Shrubs For Home Landscaping In Northwest Florida

SHRUBS FOR HOME LANDSCAPING IN NORTHWEST FLORIDAAssembled by Jody Wood-Putnam, Bay County Master Gardener&Julie McConnell, Horticultural AgentUF/IFAS Extension Bay CountyThe shrubs included in the following lists are selected for their suitability for home landscape plantings in Northwest Florida. These listswere developed for the purpose of recommending shrubs to plant for recovery after Hurricane Michael.Using the Planting ListsBoth the scientific and common names are given as well as typical heights and widths for adult plants. Consider the eventual size of plants ina landscape design and consider the location of plants relative to power lines and other structures. General moisture requirements aregiven. Locate plants with similar moisture requirements together. Consider light requirements throughout the year. Preferred lightrequirements are bolded in the below lists. Consider planting a combination of evergreen and deciduous plants to provide interest in thewinter as well as seasonal variations. Special features of plants to include flowers, berries, fruit and attractiveness to wildlife are listed in thecomments section. For additional information to include growth rate, soil pH, drought tolerance and salt tolerance, consult your county’sUF/IFAS Extension office or consider using the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Florida-friendly Plant Database g with Native PlantsThey are adapted to the Northwest Florida environment to include the climate (temperatures, rainfall, humidity, etc.) and soils (often verysandy, mostly acidic). Planted in the right place, they can minimize maintenance work and costs to include watering, fertilizing and- soilamendment. Probably the most important reason to use native plants though is that these plants are required for food and habitat for ournative wildlife, many of which require specific native plants to thrive.

EVERGREEN SHRUBSThis list contains shrubs that normally maintain their leaves in the winter as well as palms of less than 10 ft. height. These plants can play avery important role in the winter garden.Scientific NameCommon NameAbelia X grandifloraGlossy AbeliaMatureHeight/Width6’ – 10’ high6’ – 10’ wideMoistureRequirementsWell drainedLightRequirementsSun to partshadeAcca sellowianaPineapple Guava8’ – 15’ high8’ – 15’ wideWell drainedSun topart sunAgarista populifoliaFetterbush, PipestemBaccharis halimifoliaGroundsel Bush, Saltbush8’ – 12’ high5’ – 10’ wide8’ – 12’ high6’ – 12’ wideWell drainedto wetWell drainedto wetPart shadeto shadeSunCallistemon spp.BottlebrushCamellia spp.Camellia6’ – 30’ high6’ – 15’ wide3’ – 20’ high5’ – 20’ wideWell drainedSun to partsunPart shade toshadeCephalotaxus harringtoniaJapanese Plum YewConradina spp.False Rosemary, Scrub MintFatsia japonicaJapanese Aralia, FatsiaGardenia jasminoidesGardeniaIlex glabraGallberry3’ – 10’ high5’ – 10’ wide2’ – 4’ high2’ – 4’ wide5’ – 8’ high3’ – 10’ wide4’ – 8’ high4’ – 8’ wide6’ – 8’ high8’ – 10’ wideWell drainedMediumdrainedWell drainedWell drainedWell drainedMediumdrained towetPart shade toshadeSunPart shade toshadePart shade tosunPart shade tosunCommentsNative?Semi-evergreen, white to pink flowersperiodically spring through fall, attractive foliageand inflorescences on several cultivarsFlowers with white petals and prominent redstamens, edible fruit, attractive to wildlife, maybe trimmed to a hedgeFragrant white flowers in spring, archingbranching structureWhite fluffy flowers in fall attractive tobutterflies, high salt tolerance, somewhat loosestructureRed flowers spring, summer and fall, attractive tobirds and pollinators, medium wind resistanceAttractive foliage and beautiful flowers of manyshapes, sizes and colors, bloom in fall/winterwhen few other plants are flowering, slowgrowingAttractive dark foliageNoLavender flowers, bluish/grey foliage, evergreen,attractive to butterfliesLarge attractive dark green leaves, interestingwhite flowersAttractive foliage, fragrant white flowers insummerSmall white flowers in spring followed by blackberries on female shrubs, attractive to birds andother wildlife.YesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYes

