Florida is well-known for its slower, more relaxed lifestyle. Yet, the climate can toggle between hot and humidity to months-long drought and even snow.
Despite these varied conditions, it’s entirely possible to fill your home’s landscape with gorgeous color and texture that doesn’t require long hours of care and maintenance.
Florida’s unique climate supports a broad range of low-maintenance options. From lush, tri-colored shade trees to shrubs that provide an abundance of floral color and privacy. Keep reading to discover the secret to creating your own tropical oasis.
Choosing Low-Maintenance Trees And Shrubs
Ideally, the choices you make will offer a maximum return on your investment, in exchange for minimal effort. Is sound impossible? It isn’t, as you’ll see with the 10 hardy planting options, below.
But, to ensure the long-term success of these plants, there are other important factors to consider:
- Choose plants that thrive in your hardiness zone.
- Choose plants that can tolerate drought conditions and full sun.
- Match the mature size and light requirements of each plant to your intended planting location.
Landscaping For Privacy
Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, privacy can be an issue. The right plants will not only satisfy your privacy needs quickly but provide lush, green foliage and vibrant color that contribute to your tropical oasis. Even if you’re surrounded by a concrete jungle.
Sunset Glow Bamboo
(Fargesia rufa)
Summary
This cold-hardy bamboo creates a glowing wall of green along fences and terraces, in zones 5-9. Full/partial sun and well-draining soil fuel a growth rate of 3ft, annually. Reaching 8ft by 6ft, at maturity.
Appeal
Tall, clumping stems support wide splays of bright green leaves, which quickly merge to form a botanical barrier with an unmistakable, tropical feel.
Tree or Shrub Care
The Sunset Bamboo is fairly drought-tolerant but requires water when the soil is dry down to 2”. Fertilize in spring with a nitrogen-focused NPK. Pruning typically isn’t necessary.
Red Oleander
(Nerium oleander)
Summary
For fast privacy and an explosion of color, this shrubby Oleander grows 1-2ft per year, maturing to 12ft tall by 10ft wide. Blooms are more abundant when planted in full sun and well-draining, alkaline soil.
Appeal
Pink trumpet flowers erupt from long, green leaves throughout the summer months. Even in areas with cold winters, this will quickly regrow from the base, in spring.
Tree or Shrub Care
Oleanders benefit from deep but infrequent watering. Fertilize only when young to encourage healthy root establishment. Prune in autumn to remove any damaged branches.
Low Maintenance Planting for Shade
In a state famous for its warm weather, shade trees are invaluable. While beautiful and sumptuous, these can also keep your home cooler by filtering the sunlight coming through your windows. Thereby, easing the burden on your air conditioning system and your wallet.
Dura Heat River Birch
(Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’)
Summary
Maturing 40ft by 30ft, this hardy Birch thrives in zones 4-9. When planted in full sun and nutrient-rich soil, it grows 2-3ft per year, providing beauty and welcome shade.
Appeal
This cultivar is resistant to borer beetles and exceptionally tolerant to summer heat. A pyramidal crown supports serrated, dark green leaves that ebb to soft yellow, in autumn.
Tree or Shrub Care
Birch trees appreciate deep, weekly watering. Fertilize in spring and again in summer with a triple 10 NPK. Prune to maintain a desired shape in early autumn.
Royal Poinciana Tree
(Delonix regia)
Summary
This prolific bloomer expands 5ft per year to a mature 30ft tall and wide. Zone 10-11 landscapes are set ablaze with fiery blooms when this is planted in full sun and well-draining soil.
Appeal
Large, evergreen fronds create a lush backdrop for generous flower clusters that bloom from late spring to mid-summer. A broad canopy provides much-needed shade and a tropical ambiance.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water Poinciana trees when the top 2” of soil is dry. Apply slow-releasing, triple 10 granules around the dripline, in spring. Prune only to remove damaged branches.
Low Maintenance Trees
These next landscape options offer similar shade and efficiency features. Yet, are prized for their low-maintenance charm coupled with appealing architectural form. A tolerance for heat and drought doesn’t hurt, either.
Despite ever-changing weather patterns, these will thrive no matter where in Florida you plant them.
Queen Palm
(Syagrus romanzoffiana)
Summary
Queen Palms have a majestic, balmy presence in Florida gardens and can even withstand temperatures down to -20F (-28C). Preferring full sun and well-draining soil, this low-maintenance, pest-free tree will reach 50ft tall, at maturity.
Appeal
This elegant evergreen presents a straight, slender trunk crowned with feathery, grey-green fronds that hang down 15ft.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water Queen Palms when the soil is dry down 2-3”, especially if fronds begin to yellow. Prune these away and apply a triple 10 N-P-K fertilizer to encourage higher heat tolerance and faster growth.
