Florida is a beautiful state with an abundance of native foliage. If you're looking to update your home's landscape design, incorporating native species in it offers several benefits. Below is a brief overview of why you should choose native plants and what varieties are native to Florida.

Why Should You Choose Native Plants?

Florida's heat and sun can be harsh to non-native species. However, native ones were made to thrive in that environment. They're naturally resistant to regional pests and diseases and are well-suited to the soil, which means less time and money spent on maintenance requirements, such as fertilizers and pesticides.

They'll also accentuate and complement the surrounding scenery. Your property won't look odd or out of place in your area, though the wide variety of colors and species available will allow it to still be unique. Also, native species are critical parts of the ecosystem, with insects and wildlife relying on them, and there's no risk of introducing an invasive or harmful species to the area.

What Plants Are Native to Florida?

Florida has many native plant options. In the palm family alone, there's Florida thatch, buccaneer, royal, and paurotis varieties. For shorter, shrubby growth with a pop of color, opt for firebush, which produces red flowers, or sea grape shrubs, which grow red fruits that you can harvest and eat. Trees like the Florida maple, pond cypress, sand pine, and live oak are also native to Florida and are useful for creating some diversity in your landscape design.

Honeysuckle and Carolina jasmine are vines that add pleasant aromas to your property, and species like the beach sunflower and sunshine mimosa are good groundcover flowers that add touches of yellow and lavender. The state flower is the coreopsis, also known as tickseed, which is a beautiful pale yellow flower. Over 90 orchid species are also native, including the ghost orchid, butterfly orchid, and spider orchid.

If you’re ready to bring your native landscape design to life, contact Terra-Scape Enterprises in Edgewater, FL. Backed by over 30 years’ experience, their landscapers are dedicated to creating sustainable, beautiful designs. They’re fully licensed and insured, and they also offer hardscaping services. Learn more about their design capabilities online, and call (386) 427-6757 for a free consultation.