Ilex vomitoriaYaupon HolleyVaried heightVaried widthWell drainedto wetSun to partshadeIllicium floridanumFlorida Anise6’ – 20’ high3’ – 6’ wideWell drainedPart shade toshadeIllicium parviflorumOcala Anise, Yellow Anise6’ – 20’ high3’ – 6’ wideWell drainedSun to partshadeLantana depressaPineland Lantana3’ – 6’ high3’ – 6’ wideWell drainedSunLeucophyllum frutescensTexas SageLoropetalum spp.Loropetalum3’ – 5’ high3’ – 5’ wideVaries up to15’ highWell drainedSunWell drainedSun to partshadeLyonia ferrugineaRusty Lyonia10’ – 25’ high5’ – 10’ wideSun to partshadeLyonia lucidaShiny Lyonia, Fetterbush3’ – 10’ high2’ – 5’ wideMahonia spp.Oregon Hollygrape,grapeholly, MahoniaMyrica ceriferaWax MyrtleNerium oleanderOleander3’ – 10’ high3’ – 4’ wideWell tomediumdrainedWell tomediumdrainedWell drained10’ – 40’ high20’ – 25’ wide4’ – 18’ high3’ – 15’ wideWell drainedto wetWell drainedSun to partshadeSun to partshadeOsmanthus fragransTea OlivePhilodendron spp.Philodendron15’ – 30’ high15’ – 20’ wide61‘ - 12 ‘ high2’ – 15’ wideWell drainedSun to partshadePart sun toshadeSpeciesdependentSmall white flowers in spring followed by redberries on female shrubs, low growing cultivarsmake excellent hedges, can be shaped intovarious formsBeautiful dark maroon flowers in spring followedby non-edible star-like seeds, variegated cultivarsavailableInsignificant yellow flowers in spring followed bynon-edible star-like seeds, makes an excellenthedgeYellow flowers throughout the year, usually onlyfound in native nurseries. Many other lantanaspecies are invasive and not recommended.Silvery grey leaves, semi-evergreen, lavenderflowers in summer, prefers hot, dry locationAttractive strap-like flowers in spring, some haveattractive reddish foliage, some cultivars stayshort while others can grow into small treesWhitish flowers in spring, rusty colored newfoliage, attractive to butterfliesYesSun to partshadeWhitish flowers in spring, attractive to butterfliesYesPart shade toshadeYellow fragrant flowers in winter/springfollowed by bluish berries attractive to wildlife,holly like foliageAttractive to birds and butterflies, takes pruningwell and makes an excellent hedgeHigh salt tolerance, attractive flowers that bloomprolifically over a long period, poisonous,oleander caterpillars may ravage shrubFragrant white flowers, holly like foliage, severalspecies/cultivars availableLarge tropical leaves, fast growing, may bedamaged in a hard freezeNoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNo

