The Best Florida Flowering Shrubs (With Pictures)
Flowering shrubs in a Florida garden landscape can add color, fragrance, and texture. With the right choice of flowering shrubs, you can create a stunning display of colorful blooms lasting for months. Some of the best flowering shrubs for Florida include azalea, camellia, hibiscus, oleander, and viburnum. These shrubs are easy to care for and require minimal maintenance, making them a great choice for busy gardeners.
Choosing flowering shrubs to grow in a front or backyard in Florida can be challenging. Florida’s climate ranges from humid, tropical conditions with mild winters in the south to more moderate temperatures and colder winters, sometimes freezing temperatures in North Florida.
Regardless of where you live in Florida, you will find flowering shrubs for your garden landscape. From cold-hardy bushy deciduous plants that thrive in Tallahassee and Jacksonville to evergreen flowering shrubs that withstand the heat in Miami and Fort Myers, there is a suitable shrub for southeastern garden landscapes.
This article identifies the best flowering shrubs for front and backyards in Florida. Descriptions and pictures of the most beautiful and easy-to-grow shrubs will help you choose the best plants for your Florida landscape. Additionally, you’ll learn about the ideal growing conditions and maintenance tips to ensure your shrubs thrive in Florida’s unique climate.
The Best Florida Flowering Shrubs For Florida Landscapes
The best flowering shrubs that thrive in Florida’s subtropical and tropical climates must tolerate hours of daily sunshine. Due to low average rainfall, the shrubs that bloom in the Sunshine State should be relatively tolerant of drought and withstand salty coastal air.
Some of the best blooming shrubs for Florida are azaleas because they can be deciduous or evergreen, cold-hardy, withstand intense heat, and have a long blooming period. Other excellent blooming bushes for the Sunshine State include hibiscus, cape jasmine, oleander, Texas sage, cape honeysuckle, and bougainvillea.
Growing Zones in Florida
Florida is divided into four USDA Plant Hardiness Zones—8, 9, 10, and 11.
Zone 8 applies to areas in the far northern part of the state, including Pensacola and Tallahassee, but not as far east as Jacksonville.
Zone 9 extends from Jacksonville and Gainesville in North Florida through Central Florida to Lake Okeechobee.
Zone 10 covers South Florida, starting from a diagonal line from Vero Beach to Fort Myers and south to Miami.
Zone 11 covers the Florida Keys, from Key Largo to Key West.
Best Florida Flowering Shrubs (With Pictures)
Let’s look in more detail at some of the best flowering shrubs to add color, fragrance, and greenery to your Florida landscape.
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis)
Tropical hibiscus is a perennial flowering shrub for south Florida with colorful showy flowers
Tropical hibiscus, or Chinese hibiscus, is a tropical flowering shrub for Florida gardens in areas south of Lake Okeechobee and the Florida Keys. This sun-loving hybrid is known for its showy, trumpet-shaped flowers in red, white, orange, yellow, and pink shades. The funnel-like flowers measure 4” to 8” (10 – 20 cm) across.
Tropical hibiscus thrives in tropical conditions and is ideal for planting in sunny, humid, mild winter climates. These ornamental hibiscus shrubs bloom throughout the year. They can be planted as an evergreen flowering hedge, privacy screen, or specimen plant. Tropical hibiscus plants grow 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall and up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade.
Related reading: How to care for hibiscus shrubs.
Scarlet Rose Mallow Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)
Scarlet rose mallow is a native Florida red flowering shrub found in marshes and swamps in Southeastern U.S.
Scarlet rose mallow is a hardy flowering perennial shrub that performs well in Central and North Florida. The eye-catching features of the shrub are its five-petaled, bright red flowers and shiny, palmately divided dark green leaves. The stunning blooms measure 3” to 5” (7.5 – 12 cm) across and produce yellowish-white stamens.
Ideal for growing in humid heat, scarlet rose mallow grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall and up to 3 ft. (1 m) wide. Also called marsh hibiscus, the flowering shrub is ideal for planting near ponds or streams. Its exotic flowers also add a tropical touch to a sunny landscape.
