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