Florida Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a
Annual Rainfall
40-65 inches annually
Frost Window
December-February (south Florida frost-free)
Water Notes
Summer wet season; drought possible winter-spring
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Florida's unique climate and landscape
Lush, layered design with palms, bold foliage, and vibrant flowers
Key Features:
- •Multiple palm species
- •Colorful tropical flowers
- •Large-leaved plants like gingers
- •Water features and lighting
Ecological design using indigenous plants that support local wildlife
Key Features:
- •Saw palmetto and coontie
- •Native wildflowers
- •Habitat layering for birds and butterflies
- •Rain garden elements
Salt-tolerant plants and storm-resistant design for beachside properties
Key Features:
- •Sea grapes and salt-tolerant palms
- •Dune stabilization plants
- •Wind-resistant species
- •Sandy soil adaptations
Sustainable design with drought-tolerant natives requiring minimal care
Key Features:
- •No-mow groundcovers
- •Self-sustaining plant communities
- •Mulched beds
- •Minimal lawn areas
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Florida's climate
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Orange-red tubular flowers; hummingbird magnet
Coontie
Zamia integrifolia
Native cycad; host plant for atala butterfly
Simpson's Stopper
Myrcianthes fragrans
Fragrant white flowers; orange berries attract birds
Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Pink-purple fall plumes; salt-tolerant native grass
Sabal Palm
Sabal palmetto
State tree; extremely wind-tolerant
Sea Grape
Coccoloba uvifera
Large round leaves; salt and wind resistant
Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
Evergreen shrub; flexible branches resist wind
Railroad Vine
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Beach groundcover; stabilizes dunes
Milkweed
Asclepias spp.
Essential for monarch butterflies; multiple native species
Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Red tubular flowers; hummingbird favorite
Beach Sunflower
Helianthus debilis
Yellow flowers; spreads quickly in sun
Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Purple berries in fall; loved by birds
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Florida garden
Plant cool-season vegetables and annuals
Fertilize lawns and palms
Prune cold-damaged plants after last frost
Mulch beds before summer rainy season
Monitor for pests (chinch bugs, scale)
Prepare landscape for hurricane season
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Florida
Ready to Design Your Florida Garden?
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