Does the idea of living in Central Florida bring to mind a beautiful tropical landscape? If you're a recent transplant to The Sunshine State from a region that has four distinct seasons - including that freezing one called "winter" - you may be looking forward to transforming your yard into a lush tropical paradise where you can enjoy resort-like vibes throughout the year (or most of it)!
Even if you're a Florida native or semi-native whose yard is in a bit of a visual rut, uplifting your landscaping with a touch of the tropics can add exotic notes that engage the eyes and refresh the spirit. If you're a fortunate pool owner, tropical plants are the ideal way to set off your pool and patio as the place to relax and entertain! Our blog post - " Landscaping Ideas for Your Central Florida Pool Area " - provides information on plant selection and landscaping design.
Tropical plants can take your yard from dull to dazzling, so we'll look at what you'll need to do to get started - and, of course, recommend some eye-catching, yet easy-to-care-for plants that will add the right textures and vivid colors that will transport you to your exclusive island-like retreat!
Why a Tropical-style Landscape Requires Planning
It's important to know that Florida has two distinctive climate zones: subtropical and tropical. North and Central Florida are subtropical, while South Florida is tropical. So what's the difference? Some of those exotic plants you envision might not be as tolerant of our relatively few cold days! This is why coconut palms thrive in Miami, but not here.
If you're new to gardening, the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to succeed at a specific location. Central Florida encompasses mostly zone 9b, with South Florida classified as zones 11a and 11b. Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys are entirely in zone 11b.
Fortunately, this doesn't significantly limit your selection - unless you really had your heart set on gathering coconuts from your very own tree! But creating an attractive tropical-inspired landscape requires planning to achieve the right visual harmony.
Keep in mind that any tropical plants you select will need to be incorporated into your existing landscaping. A common mistake is to fall in love with a hibiscus shrub or bougainvillea vine at your garden center or nursery, and bring it home only to plant it wherever there's a bare spot. Instead, take photos of plants you like, then tour your yard and determine where they can best be planted to achieve the effect you want. Of course, getting inspiration from Pinterest and other sources can provide ideas for grouping plants and using them to define specific areas of your yard - such as a porch, patio, pool, walkways and corners. As will all other plants, check for sun/shade tolerance, soil and watering requirements, and height/width at maturity.
Colorful Plants and Graceful Palms for a Tropical Paradise
Even though tropical plants give an upscale look to your landscape, they're relatively inexpensive to purchase and easy to care for. University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions kindly provides the following list of plants that can make your yard a standout! Click on the name to learn more about each.
Bird of Paradise - This distinctive plant adds exotic flair with its vivid orange and blue blooms that resemble birds taking flight. Its blue or blue-green leaves are oblong, 12 to 18 inches long, and held on long, stiff leafstalks. Technically, the "bloom" is comprised of sepals and bracts, but like poinsettias, these bracts are typically called flowers. Mature plants can produce up to three dozen flower spikes annually. It can be planted year-round in mass plantings, as a specimen, in a container, or as an accent plant. Bird of paradise reaches a maximum height of 3 to 5 feet with a spread of 2 to 4 feet. Mature plants will grow into clumps, which can be an attractive focal point in the landscape.
Bougainvillea - This tropical vining shrub is available in a wide array of bright, fanciful colors. As with the bird of paradise, its "flowers" are actually bracts. They appear periodically throughout most of the year, but are especially plentiful in the winter, when the splashes of color are a welcome sight. Bougainvillea blooms in fuchsia, red, white, yellow, and orange. It can be trained to grow over fences and trellises, or pruned into a shrub-like form. Bougainvilleas require full sun and perform better when soil is a little dry, making this a perfect plant for the drought-tolerant landscape. However, it does need to be protected from frost and freeze.
Bromeliads - These distinctive plants make a statement with their bold, often colorful leaves and the exotic flower spikes that many varieties produce. There are thousands of different bromeliads that come in an array of shapes and sizes and thrive in many light conditions, so you're bound to find a variety that can work for you. Keep in mind that a bromeliad's leaf hue, form and pace of development can be influenced by the amount of sunlight it receives.
Tip for gardeners: Periodically flush the natural cups that collect water at the base of the leaf rosettes, as these can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Crotons - These perennial evergreen shrubs are popular for their large, showy leaves in bright colors that include reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purple, greens, and white. This shrub can grow up to 10 feet tall, but there are both dwarf and larger varieties. Crotons are easy to propagate, and are reasonably priced. Many crotons grow best in full sun, but many cultivars can tolerate - and even prefer - light or partial shade. Frosts or freezes will damage them, but they quickly recover. When grown outdoors, this plant looks most appealing when planted in groups. Use them to accent green shrubbery and add a splash of color to any yard or container. Crotons are also attractive and hardy indoor plants.
Hibiscus - Nothing says tropical paradise better than the large bright, vibrant flowers of the hibiscus shrub! Hibiscus flowers can be many colors, come in single or double forms, and often last for just a day. Individual flowers may be short-lived, but the plant will produce blooms over a long flowering season. Hummingbirds and many types of butterflies are attracted by hibiscus, as well. Hibiscus range in size from low spreading shrubs to upright tree forms that can reach 20 feet in height. Some are compact and dense, while others are open and thin. They are used in the landscape as informal hedges or screens, foundation plants, specimens, or background for other plants. Check regularly for pests such as aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies.
Ixora - One of the best qualities about this tropical perennial is that it flowers throughout the year! Each flower cluster can last between 6 and 8 weeks, giving your landscape long-lasting and lovely color. Ixora varieties offer a nice selection of colors - including bright red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. A compact, densely-branching shrub, ixora is ideal for planting as a hedge, border, screen, or featured specimen - depending on which variety you select. Some ixora types grow to 10-15 feet tall and 4-10 feet wide when unpruned, but they can handle shearing to maintain them as a smaller hedge. However, constant shearing will reduce their flower display. Smaller forms that only reach 4-6 feet are available, as well as petite cultivars.
European Fan Palm - Also known as the Mediterranean fan palm, this slow-growing, clumping palm grows 8 to 15 feet tall and spreads 6 to 10 feet wide. The fine-textured fronds make this palm stand out from other plants in the landscape. Leaf color ranges from lovely light green to stunning silver. The fronds are held on curved, short trunks. Small clusters of yellow flowers form in the spring and are followed by inconspicuous fruits. Young or mature, this palm makes a stunning sculptural element in a garden or in a patio container.
Pygmy Date Palm - Graceful and - by palm tree standards - petite, the pygmy date palm is a popular choice for tropical, Florida-style landscaping, especially for homes on standard-size suburban or city lots. True to their name, pygmy date palms only reach a maximum height of about 12 feet. They are single-stemmed but often planted in clumps. This gives the look of a multi-trunked palm as the group reaches maturity.
Enjoy Instant Gratification with a Tropical Landscape
Although your tropical plants will grow to become even more full and spectacular over time, a big advantage is that they're beautiful and engaging even right home from the garden center. You don't have to wait to start enjoying the exotic charm they'll bring to your yard! Once you have your very own Central Florida tropical oasis, you can indulge in a little getaway any time!
Don't have the time or inclination to go select, plant and maintain tropical plants? Or not sure about where to plant them? Call Daniel's Lawn Care & Pressure Washing to design, plant and even maintain the yard of your dreams! In addition to landscaping design, our full-service company provides plant and tree installation, tree trimming, yard maintenance, pressure washing and so much more. today so we can do the work, and you can do the enjoying! We proudly serve all of Central Florida - including Orlando, Sanford, Longwood and Lake Mary! We look forward to helping you achieve your goals and bring your vision to life!
