Beat the Heat with Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Full sun summers in Florida can get too hot for many plants, especially when planted in direct afternoon sunlight. If you have an area that receives a high amount of direct sun all day, you will want to consider plants that are able to tolerate a full sun, in Florida, on a summer day. Many plants that do well up north, in full sun during the summer months, will not tolerate the heat that is unleashed during our hottest days of the year. We have compiled a list of great options, for areas that don’t offer any shade in the afternoon, to keep your landscape looking happy and healthy!

Pentas
Add year-round color to your landscape with a gorgeous, mini bouquet of flowersthat will thrive in a full sun location in Florida. These beautiful flowers will attract butterflies, honey bees, and other pollinators. These flowers come in a variety of colorful options and are extremely easy to maintain when kept in moist, well-drained soil.

Liriope
If you have a full sun location that has been difficult for other plants, liriope may be the perfect option for you. This drought-resistant plant will thrive in full sun locations but can also be planted in the shade. Add vibrant dark green or variegated decorative clumps that will flower during summer months when planted in areas where it receives enough sunlight for flowering. This easy-to-maintain landscape addition just needs well-drained soil for its success.

Chaste Tree
Quite often this tree is mistaken as a lilac tree, from the Mediterranean, but not considered invasive, this blooming beauty will produce a lavender fragrance with a colorful display of lilac-looking flowers from Spring to Fall. Once established, this tree is drought-resistant, salt tolerant and moderately cold tolerant. Pollinators will flock to this tree that has several colorful options and even a sage-like fragrant leaf. When planted in well-drained soil, this tree can reach heights of 10-20 ft.

Periwinkles (Vincas)
This low-maintenance annual will add vibrant color and can tolerate full sun during Florida summers. These drought-resistant flowers come in a variety of colorful options that include violet, burgundy, apricot, pink and white. Plant in a well-drained soil that can dry out, this plant can suffer disease if soil is consistently moist. With the proper care and soil conditions these annual flowers can survive much longer than a single year when placed in the right landscape. 

​The options above are just a few of our favorite suggestions to beat the Florida heat when you are considering planting in full summer-sun locations. If you would like additional information on other low-maintenance options or to schedule an on-site meeting, give us a call or email for a free consultation. There are many low-cost, low-maintenance options that will make your landscape look amazing all summer long!