NATIVE PLANTS FOR BREVARD COUNTY (Zone 9B)
University of Florida/ Brevard County Extension Service
page 4
TREES
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acacia farnesiana
Sweet Acacia
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
15-25 15-25 Yellow
feet
feet
year round
Light
Conditions
Full sun
only
Salt Spray
Tolerance
Moderate
Acer rubrum
Red maple
60-75
feet
25-35
feet
Red
Spring
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Deciduous; does not grow well on sandy ridges; prefers moist soils; fast
grower; prefers acidic soils; shade tree; red fall color; seeds eaten by
squirrels; red flowers & fruit in spring; zones 4A-9B
Aesculus pavia
Red buckeye
15-20
feet
15-25
feet
Red
spring
Partial shade
to shade
Moderate
Deciduous; attracts squirrels/mammals; pruning required for strong
structure; fruit & leaves can be a litter problem; prefers acidic soils; welldrained soils; tolerates extended flooding; branches droop; zones 6A-9A
Ardisia escallonioides
Marlberry
12-20
feet
6-10
feet
White
?
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; fragrant flowers; attracts birds & mammals; fruit & leaves can
be a litter problem; attracts butterflies; branches droop; tolerates wide
range of pH; well-drained soils; can hedge at 4-6, or 6-12 feet; zones 10A-11
Bumelia tenax
Tough bumelia
15-30
feet
10-20
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; slow grower; showy fruit attracts birds & mammals; welldrained soils; dry soils; tolerates wide range of pH; thorns; cold & drought
tolerant; zones 8A-11
Carpinus caroliniana
American hornbeam
20-30
feet
20-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
None
Deciduous; moderately drought resistant; fluted trunk is very attractive;
good specimen for small area; slow grower; attracts birds; shade tree;
prefers moist, acidic soils; red-orange fall color; host plant - red-spotted
purple butterfly; found at Erna Nixon Park; zones 3A-9B
Carya floridana
Scrub hickory
30-40
feet
15-20
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Deciduous; multi-trunked; well-drained soils; dry soils; prefers alkaline
soils; golden-yellow fall color; female plants produce nuts that attract birds
& squirrels; found at Turkey Creek Sanct. & The Enchanted Forest; zones?
Carya glabra
Pignut hickory
50-65
feet
30-40
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
None
Deciduous; drought tolerance; moderate growth rate; tolerates wide range
of pH; fruit (nuts) can be a litter problem; yellow fall color; cold tolerant;
prefers well-drained, moist soils; attracts birds & mammals; zones 5A-9B
Celtis laevigata
Hackberry
50-70
feet
50-60
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
High
Deciduous; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; tolerates
extended flooding; drought tolerant; at Erna Nixon Park; host plant to the
Snout, Question Mark, Mourning Cloaks, Hackberry & Tawny Emperor
butterflies; fast grower; zones 5A-10B
Comments
Evergreen; fragrant flowers; slow grower; thorns; zones 9A-11
TREES (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Chionanthus virginicus
Fringe tree
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
12-20 10-15 White
feet
feet
spring
Light
Conditions
Full sun to
shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
None
page 5
Comments
Deciduous; slow grower; fragrant flowers; likes acid soils; flowers before
the foliage emerges; attracts birds & mammals; prefers moist soils;
butterfly host plant; zones 3A-9B
Coccoloba uvifera
Seagrape
25-30
feet
20-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; attracts birds & mammals; edible fruit; high drought tolerance;
leaves and fruit can be a litter problem; can be used as a large shrub also;
zones 10A-11
Conocarpus erectus
Buttonwood
30-45
feet
20-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; moderate grower; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained
soils; tolerates occasionally wet soils; drought tolerant; zones 10B-11
Cordia sebestena
Geiger tree
25-30
feet
20-25
feet
Orange
Full sun
spring,summer partial shade
High
Evergreen; tolerates a wide range of pH; high drought tolerance; attracts
hummingbirds; zones 10B-11
Crataegus aestivalis
May haw
20-30
feet
35-40
feet
White
spring
Full sun
partial shade
?
Deciduous; slow grower; well-drained soils; tolerates acidic to slightly
alkaline soils; moderate drought tolerance; host plant - Gray hairstreak
butterfly; zones 6A-11
Diospyros virginiana
Persimmon
40-60
feet
20-35
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
High
Deciduous; drought resistant; female plants attract birds & mammals; can
tolerate extended flooding; edible fruit; can form a thicket in open areas;
host plant - Henry’s elfin butterfly; tolerates wide range of pH; can be
found at Turkey Creek Sanctuary; zones 4B-9B
Dodonoea viscosa
Varnish leaf
10-15
feet
6-15
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; drought tolerant;
zones 9A-11
Forestiera segregata
Florida privet
10-15
feet
5-10
feet
Incon.
