SHRUBS FOR HOME LANDSCAPING IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA

Assembled by Jody Wood-Putnam, Bay County Master Gardener & Julie McConnell, Horticultural Agent UF/IFAS Extension Bay County

The included in the following lists are selected for their suitability for home landscape plantings in Northwest Florida. These lists were developed for the purpose of recommending shrubs to for recovery after Hurricane Michael.

Using the Planting Lists Both the scientific and common names are given as well as typical heights and widths for adult . Consider the eventual size of plants in a landscape design and consider the location of plants relative to power lines and other structures. General moisture requirements are given. Locate plants with similar moisture requirements together. Consider light requirements throughout the year. Preferred light requirements are bolded in the below lists. Consider planting a combination of evergreen and deciduous plants to provide interest in the winter as well as seasonal variations. Special features of plants to include , berries, fruit and attractiveness to wildlife are listed in the comments section. For additional information to include growth rate, soil pH, drought tolerance and salt tolerance, consult your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office or consider using the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Florida-friendly Plant Database at www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php.

Gardening with Native Plants They are adapted to the Northwest Florida environment to include the climate (temperatures, rainfall, humidity, etc.) and soils (often very sandy, mostly acidic). Planted in the right place, they can minimize maintenance work and costs to include watering, fertilizing and- soil amendment. Probably the most important reason to use native plants though is that these plants are required for food and habitat for our native wildlife, many of which require specific native plants to thrive.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS

This list contains shrubs that normally maintain their in the winter as well as palms of less than 10 ft. height. These plants can play a very important role in the winter garden.