Pittosporum tobiraPittosporumPodocarpus macrophyllusPodocarpus8’ – 12’ high12’ – 18’ wide30’ - 40’ high20’ – 25’ wideWell drainedPyracantha coccineaFirethorn10’ – 15’ high8’ – 12’ wideRaphiolepis spp.Indian Hawthorn2’ – 10’ high2’ – 6’ wideRhapidophyllum hystrixNeedle Palm8’ high5’ – 10’ wideWell tomediumdrainedWell tomediumdrainedMediumdrainedRhododendron spp./cvs.Azalea3’ – 12’ high3’ – 10’ wideWell drainedSun to partshade toshadePart shadeRosa spp.RoseRosmarinus spp.Rosemary1’ – 20’ high2’ – 8 ‘ wide3’ – 6’ high4’ – 5’ wideWell drainedSunSun to partshadeRusselia spp.Firecracker PLant3’ – 5’ high2’ – 12’ wideWell tomediumdrainedWell drainedSabal minorBlue Stem Palmetto, DwarfPalmettoSerenoa repensSaw Palmetto4’ – 9’ high4’ – 8’ wideWell tomediumdrainedWell drainedSun to Partshade toshadeSun to shadeTernstroemia gymnantheraCleyeraVaccinium darrowiiDarrow’s Blueberry,Evergreen Blueberry12’ – 20’ high5’ – 10’ wide2’ – 3’ high2’ – 3’ wideWell drainedPart shade toshadeSun to partshade3’ – 10’ high4’ – 10’ wideWell drainedWell drainedSun to partshadeSun to partshadeSun to partsunSun to partsunSunGlossy leaves, often pruned as a hedge, whitishfragrant flowers in springAttractive dark green foliage, small fruitattractive to birds, high salt tolerance, slowgrowing, high wind resistance, may be pruned todesired shape/heightAttractive white flowers followed by brightred/orange berries, often trained to a trellis, hasthornsAttractive flowers in spring followed by fruitsattractive to wildlife, wide variations betweencultivarsAttractive to birds and other wildlife, has sharpspines on trunkNoWide variety available with many colors offlowers attractive to birds and butterflies, mostbloom in springWide variations between cultivars, often havethorns, hips attractive to birdsAromatic greyish foliage, edibleNoWispy foliage with red or yellow tubular flowersin summer, attractive to butterflies andhummingbirds, may be damaged in hard freezeFlowers/fruits attractive to birds and butterflies,bluish foliage, excellent for retention areas anddrainage swalesAttractive to birds and other wildlife, attractivesilver foliage palmettos available, high salttoleranceAttractive shiny foliage, often used as a hedgeNoBluish foliage, small whitish flowers in springfollowed by blue edible berries, attractive tobirdsYesNoNoNoYesVariesNoYesYesNo

Viburnum obovatumWalter’s ViburnumVaried heightWell drainedSun to shadeViburnum odoratissimumSweet Viburnum15’ – 30’ high15’ – 25’ wideWell drainedSun to shadeViburnum odoratissimum‘awabuki’Awabuki ViburnumViburnum tinusLaurestinus Viburnum15’ – 20’ high15’ – 20’ wideWell drainedSun to partshade6’ – 12’ high2’ – 4’ wideWell drainedSun to partshadeYucca aloifoliaYucca, Spanish BayonetZamia floridanaCoontie3’ – 12’ high3’ – 6’ wide1’ – 5’ high3’ – 5’ wideWell drainedSun to partshadeSun to shadeWell drainedWhite flowers in spring. Makes an excellenthedge, can be pruned into shapes well, attractiveto wildlifeWhite flowers in spring attractive tohummingbirds, berries attractive to birds, maybe used as hedgeFragrant, white flowers in spring, fruit attractiveto wildlife, attractive shiny, large leaves, oftentrimmed as a hedgeFragrant, pink/white flowers in spring followedby blue/black fruit, attractive to birds andbutterflies, dense, upright form excellent for useas specimen or hedgeAttractive white flowers in spring to summer,attractive to butterflies, high salt toleranceAttractive to butterflies, produces interestingcones, high salt toleranceYesNoNoNoYesYesDECIDUOUS SHRUBSThis list contains low woody plants with several permanent stems, which normally lose their leaves in the winter. These shrubs can providemuch seasonal interest to a landscape. Also included in this list are some shrubs that may die back to the ground in a cold winter but usuallyreturn in the spring.Scientific NameCommon NameMatureMoistureHeight/Width a spp.PawpawVariableheightVariablewidth4’ – 6’ high4’ – 6’ wideWell to mediumdrainedSun to shadeAttractive to butterflies, some have attractive flowers,some have edible fruit, difficult to transplantYesWell drainedSunLavender flowers attractive to butterflies, greyishfoliage, spreads through suckeringNoBuddleialindleyanaLindley’sButterfly Bush