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Florida-Friendly Landscaping · Zone 9b

Florida-Friendly
Native Plants

Native plants evolved right here. They handle our heat, rain, sandy soil, and salt air without fuss. Build a landscape that works with Northeast Florida instead of fighting it.

Browse Native PlantsWhy Go Native?

The 9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping

The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping program isn't just a slogan. It's a set of research-backed practices that save you money, protect our waterways, and create landscapes that actually thrive here.

Right Plant, Right Place

Match plants to your soil, light, and moisture conditions. A plant that fits its spot needs less water, less fertilizer, and less of your time. Natives are already matched to our conditions.

Water Efficiently

Once established, most Florida natives need little to no supplemental irrigation. That means lower water bills and compliance with local watering restrictions.

Fertilize Appropriately

Native plants rarely need fertilizer. Over-fertilizing causes algae blooms in our waterways. When you do fertilize, use slow-release formulas and follow UF/IFAS rates.

Mulch

Two to three inches of mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and feeds the soil as it breaks down. Keep mulch away from plant stems to prevent rot.

Attract Wildlife

Native plants provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects. A healthy landscape is a living ecosystem, not just a green carpet.

Manage Pests Responsibly

Healthy native plants resist most pests on their own. When problems arise, use Integrated Pest Management: identify the pest first, then use the least toxic option.

Recycle Yard Waste

Compost leaves and clippings instead of bagging them. Return nutrients to the soil where they belong. Your landscape generates its own fertilizer.

Reduce Stormwater Runoff

Native plants with deep root systems absorb rain where it falls. Less runoff means fewer pollutants reaching the Matanzas River and the Intracoastal.

Protect the Waterfront

If you live on water, maintain a 10-foot buffer of native plants along the shoreline. It filters runoff and prevents erosion far better than a mowed lawn.

What Does “Florida-Friendly” Mean?

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping program is developed by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). It's not about replacing your entire yard with wildflowers. It's about making smarter choices that protect Florida's water resources while giving you a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape. Many Florida counties, including St. Johns County, recognize Florida-Friendly yards through certification programs.

Why Go Native?

Florida natives aren't just an environmental feel-good choice. They're a practical one.

Less Water, Lower Bills

Native plants are adapted to our rainfall patterns. After a 6-12 month establishment period, most Florida natives survive on rain alone. That's a significant savings when your irrigation bill runs $50-100+ per month in summer.

Compare: UF/IFAS recommends applying 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water per irrigation eventsource: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/LH010 Source: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/LH010 for St. Augustinegrass. A native plant bed may need zero supplemental water once established.

Wildlife Comes Back

Native plants can support up to 15 times as many caterpillarssource: https://xerces.org/blog/for-wildlife-and-humans-native-plants-are-key-to-climate-resilience Source: https://xerces.org/blog/for-wildlife-and-humans-native-plants-are-key-to-climate-resilience as non-native ornamentals. More insects means more birds. A single native oak can support more than 500 moth and butterfly speciessource: https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2024/Fall/Gardening/Planting-Oak-Trees Source: https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2024/Fall/Gardening/Planting-Oak-Trees.

Your yard becomes part of the wildlife corridor connecting natural areas across Northeast Florida.

No Fertilizer, No Pesticides

Florida natives evolved in our nutrient-poor sandy soil. They don't need fertilizer to thrive, and they've developed natural pest resistance over millennia. That means fewer chemicals in your yard, your well water, and our rivers.

Excess fertilizer is the leading cause of algae blooms in Florida waterways.

Built for Our Conditions

Heat, humidity, sandy soil, salt air, afternoon thunderstorms. Natives handle all of it because they evolved right here. No coddling, no amending soil to match some plant from the Pacific Northwest, no worrying about a cold snap.

Zone 9b can be brutal on plants not adapted to it. Natives take it in stride.

Plant Finder

Browse Florida Native Plants

Explore our collection of Florida-native plants available at the nursery. Every one of these is proven in Zone 9b.

Showing 168 of 168 plants

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Viburnum, ShrubShrub

Viburnum

Light
Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Water
Moderate
Size
4-20 feet × 4-15 feet

Non-toxic to dogs and cats

Senna, ShrubShrub

Senna

Light
Full Sun
Water
Low to Moderate
Size
4-20 feet × 4-15 feet

not on file, check before planting where pets chew

Native Plants by Landscape Use

Not sure where to start? Here are some of our favorite natives grouped by how they work in a real landscape.

Foundation & Screening

Tough, evergreen natives that anchor your landscape and provide year-round structure.

  • •Walter's Viburnum: Dense hedge, white flowers, bird magnet
  • •Simpson's Stopper: Compact evergreen, fragrant, drought-tough
  • •Yaupon Holly: Screening or small tree, berries for birds
  • •Wax Myrtle: Fast-growing screen, salt-tolerant, aromatic

Color & Pollinator Gardens

Showy natives that bloom for months and bring bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

  • •Firebush: Red-orange tubular flowers, hummingbird favorite
  • •Blanket Flower (Gaillardia): Red and yellow, blooms year-round
  • •Coreopsis: Florida's state wildflower, golden yellow
  • •Coral Honeysuckle: Native vine, red trumpets, non-invasive

Groundcover & Borders

Low-growing natives that fill in, hold soil, and look good doing it.

