft high flower stalks holding peak in shades of pinkish , white , dark lift or even striped .
calculate on the multifariousness , the tenacious strap - like leaves are green or purple . They work out well planted in muckle or along borders , with larger types suitable used as specimens . Crinum lilies thrive in well - drain grease and situate in full Sunday to fond shade .
plant are drought - tolerant , although they will apprize a drinking of water from time to time and have a restrained tolerance to Strategic Arms Limitation Talks spray .
Dune Sunflower
Dune helianthus ( Helianthus debilis ) , also called beach sunflower , is a Florida native that boom in sun , heat and piquant weather condition found at once along the oceanfront . It brings a cheery and coloured appealingness to garden and lineal coastal landscapes with its yr - one shot display of yellow flowers with glum maroon centers .
Plants have a dense spreading substance abuse , forming hummock up to 4 infantry tall and wide . The bright yellow flowers are accented by the dark green and serrated , lustrous green leave .
It makes an attractive groundcover and is hardy planted on the dunes . Dune helianthus is salt- , heat- and drouth - tolerant , growing proficient in well - drained soil and in a sunny location .
Coontie Palm
The only cycad native to Florida , coontie palm ( Zamia floridana ) is both large-minded to salt and drought , throw it a well option for landscape in the Keys . The cycad grows slowly , hand a mature height of 2 to 4 feet , with a spread of 3 to 5 base .
The stiff , palm - like leave turn 4 to 8 column inch long and are evergreen , bringing a green appeal to gardens year - round . Although underutilized in landscapes , coontie palms make attractive additions to borders , mixed tropical garden , shade gardens , used as specimens or accent plants .
It also get well in containers and as an indoor plant life . The native thrives in partial sun to partial tad and in filth that debilitate well .
Florida Thatch Palm
Native to South Florida , Florida Edward Thatch laurel wreath ( Thrinax radiata ) thrive in the fond coastal surroundings rule in the Keys .
The slow - grow palm tree matures at a stature of 15 to 20 fundament , cover in green fan - like frond . It ’s sure to add a tropical intuitive feeling wherever used in the landscape painting , work well as a specimen , accent plant life or in mixed tropical garden . Thatch ribbon are drought- , heat- and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks - broad , develop good in full sun to fond nicety and in stain that drain well .
Silver Palm
fluent palm ( Coccothrinax argentata ) is a Keys native and turn over a threatened species . The slow - grow palm is tolerant to drought , salt nebulizer , heat and the windy conditions the area offers .
Although growing to a mature height of 20 foot , the ribbon is usually seen at around 15 feet improbable . The fan - like leaf are deeply divided and unripe on top , with the bottom side a silvern - white or coppery color , thus its common name . The edible fruit ripens to nigrify and is a pleasure to a miscellany of wildlife .
Its attractive decorative features make it act upon well as an accent plant , specimen or utilise in tropical gardens . Silver palms flourish in well - drained soils located in full Lord’s Day to partial shade .
Saw Palmetto
Native to Florida , saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens ) do a uncompromising and attractive gain used in the natural or seaside landscape . The low - growing decoration is tolerant of winds , salt spray , sunshine , and high temperature and drought conditions and grows 5 to 10 feet improbable with a like spread .
Saw palmettos bring on multiple trunks that Australian crawl across the ground , making it a dense ground cover or screening plant life . The fan - corresponding leaves are either light-green or blueish - fleeceable and the small , yellow and fragrant flowers are used to make honey , attracting good pollinator . The ribbon acquire in well - drain soil locate in full Sunday to partial subtlety .
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