Hardiness zones: 6 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Bougainvillea
Bougainvilleas are climbing shrubs that come in various flower colors and are suitable for growing in central and south Florida
Bougainvillea is an iconic flowering shrub in tropical Florida landscapes. The beautiful, sun-loving shrub is characterized by thorny vining stems and masses of colorful flower-like papery bracts in shades of pink, purple, white, orange and red. The shrub’s leaves are ovate-shaped and measure 1.6” to 5.1” (4 – 13 cm) long.
Bougainvillea is a hardy plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is ideal for growing on trellises, pergolas, and cascading over walls. Due to its thorny growth, the colorful shrub is an ideal security or privacy hedge in Florida. The plant can be trained to grow in various shapes and sizes, making it a versatile addition to any garden.
Bougainvillea is suitable for growing in tropical climates. You can expect most varieties of the shrub to grow 20 to 40 ft. (6 – 12 m) tall with support. Otherwise, you can let the vining stems grow as ground cover for full sun.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Flame of the Woods (Ixora coccinea)
Ixora is an attractive flowering sun-loving shrub that can be pruned as a hedge in central and south Florida
Also called jungle geranium, the flame of woods is a flowering evergreen shrub for south Florida gardens. The shrub produces large, vibrant clusters of flowers in various shades of red, orange and pink. The showy, four-petaled tubular flowers grow in tight umbrella-like clusters. Blooming throughout the year, scarlet Ixora flowers are a popular choice for tropical gardens. Its foliage consists of leathery, dark green leaves, and it produces black berry-like drupes.
Flame of the woods shrubs grow 4 to 6 ft. (1.2 – 1.8 m) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. The versatile full sun flowering Florida shrub performs well as a hedge, a specimen plant, a foundation plant, or at the back of a mixed border. Its compact growth makes it ideal for pruning as a formal hedge in Central and South Florida.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Oakleaf hydrangea is a native north and central Florida flowering shrub with decorative white blooms
Oakleaf hydrangea is a flowering deciduous shrub native to Florida. It thrives in full sun or partial shade in Central and North Florida. Flowering hydrangea produces large, cone-shaped clusters of white flowers 12” (30 cm) long. Identifying features of the shrub is its oak-shaped leaves that turn a beautiful scarlet, bronze, or deep red color in the fall.
Oakleaf hydrangea grows 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall and wide. The low-maintenance ornamental shrub is perfect for planting in mixed borders, as an accent plant, or flowering hedgerow. The shrub’s four-season interest is its beautiful white flowers that turn pink, its lush foliage, and its exfoliating bark.
In Central Florida, oakleaf hydrangea should grow in partial shade. However, in northern regions of the Sunshine State, it tolerates full sun.
Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Related reading: How to care for hydrangea shrubs.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Mountain laurel bushes with their stunning flower clusters can tolerate some shade in northern and central Florida gardens
Mountain laurel is a stunning evergreen shrub famed for its clusters of white, pink or red bell-shaped crinkled flowers covering the entire plant. This attractive cold-hardy shrub blooms from late spring to early summer, followed by brown fruits in the fall. The glossy, dark green lanceolate leaves provide year-long shade and privacy.
Mountain laurel grows 5 to 15 ft. (1.5 – 4.5 m) tall and wide. Thriving in partial shade, the shrub performs best as a specimen plant or shrub border in informal gardens. It’s also deer-resistant, low-maintenance, and tolerant of dry soil, making it ideal for Florida garden landscapes in regions north of Lake Okeechobee.
Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
Sun exposure: Partial shade
Related reading: The best shade plants to grow in Florida.
Camellias
Camellias are evergreen shrubs with colorful flowers that are suitable for landscaping partial shaded Florida gardens
Camellias are popular ornamental winter-flowering shrubs that thrive in warm, humid climates like Florida. The evergreen shrubs produce large, showy flowers with glossy, dark green leaves. Camellia flowers come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, red, and bi-colored. The blooms can be single, semi-double, or double, reaching up to 5” (12 cm) in diameter.
Camellias are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They can be grown as specimen plants, screens, hedges, or foundation plantings. In a container garden or patio, the flowering shrubs also perform well in planters. Camellias can bloom from fall to spring, depending on the variety.
