USEFUL PERENNIAL PLANTS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA Compiled by Eric Toensmeier www.perennialsolutions.org
TREES 50'+ source: Florda exotic pest plant council Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary sun to mesic Acer rubrum red maple tree clump part to wet sap dry to fruit, nuts, Adansonia digitata baobab tree clump sun mesic leaves dry to Albizzia lebbek** tree clump sun mesic yes dry to Azidiracha indica neem tree clump sun mesic pink shower pods, Cassia grandis tree tree clump sun mesic sweetener yes ramon, Mayan dry to Brosimum alicastrum breadnut tree clump sun mesic fruit, nuts Coccoloba diversifolia pigeon plum tree clump sun mesic fruit Clumping sun to Dendrocalamus spp. Bamboos bamboo clump shade mesic shoots Enterolobium cyclocarpum Guanacaste tree clump sun mesic yes
Erythrina poepipigiana tree clump sun mesic yes Ficus aurea strangler ig tree clump sun mesic fruit Inga edulis ice cream bean tree clump sun mesic pod pulp yes Lecythis pisonis monkey pot tree clump sun mesic nuts dry to Lysiloma latisiliqum false tamarind tree clump sun mesic yes
Manilkara zapota** sapodilla tree clump sun mesic fruit wet to Pachira aquatica Guiana chestnut tree clump sun mesic nuts sun to wet to bayleaf or Persea borbonia redbay tree clump part mesic tea Pouteria sapote mamey sapote tree clump sun mesic fruit Sideroxylon spp. bustic tree fruit
TREES 25-50' Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary Acrocomia aculeata macauba palm palm clump sun mesic oil dry to Anacardium occidentale Cashew tree clump sun mesic nuts, fruit
Arenga pinnata sugar palm palm clump sun mesic sugar, wine fruit, nuts, young Artocarpus heterophylla Jakfruit tree clump sun mesic leaves Attalea funifera piassava palm palm clump sun mesic oil Attalea speciosa babassu palm palm clump sun mesic oil clump fruit (multi (cooked), Bactris gasipaes peach palm palm stem) sun mesic oil sun to dry to Bursera simaruba gumbo limbo tree clump part mesic Butea capitata pindo palm palm clump sun mesic fruit Caryodendreon orinococense inche tree clump sun mesic fruit, nuts Casimiroa edulis white sapote tree clump sun mesic fruit Cinnamomum zeylandicum cinnamon clump sun mesic spice nuts, oil, Cocos nucifera* coconut palm clump sun mesic water sun to dry to Dalbergia ecastaphylla coin vine shrub part mesic yes American dry to Diospyros virginiana persimmon tree run sun wet fruit dry to Faidherbia albida applering acacia tree clump sun mesic yes sun to Gnetum gnemon bago, joint ir tree clump shade mesic nuts, leaves Inga edulis ice cream bean tree clump sun mesic pod pulp yes Tahitian Inocarpus fagifer chestnut tree clump sun mesic nuts yes mesic Leucaena esculenta guaje tree clump sun to dry shell bean yes Macadamia integrifolia macadamia tree clump sun mesic nuts Mangifera indica mango tree clump sun mesic fruit Manilkara bahamensis wild dilly tree clump sun mesic fruit fruit, cooked Morus alba white mulberry tree clump sun mesic leaves Morus rubra red mulberry tree clump sun mesic fruit Canary island Phoenix canariensis date palm palm clump sun mesic sugar, wine Persea americana avocado tree clump sun mesic fruit Pimenta dioica allspice tree clump sun mesic spice dry to Pithecellobium dulce Manila tamarind tree clump sun mesic pod pulp yes Pouteria kampechiana canistel tree clump sun mesic fruit Quercus virginiana live oak tree clump sun mesic acorns mesic Sclerocarya birreya marula tree clump sun to dry fruit, nuts fruit (okay), Simarouba glauca paradise tree tree clump sun mesic seed oil mesic Tamarindus indica tamarind tree clump sun to dry fruit
Terminalia kaernbacchii okari nut tree clump sun mesic nut
TREES & SHRUBS 12-25' Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary Acacia farnesiana needle acacia tree clump sun mesic dry beans yes Acanthocereus barbed wire dry to fruit, tetragonus cactus cactus clump sun mesic nopales Aleurites fordii tung tree clump sun mesic aquatic sun to to fruit Annona glabra pond apple tree clump part mesic (awful) Annona hybrid atemoya tree clump sun mesic fruit Annona muricata soursop tree clump sun mesic fruit Annona squamosa sugar apple tree clump sun mesic fruit Averrhoa carambola Carambola tree clump sun mesic fruit clumping sun- Bambusa spp. bamboo bamboo clump part mesic shoots