Partial shade
High
Semi-evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; drought tolerant; berries on
female plants only; attracts birds; tolerates poor soils; cold tolerant;
zones 8B-11
Fraxinus caroliniana
Pop ash
30-40
feet
25-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Deciduous; tolerates a wide range of pH; tolerates extended flooding;
moderate growth rate; post plant - eastern tiger swallowtail; zones 7B-10A
Gordonia lasianthus
Loblolly bay
35-60
feet
10-15
feet
White
Full sun to
spring, summer shade
None
Evergreen; tolerates extended flooding; prefers moist, acid soils; no
tolerance to drought; fragrant flowers; can be found in Wickham Park NW
of lake; zones 7A-9B
Ilex cassine
Dahoon holly
20-30
feet
8-12
feet
Incon.
Moderate
Evergreen; attractive berries on female plants only in the winter;
tolerates a wide range of pH; can tolerate extended flooding; attracts birds
and mammals; prefers wet or moist soils; tolerates dry soils; zones 7A-11
Full sun
partial shade
TREES (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Ilex opaca
American holly
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
35-50 15-25 Incon.
feet
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun
to shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 6
Comments
Evergreen; attractive red berries in the winter attract birds & mammals;
tolerates extended flooding; drought tolerant; tolerates wide range pH;
tolerates neglect; zones 5B-9B
Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon holly
15-25
feet
15-20
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
High
Evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; tolerates
extended flooding; drought tolerant; attracts birds & mammals; shears
well; zones 7A-9B
Juniperus silicicola
Southern redcedar
30-45
feet
20-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; fast grower; berries attracts birds; tolerates wide range of pH;
drought tolerant; can tolerate wet or dry soils; cold tolerant; provides
nesting for birds; host plant - olive hairstreak butterfly; zones 8A-10B
Liquidambar styraciflua 60-75
Sweet gum
feet
&
35-50
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Deciduous; fast growing; produces messy, sharply pointed fruit in the fall;
good fall color; fruit attracts birds & mammals; tolerates wide range of pH
extended flooding; can form large surface roots; zones 5B-10A
Lyonia ferruginea
Rusty lyonia
12-15
feet
4-6
feet
White
spring
Full sun
to shade
Low
Evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; good
specimen tree; zones ?
Magnolia grandiflora
Southern magnolia
60-80
feet
30-40
feet
White
Full sun
spring,summer partial shade
High
Evergreen; flowers are large and fragrant; large, glossy green leaves; seeds
attract birds & squirrels; tolerates wide range of pH; moderate drought
tolerance; prefers moist, rich soils; use a palm fertilizer with trace elements;
zones 7A-10A ( lg. specimen on the campus of ISU in zone 5!)
Magnolia virginiana
Sweet bay
40-50
feet
15-25
feet
White
summer
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Evergreen; fragrant flowers; fruit attracts birds & mammals; prefers
moist, acidic soils; tolerates extended flooding; silver hairs on the
undersides of the leaves gives the tree a shimmering appearance in windy
weather; host plant - laurel swallowtail butterfly; zones 5A-10A
Morus rubra
Red Mulberry
50-70
feet
20-40
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
None
Deciduous; attracts birds & mammals; edible fruit; tolerates all soil
moisture levels; fruits can stain cement, etc.; host plant for question mark,
red admiral & gray hairstreak butterflies; found at Sebastian Inlet State
Park; Erna Nixon Park; Enchanted Forest & Lori Wilson Park; zones ?
Myrcianthes fragrans
Simpson’s stopper
20-30
feet
15-20
feet
White
spring
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; fragrant flowers; slow grower; tolerates wide range of pH;
colorful berries attract birds; minimum height is 12 feet; good replacement
for crape myrtle; shears well; attractive peeling bark; zones 9B-11
TREES (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Myrica cerifera
Wax myrtle
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
15-25 20-25 Incon.
feet
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun
to shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 7
Comments
Evergreen; an excellent small native tree; berries on FEMALE plants
attract birds and mammals; fast grower; can tolerate extended flooding;
root suckers can be a problem; use as a dense screen; susceptible to root
and wood rot; host plant - red banded hairstreak butterfly; zones 7B-11
Nyssa sylvatica
Black tupelo
tolerate
65-75
feet
25-35
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Deciduous; foliage turns golden or crimson in the fall; fruits attract birds &
mammals; prefers moist, acidic soils; high drought tolerance but can
extended flooding; shade tree; zones 4B-9B
Osmanthus americana
Wild olive
15-25
feet
10-15
feet
White
spring
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; fragrant flowers; prefers acid soils; fruit attracts birds &
mammals; tolerates extended flooding; moderate drought tolerance;
zones 5B-9B
Persea borbonia
Redbay
30-50
feet
30-50
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; drought tolerant; tolerates wide range of pH; attracts birds &
mammals; foliage is fragrant when crushed; prefers dry soils; shade tree;
host plant - palamedes swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail & laurel
swallowtail; can be found at Wickham Park, & Lori Wilson Park;
P. palustris grows in wetter soils; zones 7B-11
Pinus clausa
Sand pine
25-40
feet
15-25
feet
Incon.
