Florida-Friendly Plant Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Landscape

A thriving, colorful landscape design can consist of drought-tolerant, non-invasive plants that will require little annual maintenance.  Depending on your location and preferences, you can add plants that will require little attention but offer vibrant color all year long. There are a variety of options available for low-maintenance plants in our area of Florida.  You will want to consider the mature size of the plant; sunlight requirements and irrigation needs when selecting plants for your design.   Choosing plants at different heights is a terrific way to create layers of complimentary colors and textures.  Check out some plant ideas below if you are looking for minimal-maintenance recommendations for your landscape.

Agaves are a type of succulent that are easy to establish and will require little attention throughout the year.  Agaves come in several assorted colors and sizes, some growing 7-9 ft tall with 16-20 ft stalks that produce flowers.  These plants are typically slow-growing, most do well in full sun while some will do better in partial sun or filtered light.  Blue and Americana Agave are larger popular agave plants that require little water and perfect for full sun locations.  Caribbean Agave is typically a little smaller, maturing at about 3-5 feet with greenish / yellowish variegated leaves.    Agave Striata has narrow spiny leaves that grow to a height of about 15-8 inches, requires little water, does well in full or partial sun and will offer year-round greenery.  Agaves are a great option to add color into full sun areas with little to no irrigation.

Palms are throughout Florida and are drought-tolerant once established but may need occasional watering during extreme dry periods with low humidity.  Your location will be a crucial factor in selecting the best palm specimen for your space.  Some palms can grow quite large and should not be placed close to structures, driveways, or pathways. Some palms will do best in full sun while others will prefer indirect, bright light.  Choose the right palm for your design by researching the mature height and growth rate, there are several options available that come in all shapes and sizes with different sunlight preferences.  Check out the Coontie and Sago palms for smaller, drought-friendly plants that require minimal maintenance and stay green all year.  Some larger palm options include the Foxtail, Alexander, and Christmas palms that will require little irrigation and self-maintain by shedding their own fronds once they turn brown.

Seagrape, Clusia, and Cocoplum are some great drought-tolerant options if you are looking for a shrub or a privacy-hedge plant.  These plants are found throughout south Florida and range from moderate to very salt tolerant.  The Seagrape produces edible fruit and can often be found along coastal areas in Florida.  Clusia is also known as the autograph plant, you can engrave designs on the leaves that will stay until the leaf falls from the plant and can be shaped to form a hedge, tree or individual shrub. Dwarf Clusia is a smaller option for smaller round green leaves all year long. The cocoplum also produces an edible fruit and is a popular hedge shrub throughout South Florida. 
Flowering plants bring beautiful colors and an array of pollinators.  If you are looking for low-maintenance and minimal irrigation flowering plants, check out Crown of Thorns that comes in pinks, reds, and yellows.  This slow growing plant is a great option for full sun areas.  Beach Sunflower is a great ground-cover option for coastal areas in full sun locations.  This plant will produce bright yellow flowers all year long and is very salt and drought tolerant.  An Ice Plant produces daisy-like flowers and is a great option for boulders and dry areas.  This vibrant succulent can succeed in many locations and can even be combined with other flowering plants for a stunning display.  
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The plants listed above are just a few options for our area of Florida, which are minimal-maintenance and drought tolerant.  When creating your plant design you will want to consider the exact location, make sure the plant will not overgrow the space or encroach on other plants or structures.  Research the watering requirements, fertilization needs, and plant growth rate to choose the best plant for your design.  If you would like help selecting plants and designing a low-maintenance and drought-tolerant landscape, give us a call or text to schedule an onsite appointment.