Best Flowering Plants for Your Garden in Florida
This article looks at the best flowers, plants, and shrubs to grow in Florida. Along with pictures these descriptions of plants will help you decide on the best flowers for your southern gardens.
Growing Zones in Florida
Florida has four USDA growing zones—zones 8 to 11—and these zones will affect what kind of flowering plants you can grow in Florida gardens.
The northern part of the state around Jacksonville is zone 8, where temperatures can drop to 15°F (-9°C) in winter.
Central Florida, where Orlando is located, is in zone 9, where minimum temperatures are 25°F (-3.9°C).
South Florida is zone 10, and the Florida Keys are in Zone 11. Flowers growing in southern Florida will not survive any cold snaps or frost.
Lantana
Lantana is a stunning colorful flower native to Florida. The evergreen plant bloom continuously throughout the summer, filling Florida gardens with flowers in shades of pink, yellow, red, lavender, and creamy white. Lantana flowers are ideal for mixed flower beds, borders, and containers in southern Florida.
These perennial shrubs thrive in full sun and are ideal for Florida gardens. The colorful herbaceous plants grow up to 1 ft. (30 cm) tall. Lantana is a flowering Florida plant that grows in zones 10 and 11.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea flowers comes in various colors such as white, pink, purple, red, orange and yellow and are suitable to grow in central and south Florida. Bougainvillea is one of the best purple flowering vines.
Bougainvillea is a showy flowering shrub, popular in southern Florida gardens. The large bush produces masses of vibrantly colored flowers that bloom for most of the year. These evergreen ornamental shrubs grow from 3 to 40 ft. (1 to 12 m) high and the same wide. Bougainvillea vine grows best against walls, covering arbors, a ground cover on slopes, or in mass plantings.
Bougainvillea is an ideal flowering shrub for the Florida climate where humidity and long hours of sunshine keep the evergreen foliage lush and the flowers bright and gorgeous. These stunning flowers are suitable for zones 9 – 11 and thrive throughout the Sunshine State.
Blue Daze (Evolvulus)
Blue daze can be grown in Florida as a ground cover plant for full sun
Blue daze is a flowering ground cover plant, ideal for Florida’s sunny climate. Blue daze produces dainty blue–purple flowers and blooms continuously during spring and summer. Easy to care for, regular rainfall is enough to keep the drought-tolerant plantthriving. Blue daze grows as a perennial in South and Central Florida and as a half-hardy perennial or annual in North Florida.
This ground-hugging southern perennial only reaches 6” (15 cm) in height and has a spreading nature. Suitable for zones 9 – 11.
Egyptian Star Flower (Pentas lanceolata)
Pentas are low growing flowering plants that are grown as perennials in south Florida
Simply called pentas, this perennial Florida flower thrives in full sun. Clusters of star-shaped pink, red, white, or lilac-colored flowers create beautiful blooms throughout the summer. Loving humidity, heat, and sun, pentas flowers are ideally suited to Florida’s climate. Plant in full sun in mixed beds, along borders, or as mass plantings.
Pentas grow as perennials in zones 10 and 11. If you live in North Florida, grow pentas in containers, and take indoors during the winter.
Periwinkle (Vinca)
The trailing nature of periwinkle makes it ideal as a ground cover in Florida landscaped gardens
Periwinkle plants are ideal perennial ground cover purple flowers for Florida. The mat-forming foliage thrives in full sun, and violet-colored flowers bloom from spring until summer. To brighten up your southern garden, choose variegated periwinkle plants that have yellow and green leaves contrasting with purple flowers. But don’t worry if you’ve got a shaded garden, these ground-hugging plants thrive in the shade as well as sun.
Periwinkles are ideal flowers for growing in all zones in Florida.
Canna Lily (Canna indica)
Canna lily flowers best in full sun but can tolerate part shade
Canna lilies are native Florida flowers and have dramatic foliage and ornamental flowers. Canna lilies grow best in borders, along walls, or even as small foliage hedges. These tender perennials bloom throughout the summer until fall in all Florida zones.
The orange, yellow, pink, red, or cream Canna lily flowers are short-lived. Still, the plant’s profuse blooming means your Florida garden has a constant supply of papery, colorful flowers.