Full sun
Low
Evergreen; attracts mammals; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained
soils drought tolerant; slow grower; prefers dry soils; shade tree; can be
found in Wickham Park; 2 needles per bundle - 2-4 inches long; zones 7A-
Pinus elliottii var. densa 50-70
Slash pine
feet
35-50
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
High
Evergreen; fast grower; tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soils;
well-drained soils; tolerates occassionally wet soils; drought tolerant;
attracts birds & mammals; 2-3 needles per bundle/ 7-12 inches long;
host plant - spicebush swallowtail; zones 9B-11
Pinus glabra
Spruce pine
30-60
feet
25-40
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Evergreen; tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soils; well-drained
soils; tolerates extended flooding; moderate drought tolerance; host
plant - spicebush swallowtail butterfly; zones 8A-9B
Pinus palustris
Longleaf pine
60-80
feet
30-40
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; fast grower; tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soils
well-drained soils; drought tolerate; attract mammals; endangered
red cockaded woodpecker is dependent on this tree for survival; 3
needles per bundle/8-18 inches long; host plant - spicebush
swallowtail butterfly; zones 7A-10A
10B
TREES (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Prunus angustifolia
Chickasaw plum feet
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
12-20 15-20 White
feet
spring
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
Low
page 8
Comments
Deciduous; fragrant flowers; attracts birds & mammals; prefers dry to
moist, acidic soils; well-drained soils; high drought tolerance; thorns; can
form underground runners which can create a thicket; nectar plant butterflies; host plant - viceroy, eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies;
zones 6A-9B
Quercus laevis
Turkey oak
30-40
feet
25-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
Moderate
Deciduous; moderate growth rate; acorns attract mammals; high drought
fall color - copper; tolerates acidic soils; well-drained soils; zones 7B-9B
Quercus laurifolia
Laurel oak
60-70
feet
35-45
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Semi-evergreen; fast grower; acorns attract mammals; moderate drought
tolerance; well-drained soils; tolerates wide range of pH; host plant - red
banded, southern oak & white M hairstreak butterflies; zones 6B-10A
Quercus myrtifolia
Myrtle oak
20-30
feet
20-30
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
Moderate
Evergreen; attracts birds & mammals; well-drained soils; dry soils;
tolerates wide range of pH; host plant - red banded, southern oak & white
M hairstreak butterflies; zones?
Quercus nigra
Water oak
50- 60
feet
60-70
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Deciduous; fast grower; attracts mammals; tolerates wide range of pH;
drought tolerant; tolerates extended flooding; host plant - red banded,
southern oak & white M hairstreak butterflies; zones 6A-10A
Quercus virginiana
Live oak
60-80
60-120 Incon.
feet
feet
Full sun
partial shade
High
Semi-evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; tolerates occasional flooding;
well-drained soils; drought tolerant; host plant - red banded, southern oak
& white M hairstreak butterflies; zones 7B-10B
Taxodium distichum
Bald cypress
60-80
feet
25-35
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Deciduous; tolerates wide range pH; well-drained soils; tolerates extended
flooding; drought tolerant; can tolerate wet or dry soils; zones 5A-10B
Ulmus alata
Winged elm
45-70
feet
30-40
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Deciduous; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained but will tolerate
extended flooding; drought tolerant; prefers moist soils; host plant question mark & hackberry butterflies; zones 6A-9B
Ulmus americana
var. floridana
Florida elm
60-80
feet
50-60
feet
Incon.
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Deciduous; fast grower; attracts birds; tolerates wide range pH; welldrained sols; tolerates extended flooding; moderate drought tolerance;
prefers moist soils; host plant - question mark & hackberry butterflies;
zones 8A-9B
Vaccinium arboreum
Sparkleberry
12-18
feet
10-15
feet
White
spring
Partial shade
to shade
Low
Evergreen; attracts birds & mammals; moderate drought tolerance; prefers
moist, acidic soils; well-drained soils; tolerates occassionaly wet soils;
attractive red bark; crooked branches form an open, irregular crown;
zones 6B-10B
TREES (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Zanthoxylum
clava-herculis
Hercules’ club
Flower Color
Height Spread & Season
25-30 15-20 Incon.
feet
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun
only
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 9
Comments
Deciduous; well-drained soils; dry soils; very thorny; host plant for the
giant swallowtail butterfly (orange dog caterpillar); zones ?
