Landscape Plants for Brevard County

Central Florida offers a unique environment in which to grow plants.  Brevard County is located in USDA climate zone 9B. This means that temperatures may drop to 25-30o F on an annual basis.  Brevard County is also a location where the subtropical zone of the south meets the temperate zone of the north, increasing the diversity of flora and fauna that live here. Temperate species are at their southernmost range here while tropical species are at their northernmost range here.

Many Florida native plants (but not all) also make excellent landscape plants.  The Volunteer Appreciation and Learning Garden is comprised of native plants to give visitors an idea of what these plants can look like when mature.  Take a look and decide if they would be good additions to your landscape.  Like all landscapes, our native garden will require regular maintenance such as weeding, pruning, trimming, deadheading, and more to keep it looking attractive and healthy.  If you would like to volunteer in the garden, contact Chris Koeppel (633-2016) or Paulette Davidson (633-2031)

A Simpson’s Stopper
surrounded by native Boston Fern

You can learn more about Florida native plants and landscaping by visiting the following websites:

1. Florida Native Plant Society – www.fnps.org
   1. Designing the Natural Garden
2. The Association of Florida Native Nurseries, a good place to start if looking for vendors in your area.
3. Florida Friendly Landscaping
4. South Florida Water Management District
   1. Waterwise Plant Guide
5. Florida Gulf Coast University – Florida Landscape
6. University of Florida IFAS–
   1. Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes
   2. Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook
   3. Low Maintenance Landscape Plants
   4. Low Energy Landscapes
   5. Landscaping Backyards for Wildlife
   6. Basic Principals of Landscape Design
   7. Getting Started in Butterfly Gardening
   8. 50 Native Plants Important in Florida’s Ethnobotanical History
   9. Native Plants that Attract Wildlife

Why is Landscaping Important?

Landscapes offer many benefits to us, our property values, the environment, and wildlife. Here are just a few reasons to create a landscape:

1. Aesthetic benefits – enjoy lovely flowers, create outdoor rooms, add color, provide visual buffers, etc.
2. Erosion control – many plants have extensive root systems which hold soil in place, preventing rains from washing soil into our waterways.
3. Temperature modification – properly placed shade trees can cool your house in the summer, saving you money! Temperatures under vegetated areas on sunny summer days are about 10-14o F cooler than those of exposed soil and hard surfaces.
4. Wind control – grouping trees and plants in windbreaks or clusters slows wind down, protecting your property.
5. Air pollution reduction – 150 square meters of plants provide enough oxygen for one person.  Plants also trap particulates from the air, so we don’t have to breathe them.
6. Reduces light pollution – from, street lights, neighbors, glare, etc.  Trees and shrubs can also hide unattractive buildings.
7. Water pollution control – plants trap sediments and pollutants in water, hold shorelines in place, drink excess water, and allow water to percolate back to the aquifers. 

While many non-native ornamental plants also make nice landscape plants, care must be taken to avoid using non-native invasive plants.  Non-native invasive plants can become very weedy in your landscape and spread quickly to natural areas too.  They displace native plants are less beneficial to wildlife, and may be poisonous.  Their removal costs millions of tax dollars!  To download a guide for identifying Non-native invasive plants in east central Florida, click here.