Here are some stunning examples of camellia shrubs for Florida landscapes:
Camellia japonica ‘Elegans’: Suitable for shaded gardens in Central and North Florida, this is a medium-sized evergreen shrub. It has pinkish-red anemone-form double flowers and clusters of yellow stamens. The flowers measure 5” (12 cm) wide, and the shrub grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall and wide.
Camellia japonica ‘Sea Foam’: A stunning white-flowering camellia shrub with peony-type flowers measuring 4” to 5” (10 – 12 cm). It grows 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall in USDA zones 7 to 9.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Shishigashira’: Suitable growing in South Florida, this pink-flowering dwarf shrub grows 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 8 ft. (2.4 m) wide. The evergreen, heat-tolerant shrub shrives in USDA zones 7 to 10.
Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum)
Firespike is a red flowering bush in Florida that will bloom best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade
Firespike is a tropical shrub that produces showy, brilliant red spikes of tubular flowers in late summer and fall. The ornamental feature of the red-flowering shrub is the tall flowering spikes that extend beyond the carpet of shiny, dark green leaves. Firespike grows up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall, and its red flowering spikes are 12” (30 cm) on the ends of tall, stiff stems.
Firespike thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. The plant is ideal for planting in borders, mixed beds, or as a specimen plant. Firespike blooms throughout the year in South Florida. However, blooming occurs during winter and fall in regions north of Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 12
Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade.
Related reading: The best perennial flowers for Florida.
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)
The evergreen flowering cape honeysuckle shrub can be grown as a living fence in central and southern Florida gardens
Cape honeysuckle is a fast-growing, flowering evergreen shrub or vine that produces clusters of bright orange tubular flowers. The trumpet-shaped flowers are 2” (5 cm) long and are borne in clusters throughout the year in central and southern Florida. The shrub has dark green leaves with serrated margins growing in an odd-pinnately compound arrangement.
Cape honeysuckle grows 3 to 10 ft. (1 – 3 m) tall and wide. The climbing shrub thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant. You can grow the shrub as a specimen plant, hedge, or foundation planting. Without support, the trailing vines can grow as full-sun ground cover producing masses of reddish-orange flowers.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Egyptian Star Flower (Pentas lanceolata)
Pentas are low growing perennial flowering plants that are evergreen in south Florida
Egyptian star flower is a sun-loving, heat-tolerant perennial for landscaping in South Florida. The ornamental feature of the shrub is its clusters of star-shaped, tubular pink, red, and white flowers. The showy clusters measure 4” (10 cm) across. In tropical climates, the shrub remains evergreen and blooms throughout the year.
Egyptian star flower grows 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and wide. In Florida landscapes south of Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, the beautiful shrub performs best as a foundation planting, shrub border, or in containers. Additionally, the low-maintenance shrub attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a perfect addition to pollinator gardens.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Bolivian Sunset (Gloxinia sylvatica)
Bolivian sunset flowering plants grow well in filtered sun or dappled shade and are drought tolerant
Bolivian sunset is a shade-loving shrubby plant for growing in South Florida. The evergreen shrub has striking orange-red flowers that look like tiny windsocks. The tubular flowers bloom in winter and grow up to 2” (5 cm) long. The small red flower clusters contrast with the shrub’s lance-shaped, glossy green leaves.
Bolivian sunset is a small evergreen shrub that grows 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and wide. Ideal for shaded backyards, the low-maintenance shrub is a perfect landscaping choice for borders, rock gardens, foundation lines, or containers. It’s also drought-tolerant and can withstand the intense heat of Florida’s southernmost regions.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Partial shade to full shade
Allamanda Bush (Allamanda schottii)
Allamanda bushes are tropical flowering shrubs that add bright color to south Florida landscapes
Bush allamanda is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that brightens tropical landscapes with masses of golden yellow flowers. The showy funnel-shaped flowers feature orange throats and bloom in large bushy clusters. The yellow flowers measure 2” (5 cm) across and contrast the glossy, leathery green 4” (10 cm) leaves.