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acrostichum
danaeifolium
Leather fern
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
6-7
4-5
Incon.
feet
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
Agarista populifolia
Pipestem
10-12
feet
2-3
feet
White
spring
Partial shade
to shade
Low
Evergreen; shears well; prefers moist, acidic soils; fragrant flowers;
tolerates wet, acidic soils; must be kept well watered during dry
spells; leaves susceptible to fungal spotting; keep pruning to a
minimum so as not to destroy mature form
Aster carolinianus
Climbing aster
4-6
feet
3-4
feet
Pink
fall
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Prefers moist to wet soils; nectar plant - butterflies
Baccharis halimifolia
Salt bush
12-15
feet
4-6
feet
White
fall
Full sun
is best
High
Does well in a border planting; evergreen; dry soils; well-drained
soils; attractive flowers on female plants only; cold tolerant;
drought tolerant
Bumelia tenax
Tough bumelia
maint. 10-20
6-12
feet
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; slow grower; showy fruit attracts birds & mammals;
well-drained soils; dry soils; tolerates wide range of pH; thorns; cold
& drought tolerant
Callicarpa americana
Beautyberry
4-6
feet
6-10
feet
Lavender
spring
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Showy purple fruit -fall; attracts birds; white fruited cultivar;
tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; deciduous;
cold & drought tolerant; branches should be cut back heavily after
fruiting to maintain compact growth
Calycanthus floridus
Sweetshrub
6-10
feet
6-10
feet
Maroon
Partial shade
spring,summer to shade
Low
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils with good moisture;
fragrant flowers smell like strawberries; deciduous; aromatic
leaves; will shear well; yellow fall foliage; mature floewrs used as
air-fresheners in closets & drawers
Chiococca alba
Snowberry
6-8
feet
2-4
feet
White
year round
Moderate
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; wet soils;
attractive white berries; evergreen; cold & drought tolerant
SHRUBS
Full sun
to shade
Comments
Tolerates wide range of pH; prefers moist to wet soils; can be found
Hoo Hoo park on US 1 in Rockledge
SHRUBS (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Citharexylum
fruiticosum
Fiddlewood
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
8-10
6-8
White
feet
feet
spring-fall
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 10
Comments
Prefers alkaline soils; well-drained soils; dry soils; flowers are
very fragrant; shears well; attracts birds; drought tolerant;
evergreen
Conocarpus erectus
Buttonwood
maint. 20-30
4-6
feet
6-12
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; moderate grower; tolerates wide range of pH; welldrained soils; tolerates occassionally wet soils; drought tolerant
Cyrilla racemiflora
Titi
4-6
feet
3-4
feet
White
Full sun
High
Evergreen; drought tolerant; tolerant of a wide range of soil
conditions as long as the pH is extremely acid (4.0-5.0); plants
shear very well
Dodonoea viscosa
Varnish leaf
maint. 6-15
6-12
feet
feet
Incon.
Full sun
only
High
Evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; drought
tolerant
Erythrina herbacea
Coral bean
5-15
feet
4-8
feet
Red
Full sun
summer partial shade
Moderate
Well-drained soils; attracts hummingbirds; beans split to reveal
bright scarlet seeds; deciduous; seeds are very poisonous; larval &
nectar plant for butterflies; cold & drought tolerant; thorns
Forestiera segregata
Florida privet
10-15
feet
5-10
feet
Incon.
Partial shade
High
Tolerates wide range of pH; high drought tolerance; berries on
female plants only; attracts birds; tolerates poor soils; cold tolerant;
prefers moist, alkaline soils; semi-evergreen
Hamelia patens
Firebush
8-10
feet
4-6
feet
Red,orange
year round
Full sun
to shade
Low
Attracts butterflies & hummingbirds; well-drained soils; dry soils;
wet soils; tolerates wide range of pH; drought tolerant; evergreen
Hibiscus coccineus
Red Hibiscus
6-8
feet
2-3
feet
Red
spring
Full sun
to shade
Low
Dies back to the ground in winter; prefers acidic, moist soils;
tolerates wet soils; attracts hummingbirds
Ilex vomitoria
holly
maint. 15-20
2-4
feet
4-6
6-12
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
High
Evergreen; tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; tolerates Yaupon
extended flooding; drought tolerant; attracts birds & mammals;
shears well
Illicium floridanum
Florida anise
15-25
feet
Red
spring
Full sun
partial shade
None
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; fast
grower; prefers moist soils; root suckers may occur; requires
occasional pruning to maintain a compact growth habit
10-15
feet
SHRUBS (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Lycium carolinianum
Christmas berry feet
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
6-8
2-3
Purple
feet
year round
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 11
Comments
Fragrant flowers; attractive red berries; poisonous berries; prefers
alkaline soils; dry soils; can be sheared; cold & drought tolerant;
deciduous
Lyonia lucida
Shiny lyonia
10-12
feet
Pink
spring
Full sun
to shade
Low
Evergreen; prefers moist, acidic soils; well-drained soils; dry soils;
shears well; drought & cold tolerant; new foliage is a coppery color
Myrica cerifera
Wax myrtle
can be maint. Incon.
from 4 to 12 feet
Full sun
to shade
High
Can tolerate extended flooding; attracts birds & mammals; only
female plants produce berries; evergreen; cold & drought tolerant;
host plant - red banded hairstreak butterfly; M.c. var. pumila
(dwarf wax myrtle) grows 2-4 feet height and spread 4-6 feet
Myrsine floridana
Myrsine
feet
4-6
feet
3-4
White
fall, winter
Partial shade
Moderate
Prefers moist, alkaline soils; drought tolerant; evergreen; only
female plants have attractive white flowers
Opuntia spp.
