1. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
Blanket flower is a Florida native popular for its brightly colored flowers. It’s one of the best short-lived perennial flowers for Florida residents. Blanket flowers are typically red, orange, or yellow with a brown or black center, and they bloom from spring to fall. These showy flowers are popular with butterflies and other pollinators, and they make excellent cut flowers. Blanket flowers are relatively easy to grow and care for, and they are tolerant of drought. However, they do best in full sun and well-drained soils. Additionally, blanket flowers can cause skin irritation, so it is important to handle them with care. With proper care, blanket flowers will add color and beauty to your landscape for many years to come.
2. Bougainvillea
There are a variety of plants that do well in Florida, but one of the best is the bougainvillea. It needs full sun and acidic soil to thrive, and it will grow up to 30 feet tall, given the opportunity. While its sap is mildly toxic and it has sharp thorns, these can be easily managed with a little caution. When given the proper care, this plant will produce beautiful blooms that will add color and life to your home. If you’re looking for one of the tallest perennial flowers for Florida, this one will work!
3. Pentas
If you’re looking for a plant that can take the heat, pentas is a great choice. It’s native to Africa, so it’s used to hot climates. It prefers full sun and well-draining soil, and it will produce beautiful clusters of flowers in various colors, including pink, red, white, and purple. Pentas are very low-maintenance plants. They don’t require much water or care, and they are tolerant of most soils. While they can be annuals in cold climates, they are true perennials. They’ll come back year after year in warmer climates. The flowers on the pentas are very showy and make an excellent addition to any garden or landscape. Pentas leaves remain green throughout the year, making them an attractive addition to any landscape design. Butterflies love the bright colors of the pentas flowers, making them an ideal flower for attracting butterflies to your garden.
4. Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera jamesonii)
If you’re looking for perennial flowers for Florida that will add some cheer to your garden, gerbera daisies are a great option. These flowers need plenty of sunlight, so plant them in an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. They also prefer well-draining soils, so keep that in mind when choosing a planting spot. Gerbera daisies typically grow 10 to 18 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide. They’re non-toxic, so they’re safe for kids and pets.
5. Ixora
Ixora is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. Ixora is native to tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees that can grow as tall as fifteen feet! Ixora’s have dense, rounded clusters of small, tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, or white. These flowers bloom continuously throughout the year but especially during warm weather. Full sun is necessary for continuous blooms, but these perennials can also grow in partial shade. Ixora prefers well-draining neutral to slightly acidic soils and does not tolerate alkaline soils. They should stay moist but not water-logged with a deep watering once per week in warm weather and less often during winter. These are hands down one of the hardiest perennial flowers for Florida.
6. Lavender
Lavender is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to the western Mediterranean, specifically the Pyrenees and other mountain ranges in northern Spain. However, it’s now in other parts of Europe, as well as North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Lavender is a perennial herb that typically grows to be about two to three feet tall. It’s one of the best perennial flowers for Florida if you’re looking for height. Lavender has an upright stem with linear leaves that are pale green in color and have a silvery-gray hue. The flowers produce in spikes and range in color from pale blue to violet. Lavender is generally considered to be easy to care for and is a relatively low-maintenance plant. It prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. However, only plant this flower in well-drained soil. Lavender is also relatively drought-tolerant after establishing itself. This makes it a good choice for areas that experience periods of drought or water restrictions. It is also generally resistant to deer and rabbits.
7. Periwinkle
Periwinkle is shared with the related genus Catharanthus. It’s one of the best perennial flowers for Florida for a few reasons. But the colorful blooms are definitely at the top of the list! Periwinkle flowers can be purple, blue, or white. These flowers are typically less than an inch in diameter and have five petals each. This plant typically blooms in March or April but may also have a second bloom period in the fall. It grows to about six inches tall and spreads laterally via long shoots that root themselves and create new plants. The periwinkle flower is a woody, evergreen plant that sports dark green leaves. Its leaves are simple and leathery to the touch, with an elliptical to ovate shape. The margin of the leaves is smooth, and no hairs are present. The leaves of the periwinkle are generally one to three inches in length and less than an inch in width. The periwinkle is native to Europe, but it has been introduced to North America and can now be found growing in many regions of the continent. Periwinkles are popular ornamental plants, and they are often used in landscaping design due to their compact size and striking appearance.
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