Scientific Name Mature Moisture Light Comments Native? Common Name Height/Width Requirements Requirements Abelia X grandiflora 6’ – 10’ high Well drained Sun to part Semi-evergreen, white to pink flowers No Glossy Abelia 6’ – 10’ wide shade periodically spring through fall, attractive foliage and inflorescences on several cultivars Acca sellowiana 8’ – 15’ high Well drained Sun to Flowers with white petals and prominent red No Pineapple Guava 8’ – 15’ wide part sun stamens, edible fruit, attractive to wildlife, may be trimmed to a hedge Agarista populifolia 8’ – 12’ high Well drained Part shade Fragrant white flowers in spring, arching Yes Fetterbush, Pipestem 5’ – 10’ wide to wet to shade branching structure Baccharis halimifolia 8’ – 12’ high Well drained Sun White fluffy flowers in fall attractive to Yes Groundsel Bush, Saltbush 6’ – 12’ wide to wet butterflies, high salt tolerance, somewhat loose structure Callistemon spp. 6’ – 30’ high Well drained Sun to part Red flowers spring, summer and fall, attractive to No Bottlebrush 6’ – 15’ wide sun birds and pollinators, medium wind resistance Camellia spp. 3’ – 20’ high Medium Part shade to Attractive foliage and beautiful flowers of many No Camellia 5’ – 20’ wide drained shade shapes, sizes and colors, bloom in fall/winter when few other plants are flowering, slow growing Cephalotaxus harringtonia 3’ – 10’ high Well drained Part shade to Attractive dark foliage No Japanese Plum Yew 5’ – 10’ wide shade Conradina spp. 2’ – 4’ high Well drained Sun Lavender flowers, bluish/grey foliage, evergreen, Yes False , Scrub Mint 2’ – 4’ wide attractive to butterflies Fatsia japonica 5’ – 8’ high Well drained Part shade to Large attractive dark green leaves, interesting No Japanese Aralia, Fatsia 3’ – 10’ wide shade white flowers Gardenia jasminoides 4’ – 8’ high Well drained Part shade to Attractive foliage, fragrant white flowers in No Gardenia 4’ – 8’ wide sun summer Ilex glabra 6’ – 8’ high Medium Part shade to Small white flowers in spring followed by black Yes Gallberry 8’ – 10’ wide drained to sun berries on female shrubs, attractive to birds and wet other wildlife. Ilex vomitoria Varied height Well drained Sun to part Small white flowers in spring followed by red Yes Yaupon Holley Varied width to wet shade berries on female shrubs, low growing cultivars make excellent hedges, can be shaped into various forms Illicium floridanum 6’ – 20’ high Well drained Part shade to Beautiful dark maroon flowers in spring followed Yes Florida Anise 3’ – 6’ wide shade by non-edible star-like seeds, variegated cultivars available Illicium parviflorum 6’ – 20’ high Well drained Sun to part Insignificant yellow flowers in spring followed by Yes Ocala Anise, Yellow Anise 3’ – 6’ wide shade non-edible star-like seeds, makes an excellent hedge Lantana depressa 3’ – 6’ high Well drained Sun Yellow flowers throughout the year, usually only Yes Pineland Lantana 3’ – 6’ wide found in native nurseries. Many other lantana species are invasive and not recommended. Leucophyllum frutescens 3’ – 5’ high Well drained Sun Silvery grey leaves, semi-evergreen, lavender No Texas Sage 3’ – 5’ wide flowers in summer, prefers hot, dry location Loropetalum spp. Varies up to Well drained Sun to part Attractive strap-like flowers in spring, some have No Loropetalum 15’ high shade attractive reddish foliage, some cultivars stay short while others can grow into small trees Lyonia ferruginea 10’ – 25’ high Well to Sun to part Whitish flowers in spring, rusty colored new Yes Rusty Lyonia 5’ – 10’ wide medium shade foliage, attractive to butterflies drained Lyonia lucida 3’ – 10’ high Well to Sun to part Whitish flowers in spring, attractive to butterflies Yes Shiny Lyonia, Fetterbush 2’ – 5’ wide medium shade drained Mahonia spp. 3’ – 10’ high Well drained Part shade to Yellow fragrant flowers in winter/spring No Oregon Hollygrape, 3’ – 4’ wide shade followed by bluish berries attractive to wildlife, grapeholly, Mahonia holly like foliage Myrica cerifera 10’ – 40’ high Well drained Sun to part Attractive to birds and butterflies, takes pruning Yes Wax Myrtle 20’ – 25’ wide to wet shade well and makes an excellent hedge Nerium oleander 4’ – 18’ high Well drained Sun