Carica papaya* papaya shrub clump sun mesic fruit Peruvian hedge dry to Cereus peruvianus cactus cactus clump sun mesic fruit
Citrus aurantifolia* key lime tree clump sun mesic fruit
*Citrus aurantium sour orange tree clump sun mesic fruit (sour) Citrus maxima pummelo tree clump sun mesic fruit Citrus paradisi graprefruit tree clump sun mesic fruit Citrus sinensis orange tree clump sun mesic fruit Coccoloba uvifera sea grape tree clump sun mesic fruit Dacyroides edulis butterfruit tree clump sun mesic fruit Dimocarpus longan longan tree clump sun mesi fruit Asian Diospyros kaki persimmon tree clump sun mesic fruit
Elaeis guineensis African oil palm palm clump sun mesic oil Eriobotrya japonica loquat tree clump sun mesic fruit cooked lowers and dry to young Erythrina herbacea red cardinal shrub clump sun mesic leaves yes dry to Ficus carica ig tree clump sun mesic fruit sun to Flemingia macrophylla lemingia tree clump part mesic yes dry to Gliricidia sepium Madre de Cacao tree clump sun mesic yes Kerrugiodendron ferrium leadwood tree clump sun mesic fruit sun to dry to YOUNG Leucaena leucocephala* leucaena tree clump part mesic LEAVES?? yes Litchi chinensis lychee tree clump sun mesic fruit Malphigia glabra acerola tree clump sun mesic fruit Mammea americana mammee apple tree clump sun mesic fruit quenepa, Melicoccus bijugatus Spanish lime tree clump sun mesic fruit giant Miscanthus giganteus miscanthus grass clump sun mesic leaves, dry to pods, oil, Moringa oleifera moringa tree clump sun mesic spice leaves, dry to pods, oil, Moringa stenopetala African moringa tree clump sun mesic spice Muntingia calabura strawberry tree tree clump sun mesic fruit Murraya koenigii curry leaf tree run sun mesic spice giant fruit, Musa acuminata banana herb clump sun mesic lowerbud giant fruit, Musa paradisica plantain herb clump sun mesic lowerbud Simpson's Myrcianthes fragrans stopper shrub clump sun mesic fruit wet to Myrica cerifera wax myrtle shrub clump sun mesic bay leaf yes Persea americana avocado tree clump sun mesic fruit, oil dry to Pilosocereus polygonus tree cactus cactus clump sun mesic frui dry to Pithecellobium keyense Keys blackbead shrub run sun mesic arils sweet yes Pithecellobium unguis- catclaw dry to cati blackbead shrub clump sun mesic arils sweet yes dry to Pongamia pinnata pongam oil tree clump sun mesic yes
Psidium guajava guava tree clump sun mesic fruit
Reynosia serpentrionalis darling plum shrub clump sun mesic fruit dry to Ricinus communis* castor tree clump sun mesic oil Rollinia mucosa rollinia tree clump sun mesic fruit Saccharum of icinale sugar cane grass clump sun mesic sugar wet- fruit, Sambucus canadensis elderberry shrub clump sun mesic lowers yes Sapindus saponaria soapberry tree clump sun mesic dry to Sesbania grandi lora sesbania tree clump sun mesic yes dry to Spondias purpurea hog plum, jocote tree clump sun mesic fruit fruit, Theobroma cacao cacao tree clump shade mesic chocolate
Thrinax morrissii Key thatch palm palm clump fruit sun to Tithonia diversifolia giganton shrub clump part mesic yes Trema micrantha tree nettle tree fruit maybe Zanthoxylum fagara, Z. sun to dry to spice: leaf, lavum lime prickly ash shrub run part mesic fruit dry to Zizyphus jujuba Chinese jujube tree clump sun mesic fruit dry to Zizyphus mauritania Indian jujube tree clump sun mesic fruit
6-12' HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary Abelmoschus manihot Edible Hibiscus shrub clump sun mesic leaves dry to Acacia choriophylla cinnecord shrub clump sun mesic yes sun to wet to Alocasia macrorhiza Giant Taro shrub clump part mesic stem starch Bixia orellana annato, achiote shrub clump sun mesic spice pigeon pea, dry to Cajanus cajan gandul shrub clump sun mesic beans yes
