Gardeners in Florida are fortunate in the extensive range of flowering plants that will thrive in the sub-tropical climate. While people in other parts of the U.S. typically need to plant multiple types of flowers for successive blooms, the following flowers will look great year-round in South Florida.
Gaillardia
Also known as blanket flower, it begins blooming in early summer and continues until a frost occurs. They’re tolerant of heat, drought, and sandy soils. The brightly-colored red and yellow daisy-like flowers are heavy bloomers. Most varieties are 12 to 18 inches high, but some can grow up to 3 ft. tall.
Gerbera Daisy
Available with brilliant red, yellow, orange purple, pink or white blooms, they look great in the garden and can be used as cut flowers. Eager bloomers, they can break into blossom at any time and the flowers last for several weeks. They like the sun, but need afternoon shade, growing 10 to 18 in. high.
Ixora
Known as West Indian Jasmine, the shrub blooms year-round and each flower cluster can last 6 to 8 weeks. Blossoms are abundant and available in bright red, yellow, orange, pink or white. It doesn’t tolerate alkaline soils and needs full sun, growing 4 to 15 ft. tall and 4 to 10 ft. wide.
Pentas
A bush with star-shaped blooms, it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Blossoms are red, purple, lavender, white or pink. It needs full sun and grows 18 to 36 in. tall, but some species can reach 6 ft. in height. In South Florida it can even bloom into the winter months.
Salvia
The red, white or pink tubular blossoms appear spring through fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. It typically grows 3 to 4 ft. tall. Use care in choosing a species, as some can spread where they’re not wanted. They’re drought tolerant.
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