to part High salt tolerance, attractive flowers that bloom No Oleander 3’ – 15’ wide shade prolifically over a long period, poisonous, oleander caterpillars may ravage Osmanthus fragrans 15’ – 30’ high Well drained Sun to part Fragrant white flowers, holly like foliage, several No Tea Olive 15’ – 20’ wide shade species/cultivars available Philodendron spp. 61‘ - 12 ‘ high Species Part sun to Large tropical leaves, fast growing, may be No Philodendron 2’ – 15’ wide dependent shade damaged in a hard freeze Pittosporum tobira 8’ – 12’ high Well drained Sun to part Glossy leaves, often pruned as a hedge, whitish No Pittosporum 12’ – 18’ wide shade fragrant flowers in spring Podocarpus macrophyllus 30’ - 40’ high Well drained Sun to part Attractive dark green foliage, small fruit No Podocarpus 20’ – 25’ wide shade attractive to birds, high salt tolerance, slow growing, high wind resistance, may be pruned to desired shape/height Pyracantha coccinea 10’ – 15’ high Well to Sun to part Attractive white flowers followed by bright No Firethorn 8’ – 12’ wide medium sun red/orange berries, often trained to a trellis, has drained thorns Raphiolepis spp. 2’ – 10’ high Well to Sun to part Attractive flowers in spring followed by fruits No Indian Hawthorn 2’ – 6’ wide medium sun attractive to wildlife, wide variations between drained cultivars Rhapidophyllum hystrix 8’ high Medium Sun to part Attractive to birds and other wildlife, has sharp Yes Needle Palm 5’ – 10’ wide drained shade to spines on trunk shade Rhododendron spp./cvs. 3’ – 12’ high Well drained Part shade Wide variety available with many colors of No Azalea 3’ – 10’ wide flowers attractive to birds and butterflies, most bloom in spring Rosa spp. 1’ – 20’ high Well drained Sun Wide variations between cultivars, often have Varies Rose 2’ – 8 ‘ wide thorns, hips attractive to birds Rosmarinus spp. 3’ – 6’ high Well to Sun to part Aromatic greyish foliage, edible No Rosemary 4’ – 5’ wide medium shade drained Russelia spp. 3’ – 5’ high Well drained Sun Wispy foliage with red or yellow tubular flowers No Firecracker PLant 2’ – 12’ wide in summer, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, may be damaged in hard freeze Sabal minor 4’ – 9’ high Well to Sun to Part Flowers/fruits attractive to birds and butterflies, Yes Blue Stem Palmetto, Dwarf 4’ – 8’ wide medium shade to bluish foliage, excellent for retention areas and Palmetto drained shade drainage swales Serenoa repens 3’ – 10’ high Well drained Sun to shade Attractive to birds and other wildlife, attractive Yes Saw Palmetto 4’ – 10’ wide silver foliage palmettos available, high salt tolerance Ternstroemia gymnanthera 12’ – 20’ high Well drained Part shade to Attractive shiny foliage, often used as a hedge No Cleyera 5’ – 10’ wide shade Vaccinium darrowii 2’ – 3’ high Well drained Sun to part Bluish foliage, small whitish flowers in spring Yes Darrow’s Blueberry, 2’ – 3’ wide shade followed by blue edible berries, attractive to Evergreen Blueberry birds Viburnum obovatum Varied height Well drained Sun to shade White flowers in spring. Makes an excellent Yes Walter’s Viburnum hedge, can be pruned into shapes well, attractive to wildlife Viburnum odoratissimum 15’ – 30’ high Well drained Sun to shade White flowers in spring attractive to No Sweet Viburnum 15’ – 25’ wide hummingbirds, berries attractive to birds, may be used as hedge Viburnum odoratissimum 15’ – 20’ high Well drained Sun to part Fragrant, white flowers in spring, fruit attractive No ‘awabuki’ 15’ – 20’ wide shade to wildlife, attractive shiny, large leaves, often Awabuki Viburnum trimmed as a hedge Viburnum tinus 6’ – 12’ high Well drained Sun to part Fragrant, pink/white flowers in spring followed No Laurestinus Viburnum 2’ – 4’ wide shade by blue/black fruit, attractive to birds and butterflies, dense, upright form excellent for use as specimen or hedge Yucca aloifolia 3’ – 12’ high Well drained Sun to part Attractive white flowers in spring to summer, Yes Yucca, Spanish Bayonet 3’ – 6’ wide shade attractive to butterflies, high salt tolerance Zamia floridana 1’ – 5’ high Well drained Sun to shade Attractive to butterflies, produces interesting Yes Coontie 3’ – 5’ wide cones, high salt tolerance