Bronze Loquat
(Eriobotrya deflexa)
Summary
The shade-providing Loquat matures to 15” tall and wide in zones 9-11, adding 3ft of new growth per year. Pest-free and deer resistant, this prefers full to partial sun and well-draining soil.
Appeal
Across a rounded crown, copper and red leaves emerge that mature to glossy green. Fragrant, white flowers bloom in summer and develop orange, ornamental berries in autumn.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water Loquats frequently until established and drought-tolerant. Fertilize with a nitrogen-rich NPK to encourage healthy root formation. Spring pruning will force dense branching and rapid growth.
Small Low Maintenance Trees
Don’t worry if the trees we’ve seen so far are too big for your garden. If you’re working with limited outdoor space, these next landscape ideas are just for you.
They may be more petite in size but the visual impact they make is beyond measure.
Bottle Palm Tree
(Hyophorbe lagenicaulis)
Summary
Reaching just 10ft tall and wide, this unique Palm tree imparts a strong tropical influence in zone 9-11 gardens. Preferring full-to-partial sun, this slower-growing cultivar requires very little maintenance.
Appeal
Arching fronds sprout from atop an elliptical trunk. As it matures, old fronds fall away to reveal “age rings”, while a clear bottle shape slowly begins to appear.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water and mist young Bottle Palms frequently for proper humidity and faster root establishment. Prune away yellowing fronds and fertilize with a palm-specific NPK in spring and summer.
Sunny Knock Out Rose Tree
(Rosa ‘RADsunny’)
Summary
This abundant bloomer performs from April to November, in zones 4-11. Reaching 4ft tall and wide, this rose is surprisingly pest and disease resistant and doesn’t require a lot of deadheading or pruning.
Appeal
Aromatic, yellow, and white flowers bud on a rounded form filled with vibrant green leaves. Intense flower color remains even as days become shorter, in autumn.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water Knock Out roses weekly, avoiding the leaves. Fertilize with a rose-formulated NPK, beginning in spring. Prune back in early spring to encourage vigorous growth.
Low Maintenance Shrubs
Looking for something even smaller? These low-maintenance shrubs offer radiant foliage and flower color and are stunning in small gardens. But, also provide eye-catching contrast and complementary characteristics in larger ones, as well. The best part is they require very little attention in exchange.
Obsession Nandina Shrub
(Nandina domestica ‘SEIKA’)
Summary
This beautiful, evergreen Nandina is the perfect complement to other heat-loving plants, in zones 6-10. Maturing to 4ft tall and wide, color variation is more pronounced when planted in the full-to-partial sun.
Appeal
Leaf-lined stems emerge a peachy pink. Chartreuse slowly spreads before maturing to a darker green. This multi-colored show lasts for months and stays green and fresh throughout winter.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water Nandinas weekly or when soil is dry down 3”. Fertilize with a general-purpose NPK in spring and fall. Prune only to maintain a tidy form.
St John’s Wort Blue Velvet Plant
(Hypericum kalmianum ‘Blue Velvet’)
Summary
Reaching 3ft tall and wide, this flowering shrub is heat-resistant and cold-hardy, drought-tolerant, and pest resistant, in zones 5-10. Full-to-partial sunlight will encourage a longer bloom time.
Appeal
The Blue Velvet™️ is prized for its iridescent blue-green leaves and vivid, yellow blooms that last through summer and its ability to thrive even in poor soil.
Tree or Shrub Care
Water new shrubs weekly, until established. Then, deeply and infrequently to encourage deep, drought-tolerant root growth. Fertilize in spring with triple 10, granules. Prune 50% of the canes in early spring, to promote fuller growth.
Verdict on Low-Maintenance Landscaping In Florida
Florida weather conditions may vary but there’s certainly no lack of landscaping options for your front yard.
Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, the Sunset Glow Bamboo and blooming Red Oleander grow quickly, offering effective privacy and lush growth.
Need an escape from the heat? The Dura Heat River Birch and Royal Poinciana Tree provide comfortable shade with their wide canopies and vivid color.
For low-maintenance color in smaller gardens, look no further than the Sunny Knock Out® Rose Tree or St John’s Wort Blue Velvet™️ Plant. Your tropical oasis awaits!
You may also like to read 12 Best Types Of Topiary Trees And Shrubs
Citation
University of Florida – Florida Palms
Ornamental Palms for Central Florida by R. J. BlackEnvironmental Horticulture Department
Ben Hilton
Website | + posts
Ben's horticultural interest grew when graduating from Hertfordshire University in 1997. Having contributed to numerous publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design Magazine, and The English Garden. He is also the author of Propagating Houseplants Made Easy.