Allamanda bush grows 4 to 5 ft. (1.2 – 1.5 m) tall and wide. Thriving in the southern sun, the yellow flowering shrub features flowers that bloom throughout the season, prickly globular fruits, and strong fragrances. This bushy shrub is ideal as an evergreen hedge, beautiful accent shrub, or specimen plant.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or light shade
Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
The white flowers of cape jasmine bush add beauty and fragrance to Florida landscapes
Cape jasmine—known as gardenia—is a fragrant flowering shrub with spectacular white blossoms. The tropical shrub blooms throughout the year in Florida with showy, waxy white flowers with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. The large, double-petaled blooms measure 3” to 4” (7.5 – 10 cm) in diameter. These flowers stand out against the glossy green, leathery leaves.
Cape jasmine grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall and wide. Although a sun-loving shrub, the plant performs best with some afternoon shade in Florida’s hottest regions. Gardenia performs well as a specimen plant, hedge, or foundation planting. You can also train cape jasmine to grow as a dwarf ornamental tree.
Hardiness zones: 8 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade in Zone 10
Small-Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)
Small leaf viburnum is an evergreen shrub with white flowers in spring followed by small reddish-black fruit in summer
Transform your Florida landscape with the stunning small leaf shrub. This white-flowering shrub is native to Florida and is adorned with large clusters of dainty flowers. Evergreen in Central and South Florida, this viburnum shrub grows around 20 ft. (6 m) tall. However, it’s easy to prune as a small screen or hedge.
Small leaf viburnum flowering flat-topped clusters measure 3” (7.5 cm) wide, and its small, wedge-shaped leaves are 2” (5 cm) long. This low-maintenance, disease-free shrub is ideal for hedging, screening, foundation planting, or decorating a shrub border. In addition, its attractive flowers attract pollinators and butterflies in spring and summer.
Suppose you have a small compact garden in Florida. In that case, Viburnum obovatum ‘Densa’ is a low-growing, compact shrub. It’s ideal as a finely clipped hedge, natural screen, or privacy fence.
Other types of viburnum shrubs for Florida landscapes include sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) and arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). These shrubs are excellent alternatives for boxwood hedges in Florida.
Hardiness zones: 6 to 10
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia)
Angel’s trumpet is a large ornamental Florida flowering shrub suitable for sunny or partly shaded areas
Angel’s trumpet is a stunning tropical plant with large, trumpet-shaped flowers dangling like bells from branches. The fragrant flowers come in a range of colors, including white, yellow, pink, and peach. Angel’s trumpet flowers can measure up to 15” (37 cm), have distinctive recurved petals, and emit a honeysuckle fragrance in the evenings.
Angel’s trumpet grows as a small tree or shrub and reaches 10 to 36 ft. (3 – 11 m) tall, depending on the cultivar. The fast-growing shrub creates a stunning focal point with its abundant pendulous elongated funnel-like flowers.
For more compact gardens in Florida, grow the dwarf shrub Brugmansia suaveolens. It’s a tropical multi-stemmed shrub growing 3 to 8 ft. (1 – 2.4 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide. Its exotic aromatic white flowers are 12” (30 cm) long.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or light shade
Azalea (Rhododendron)
Flowering Azalea shrubs include small cultivars that will give stunning color to sunny Florida garden
Azaleas are popular ornamental flowering shrubs throughout the Sunshine State. The bushy plants have a rounded growth habit and bloom with showy, colorful flowers in spring. Azalea flowers are trumpet-shaped and grow in large clusters covering the glossy green foliage. The large flowers bloom in pink, red, white, yellow and purple shades.
Hardy azaleas suitable for Central and North Florida tend to be deciduous shrubs. Their musky fragrance, dense foliage, and compact growth make the shrubs perfect for foundation planting, shrub border, or specimen plants. The deciduous shrubs are suitable for USDA zones 6 to 9.
Evergreen azalea shrubs from the Encore series thrive throughout the Sunshine State. The dwarf ornamental shrubs have glossy, dark green leaves and showy red, pink, purple, or orange flowers. The shrubs only grow 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and wide. They are suitable for USDA zones 6 to 10.
Azaleas grow best in well-drained soil and prefer acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. They are ideal for planting in a sunny location where they can receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. Azaleas are commonly used in the landscape as foundation plantings, hedges, or specimen plants.