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

This list contains low woody plants with several permanent stems, which normally lose their leaves in the winter. These shrubs can provide much 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 usually return in the spring.

Scientific Name Mature Moisture Light Comments Native? Common Name Height/Width Requirements Requirements Asimina spp. Variable Well to medium Sun to shade Attractive to butterflies, some have attractive flowers, Yes Pawpaw height drained some have edible fruit, difficult to transplant Variable width Buddleia 4’ – 6’ high Well drained Sun Lavender flowers attractive to butterflies, greyish No lindleyana 4’ – 6’ wide foliage, spreads through suckering Lindley’s Butterfly Bush Callicarpa 6’ – 8’ high Well drained Part shade to Insignificant light purple flowers, attractive purple Yes Americana 6’ – 8’ wide shade berries, attractive to birds and wildlife, yellow fall Beautyberry foliage Calycanthus 6’ – 9’ high Well to medium Part Shade to Dark red fragrant flowers in summer, prefers organic Yes floridus 6’ – 12’ wide drained shade soils, yellow fall foliage Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub Cephalanthus 6’ – 20’ tall Medium Sun to Part Attractive to hummingbirds/butterflies, white Yes occidentalis 6’ – 8’ wide drained to wet shade flowers in spring/summer, excellent around retention Buttonbush areas Clethra alnifolia 4’ – 8’ high Well drained to Sun to Part Fragrant white flowers in summer attractive to Yes Sweet 4’ – 8’ wide wet shade to shade butterflies and other pollinators Pepperbush Hamelia patens 5’ – 20’ high Well to medium Sun to shade Red/orange flowers in fall, attractive to butterflies Yes Firebush 5’ – 8’ wide drained and hummingbirds, dies back in winter to return spring Hibiscus coccineus 4’ – 6’ high Well to medium Sun to part Large, beautiful red flowers Yes Scarlet Hibiscus 2’ – 5’ wide drained shade Hibiscus spp. 4’ – 12’ high Well to medium Sun to part Large beautiful flowers of many colors from spring to No Hibiscus 3’ – 10’ wide drained shade fall, may be injured in freeze Hydrangea 6’ – 10’ high Well to medium Part shade to Large pink to blue panicles during late spring No macrophylla 6’ – 10’ wide drained shade and summer Bigleaf/French Hydrangea Hydrangea 15’ – 25’ high Well drained, Sun to part sun Large attractive flower panicles start green, turn No paniculata 10’ – 20’ wide moist soil white/cream then rosy pink as they mature, can also Panicle be grown in tree form, moderate growth rate Hydrangea Hydrangea 6’ – 10’ high Well to medium Sun to shade Large attractive cream flower panicles in summer Yes quercifolia 6’ – 8’ wide drained turning rosy pink/bronze as they mature, some have Oakleaf colorful fall foliage Hydrangea Itea virginica 3’ – 8’ high Well drained to Sun to part White flowers in spring, excellent for borders of Yes Virginia 2’ – 4’ high wet shade to shade retention areas and ditches, attractive fall foliage Sweetspire color Malvaviscus 6’ – 12’ high Well to medium Sun Fast growing, red flowers in fall until a freeze, may die No arboreus 3’ – 4’ wide drained back to the ground in hard freeze to return in spring. Turk’s Cap Rhododendron 6’ – 10’ high Well drained Part sun Fragrant orange flowers in spring, attractive to birds Yes austrinum 4’ – 8’ wide and butterflies Florida Azalea Rhododendron 8’ – 12’ high Well drained Part sun Fragrant pink flowers in spring, attractive to birds Yes canescens 6’ – 10’ wide and butterflies Pinxter Azalea bicapsularis 6’ – 12’ high Well to medium Sun Yellow flowers attractive to pollinators, butterfly host No Christmas Senna 6’ – 12’ wide drained plant, may be damaged in hard freeze. Spiraea spp. 3’ – 5’ high Well to medium Sun to part sun Attractive white flowers in spring, excellent accent for No Bridal Wreath, 3’ – 4’ wide drained spring blooming azaleas Spirea Symphyotricum 1’ – 12’ high Well drained to Sun to shade Lavender flowers in fall, attractive to birds and Yes carolinianum 2’ – 4; wide wet butterflies Climbing Aster Vaccinium 6’ – 25’ high Well to med Sun to part Whitish flowers in spring followed by dark blue Yes arboretum 4’ – 15’ wide drained shade to shade berries attractive to birds and other wildlife, Sparkleberry attractive fall color Vaccinium elliottii 12’ high Well drained Sun to part White flowers in spring followed by edible blue Yes Elliott’s Blueberry 5’ wide shade berries, attractive to birds and other wildlife, red fall color

References Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Florida-friendly Plant Database, www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php Various publications from www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu - The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design, www.ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_2015.pdf Dirr, Michael A., Dirr’s Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates, Timber Press, Inc., 2002. University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation, www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/ffws/tof.htm