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For a Florida landscape that gets full sun, you’ll want to choose plants that can handle the intense sunlight and heat. Fortunately, there are many sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants that thrive in Florida’s warm climate. Here are some of the best options for full-sun conditions.
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
A native shrub with bright orange-red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Height: 5 to 15 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators, blooms year-round in South Florida.
Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
A native ornamental grass with airy, pink to purple flower plumes in the fall.
- Height: 3 to 5 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, adds texture and movement to the landscape.
Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)
A native cycad with dark green, feathery fronds.
- Height: 1 to 3 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, supports the endangered Atala butterfly.
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)
A clumping perennial with purple flowers and garlic-scented leaves.
- Height: 1 to 2 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, repels pests, blooms year-round in warm climates.
Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)
A sprawling shrub with clusters of sky-blue flowers.
- Height: 3 to 10 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts butterflies, blooms year-round.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
A tough, heat-tolerant shrub with clusters of brightly colored flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple.
- Height: 2 to 6 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, blooms year-round.
Orange Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
An iconic tropical plant with large, banana-like leaves and striking orange and blue flowers resembling birds.
- Height: 3 to 5 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant once established, adds a dramatic tropical touch.
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)
A sprawling, vining plant with showy, colorful bracts in shades of pink, red, purple, or white.
- Height: Varies, can be pruned or trained as a shrub or vine.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, fast-growing, and adds vibrant color to the landscape.
Silver Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus)
A salt-tolerant coastal tree or shrub with silvery-green leaves.
- Height: 15 to 25 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil.
- Benefits: Excellent for coastal areas, drought-tolerant, can be used as a hedge or specimen plant.
Dwarf Oleander (Nerium oleander)
A compact shrub with colorful, fragrant flowers in shades of white, pink, or red.
- Height: 3 to 6 feet.
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Benefits: Drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and blooms throughout the year.
These plants are ideal for Florida’s full-sun conditions, and many are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. By selecting a mix of flowering plants, shrubs, and grasses, you can create a vibrant, heat-resistant landscape.