Perennials

Notes:

--indicates plants commonly available in nurseries and/or garden centers in south Florida
© indicates Florida native plants
indicates plants that can tolerate wet soils or occasional flooding.

Select underlined scientific names for photos and/or more information.

Common name *Scientific name*	Size (inch)	Light	Salt tolerance	Comments
Aglaonema -- Aglaonemacommutatum UF Fact SheetSheet (89KB pdf)	18	Partial to full shade	Low	Small, herbaceous perennial with fleshy stems, branching from the base, and slender-stalked leaves up to about 12 in long. Flowering stems have narrow, pale green spathe enclosing small white spadix. Other Aglaonema also drought tolerant.
Scarlet milkweed -- Asclepias curassavica UF Fact Sheet (231KB pdf)	36-48	Full sun to partial shade	Low	Erect, evergreen, perennial with narrow, elliptical leaves and terminal clusters of scarlet and orange flowers—spring to fall. Attracts butterflies. Can tolerate wet soil.
Butterfly weed --© Asclepiastuberosa UF Fact Sheet (88KB pdf)	18-36	Full sun to partial shade	Low	Native perennial with orange, summertime flowers. Essential component of a butterfly garden. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Cast iron plant -- Aspidistra elatior UF Fact Sheet (124KB pdf)	36	Partial to full shade	Moderate	Grown for its deep green foliage. Named for its ability to tolerate harsh, adverse conditions. Spreads to form clumps. Excellent for shady areas.
Star begonia, winter begonia -- Begonia heracleifolia And Not a Drop - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden - Virtual Herbarium	24-36	Partial to full shade	None	Rhizomatous (spreads by rhizomes) begonia with large, hairy, deeply lobed, toothed, bronzy green leaves and fragrant, white to pink flowers on long, reddish stalks. Caution: Begonia cucullata is FLEPPC Category II invasive.
White begonia -- Begonia popenoei And Not a Drop - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden - Virtual Herbarium	24-48	Partial to full shade	None	Rhizomatous begonia with huge, round, dark glossy green leaves to 2’ wide and large white, fragrant flowers held in large panicles well above foliage.
Castor bean begonia -- Begonia ricinifolia	24-36	Partial to full shade	None	Rhizomatous begonia with apple green leaves shaped like stars and with rings of red hairs around leaf petioles. Winter blooms are deep pink.
Strawflower Brachteantha bracteatum	36	Full sun	Low	Annual or short-lived perennial with erect habit. Weak, hollow stems. Thin green leaves bear golden yellow blooms up to 2” in diameter at branch tips—summer to early fall. Good groundcover or small shrub.
Spiral ginger Costus scaber	72	Partial shade	Low	Tall spiral ginger with attractive roundish jade green leaves with fuzzy underside, and long, hard, waxy 8" to 12" red bracts with small, yellow flowers that peek out as bracts open from bottom up. Long lasting flower; excellent cut flower.
Crossandra -- Crossandra infundibuliformis Crossandra information More Crossandra information	12-36	Partial to full shade	Low	Simple leaves arranged in opposite pairs and bearing erect spikes of showy yellow to red flowers, with petals opened flat into a hand-like shape.
African iris, fortnight lily Dietes vegeta UF Fact Sheet (71KB pdf)	24-36	Full sun	Low	Drought tolerant perennial, though extra water needed when in bloom. Easy to grow. Attractive white flowers with blue and brown shading appear in spring. Forms spreading clumps. Also available with yellow flowers. Also known as D. iridioides.
Twinflower © Dyschoriste oblongifolia UF Fact Sheet (71KB pdf)	6-18	Full sun	Low	Native perennial. Likes pinelands. Grows best in dry sand. Plant close together for best cover.
Euphorbia milii
Indian blanket --© Gaillardiapulchella UF Fact Sheet (216KB pdf)	12-24	Full sun	High	Colorful native annual or perennial. As easily grown as it is beautiful. Considerable variation in flower color; typical variety bears red flowers with yellow-tipped petals. Plant in open site with good drainage. Good for beach-front plantings.
Whirling butterflies Gaura lindheimeri UF Fact Sheet(152KB pdf))	24-48	Full sun to partial shade	Low	Herbaceous perennial that grows in loose, bushy clump. Stems slender, wiry, and covered with tiny hairs. Leaves spoon-shaped with toothed margins. Flowers above foliage on long spikes; open white at dawn, fading to rose-pink by day’s end. Requires well-drained soil.
Moss verbena Glandularia puchella	12	Full sun to partial shade	Unknown	Freely branching, sprawling perennial with 3-lobed, finely dissected, aromatic leaves and clusters of pink, lilac, purple or white flowers. Requires well-drained soil. Attracts butterflies. Good bedding plant.
Tampa verbena --© Glandularia tampensis	18-24	Full sun	Low	Native, sprawling, short-lived perennial. Sometimes treated as annual. Flowers purplish-pink. Also known as Verbena tampensis.
Rain lilies © Habranthus spp.	24-48	Full sun	Moderate	Flowers yellow, pink, red or white—produced spring/summer after rain. Goes dormant in cool season, requiring very little water. Flowers best when crowded.
Beach sunflower © Helianthus debilis UF Fact Sheet (65KB pdf)	36-48	Full sun	High	Erect or prostrate, spreading plant with sand paper-like leaves and 2.5-3” yellow “sun” flowers. Suitable for beach-front plantings. Good for attracting butterflies.
