Florida-Friendly™ Plants

50 plants well-suited to growing locations in The Villages

Florida-Friendly™Landscaping Principles

• Right Plant -Right Place

• Water Efficiently

• Mulch

• Recycle

•Use Fertilizer Appropriately

• Provide for Wildlife

• Reduce Stormwater Runoff

• Manage Yard Pests

• Protect theWaterfront

Florida-Friendly =

Right Plant - Right SpotWater, Fertilizer and Use

Pesticides When NeededMinimizes Stormwater Runoff

FloridaYards.orgWeb siteSearchable plant

list with color photos

This plant list has been developed utilizing plants known to perform well in the environment of The Villages, and incorporating Florida-Friendly™Landscaping principles developed by the University of Florida.

Resources

Find the Facts For information on

mature sizes of plants, cold hardiness, proper plant care and fertilization, visit the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ website at: www.floridayards.org

Download a PDF copy of ‘A Guide to Florida-Friendly Landscaping’at:

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/fl-friendlyhandbook.pdf

Groundcovers

May be used in place of turf areas (check Deed restrictions)

Can lower water usage Can be cold tolerant Adds variety to the landscape A great way to fill in problem areas

Beach Sunflower Scientific Name: Helianthus

debilis Plant characteristics Height: 12 - 24 Inches Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color - yellow, from

spring to fall Uses – massing, accent

Society Garlic Scientific Name: Tulbaghia

violacea Plant characteristics Height: 1 – 2 feet Light exposure – full sun/

light shade Flower color – lavender

flowers, from spring to fall Uses – massing, accent

Agapanthus Scientific

Name: Agapanthus africanus

Plant characteristics Height: 15 - 18 inches Light exposure - full sun/light

shade Flower color - blue/white,

May through July Uses – massing, accent,

specimen

Variegated Flax Lilly Scientific name: Dianella

tasmanica 'Variegata‘ Plant characteristics Height: 12 – 18 inches Light exposure – full

sun/partial shade Flower color – blue, blooms

during summer Uses – massing, accent

African Bulbine ‘Hallmark’

Scientific Name: Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’

Plant characteristics Height: 18 - 24 inches Light exposure - full sun/part

shade Flower color -

yellow/orange, blooms from spring to fall

Uses – massing, accent

Sunshine Mimosa Scientific Name: Mimosa

strigillosa Plant characteristics Height: 3 - 6 inches Light exposure – full sun Flower color - pink, blooms

through summer Very drought tolerant once

established Uses – groundcover, turf

substitute

Perennial Peanut ‘Ecoturf’ Scientific Name: Arachis

glabrata ‘Ecoturf’ Plant characteristics Height: 4 – 8 inches Light exposure – full sun Flower – yellow/orange

flowers spring – fall Drought tolerant once

established Uses – groundcover, turf

substitute

Dwarf Asiatic Jasmine

Scientific Name: Trachelospermum asiaticum

Plant characteristics Height: 6 -12 inches Light exposure - full sun/part

shade Flower color - no color, but

plant can be variegated Uses – groundcover, turf

substitute

African Iris Scientific Name: Dietes

vegeta Plant characteristics Height: 18 - 24 inches Light exposure - full sun Flower color - white or

yellow, blooms spring through fall

Uses – massing, accent

Liriope ‘Emerald Goddess’

Scientific Name: Liriope muscari ‘Emerald Goddess’

Plant characteristics Height: 9 - 16 inches Light exposure - sun/

moderate shade Flower color – purple, showy

blooms in spring and summer

Uses – accent plant, massing

Cast Iron Plant Scientific Name: Aspidistra

elatior Plant characteristics Height: 18 – 24 inches Light exposure –

moderate/dense shade Flower color - inconspicuous Very hardy, may be

damaged by frost, but rarely killed

Uses – groundcover in dense shade, massing

Low Shrubs

Can be used as foundation plantings Easy to care for Drought tolerant Care must be taken when locating Landscape “backbones”

Indian Hawthorn Scientific Name:

Raphiolepis indica 'Alba' Plant characteristics Height: 24 - 36 inches Light exposure - sun Flower color – white, blooms

in spring through early summer

Extremely popular landscape plant

Uses - foundation, massing

Parson’s Juniper Scientific Name:Juniperus

davurica 'Parsoni‘ Plant characteristics Height: 1 - 2 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color – no flower Uses – massing, foundation