  • •Beach Sunflower: Fast-spreading, salt-tolerant, cheerful yellow
  • •Sunshine Mimosa: Pink puffball flowers, lawn alternative
  • •Coontie: Ancient cycad, host plant for Atala butterfly
  • •Muhly Grass: Pink plumes in fall, zero maintenance

Shade & Understory

Natives that thrive under oaks and in shaded areas where most plants struggle.

  • •Beautyberry: Stunning purple berries, bird magnet, part shade
  • •Wild Coffee: Glossy leaves, red berries, shade-loving
  • •Blue-Eyed Grass: Delicate blue flowers, moist shade
  • •Sword Fern: Lush, evergreen, spreads to fill in

How to Start Your Native Landscape

You don't have to rip everything out. Start small and expand as you see results.

1. Start with One Bed

Pick one area, a foundation bed, a strip along the fence, a corner of the yard. Replace what's struggling with natives suited to that spot's sun, soil, and moisture.

Even a 4x8-foot bed makes a visible difference.

2. Layer Your Heights

Use canopy trees (Live Oaks, Maples), understory trees (Dahoon Holly, Redbud), shrubs (Beautyberry, Walter's Viburnum), and groundcovers (Coontie, Beach Sunflower).

Layering mimics natural Florida plant communities.

3. Reduce Your Lawn

Lawns are the thirstiest, most chemical-dependent part of any landscape. Shrink yours gradually by expanding planting beds with native shrubs and groundcovers.

Every square foot of lawn replaced saves ~25 gallons of water per year.

4. Mulch, Then Wait

After planting, mulch 2-3 inches deep and water regularly for 6-12 months. Then step back. Natives fill in, self-seed, and create their own ecosystem. Patience pays off.

Year 1: they sleep. Year 2: they creep. Year 3: they leap.

Sample Native Foundation Planting

Front of house, full sun to part shade, Northeast Florida

Back / Corners: 2 Yaupon Holly (screening, 10-15') + 1 Dahoon Holly (berries, birds)

Mid Layer: 3 Walter's Viburnum + 2 Firebush (color, hummingbirds)

Front / Edge: 5 Coontie + 7 Blanket Flower + 3 Muhly Grass

Vine (on mailbox or trellis): 1 Coral Honeysuckle

All Florida natives · Drought-tolerant once established · No fertilizer needed · Year-round interest · Supports pollinators and birds

Native Plant Care Tips

The whole point of going native is less work. Here's how to set them up for success.

Water During Establishment Only

Water new plantings 2-3 times per week for the first 6-12 months while roots develop. After that, most natives thrive on rainfall alone. Over-watering established natives actually weakens them.

Skip the Fertilizer

Florida's native plants evolved in nutrient-poor sandy soil. They don't need fertilizer, and adding it can actually promote weak, leggy growth that's more susceptible to pests. If you must fertilize, use a light application of slow-release in spring.

Mulch, Don't Volcano

Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants, but keep it 3-4 inches away from stems and trunks. Those mulch volcanos you see piled against trees? They rot bark and invite disease. Flat and even is the way.

Prune With Purpose

Most natives have a natural form that looks best left alone. Prune only to remove dead wood, control size, or shape for safety. Avoid shearing natives into geometric shapes, that's fighting their nature.

Embrace the "Messy"

Leaf litter, seed heads, and fallen berries are food and shelter for wildlife. A perfectly manicured native garden defeats the purpose. Leave some areas naturalistic, your birds and butterflies will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a plant native to Florida?+

A Florida native plant occurred here before European settlement and is adapted to local soils, rainfall, heat, and wildlife relationships.

Do native plants need irrigation in St. Augustine?+

Most native plants need regular water during establishment, then far less supplemental irrigation once roots are established in the right site.

Are native plants always Florida-Friendly?+

Native plants are often Florida-Friendly, but the right plant still needs the right place, light, drainage, and mature spacing.

When is the best time to plant Florida natives?+

Fall and early winter are ideal in St. Augustine so roots establish before summer heat, though container-grown natives can go in year round with establishment water.

How do I choose the right native plants for my yard?+

Match each native to your light, soil, and moisture, then group plants with similar needs. Bring photos of your space and our team can help you build a Florida-Friendly plan.

What are the best Florida native shrubs for landscaping?+

Popular Florida native shrubs include firebush, beautyberry, Walter viburnum, Simpson stopper, wild coffee, and coontie. They support pollinators and wildlife and adapt well to local conditions once established.

See All FAQs

Ready to Go Native?

Visit Southern Horticulture for the best selection of Florida-native plants in Northeast Florida. We'll help you pick the right plants for your yard.

Shop Native Plants(904) 471-0440