Related reading: How to care for Azalea bushes.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Butterfly bushes produce purple cone shaped flowers and grow best in full sun in North and Central Florida
Butterfly bush is a sun-loving ornamental deciduous shrub suitable for growing in North and Central Florida. The ornamental features of the butterfly bush are its curved cone-shaped clusters of fragrant purple blooms at the ends of arching stems. The purple conical flowers grow 6” to 18” (15 – 40 cm) long and cover the shrub from summer through fall.
Butterfly bush grows 6 to 12 ft. (1.8 – 3.6 m) tall and wide. The drought-tolerant plant is an ideal foundation planting, shrub border, or container plant growing in full sun. The fragrant, long-lasting flowers produce excellent cut flowers and dried floral displays. Depending on the variety, butterfly bush flowers can be white, deep purple, magenta, orange, and lilac.
Hardiness zones: 5 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Oleanders are evergreen flowering shrubs with a variety of flower colors that can be grown in most Florida zones
Oleander is a beautiful, easy-care tropical shrub that produces clusters of fragrant pink, red, or white flowers. The tough evergreen shrub grows 12 to 20 ft. (3.6 – 6 m) tall and has long, narrow leaves. The showy single and double flowers bloom throughout the summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.
Oleander is ideal for planting in hot, sunny gardens. The shrub is drought-tolerant and withstands salt spray, making it ideal for landscapes in Florida’s coastal regions. In addition, you can grow oleander as a flowering hedge, specimen plant, or privacy screen.
It’s important to note that all parts of the plant are poisonous and should be kept away from children and pets.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 12, although some hardy oleander shrubs are cold-hard to USDA Zone 7
Sun exposure: Full sun
Bush Clock Vine (Thunbergia erecta)
The purple flowering bush clock vine is a tropical plant suitable for south Florida
Bush clock vine is an evergreen flowering shrub with twining stems and purple flowers. This tropical plant produces clusters of showy, trumpet-shaped purple flowers with yellow throats. The eye-catching 2” (5 cm) blooms appear in summer and fall and contrast nicely with dark green ovate leaves.
Bush clock vine grows 4 to 6 ft. (1.2 – 1.8 m) tall and 8 ft. (2.4 m) wide. The fast-growing shrub is ideal for planting in warm climates as a specimen plant, foundation planting, flowering hedge, or container plant. Also, because of its twining growth, it’s an ideal shrub to cover an unsightly fence line or cascade over a retaining wall.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Privet Senna (Senna ligustrina)
The native Florida privet senna shrub adds beautiful bright color and evergreen foliage to central and south Florida gardens
Privet senna is a sun-loving perennial shrub native to South Florida and famous for its bright yellow flowers. The golden yellow, five-petaled flowers bloom from fall through spring and sometimes in summer. Other attractive features of the subtropical shrub are its attractive pinnately compound leaves, lanceolate leaflets, and long bean-like seed pods.
The ornamental plant features clusters of small, star-shaped yellow flowers that grow on tall stems. The leaves are green and glossy, and the shrub grows 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 – 2.4 m) tall and wide.
Privet senna grows as an evergreen shrub outdoors in all regions of Florida apart from the extreme north. It’s ideal for planting in mixed borders to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Banana Shrub (Michelia figo)
Michelia figo ‘Purple Queen’ has purple flowers and is a drought tolerant shrub
The banana shrub is an evergreen shrub that produces fragrant, creamy pale yellow cup-shaped flowers that smell like bananas. The small flowers consist of six petals with thin red margins and bloom in spring and summer. The flowering shrub’s evergreen foliage is shiny, oblong leaves 3” to 5” (7.5 – 13 cm) long.
The banana shrub grows 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and wide in subtropical and tropical climates. The sweetly-fragrant shrubs are perfect for planting in coastal or inland Florida gardens as a hedge, specimen plant, foundation planting, or privacy screen.
Hardiness zones: 8 to 10
Sun exposure: Full sun or part shade
Eastern Baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia)
The white flowering eastern baccharis is a Florida full sun shrub that stays evergreen in mild winter areas and tolerates harsh conditions
Also known as saltbush or sea myrtle, eastern baccharis is a bushy flowering shrub with a profusion of white flowers. Evergreen in mild-winter climates, this bushy plant has sharply toothed grayish-green leaves. After blooming, white flowers produce plumes of seeds that look like paintbrushes.