Carissa Holly Scientific Name: Ilex

cornuta 'Carissa' Plant characteristics Height: 24 - 36 inches Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color – white, but not

conspicuous Comments - sharp point at

tip Uses - foundation, massing

Dwarf Yaupon Holly Scientific Name: Ilex

vomitoria 'Schillings Dwarf' Plant characteristics Height: 18 inches – 3 feet Light exposure – full sun/

partial shade Flower color –

inconspicuous Slow growing Uses – foundation, massing

Dwarf Walters Viburnum Scientific Name: Viburnum

obovatum ‘Mrs. Schillers Delight’

Plant characteristics Height: 24 - 48 inches Light exposure – full

sun/part shade Flower color – white blooms

in spring through summer Slow growing Uses - foundation, massing

Florida Coontie Scientific Name: Zamia

pumila Plant characteristics Height: 18 - 24 inches Light exposure – sun/shade Flower color – n/a Slow growing native Florida

plant Use - massing

Rosemary Scientific Name:

Rosmarinus officinalis Plant characteristics Height: 3 - 5 feet Light exposure – full sun Bloom color – white, blue,

dependant on variety Uses, specimen, massing,

accent

Loropetalum (Dwarf Varieties)

Scientific Name: Loropetalum chinensis

Plant characteristics Height: 2 - 3 feet Light exposure – full sun Flower color - lavender/pink

flowers in May through August

Uses - massing, foundation Use dwarf varieties for areas

where a smaller mature size is needed

Nandina ‘Firepower’

Scientific Name: Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’

Plant characteristics Height: 16 – 28 inches Light exposure – full sun Flower color – n/a Showy red foliage in fall Uses - specimen, parking

areas

Medium Shrubs

Best used in areas with space Major component of large area landscaping Very hardy Lower fertilization requirements than flowers Low maintenance requirements

Simpson’s Stopper Scientific Name:

Myrcianthes fragrans Plant characteristics Height: 4 -10 feet Light exposure – full

sun/part shade Flower color - white blooms

in summer Glossy foliage Uses – specimen, accent,

screening

Podocarpus ‘Pringles’ Scientific Name:

Podocarpus macrophyllus'Pringles Dwarf’

Plant characteristics Height: 2 - 4 feet Light exposure – full sun/

partial shade Flower color – n/a Uses – hedging, massing,

accent plant

Ligustrum ‘Howardi’

Scientific Name: Ligustrum japonicum 'Howardi'

Plant characteristics Height: 6 – 10 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color – n/a Grows quickly Uses – hedge, massing

Curled-leaf Privet Scientific Name: Ligustrum

japonicum 'Recurvifolium‘ Plant characteristics Height: 6 - 10 feet Light exposure – full sun/

light shade Flowering – white blooms in

spring Fast growing Uses – privacy, specimen

Dwarf Burfordi Holly Scientific Name: Ilex

cornuta 'Dwarf Burfordi' Plant characteristics Height: 4 - 8 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color – white, not

showy Glossy foliage Uses - foundation, massing,

accent

Red Muhly Grass Scientific Name:

Muhlenbergia capillaris Plant characteristics Height: 2 - 4 feet Light exposure – sun/light

shade Flower color – red, during

summer and fall Uses - foundation,

specimen, massing

Sand Cord Grass Scientific Name: Spartina

bakeri Plant characteristics Height: 2 - 5 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color –

inconspicuous flowers during summer

Uses – specimen, massing

Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass Scientific Name: Tripsacum

floridanum Plant characteristics Height: 2 - 4 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color –

inconspicuous flowers during late summer

Uses – accent plant, massing

Texas Sage Scientific Name:

Leucophyllum frutescens Plant characteristics Height: 3 - 5 feet Light exposure - sun/light

shade Flower color – purple

blooms during summer and fall

Unique gray/green foliage Uses - foundation,

specimen, massing

Sweet Viburnum Scientific Name: Viburnum

odoratissimum Plant characteristics Height: 6 – 12 feet Light exposure – full sun/

light shade Flower color – white, blooms

in spring Uses – hedge, privacy,

massing

Thryallis Scientific Name: Galphimia

glauca Plant characteristics Height: 4 - 6 feet Light exposure – full

sun/partial shade Flower color – yellow, lasts

from early summer to fall Uses – massing, specimen

plant, accent

Trees for Landscaping

Always make sure there is appropriate room Match trees with site conditions Be reasonable with establishment times Do not require much fertilization Take care when selecting a variety