Prickly pear cactus
1-10
feet
1-10
feet
Yellow
summer only
Full sun
High
Tolerates wide range of pH; high tolerance to drought;
showy purple fruit; VERY thorny
Psychotria nervosa
Wild coffee
4-6
feet
3-4
feet
White
Partial shade
spring,summer to shade
Low
Evergreen; drought tolerant; prefers shade
Rhododendron
austrinum
Florida flame azalea
6-10
feet
6-10
feet
Yellow,orange
spring
Partial shade
None
Prefers acid soil; well-drained soils; slightly fragrant flowers: prune
soon after flowering; deciduous; nectar plant for butterflies; give
regular watering; mulch; fertilize one time a year in late winter
Rhododendron
canescens
Piedmont azalea
6-10
feet
6-10
feet
Pink, white
spring
Partial shade
None
Prefers acid soil; well-drained soils; slightly fragrant flowers; prune
soon after flowering; deciduous; fertilize one time per year in late
winter; nectar plant for butterflies
Rhus copallina
Winged sumac
6-10
feet
3-6
feet
Yellowish
late spring
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Tolerates acid soil; well-drained soils; dry soils; foliage is
orange,red in the fall; attracts birds & deer; deciduous; cold &
drought tolerant; host plant - red banded hairstreak butterfly
Scaevola plumieri
Inkberry
2-3
feet
3-4
feet
White
year round
Full sun
only
High
Great beach-side plant; dry soils; well-drained soils; prefers
alkaline soils
Sophora tomentosa
Necklace pod
5-6
feet
3-4
feet
Yellow
Full sun
spring,summer
High
Attracts birds, hummingbirds & butterflies; well-drained soils; dry
soils
2-3
feet
SHRUBS (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Vaccinium darrowi
Darrow blueberry
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
3-5
2-4
White to pink
feet
feet
spring
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
None
page 12
Comments
Evergreen; prefers acidic soils; attracts birds & mammals; edible
fruit; dry soils; well-drained soils; prefers moist, acidic soils
(pH<5.5)
Viburnum obovatum
Walter’s viburnum
8-25
feet
6-10
feet
White
spring
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Tolerates wide range of pH; attracts birds & mammals; welldrained soils; high drought tolerance; can maintain 4-6 or 6-12 feet
evergreen; cold tolerant; prefers moist to wet soils; replacement for
Ligustrum; shears well; host & nectar plant for butterflies
Zamia floridana
Coontie
2-4
feet
3-6
feet
Incon.
Full sun
to shade
High
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils;
slow grower; tolerates neglect
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Scientific Name
Common Name
Asclepias tuberosa
Scarlet milkweed
Flower color
Height Spread Season
2-4
1-3
Orange,red,
feet
feet
yellow/summer
Aster concolor
Silvery aster
2-3
feet
1-3
feet
Purple
Full sun
summer-winter
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; prefers dry soils; well-drained soils
Canna flaccida
Golden canna
3-4
feet
4-6
feet
Yellow
year round
Full sun
Low
Prefers moist to wet soils
Chrysopsis scabrella
Golden aster
1-2
feet
0-1
foot
Yellow
summer,fall
Full sun
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; prefers dry soils; plant is sticky and odiferous
flowers held up on 3 foot stems
Echinacea purpurea
Purple coneflower
3-4
feet
2-3
feet
Purple
summer
Full sun
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; moist soils; cut flower; dry flower; will need
dividing
Flaveria liniaris
Yellow top
2-3
feet
1- 2
feet
Yellow
year round
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Nectar plant - butterflies; prefers wet areas; peak flowering is in the fall
plant is often bushy
Hypericum hypericoides 3-4
St. Andrew’s Cross
feet
1-2
feet
Yellow
summer, fall
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Cold tolerant; tolerates wide range of pH; prefers wet soils; tolerates dry
soils; shrub-like
Iris savannarum
Blue flag iris
3-4
feet
Violet-blue
spring
Full sun
Low
Prefers moist or wet soils; also listed as I. hexagona or I. hexagona
savannarum; Hortus III is the source for this plants scientific name
1-3
feet
Comments
Tolerates acidic soils; dry soils; well-drained soils; cut flower; host plant for
Queen & Monarch butterflies; nectar plant - butterflies
PERENNIALS (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Liatrus spicata
Blazing star
Flower color
Height Spread Season
2-3
1-3
Purple
feet
feet
summer
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower
2-4
feet
1-3
feet
Monarda punctata
Dotted mint
3-4
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun - best