Eastern baccharis has all the features necessary to thrive in Florida’s challenging climate. Its white flowers and evergreen foliage tolerate dry, poor soils, wet ground, drought, heat, and coastal spray. The ornamental shrub grows 3 to 10 ft. (1 – 3 m) tall and wide.
Plant the flowering shrub in coastal landscapes, bog gardens, along streams, or as an evergreen hedge in all Florida regions.
Hardiness zones: 5 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Coralbean (Erythrina herbacea)
The red flowering and drought tolerant coralbean shrub remains evergreen in south Florida
Coralbean is a flowering shrub with upright spikes of showy red tubular flowers. Also called Cherokee bean or red cardinal, the heat-tolerant shrub is identified by its 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall flower spikes, trifoliate, ivy-like leaves, and long seed pods. Additionally, the woody stems have sharp thorns.
Coralbean flowering shrubs grow 6 to 12 ft. (1.8 – 3.6 m) tall and wide. The shrub is deciduous in North Florida, but its leaves stay evergreen in warmer climates. This red-flowering ornamental shrub is excellent as a drought-tolerant hedge, specimen plant, or shrub for native gardens in the southeast.
Hardiness zones: 8 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
American beautyberry is an ornamental Florida shrub with pink flowers and attractive purple berries
American beautyberry is a deciduous flowering shrub known for its bright purple berries in the fall and winter. Identifying features of the eye-catching shrub are its clusters of small pink, white, or violet flowers, fuzzy yellowish-green leaves, and showy berries. The beautiful berries are not only ornamental but also attract birds and other wildlife to the garden.
American beautyberry grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall and wide. The attractive woody shrub is ideal for landscaping front and backyards throughout the Sunshine State. In addition, the fast-growing shrub is attractive as a back-of-the-border planting, specimen plant, or massed in a shrub border.
Hardiness zones: 6 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Petite plum crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Monum’), in the picture, grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide
Crape myrtle is a popular landscaping shrub for southern landscapes. Crape myrtle’s identifying features are its upright, wide-spreading habit, large conical clusters of papery pink, purple, red, or white flowers, and glossy and deep green foliage. In the fall, crape myrtle leaves turn orange, red, and yellow shades. In southern states, it’s called the “lilac of the south.”
Crape myrtle shrubs or small trees grow up to 6 to 25 ft. (1.8 – 7.6 m) tall with a spread of 6 to 20 ft. (1.8 – 6 m). Crape myrtle is an excellent specimen plant, small flowering tree, or informal border. This attractive shrub is one of the most colorful shrubs in the south for its brilliant colors in late summer and fall.
Hardiness zones: 6 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun
Related reading: How to care for crape myrtle bushes.
Bahama Cassia (Cassia bahamensis)
The yellow flowering Bahama cassia is a tropical shrub that adds a bright color to south Florida landscaped gardens
Bahama cassia is a Florida native flowering shrub covered in attractive yellow flowers, green pinnate leaves, and lance-shaped leaflets. The sprawling tropical shrub has bright yellow, five-petaled flowers measuring 1” (2.5 cm) wide that bloom in winter. Its attractive compound fern-like leaves consist of pointed leaflets creating a lacy textured effect.
Bahama cassia is a sun-loving plant that thrives in Florida’s southernmost regions. The small yellow-flowering shrub grows 3 to 5 ft. (1 – 1.5 m) tall and wide in full sun but 9 ft. (2.7 m) tall in partial shade. Typical landscaping uses in South Florida for Bahama cassia are as a flowering hedge, shrub border, or low-growing screen. In addition, the plant attracts butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Sea Ox-Eye (Borrichia frutescens)
Sea ox-eye is a perennial with a low shrubby growth and yellow flowers that can be grown in Florida coastal areas
Sea ox-eye is a salt-tolerant perennial shrub-like plant that thrives in sandy coastal regions of Florida. The yellow daisy-like blooms appear throughout the year in Central and South Florida. Sea ox-eye’s round, yellow flowers measure 1” (2.5 cm) across. The green, succulent leaves grow in a rosette, and the plant grows 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and wide.
