Finding plants that can handle the heat and humidity of Florida can be difficult, but if you consider plants that are native to the area, they will be able to grow and bloom in these conditions with very little care to maintain them.
Native plants vary quite a bit, and they range from trees, shrubs, and palms to vines and ground covers.
This will give you a lot of options to diversify your garden with different plants and blooms that are colorful and draw your attention.
Let’s take a look at 20 different Florida native flowers that you can consider.
Black-Eyed Susan
The black-eyed susan is a plant that can be grown in USDA hardiness zones four to nine. It will do well in Florida’s heat, and even though it can handle full sun, it may do best with some afternoon shade. The flower has black and yellow blooms that resemble the flowers that you find on a daisy.
Carolina Jessamine
This is a vine that can be seen growing in this state. It will mature to a length of up to 20 feet, and it is a plant that has yellow blooms early in the year. This fragrant flower does not do well in colder climates, and it needs well-draining soil to grow.
Coontie
Coontie is a shrub that is native to Florida that requires very little care. It looks like a palm, and it will grow to be about three feet in height. It can grow in full sun to full shade, and it does not need much water to grow.
Columbine
Columbine is a plant with a very sweet smell, so it will easily attract pollinators to the space. It is a plant that can grow in zones three to nine, and it will do well in well-drained soil and full to partial sun. It will bloom during the spring, and blooms can be a variety of different colors.
Coral Honeysuckle
If you are looking for a long vine that has bright red blooms, then the coral honeysuckle is a great plant to consider. It can easily grow to be at least 20 feet in length, and the red color of the blooms will attract hummingbirds. It will grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Coreopsis
This is a plant that comes in many different colors, but most of them have a darker center that makes them more recognizable in a garden full of plants. This is a plant that tends to do well in full sun and soil that drains well. It will attract pollinators to your garden as well.
Firebush
This is another plant that has bright red blooms that will add some color to your garden. It likes to grow in full to partial sun, and it needs to have soil that drains well to thrive. The plant attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators, and it is tolerant of salt, so it can easily handle growing near the beach.
Gaillardia
Also known as a blanket flower, this is a very colorful plant with daisy-like blooms that are red and yellow in color. It grows best in hot and dry conditions, so full sun and an average amount of water will be fine. Without enough sunlight, the flowers will begin to droop.
Liatris
If you want to attract butterflies to your garden in Florida, liatris is an excellent option to consider. It does not require much care, and it will grow in partial to full sun and with very little water. The blooms are purple, red, or white, and this plant will grow in zones as low as five, so it can handle moderately cool temperatures.
Longleaf Pine
This is a spectacular pine tree that can be seen growing in Florida. It can grow to be 80 feet tall, but it can take more than 300 years to reach maturity. It will grow well in acidic soil that is well-draining and full sun. It does not handle full shade well, so direct sunlight is essential.
Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)
This is a large shrub that has green leaves with tints of red. It produces fruit that resembles grapes that will attract birds. These berries can also be used to make jams and wine. They need well-drained soil and full sun, but they are also tolerant of salt and wind.
Spiderwort
Spiderwort is a perennial that blooms during the spring of the year, but each of the small blooms will only last for a day. Flowers can be purple, pink, or white. They prefer to grow in full sun and moist soil that is well-draining. A fully mature plant is about 24 inches tall.
Swamp Lily
This is a plant that can easily grow to be two or three feet in height. It prefers to grow on the banks in the swamplands; it just needs to be planted in soil that is well-draining. It also does best in full sun, and it grows in zones eight to 11.
Swamp Mallow
If you have a garden that has swampy soil, then the swamp mallow is a great option to plant. It prefers to grow in full sun and wet soil, and standing water is even okay. It can easily grow to be up to eight feet tall, and it will have bright red flowers during the summer.
Swamp Sunflower
This plant has bright, yellow blooms that look like sunflowers. They prefer to grow with a lot of sunlight, and they also do well in swamp-like conditions that have poor-draining soil and areas that hold water for periods. They can grow to be seven feet tall, but too much shade can hinder the growth of the plant.
Yucca
Yucca is a plant that can grow in zones five to 11, and with the right care, it can reach a mature height of up to four feet. Larger trees can even grow to be 30 feet tall. They need full sun to grow, and blooms, which are typically white, will occur during the spring each year.
Wax Myrtle
The wax myrtle is a tree that can grow to be 20 feet in height, but most shrubs will reach maturity at about 12 feet. It can grow in zones seven and above, and it needs full to partial sun to thrive. Additionally, this plant can grow in wet soil.
Peperomia
Peperomia requires slightly acidic soil to grow, this is a plant that only has small blooms during the summer. It needs to grow in full-sun condition, and it tends to do best in the warmer areas of the country, which is why it grows well in hardiness zones 10 through 12.
Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
If you would like a sunflower plant in your garden that is salt-tolerant, the beach sunflower is an excellent option. It prefers to grow in sandy, well-draining soil, and it will grow best in full to partial sun. This plant’s blooms will attract butterflies to your garden, and it can grow to be 18 inches in height.
Sunshine Mimosa
This plant has puffy, one-inch flowers that bloom during the spring of the year. They are typically pink in color, which means that they can attract butterflies. Sunshine mimosas can grow in full or partial sun. It will require well-drained soil and regular water.