Red Maple Scientific Name: Acer

rubrum Plant characteristics Height: 20 - 60 feet Light exposure - sun/shade Flower color - red foliage in

spring and fall Uses - specimen, tolerates

wet soil

Bottlebrush Scientific

Name: Callistemon citrinus Plant characteristics Height: 15 - 20 feet Light exposure – full sun Flower color - red flowers

from April through July Uses – specimen, accent

Japanese Privet Scientific Name: Ligustrum

japonicum Plant characteristics Height: 5 -12 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color – white flowers

in spring Grows quickly Uses – hedge, privacy, can

be grown as a specimen tree

Dogwood Scientific Name: Cornus

florida Plant characteristics Height: 15 - 20 feet Light exposure - filtered

shade ideal Flower color - yellow/white

blooms in late winter/early spring

Uses – specimen, accent

Weeping Yaupon Holly Scientific Name: Ilex

vomitoria ‘Pendula’ Plant characteristics Height: 15 – 20 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color –

inconspicuous flowers in spring, with red berries in fall and winter

Uses, specimen, accent

East Palatka Holly Scientific Name: Ilex

attenuata 'East Palatka' Plant characteristics Height: 20 - 40 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color - white flowers

are not showy, but produces prolific red berries in fall

Uses - screen, foundation, specimen plant with pruning and shaping

Crape Myrtle Scientific

Name: Lagerstroemia indica Plant characteristics Height: Dependent upon

variety Light exposure – full sun Flower color – various,

depending upon variety, blooms throughout summer

Many different varieties and colors exist

Uses – accent, specimen

Saucer Magnolia Scientific Name: Magnolia

soulangeana Plant characteristics Height: 15 - 20 feet Light exposure - filtered

shade ideal Flower color - pink blooms in

early spring Uses – specimen, accent

Wax Myrtle Scientific Name: Myrica

cerifera Plant characteristics Height: 10 - 15 feet Light exposure - sun/shade Flower color – cream,

flowers are inconspicuous Uses - specimen,

naturalizing

Redbud Scientific Name: Cercis

canadensis Plant characteristics Height: 10 - 30 feet Light exposure - sun/

medium shade Flower color – pink/lavender

blooms in early spring Deciduous, will lose leaves

during winter Uses – specimen tree,

shade, accent

Live Oak Scientific Name: Quercus

virginiana Plant characteristics Height: up to 100 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color – n/a Long lived and hardy tree Uses - shade, specimen

Winged Elm Scientific Name: Ulmus

alata Plant characteristics Height: 30 - 40 feet Light exposure - sun Flower color – n/a

Uses - shade, specimen tree

Magnolia ‘Little Gem’

Scientific Name: Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem‘

Plant characteristics Height: up to 25 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color – white blooms,

spring – fall Uses – specimen, accent

Nellie Stevens Holly Scientific Name: Ilex x

‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Plant characteristics Height: up to 25 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color -

inconspicuous white spring flowers, red berries in fall

Uses – hedge, tree, specimen plant

Palms for Landscaping

Not appropriate for every landscape Be careful of cold tolerance Make sure there is growing room Correct spacing Terminal growing point

Pindo Palm Scientific Name: Butia

capitata Plant characteristics Height: 15 - 30 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color - cream/yellow

in summer, but not grown for flowers

Uses - specimen, accent

Silver Date Palm Scientific Name: Phoenix

sylvestris Plant characteristics Height: 20 - 50 feet Light exposure – full

sun/light shade Flower color – fruits appear

orange in summer Uses – specimen tree

European Fan Palm Scientific

Name: Chamaerops humilis Plant characteristics Height: 10 - 14 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color - cream/yellow

blooms in summer, but not grown for flowering

Uses - specimen

Windmill Palm Scientific Name:

Trachycarpus fortunei Plant characteristics Height: 10 - 15 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color – cream/yellow

blooms in summer, but not grown for flowering

Uses – specimen, accent

Sabal Palm Scientific Name:

Sabal palmetto Plant characteristics Height: 30 - 50 feet Light exposure - sun/part

shade Flower color – n/a Florida native Uses – specimen, accent

Resources

•To learn more about Florida-friendly landscaping and Senate Bill 2080, go to pages 6–7 at: http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/00-SB494_and_SB2080_FAQ_8-6-09.pdf

•Visit the University of Florida’s Florida-friendly landscaping web site is at http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html

•To see how water and money can be saved through Florida-friendly landscaping, go to:http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/publications/watermatters/nov-dec2008/6.html