Calliandra calothrysus Calliandra shrub clump sun mesic yes sun to wet to tubers, Canna edulis Edible Canna herb run part mesic shoots wet to Chrysobalanus icaco Cocoplum shrub run sun mesic fruit Cnidoscolus dry to chayamansa chaya shrub clump sun mesic leaves Crotolaria longirostrata Chipilin shrub clump sun mesic (cooked) yes sun to Eugenia uni lora stopper shrub clump part mesic fruit Simpson's dry- Harrisia simpsonii applecactus cactus clump sun mesic fruit dry- Jatropha curcas jatropha shrub clump sun mesic christmasberry, Lycium carolinianum native goji shrub run sun dry fruit tubers, cooked Manihot esculenta yuca, cassava shrub clump sun mesic leaves dry- Opuntia icus-indica tuna, nopale cactus clump sun mesic pads, fruit king grass, Pennisetum purpureum* Napier grass grass clump sun mesic sun to shoots Phytolacca americana pokeweed herb clump part mesic cooked sun to Psidium longipes mangroveberry shrub clump part mesic fruit sun to Sambucus canadensis elderberry shrub clump part wet fruit yes sun to Sauropus androgynous katuk shrub clump shade mesic leaves, fruit sun to dry to "cabbage", Serenoa repens saw palmetto palm run shade mesic fruit (bad) Solanum quitoense naranjilla shrub clump sun mesic fruit yellow dry to Sophora tomentosa neclacepod shrub clump sun mesic yes Synsepalum dulciferum miracle fruit shrub clump sun mesic fruit Tehprosia vogelii tephrosia shrub clump sun mesic yes sun to Trichanthera gigantea nacadero shrub clump part mesic
narrowleaf shoots, root Typha angustifolia cattail herb run sun wet tips, lour dry to Yucca guatemalensis izote yucca succulent clump sun mesic lowers
3-6' HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary dry to Acacia tortuosa twisted acacia shrub clump sun mesic yes dry to Aloe vera aloe succulent clump sun mesic dry to Ananas comosus pineapple succulent clump sun mesic fruit sun to wet to Borrichia arborescens sea oxeye daisy shrub clump part mesic yes dry- Bromelia pinguin wild pineapple succulent clump sun mesic fruit Capsicum annum var. dry- grabliusculum bird pepper shrub clump sun mesic spice aji dulce, habanero, spice, Capsicum chinense scotch bonnet shrub clump sun mesic peppers dry to Capsicum frutescens Tabasco pepper shrub clump sun mesic spice Carissa macrocarpa carissa shrub clump sun mesic fruit wet to Chrysopogon zizanoides Vetiver grass clump sun dry sun to dry to Cnidoscolus stimulosus spurge nettle herb clump part mesic roots tubers, sun to wet to cooked Colocasia esculenta taro herb clump part mesic leaves sun to Cymbopogon citratus Lemon Grass grass clump part mesic spice sun to Desmodium rensonii rensonii shrub clump part mesic yes pencil dry to Euphorbia lactaea euphorbia succulent clump sun mesic Maranta arundinacea arrowroot herb clump sun mesic tubers Dillen's prickly dry to nopales, Opuntia dillennii pear cactus run sun mesic fruit dry to Panicum maximum Guinea grass grass clump sun mesic eastern gammagrass, fakahatchee Tripsacum dactyloides grass grass clump sun mesic dry to Uniola paniculata sea oats grass clump sun mesic grain Xanthosoma sun to wet to leaves, saggitifolium Tannia, Tannier herb clump part mesic tubers
Xanthosoma Belembe, Taioba sun to wet to saggitifolium (leaf tannier) herb clump part mesic leaves
dry- lowers, Yucca aloifolia Spanish bayonet succulent clump sun mesic lowerstalk
18"-36" HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary Skellion, Welsh Allium istulosum Onion herb clump sun mesic scallions
sun to dry to leaves, Allium tuberosum Garlic Chives herb clump part mesic lowerbuds dry to Aloe vera Aloes succulent clump sun mesic sun to Alpinia galangal Galangal herb clump part mesic spice Alternanthera sissoo Sissoo Spinach herb clump part mesic leaves sun to Coreopsis loridana Florida tickseed herb clump part mesic yes sun to Curcuma domestica Turmeric herb clump shade mesic spice roots
part to tuber Curcuma zedoaria Zedoary herb clump shade mesic starch Desmodium heterocarpon sun to ovalifolium herb run shade mesic yes aquatic sun to to leaves, Ipomoea aquatica** water spinach herb run! part mesic shoots sun to dry to Licania michauxii gopher apple shrub run part mesic fruit sun to dry to Lototonis bainesii lototonis herb run part mesic yes Myrica cerifera var. dwarf sun to pumila candleberry shrub run part mesic bay leaf yes southern prickly dry to nopales, Opuntia compressa pear cactus run sun mesic fruit cutleaf Physalis angulata groundcherry herb run sun mesic fruit Physalis peruviana Goldenberry herb clump sun mesic fruit starchy Florida sun to roots & Zamia integrifolia arrowroot shrub clump part mesic trunks* yes (!) sun to spice, Zingiber of icinale Ginger herb clump part mesic shoots
