Native Plants for Florida — What to Plant, and When

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

Zones 5a–10b · native to 10 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Zones 6a–10b · native to 15 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

American Linden

Tilia americana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

American Lotus

Nelumbo lutea

Zones 4a–10b · native to 29 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

American Wisteria

Wisteria frutescens

Zones 5a–9b · native to 24 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

American Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 31 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 9b

Amsonia

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Zones 3a–9a · native to 29 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 33 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 44 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 9b

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Zones 3a–9a · native to 42 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Black Oak

Quercus velutina

Zones 4b–9a · native to 35 states

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms Apr – Dec in zone 9b

Blazing Star

Liatris spicata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Zones 5a–9b · native to 30 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 9b

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Zones 3a–8b · native to 49 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Broadleaf Arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia

Zones 3a–10b · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 9b

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Zones 3a–9a · native to 41 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Zones 5a–9b · native to 39 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Campfire Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia hirta 'Campfire'

Zones 3a–7b · native to 47 states

Blooms Apr – Dec in zone 9b

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Carolina Geranium

Geranium carolinianum

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms Jan – Jun in zone 9b

Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

Zones 7a–10b · native to 11 states

Blooms Mar – Jun in zone 9b

Carolina Rose

Rosa carolina

Zones 4a–9b · native to 37 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Catesby's Gentian

Gentiana catesbaei

Zones 6a–9b · native to 7 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Chickasaw Plum

Prunus angustifolia

Zones 5a–9b · native to 16 states

Blooms Jan – Feb in zone 9b

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

Zones 3a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Jan – Dec in zone 9b

Clustered Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 29 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Common Lippia

Phyla nodiflora

Zones 8a–11b · native to 12 states

Blooms May – Nov in zone 9b

Coral Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Zones 4a–9b · native to 28 states

Blooms May – Nov in zone 9b

Cucumber Tree

Magnolia acuminata

Zones 4a–8b · native to 22 states

Blooms Feb – Apr in zone 9b

Downy Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

Zones 4a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Jan – Feb in zone 9b

Eastern Prickly Pear

Opuntia humifusa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 28 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Florida Sundew

Drosera filiformis var. floridana

Zones 8a–10b

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

Zones 5a–9a · native to 32 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 9b

Fringed Bluestar

Amsonia ciliata

Zones 5a–9b · native to 9 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata

Zones 4a–8b · native to 32 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Ghost Pipe

Monotropa uniflora

Zones 3a–9b · native to 36 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Giant Ironweed

Vernonia gigantea

Zones 5a–9b · native to 34 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Golden Ragwort

Packera aurea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 50 states

Blooms May – Dec in zone 9b

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Zones 4a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Zones 3a–9a · native to 40 states

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Zones 4a–9b · native to 31 states

Blooms May – Dec in zone 9b

Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Zones 4a–7b · native to 30 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

Zones 3a–11b · native to 50 states

Blooms Feb – Feb in zone 9b

Hyssop-leaved Thoroughwort

Eupatorium hyssopifolium

Zones 4a–8b · native to 25 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 9b

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Inkberry

Ilex glabra

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium purpureum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 34 states

Blooms May – Dec in zone 9b

Juniper Tree

Juniperus virginiana

Zones 2a–9a · native to 38 states

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Loblolly Pine

Pinus taeda

Zones 6a–9a · native to 15 states

Longleaf Pine

Pinus palustris

Zones 7a–9b · native to 9 states

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms Jan – Feb in zone 9b

Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia

Zones 4a–9a · native to 24 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Muscadine Grape

Vitis rotundifolia

Zones 6a–10b · native to 19 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 9b

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Feb – Apr in zone 9b

New York Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensis

Zones 5a–9a · native to 20 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 32 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Oakleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea quercifolia

Zones 5a–9b · native to 8 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Zones 2b–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Overcup Oak

Quercus lyrata

Zones 5b–9b · native to 19 states

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

Zones 6a–9b · native to 24 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Pink Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Zones 6a–9b · native to 25 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 9b

Post Oak

Quercus stellata

Zones 5b–9a · native to 29 states

Prairie Phlox

Phlox pilosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 34 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Zones 3a–9b · native to 35 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Purple Lovegrass

Eragrostis spectabilis

Zones 5a–9b · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Zones 4b–9a · native to 31 states

Blooms Jan – Feb in zone 9b

River Birch

Betula nigra

Zones 4a–9a · native to 26 states

Rose Mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Disco Belle Rose Pink'

Zones 4a–9b · native to 31 states

Blooms May – Dec in zone 9b

Royal Fern

Osmunda regalis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 33 states

Blooms Feb – Dec in zone 9b

Rusty Blackhaw

Viburnum rufidulum

Zones 5a–9a · native to 20 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Zones 3a–7b · native to 49 states

Blooms Jan – Feb in zone 9b

Sherry Sue Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue'

Zones 3a–9a · native to 22 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Shumard Oak

Quercus shumardii

Zones 5b–9b · native to 23 states

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Zones 5a–8b · native to 28 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Zones 3a–9b · native to 33 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Smooth Witherod

Viburnum nudum

Zones 5a–9a · native to 20 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Soapwort Gentian

Gentiana saponaria

Zones 5a–9b · native to 22 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

Zones 4a–9b · native to 49 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Solomon's Seal (Native)

Polygonatum biflorum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Southern Crabapple

Malus angustifolia

Zones 5b–9a · native to 12 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Southern Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

Zones 7b–10b · native to 9 states

Southern Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera

Zones 7a–10b · native to 16 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Zones 4a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Dec – Jan in zone 9b

Spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis

Zones 4a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Spotted Bee Balm

Monarda punctata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 36 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Stiff Bluestar

Amsonia rigida

Zones 6a–9b · native to 5 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Striped Gentian

Gentiana villosa

Zones 5a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 9b

Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia

Zones 3a–9a · native to 22 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Sundial Lupine

Lupinus perennis

Zones 3a–8a · native to 33 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Swamp Dogwood

Cornus foemina

Zones 6a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Swamp Jessamine

Gelsemium rankinii

Zones 7a–9b · native to 8 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 39 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 9b

Sweet Acacia

Acacia farnesiana

Zones 8a–11b · native to 5 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'

Panicum virgatum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 9b

Tall Tickseed

Coreopsis tripteris

Zones 4a–9b · native to 27 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 9b

Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 9b

Trailing Phlox

Phlox nivalis

Zones 5a–9b · native to 8 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

Zones 3a–7b · native to 31 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Turk's Cap Lily

Lilium superbum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 24 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Turtlehead

Chelone glabra

Zones 3a–8b · native to 29 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 9b

Virginia Sweetspire

Itea virginica

Zones 5a–9a · native to 25 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 9b

White Oak

Quercus alba

Zones 3b–8b · native to 35 states

Wild Aster

Symphyotrichum pilosum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 9b

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 9b

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 9b

Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

Zones 6a–9b · native to 20 states

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 29 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 9b

Wiregrass Gentian

Gentiana pennelliana

Zones 8a–9b

Blooms Feb – Apr in zone 9b

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

Zones 3b–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Feb – Apr in zone 9b

Wreath Goldenrod

Solidago caesia

Zones 4a–8b · native to 34 states

Blooms Jun – Dec in zone 9b

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Zones 3a–9b · native to 50 states

Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 9b

Direct-sow ~8 wks after your last spring frost