Native Plants

• Plants native to Florida are usually hardy and able to withstand several types of conditions and temperatures. Each type of plant has several species native to Florida. Native ground-cover plants include gopher apples, railroad vines and Boston ferns. Native shrubs in Florida include bear grass, fetterbushes, inkberry, sea lavender and bay cedar. Some of the most common trees native to the state are the American cherry laurel, cinnamon bark, flowering dogwood, fringe trees, American holly, devilwood and the buttonwood tree. Commonly seen palms in Florida include cabbage palms, Florida royal palms, needle palms and saw palmetto. Native grasses include Florida gama grass, wire grass, cordgrass and panic grass.
  
  

Soil Preparation

• Many of Florida's native plants and grasses grow best in sandy, well-drained soil. The proximity to the coast gives some of Florida the natural ingredients necessary to provide this soil to native plants. Florida plants encompass a wide variety of growing conditions and plant types, from those that grow best in tropical conditions, or wetlands, or dry, plain-like regions.
  
  Most plants native to Florida like slightly acidic soil. If your soil is more clay-based, then mix in some sand to prepare it for proper drainage. You can also add some pine needle mulch to increase the acidity of the soil in your yard. A landscaping professional can provide more detailed information about the specific soil requirements of each native plant.
  
  

General Care

• Watering is one of the most important jobs in caring for any plant. How you water will depend in part on the rainfall patterns in your area of Florida. Residents in some areas will need to water plants daily or every couple of days depending on the time of year. Gardeners located in areas with heavier rainfalls should try to grow plants that tolerate higher levels of water. For example, the purple passion fruit is a tropical plant native to the southern and central regions of Florida. It thrives in well-drained soil and should be watered about once a week in dry areas. However, the plant can also be grown in wetter conditions if the soil has excellent drainage. In central Florida the passion fruit needs almost no additional watering.
  
  Fertilize plants about once a year. The spring is the best time for that. Slow-release fertilizers provide the best fertilization without damage to plants, roots or wildlife. Mulching can be done in the fall to prepare plants for the next growing season. A manure-based or wood chip mulch will work well.