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
Low
page 13
Comments
Nectar plant - butterflies; cut flower; dry flower; tolerates acidic soils; welldrained soils; dies to ground in the winter; fast grower; also L. tenuifolia
(narrow leaved) has moderate salt spray tolerance
Red
Full sun
summer partial shade
Low
Attracts hummingbirds; nectar plant - butterflies; cut flower; wet soils;
well-drained soils; fast grower
2-3
feet
Muave
summer, fall
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Shearable; grows anywhere; nectar plant - butterflies
Muhlenbergia capillaris 2-3
var. filiformis feet
Muhly grass
1-2
feet
Purple
fall
Full sun
High
Prefers sandy, alkaline soils; cold tolerant; attractive plumes
Penstemon multiflorus
White beardtongue
1-2
feet
1-2
feet
White
spring-fall
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; prefers dry soils
Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed susan
2-4
feet
1-3
feet
Yellow,orange
red
summer-fall
Full sun
only
High
Tolerates acid soils; well-drained soils; dry soils; nectar plant-butterflies;
cut flower
Ruellia caroliniensis
Wild petunia
2-3
feet
1-2
feet
Lavender
spring-fall
Full sun
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; host plant for White peacock butterfly; moist
soils; dies back in winter(?)
Salvia coccinea
Tropical sage
2-3
feet
2-3
feet
Red
spring-fall
Full sun
High
Attracts hummingbirds; nectar plant - butterflies; dry soils; drought
tolerant; can be sheared; S.c. var. bicolor is a naturally occuring cross
Spartina bakeri
Sand cordgrass
2-4
feet
2-3
feet
Not showy
Full sun
only
Moderate
Prefers moist soils but can tolerate dry; well-drained soils
Stachytarpheta
jamaicensis
Blue porterweed
3-5
feet
2-3
feet
Blue/purple
year round
Full sun
Moderate
Nectar plant - butterflies; well-drained soils; native variety gets only
around 2 feet tall
Tripsacum dactyloides
Eastern gama grass
3-4
feet
2-3
feet
Not showy
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Prefers moist soils but tolerates dry
Uniola paniculata
Sea oats
feet
1-3
feet
3-4
Not showy
Full sun
High
Important dune plant; dry soils; drought tolerant
GROUND COVERS
Scientific Name
Common Name
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
1-2
1-3
White
feet
feet
summer only
Carphephorus
odoratissimus
Vanilla plant
0-1
foot
0-1
foot
Carphephorus
paniculatus
Deer tongue
0-1
foot
Helianthus debulis
Dune sunflower
1-2
feet
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Beach morning glory
Salt Spray
Tolerance
?
page 14
Comment
Well-drained soils; dry soils; nectar plant-butterflies; tolerates acid soils;
cut flower; dried flower; attracts beneficial insects
Purple
Full sun
summer-winter partial shade
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; prefers moist soils; leaves have a vanilla odor
especially when dried; flowers held on 3-4 foot stems
0-1
foot
Purple
fall, winter
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; well-drained soils; flowers held on a 3-4 foot stem
2-4
feet
Yellow
year round
Full sun
partial shade
High
Well-drained soils; dry soils; prefers alkaline soils; susceptible to
root rots in wet soils
4
VINE
inches
Pink
summer only
Full sun
High
Well-drained soils; dry soils; vine can climb a trellis
Iva embricota
Beach elder
1-2
feet
3-4
feet
Green
Full sun
spring,summer only
High
Fast grower; drought tolerant; dry soils
Lantana depressa
Lantana
1-2
feet
1-2
feet
Yellow
year round
Full sun
High
Nectar plant - butterflies; endangered; endemic to Brevard County??
Licania michauxii
Gopher apple
1-2
feet
2-3
feet
White
summer
Full sun
High
Evergreen; cold tolerant; drought tolerant; can interplant with mimosa;
good erosion control; turf substitute; can be walked on; edible fruit
Mimosa strigillosa
Sunshine mimosa
1
inch
4-8
feet
Pink
spring-fall
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; wet soils;
high drought tolerance; can be mowed & walked on; plant 2-5 feet
apart; substitute for turf; good erosion control; once established
needs no additional water
Stokesia laevis
Stoke’s aster
1-2
feet
1-2
feet
Lavender
spring
Full sun
is best
Low
Nectar plant - butterflies; divide every 3 years; cut flower
Sisyrinchium atlanticum 8-10
Blue-eyed grass
feet
8-12
feet
Blue
winter
Full sun
Moderate
Well-drained; moist to wet soils; neutral soils; good early bloomer
Sisyrinchium solstitiale
Blue-eyed grass
8-12
feet
Blue
winter
Full sun
Moderate
Dry soils; great for xeriscaping; good
8-10
feet
Light
Conditions
Full sun
GROUND COVERS (cont.)