6"-18" HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary dry to Canavalia maritima beach bean herb run! sun mesic yes hammock Dalea carnea prairieclover herb clump sun mesic yes Galactia pinetorum milkpea herb clump part yes Okinawa sun to Gynura crepioides Spinach herb clump part mesic leaves wet to Helianthus debilis coast sun lower herb run sun mesic yes part to Kaempferia galanga lesser galengal herb clump shade mesic sun to dry to Mimosa strigillosa powderpuff herb run part wet yes baby rubber sun to Peperomia obtusifolia plant herb run shade mesic sun to culinary, Satureja rigida wild pennyroyal herb clump part mesic tea cooked black self leaves & Solanum americanum nightshade annual sow sun mesic fruit Florida sun to Stachys loridana hedgenettle herb run part mesic tubers self sun to mesic Stylosanthes guianensis stilo herb sow part to wet yes evergreen Vaccinnium myrsinites blueberry shrub clump sun mesic fruit
0-6" HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary sun to Arachis pintoi Forage Peanut herb run shade mesic yes sun to Calyptocarpus vialis straggler daisy herb run shade mesic yes sun to wet to Centella asiatica gotu kola herb run shade mesic Desmodium sun to mesic heterofolium herb run shade to wet yes sun to Desmodium tri lorum herb run shade mesic yes
part to Eryngium foetidum culantro, recao herb clump shade mesic culinary
water sun to aquatic Hydrocotle umbellata pennywort herb run shade to wet yes tubers, sun to cooked Ipomoea batatas Sweet Potato herb run part mesic leaves sun to dry to Phyla nodi lora Texas frogfruit herb run part mesic Sesuvium portulacastrum sea purslane herb run sun leaves VINES Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Nectary sun to wet to tubers, dry Apios americana groundnut herb vine run part mesic beans yes sun to Basella alba Malabar Spinach herb vine clump part mesic leaves Calopogonium sun to caeruleum calopo herb vine run shade mesic yes mini- cucumbers, Coccinia grandis* Ivy Gourd herb vine run sun mesic leaves pumpkin Cucurbita seeds, okeechobeensis var. Okeechobee annual self sun to wet to maybe okeechobeensis gourd vine sows part mesic greens pumpkins, seeds, Seminole annual self shoots, Cucurbita moschata pumpkin vine sows sun mesic lowers sun to mesic Desmodium intortum herb vine run shade to wet yes Lisban Yam, Dioscorea alata Greater Yam herb vine clump sun mesic tubers
aerial tubers, cult Dioscorea bulbifera** Air Potato herb vine clump sun mesic forms only
Dioscorea cayenensis Yellow Yam herb vine clump sun mesic tubers White Yam, Dioscorea rotundata Guinea Yam herb vine clump sun mesic tubers
Dioscorea tri ida Cush Cush Yam herb vine clump sun mesic tubers cactus dry to Hylocereus undatus dragon fruit vine clump sun mesic fruit beans, dry to lowers, Lablab purpureus lablab herb vine clump sun mesic leaves yes sun to mini- Melothria pendula cucumber berry herb vine run part mesic cucumbers Pachyrhizus erosus jicama herb vine clump sun mesic tubers yes woody Passi lora edulis Passion Fruit vine clump sun mesic fruit
Passi lora incarnata maypop herb vine run sun mesic fruit woody Passi lora laurifolia Water Lemon vine clump sun mesic fruit Sweet woody Passi lora ligularis Granadilla vine clump sun mesic fruit Bell Apple, woody Passi lora maliformis Sweet Cup vine clump sun mesic fruit Passi lora woody quadrangularis vine clump sun mesic fruit Lima Bean, dry to Phaseolus lunatus White Bean herb vine clump sun mesic beans yes woody Piper nigrum Black Pepper vine clump shade mesic spice beans, Psophocarpus lowers, tetragonobolus winged bean herb vine clump sun mesic leaves yes squash, woody leaves, Sechium edule chayote vine clump sun mesic tubers Smilax bona-nox & S. bullbriar, woody sun to havanensis greenbriar vine run shade mesic fruit leaves, African beans, Sphenostylis stenocarpa yambean herb vine clump sun mesic tubers yes Tournefortia hirsutissima soldierbush vine fruit Trichostigma Haitian basket woody sun to leaves octandrum vine vine clump part mesic (excellent) Vanilla phaeantha native vanilla vine clump shade spice woody Vanilla planifolia vanilla vine clump shade mesic spice woody Vitis rotundifolia muscadine vine clump sun mesic fruit