Sea ox-eye is tolerant to drought, sandy soils, and intense heat. These characteristics make it ideal for ground cover, foundation planting, or as a colorful border in inland or coastal landscapes throughout Florida’s peninsula. The shrubby plant’s bright yellow, nectar-filled flowers also attract butterflies and pollinators in summer.
Hardiness zones: 8 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Jamaica Caper (Capparis cynophallophora)
Jamaica caper is a heat tolerant shrub for South Florida and the Keys with beautiful pink flowers
Jamaica caper is a large shrub native to Florida. The evergreen Florida shrub has glossy green leaves with spectacular pink spidery flowers. The three-petaled flowers have pinkish-white, pointed petals and long spreading stamens measuring 2” to 3” (5 – 7.5 cm) long. The flowers bloom in clusters of three to then.
Jamaica caper shrubs grow 6 to 20 ft. (1.8 – 6 m). After flowering, the evergreen shrub produces cylindrical pods 3” to 6” (7.5 – 15 cm) long, containing small pea-like capers. Performing best in full sun, the heat-tolerant shrub is ideal for creating a privacy screen, understory planting, or as a small shade tree in a sunny yard.
Hardiness zones: 10 and 11
Sun exposure: Full sun to light shade
Common Lantana (Lantana camara)
The colorful flowers of common lantana shrub grow well in the tropical area of south Florida
Also called red sage or shrub verbena, this lantana shrub has showy spherical clusters of pink and yellow flowers. The long-lasting blooms form an umbrella-shaped cluster of tubular, star-shaped flowers. The heat-loving, drought-tolerant shrub also has lanceolate leaves with serrated margins and clusters of round black berries.
Common lantana is a perennial evergreen shrub that grows 1 to 5 ft. (0.3 – 1.5 m). Unfortunately, the non-native shrub tends to be invasive in some areas of Florida. Therefore, look for sterile varieties in local nurseries to enjoy lantana’s colorful blooms in your southern garden.
Lantana thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. You can grow lantana as a border plant, container plant, or hanging basket. The low-maintenance plant blooms from spring until fall and is ideal for xeriscaping and arid gardens.
Hardiness zones: 10 to 12
Sun exposure: Full sun
China Rose (Rosa chinensis)
China rose shrubs are famed for their beauty, scent, and wonderful flowers
China rose—also called Bengal rose—is one of the few rose shrubs that thrives in southern Florida. Like all roses, this thorny, shrubby plant has spectacular ruffled double blooms in shades of pink that rebloom throughout the year. Also, the rose shrub is easy to grow and survives the harshest summers in the southeastern United States.
China rose grows 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) tall and wide and is suitable for planting in warm, humid climates. You can grow the ornamental shrub as a specimen plant, hedge, or in mixed borders. It also has a bushy climbing habit, making it ideal for growing along a fence line or over an arbor or entranceway.
Hardiness zones: 7 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)
Mexican heather is a hardy dwarf shrub with purple flowers for Central and South Florida
Mexican Heather is a small, flowering shrub suitable for full-sun ground cover in Central and South Florida. Growing less than 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall, the subshrub is characterized by its purple-pinkish tubular flowers that resemble miniature petunias and small, dark green leaves. Also called false heather, the dwarf shrub is ideal for planting in borders, rock gardens, or container gardens.
Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Sun exposure: Full sun
Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Texas sage is a low-maintenance flowering shrub for landscaping Florida gardens that is drought and heat tolerant
Texas silver leaf sage is a sun-hungry, heat-tolerant shrub with dense silvery foliage and masses of bell-shaped purple or pink flowers. The beautiful, fragrant flowers bloom throughout the year, typically after rainfall. The shrub’s silver-gray leaves and pink flowers give it a distinctive look in Florida landscapes.
Texas sage grows 5 to 8 ft. (1.5 – 2.4 m) tall and wide. The low-maintenance shrub is perfect for a sunny, subtropical landscape. In southern landscaping, you can grow the shrub as a windbreak, privacy screen, foundation planting, or flowering hedge. The drought-tolerant plant is also deer-resistant and attracts pollinators to the garden.
Hardiness zones: 8 to 10
Sun exposure: Full sun
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