Scientific Name
Common Name
Verbena maritima
Verbena
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
1-2
3-4
Purple
foot
feet
spring-fall
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
High
page 15
Verbena tempensis
Verbena
1-2
feet
0-1
foot
Purple
year round
Full sun
to shade
Moderate
Prefers moist soils; mulch in well-drained soils; prefers acidic soils;
nectar plant - butterflies
Zephyranthus spp.
Rain lily
0-1
foot
0-1
foot
Pink,white
summer,fall
Full sun
partial shade
Moderate
Well-drained soils; dry soils; wet soils; tolerates acid
Light
Conditions
Partial shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
None
Full sun
partial shade
Low
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils; wet soils;
fragrant flowers; nectar plant-butterflies
Comment
Fast grower; drought tolerant; endangered; endimic
ORNAMENTAL CLIMBING VINES
Scientific Name
Common Name
Bignonia capreolata
Cross vine
Flower Color
Height Spread Season
Vine
Var.
Yellow-red
Spring
Comment
Attracts hummingbirds; well-drained soils; wet soils; tolerates acid soils;
evergreen; has tendrils so it naturally climbs; native to woods & swamps
from Florida to Virginia
Gelsemium
Vine
sempervirens
Carolina yellow jessamine
Var.
Yellow
winter,spring
Lonicera sempervirens
Coral honeysuckle
0-1
foot
Var.
Red,yellow
Full sun
spring,summer only
High
Tolerates wide range of pH; well-drained soils; dry soils;
attracts hummingbirds
Passiflora incarnata
Passion flower
Vine
Var.
Purple, red
year round
None
Fast grower; host plant for the gulf fritillary & longwind zebra
butterflies; well-drained soils; dry soils; can grow on trellis or fence
Height
15-25
feet
3-5
feet
Spread
10-15
feet
3-6
feet
Full sun
partial shade
PALMS
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
Paurotis palm
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Needle palm
Light
Conditions
Full sun
partial shade
Partial shade
shade
Salt Spray
Tolerance
Moderate
Light
Salt Spray
Comments
Tolerates wide range of pH; slow grower; can tolerate periods of extended flooding;
zones 9B-11
Moderate
Slow grower; needles could be dangerous for small children; prefers fertile, moist
soils; single trunk or in clumps; well-drained soils; tolerates full sun; hardiest of
palms, withstanding temperatures to -6 degrees F., zones 7-11(?)
PALMS (cont.)
Scientific Name
page 16
Common Name
Sabal minor
Dwarf palmetto
Height Spread
3-6
6-10
feet
feet
Conditions
Full sun
Tolerance
High
Comments
Does best in a moist site; native palm with a bluish color; difficult to transplant;
zones 7-11
Sabal palmetto
Cabbage palm
40-50
feet
10-15
feet
Full sun
partial shade
High
Florida’s official state tree; transplants easily; tolerates wide range of pH; prefers
well-drained soil but tolerates extended flooding; high drought tolerance; zones 8B11
Sereno repens
Saw palmetto
4-6
feet
6-10
feet
Full sun
partial shade
High
Excellent small native palm; difficult to transplant; extremely adaptable to many
soil types; zones 9A-11
Thrinax radiata
Florida thatch palm
15-20
feet
8-10
feet
Full sun
partial shade
High
Slow growth rate; toloerates wide range of pH but particularly adapted to alkaline
soils; high drought tolerance; zones 10B-11
Prepared by:
University of Florida/Brevard County Extension Service
3695 Lake Drive
OR
4090 Minton Road
Cocoa, FL 32926
Melbourne, FL 32904
(407) 633-1702
(407) 952-4536
Revised 5/98
NATIVE PLANTS FOR BREVARD COUNTY
NATIVE TREES
Common Name
American holly
American hornbeam
Bald cypress
Black tupelo
Buttonwood
Chickasaw plum
Dahoon holly
Florida elm
Florida privet
Fringe tree
Geiger tree
Hackberry
Hercule’s club
Laurel oak
Live oak
Loblolly bay
Longleaf pine
Marlberry
May haw
Myrtle oak
Persimmon
Pignut hickory
Pop ash
Red buckeye
Red maple
Red mulberry
Red bay
Rusty lyonia
Sand pine
Scrub hickory
Seagrape
Simpson’s stopper
Slash pine
Southern magnolia
Southern redcedar
Sparkleberry
Spruce pine
Sweet Acacia
Sweet bay
Sweet gum
Tough bumelia
Turkey oak
Varnish leaf
Scientific Name
Ilex opaca
Carpinus caroliniana
Taxodium distichum
Nyssa sylvatica
Conocarpus erectus
Prunus angustifolia
Ilex cassine
Ulmus americana var. floridana
Forestiera segregata
Chionanthus virginicus
Cordia sebestena
Celtis laevigata
Zanthorxlum clava-Herculis
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus virginiana
Gordonia lasianthus
Pinus palustris
Ardisia escallonioides
Crataegus aestivalis
Quercus myrtifolia
Diospyros virginiana
Carya glabra
Fraxinus caroliniana
Aesculus pavia
Acer rubrum
Morus rubra
Persea borbonia
Lyonia ferruginea
Pinus clausa
Carya floridana
Coccoloba uvifera
Myrcianthes fragrans
Pinus elliottii var. densa
Magnolia grandiflora
Juniperus silicicola
Vaccinium arboreum
Pinus glabra
Acacia farnesiana
Magnolia virginiana
Liquidambar styraciflua
Bumelia tenax
Quercus laevis
Dodonoea viscosa
Pg. 1
NATIVE TREES (cont.)
