PGI Landscape and GardeningPGI Landscape and Gardening

Contributed by Ellen Brown, Master Gardener,
elenphil@comcast.net                                        

June, 2010

Natural Landscapes

The next time your landscape needs new plant material think native.

Natural landscapes contribute positively to the overall quality of the environment by improving air, water, and soil quality while providing much-needed wildlife habitat. Native plants provide the best overall food sources for wildlife, while requiring less fertilizer, less water, and less effort in controlling pests. Over time this translates to less cost to maintain a garden. These landscapes demand less routine maintenance. Natural landscaping is designed to work with, rather than against nature.

Native plants have evolved and adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. They are vigorous and hardy, so can survive winter cold and summer heat. Once established, they require no irrigation or fertilization. They are resistant to most pests and diseases. They also increase the diversity of natural insect predators. Thus, native plants suit today's interest in "low-maintenance" gardening and landscaping.

A Florida native plant refers to those species occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact. It includes those species understood as indigenous, occurring in natural associations in habitats that existed prior to significant human impacts and alterations of the landscape. Native species rarely become invasive, as plants introduced from other areas can be.

Use plants that you believe are native based on information in UF/IFAS publications (University of Florida, Electronic Data Information Source), but choose “the right plant for the right place.” When you purchase native plants, it is useful to ask for a plant by its scientific name. Also ask about the origin of the plant. Plants that were derived from seed or plants of natural populations in other parts of the country might not perform well in Florida.

There are many beautiful native species that are underutilized or not used at all in our landscapes. In 2005 only about 11% of total sales were spent on Florida native plants. Don’t let the appearance of plants in their natural habitats discourage you from using native plants.
The species listed in “Native Landscape Plants for South Florida” (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep222) grow well in urban landscape settings in part or all of south Florida without much attention, providing they are plants in the right place in the landscape. Although it is not difficult to find south Florida native plants in local garden centers the range of species is usually extremely limited. If your favorite local nursery doesn’t stock a native you want, ask if they can order it. When you visit a local “box” store like Home Depot and Lowes, ask them to begin stocking native plants.

While few of south Florida's native plants offer the striking floral display seen in many tropical exotics, most do possess attractive foliage or colorful fruits. South Florida has a wide variety of native plants that are both attractive and useful as landscape plants.

For more information on plants native to southwest Florida go to http://edis.ifas.edu. On the home page, type in “native plants” in the search box. You will find a number of useful publications. Also check out the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plants Lists at www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm. Avoid planting these species in your landscape. Check out “Native Plants: An Overview” at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/es011 for an extensive discussion on Florida native plants.