Daylily -- Hemerocallis spp. UF Fact Sheet (227KB pdf)	12-24	Full sun or partial shade	Moderate	Clump-forming perennial with grass-like leaves and lily-like flowers from late spring to fall, depending on variety. Available in yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and near-white. Only certain varieties succeed in south Florida (Evergreen, Semis).
Amaryllis -- Hippeastrum spp. UF Fact Sheet (85KB pdf)	24	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Spectacular trumpet-shaped, tropical lilies. Many species and varieties. Moderately drought tolerant.
Beach elder Iva imbricata	24-36	Full sun	High	Scraggly, course, shrubby perennial. Good for beach-front plantings.
Shrimp plant -- Justicia brandegeana	3-5	Full sun to full shade	None	Perennial or shrub with stems topped with 6” spikes of red, rusty brown, yellow, or green brachts containing small, white, shrimp-like flowers. Unique, adaptable, easily grown plant. Also known as Beloperone guttata.
Kalanchoe -- Kalanchoe blossfeldiana UF Fact Sheet(49KB pdf)	12	Partial shade	Moderate	Small, shrubby African species. Multiple, upstretched branches covered with round to rectangular, deep green leaves with red margins and notched tips. Thick racemes of small, deep red, cylindrical flowers appear from winter to early summer; may also be pink, yellow, or orange. Can be weedy.
Dwarf lantana © Lantana depressa	6-12	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Native low-growing perennial or groundcover, spreading to form a mat. Yellow to orange flowers. Also known as Lantana ovatifolia var. reclinata.Caution: L. camara, is a FLEPPC Category I invasive.
Statice Limonium sinuatum (Link is to related species) UF Fact Sheet(214KB pdf)	18	Full sun	Low	Bushy, upright perennial. Dense rosettes of oblong, deeply waved, dark green leaves and masses of tiny, papery flowers on winged stems—summer/early fall. Fairly slow growing. Available in golden, lemon-yellow, white, cream, salmon-pink, purple or blue spikelets.
Sweet basil -- Ocimum basilicum	12	Full sun	None	Mounding, perennial herb with densely branching, light green foliage and typical peppery-clove basil scent. Used as border plant. ‘Spicy Globe’ cultivar is best known ornamental basil. Continues to grow in summer if blossoms cut before setting seed.
Pennyroyal © Piloblephis rigida	6-24	Full sun	Low	Low-growing perennial. Not picky about soil, but likes it dry. Small, shrimp-like flowers emerge from green, scale-like brachts. Attractive to butterflies. Also known as Pycnothymus rigidus and Satureja rigida.
Plumbago -- Plumbago auriculata UF Fact Sheet (62KB pdf)	3-10’	Full sun	Low	Attractive light blue flowers in terminal spikes. Drought tolerant once well established. Prone to root and stem rots. Freely draining soil and good air circulation.
Florida mountainmint © Pycnanthemum floridanum	48	Full sun to partial shade	None	Erect, loosely-branched, shrublike perennial. Leaves smell like spearmint or camphor. Tiny, lavender flowers in dense terminal clusters. Attracts butterflies.
Firecracker plant -- Russelia equisetiformis UF Fact Sheet (46KB pdf)	24-48	Full sun	High	Grown for weeping habit, masses of small, red tubular flowers, and scale-like leaves. Often used in planters. Requires freely draining soil. Susceptible to nematodes.
Stonecrop Sedum spectabile	24	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Hardy plant, well adapted for rockeries, with showy fall flowers. Many cultivars (white, pink or red); at least one with variegated leaves.
Blue porterweed --© Stachytarpheta jamaicensis UF Fact Sheet (31KB pdf)	12-36	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Native, small, shrubby perennial with somewhat weedy habit. Flowers highly attractive to butterflies—a ‘must’ for any butterfly garden. Name derived from traditional foamy, porter-like beverage brewed from the plant.
Pink porterweed -- Stachytarpheta speciosa	12-36	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Small, shrubby perennial with somewhat weedy habit. Flowers highly attractive to butterflies.
Mexican sunflower ¨ Tithonia rotundifolia	60-72	Full sun	Low	Warm-season annual or perennial. Leaves course, 3-lobed, and covered in soft, downy fuzz. Flowers orange to red-orange.
Tithonia deversifolia
Society garlic -- Tulbaghia violacea	24-36	Full sun to partial shade	None	Clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with narrow, grayish leaves and large clusters of lavender flowers. Related to garlic.
Purpletop verbena -- Verbena bonariensis UF Fact Sheet (95KB pdf)	36-72	Full sun to light shade	Low	Erect, clump-forming perennial with stiff, widely branched stems. Small, purple flowers in clusters held high above foliage. Best when densely planted. Attracts butterflies.
Verbena -- Verbena x hybrida	36-72	Full sun	Low	Erect, clump-forming perennial or annual with stiff, widely branching stems. Flowers purple and borne in rounded clusters. Treat as annual. Powdery mildew and whiteflies may be occasional problems. Good bedding plant.
Rain lily -- Zephyranthes spp. UF Fact Sheet	6-15	Full sun to partial shade	Moderate	Charming, clump-forming, flowering bulbs. Most species have open flowers like small Asiatic lilies and are deciduous. Can be yellow or various shades of warm pink. All bear one flower to a stem, and most close their petals at night.

Perennials

Notes:

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