Common name
Water oak
Wax myrtle
Wild olive
Winged elm
Yaupon holly
Pg. 2
Scientific name
Quercus nigra
Myrica cerifera
Osmanthus americana
Ulmus alata
Ilex vomitoria
NATIVE SHRUBS
Common Name
Beautyberry
Buttonwood
Christmas berry
Climbing aster
Coontie
Coral bean
Darrow blueberry
Fiddlewood
Firebush
Florida anise
Florida flame azalea
Florida privet
Inkberry
Leather fern
Myrsine
Necklace pod
Piedmont azalea
Pipestem
Prickly pear cactus
Red hibiscus
Salt bush
Shiny lyonia
Snowberry
Sweetshrub
Titi
Tough bumelia
Vanish leaf
Walter’s viburnum
Wax myrtle
Wild coffee
Winged sumac
Yaupon holly
Scientific Name
Callicarpa americana
Conocarpus erectus
Lycium carolinianum
Aster carolinianus
Zamia floridana
Erythrina herbacea
Vaccinium darrowi
Citharexylum fruitcosum
Hamelia patens
Illicium floridanum
Rhododendron austrinum
Forestiera segregata
Scaevola plumieri
Acrostichum danaeifolium
Myrsine floridana
Sophora tomentosa
Rhododendron canescens
Agarista populifolia
Opuntia spp.
Hibiscus coccineus
Baccharis halimifolia
Lyonia lucida
Chiococca alba
Calycanthus floridus
Cyrilla racemiflora
Bumelia tenax
Dodonoea viscosa
Viburnum obovatum
Myrica cerifera
Psychotria nervosa
Rhus copallina
Ilex vomitoria
NATIVE HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Common Name
Black-eyed susan
Blazing star
Blue flag iris
Blue porterweed
Cardinal flower
Dotted mint
Eastern gama grass
Golden aster
Golden canna
Scientific Name
Rudbeckia hirta
Liatrus spicata
Iris savannarum
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Lobelia cardinalis
Monarda punctata
Tripsacum dactyloides
Chrysopis scabrella
Canna flaccida
NATIVE HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS (cont.)
Common Name
Muhly grass
Purple coneflower
Scarlett milkweed
Silvery aster
St. Andrew’s Cross
White Beardtongue
Yellow top
Sand cordgrass
Sea oats
Tropical sage
Wild petunia
Scientific Name
Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filiformis
Echinacea purpurea
Asclepias tuberosa
Aster concolor
Hypericum hypericoides
Penstemon multiflorus
Flaveria liniaris
Spartina bakeri
Uniola paniculata
Salvia coccinea
Ruellia caroliniensis
NATIVE GROUND COVERS
Common Name
Beach elder
Beach morning glory
Blue-eyed grass
Blue-eyed grass
Deer tongue
Dune sunflower
Gopher apple
Lantana
Rainlily
Stroke’s aster
Sunshine mimosa
Vanilla plant
Verbena
Verbena
Yarrow
Scientific Name
Iva embricota
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Sisyrinchium atlanticum
Sisyrinchium solstitiale
Carphephorus paniculatus
Helianthus debulis
Licania michauxii
Lantana depressa
Zephranthus spp.
Stokesia laevis
Mimosa strigillosa
Carphephorus odoratissimus
Verbena maritima
Verbena tempensis
Achillea millefolium
NATIVE ORNAMENTAL CLIMBING VINES
Common Name
Carolina yellow jasmine
Coral honeysuckle
Cross Vine
Passion flower
Scientific Name
Gelsemium sempervirens
Lonicera sempervirens
Bignonia capreolata
Passiflora incarnata
NATIVE PALMS
Common Name
Cabbage palm
Dwarf palmetto
Florida thatch palm
Needle palm
Paurotis palm
Saw palmetto
Scientific Name
Sabal palmetto
Sabal minor
Thrinax radiata
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
Sereno repens
Pg. 3