Canna lilies are tall perennial flowers that reach a height of 2 to 3 ft. (60 – 90 cm). They grow as perennials in zones 8 to 11 and annuals in colder climates.
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Tickseeds are hardy drought tolerant flowers that are common in Florida
Tickseed is the official wildflower of Florida. These sunny flowers are bright golden yellow with ray-like petals radiating from the amber-colored center. Many of the 100 species of tickseed are perennial bloomers in Florida, where they grow as low-maintenance, drought-resistant flowers. Their long blooming season means that tickseed flowers last from summer until fall.
Apart from masses of bright yellow flowers, tickseed flowers can be white, pink, red, orange, or bicolored. Easy to grow, tickseed thrives best in sunny mixed beds, borders, or containers. Suitable for growing in zones 3 to 10.
Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera garvinea)
The bright cheerful colors of gerbera daisy make it a great choice for adding decorative touch to front or backyards in Florida
Gerbera daisies are showy ornamental flowers that grow in Florida. These daisy species are semi-evergreen perennials that have large rosette flowers. The sun-like colorful flower heads are 2” (5 cm) in diameter and sit at the top of straight tubular stems. Gerbera daisies need full sun and well-draining soil. However when the temperature is high, gerbera daisies will benefit from afternoon shade.
Grow these daisies at the front of flower beds, along borders, or in patio containers. Gerbera garvinea daises are perennials in all parts of Florida.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Grow purslane in a sunny location with well-draining soil
Purslane is a flowering ground cover plant which is ideal for Florida flower gardens. Purslane is a type of succulent with oval-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers. The low-growing flowers don’t reach more than 3” (7 cm) tall, and they have a wide spread. However, purslane isn’t an invasive Florida flowering plant.
Purslane grows best as a mat-forming annual to give color to sunny Florida yards. You can also grow flowering purslane in hanging baskets, pots, or planters to brighten up a deck or patio. Purslane is suitable for Florida zones as well as cold climates.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus coccineus is a native Florida flower found in marshes and swamps in Southeastern U.S.
Hibiscus flowering shrubs grow as evergreen perennials in Florida. Hibiscus flowers have a long-blooming season, and their large, showy pastel-colored flowers are a delight in any summer garden. Flowers growing on hibiscus can be deep red, pink, white, or have patterns like a raspberry ripple.
In South Florida, hibiscus flowers grow as perennials and bloom all year long. In North Florida, hibiscus dies back in the frost but then grows back the following year.
The hibiscus species Hibiscus coccineus is native to Florida and is also named marsh hibiscus, scarlet rosemallow, or swamp mallow. This Florida plant has gorgeous blooms that are bright red and flower from mid-summer until the fall. This native Florida flower is hardy in zones 6 to 13.
Ixora
Ixora is a compact sun-loving shrub that can be pruned as a hedge in central and south Florida
Ixora is a popular flower in South Florida. Also called ‘flame of the woods,’ Ixora produces flowers throughout the year, and the long-lasting blooms can last for up to eight weeks. This tropical Florida plant has glossy dark green leaves and clusters of red, yellow, orange or pink flowers. Ixora flowers grow best as flowering hedges, evergreen privacy screens, or color-infused border plants.
This ever-blooming shrub grows best in South and Central Florida but away from coastal regions. If you live in zone 9—North Florida—grow Ixora as a container plant on your patio.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Grow peace lilies in a shady location with moist soil
Peace lilies are ideal ground cover shade plants for the southern coast of Florida. These evergreen perennial plants have brilliant white flowers emerging from glossy green foliage. The large leaves and love of shade make peace lilies ideal for growing under flowering trees in Florida, along shaded borders, or as an accent in a mixed bed.
Peace lilies shouldn’t be confused with true lilies (Lilium) or calla lilies (Zantedeschia).
Peace lilies are clumping plants that grow to between 2 and 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m) high. These plants grow as perennials outdoors in zones 10 and 11. In Florida zone 9, grow peace lilies in containers and bring them indoors during the winter.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is a commonly found ornamental plant in many Florida gardens.
Some types of lavender grow exceptionally well in Florida’s hot and humid climate. Look for the species such as ‘Phenomenal’ lavender, Goodwin Creek Gray lavender, or Spanish Lavender for zone 9 lavenders.
Growing lavender in Florida helps fill your southern gardens with delightful herbaceous scents and lilac colors.
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