Landscape Plants for Central Florida

Timothy K. Broschat and James E. Davis

Palms are often thought of as symbols of the tropics, but fortunately there are a number of palm species that grow in warm, temperate climates, such as that of Central Florida.

Gary Knox, Sandra B. Wilson, Tina McIntyre, Gary W. Knox, Zhanao Deng, Rosanna Freyre, Alexandria Bowen, andHeqiang Huo

Based on years of UF/IFAS research producing and trialing cultivars, this fact sheet lists native and non-native ornamentals as alternatives to invasive plants commonly used in Florida landscapes. Only plants considered to be generally available in the nursery trade are listed. Alternative plants are similar to respective invasive plants as much as possible in terms of size, habit, texture, and flower color.

Nicholas Rabanal, Hannah Moribe, Chi Dinh Nguyen, andHeqiang Huo

Florida’s unique climate provides an extended growing season ideal for cultivating a wide variety of container flowers. This guide offers a comprehensive approach to successful container gardening, offering valuable insights into creating vibrant container gardens in central Florida. The publication highlights container trials conducted at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, Florida, evaluating the performance of four flowering varieties—snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), stock flowers (Matthiola incana), pansies (Viola x wittrockiana), and China aster (Callistephus chinensis)—under central Florida's unique climate conditions. The results demonstrated that these species could thrive in containers with proper care and management, making them suitable for home gardeners and commercial growers alike.