FUNGI
Latin Name Common Name Growing Medium Edible Coprinus comatus Shaggy Mane mulch, compost mushroom Hericeum erinaceous Lion's Mane stumps, logs mushroom Chestnut Hypholoma sublaterium Mushroom logs, stumps, sawdustmushroom Hypsizygus ulmarius Elm Oyster mulch, compost mushroom Lentinula edodes Shiitake logs mushroom Lepista nuda Blewit mulch, compost mushroom Morchella spp. Morel soil under trees mushroom Pleurotus spp. Oyster logs mushroom Chicken of the Polyporus sulphureus Woods stumps, logs mushroom Stropharia rugosa- annulata Winecap mulch, compost mushroom
Many mycorrhizal non-edible species are available as inoculants. source: Florda exotic pest plant council Ground Cover Native Other
fodder bank
**strongly naturalized. Coppice irewood, naturalized fodder bank
pesticide
yes
fodder bank yes
fodder bank, construction
fodder pods
fodder bank, living fence, coppice yes smothers trees coppice irewood
yes
**strongly naturalized
yes
yes
Ground Cover Native Other very spiny
few plants will grow beneath it yes superb living fence
* naturalized yes yes improved varieties available
fodder pods
coppice irewood
yes native sapodilla relative
fodder bank yes
coppice irewood, living fence yes cultivated for oil in Central yes America
Ground Cover Native Other yes aka Vachellia farnesiana
yes biofuel oil
yes rootstock for cultivated Annonas
fodder bank, inc. B. textilis, B. beecheyana.
* naturalized
living fence
* naturalized
* naturalized use as citrus rootstock
yes
yes beans toxic fodder bank, contour hedgerow coppice irewood, fodder bank, living fence, contour hedgerow yes
* fodder bank, living fence, naturalized contour hedgerow
super mulch plant, sterile
fodder bank, living fence
fodder bank, living fence
yes yes evergreen yes yes thorny yes thorny
coppice irewood strongly naturalized yes
* naturalized biofuel oil yes improved clones available yes fruit used for soap
coppice irewood
living fence
yes "tropical comfrey", fodder bank, living fence, contour hedgerow yes
yes
Ground Cover Native Other
yes
fodder bank coppice irewood, fodder bank, contour hedgerow
yes biofuel oil
dune stabilizer
evergreen, fodder bank, living fence
* naturalized fodder bank, contour hedgerow toxic raw, all parts but shoots yes toxic
yes
yes
yes yes evergreen
yes
pesticide
fodder bank
yes
living fence, contour hedgerow
Ground Cover Native Other
yes thorny
yes yes
living fence yes
both sweet and hot varieties pesticide, inc. "tabasco" and yes "chile de arbol"
living fence
yes stings!
strongly naturalized yes living fence
fodder bank, contour hedgerow toxic living fence, also E. nerifolia, E. tirucalli
yes yes fodder bank, contour hedgerow
ground beetle habitat, carbon yes yes mulch source, fodder bank yes yes
yes
Ground Cover Native Other
yes yes yes
yes yes yes
excellent cover, fodder, yes plantation understory cover crop
strongly naturalized yes & banned cultivated cultivated groundcover, yes yes cocoplum relative yes excellent cover, fodder yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes *very toxic until processed yes
Ground Cover Native Other yes yes yes yes yes yes endemic
yes yes yes yes indestructible yes yes
yes
yes cultivated yes yes yes excellent cover, fodder
yes
Ground Cover Native Other yes excellent cover, fodder yes yes
yes excellent cover, fodder yes excellent cover, fodder
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes cultivated in Asia as vegetable Ground Cover Native Other
yes improved forms available yes yes excellent cover, fodder
* naturalized
yes endangered Florida native
* yes naturalized cultivated by native people yes excellent cover, fodder
strongly naturalized
strongly naturalized & banned
yes fodder, cover crop yes yes very aggressive pesticide
yes
yes very aggressive
yes yes promoted by ECHO yes
yes cultivated
lobster lavored
oysterlike easily grown easily grown mycorrhizal easily grown, many species taste like chicken breast easily grown