Florida Perennials That I Love to Neglect
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Florida’s hot, humid climate can be a challenge for gardeners, but there are plenty of perennials that thrive with little care.
I love having flowers 365 days of the year, but Florida weather sometimes prevents me from getting outside as much as I should to water and take care of them.
After doing much research and trial and error of what works for me, I found these Florida-friendly perennials that are perfect for our conditions. They require little water, tolerate heat and neglect, and attract pollinators, ensuring a vibrant landscape without all the work.
Whether you prefer wildflowers, ornamental grasses, or flowering shrubs, these plants will keep your garden thriving with minimal effort.
planting Tips
Group plants with similar water needs together to make watering even simpler.
Many perrinials can be shared with other gardeners to save money.
Understand your climate and soil to choose the right plant.
If you want a beautiful garden without the hassle of constant watering, fertilizing, or pruning, consider these hardy plants that flourish in Florida’s unique conditions.
Lantana
Lantana is a colorful, drought-tolerant perennial that thrives in full sun and sandy soil. Its small, clustered flowers bloom in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and purple, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Once established, lantana requires minimal watering and can handle Florida’s scorching summers with ease.
I learned a very long time ago that lantana has a root system that is hard to care for when it comes time to remove them, so I keep them in a pot. Unless you get native Florida lantanas, the other versions are very invasive, and the seeds plant on their own very easily, usually by birds.
Firebush
This stunning native Florida shrub produces tubular red-orange flowers that bloom year-round in warm climates. Firebush is highly drought-resistant and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. It attracts pollinators, especially hummingbirds, and can grow into a lush, bushy plant without much care.
This hardy plant thrives in full sun but can handle partial shade, too. It’s adaptable to different soil types and becomes drought-tolerant once established.
You can shape firebush into a small tree or keep it as a shrub. Just a warning: this is a fast-growing plant. It seemed I was trimming it every other week. It’s perfect for adding versatility to your landscape design and is beautiful over a fence or wall. With minimal care, this low-maintenance perennial will reward you with its fiery beauty year after year.
Black-Eyed Susan
A cheerful wildflower, the black-eyed Susan produces bright yellow petals with dark centers, adding a pop of color to your garden. This hardy perennial thrives in poor soil, full sun, and high heat. It reseeds itself, ensuring a continuous display of blooms with very little maintenance.
These hardy flowers thrive in sandy, well-drained soil. Plant them in full sun for best results. You’ll love how easy they are to care for!
Black-Eyed Susans attract butterflies and bees, making them great for pollinator gardens. They’re also drought-tolerant once established, saving you time and water. Be sure to water them well until they are established.
Muhly Grass
Muhly grass is by far my favorite plant I have in my landscaping. When September rolls around and most of my flowers have had enough of the summer climate, this jewel will really show off with its beautiful color.
If you’re looking for an ornamental grass that thrives on neglect, muhly grass is a perfect choice. This native Florida plant produces airy, pinkish-purple flower plumes in the fall. It’s drought-tolerant and resistant to pests and adds a striking texture to any landscape. Trim it down almost to the ground in the early spring, and that’s it!
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
As Florida’s state wildflower, tickseed is a low-maintenance beauty that thrives in sandy, well-drained soil. Its bright yellow or orange blooms appear for months, attracting bees and butterflies. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil, making it a fantastic choice for a fuss-free garden.
These hardy flowers bloom from spring to fall, attracting butterflies and bees to your yard. Tickseed is also deer-resistant, making it great for gardens in rural areas.
To keep your tickseed looking its best, deadhead spent blooms. This encourages more flowers and extends the blooming season. I just take my hedge trimmer across the top to trim the plant down a bit and watch more blooms appear.
Society Garlic
Society garlic is a tough, drought-resistant perennial that produces delicate purple flowers and has fragrant, grass-like leaves. It thrives in full sun and poor soil, making it a great ground cover or border plant. Despite its name, it’s not actually related to garlic, but it does help deter pests in the garden.
I see this plant everywhere in Central Florida, and really looks lovely as a border in front of taller plants. And yes, it does smell a bit like garlic.
Pentas
Pentas are in my pots around the house every single year. So cheerful and really low-maintenance, these perennials are perfect for Florida gardens. No dead heading the flower heads and snails hate them. These hardy plants produce clusters of star-shaped flowers in pink, red (my fav color), white, and lavender hues. They bloom nonstop from spring through fall, adding vibrant color to your landscape.
To plant pentas, choose a spot with full sun or partial shade. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and mix in some compost. Water regularly until established. After that, they’re drought-tolerant and need little care.
Pentas attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making them great for pollinator gardens. You can grow them in the ground also. Their compact size (1-3 feet tall) works well in borders or as colorful accents. If you have a snail problem, this is the perfect plant to have.
Blue Daze
Blue Daze is a charming groundcover that brings waves of sky-blue flowers to Florida gardens. This low-growing perennial spreads 1-2 feet wide while staying just 6-12 inches tall.
You’ll love how this plant thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and needs minimal care. When it’s time to trim back, I just grab a handful of the plant and cut it off.
Blue Daze blooms from spring through fall, with small trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the morning. It’s perfect for hanging baskets, border edges, or as a groundcover in sunny spots. I love planting Blue Daze, red Pentas, and white Vinca together in a pot for all the summer patriotic holidays.
blanket flower
If you are looking for beautiful flowers for the end of summer into fall, you must plant some Blanket flowers. These cheerful perennials have daisy-like blooms in red, orange, and yellow. They’re tough plants that can handle heat and drought.
To plant blanket flowers, choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. They will spread to pick an area where you can control them. One of my favs for long-blooming color.
These flowers attract butterflies and bees to your garden. They bloom from spring to fall, giving you months of color. Cut off dead flowers to encourage more blooms.
I would love to hear about your favorite perennials you plant in your zone.
If you have any garden questions or have found a great new plant to grow, let us know about it. Gardening is learning from others, and sharing new ideas really helps me with future posts to pass along to you.
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I love these! I’m a big fan of gardening, but I don’t have a lot of time, so plants like this are perfect for me. I’m even in this climate category.
I am definitely in my plant and flower era. I love taking care of plants so I am always interested to see which ones are easy to care for…
Thank you so much Tammy, they’re all so beautiful. I am definitely planting Muhly grass, they’re amazing for landscaping. These are awesome and don’t need any maintenance.
I’m the same as you about not getting outside as much to water things. But mine is just not having the time or energy haha. Lovely perennials, I love things that need less attention x
I love how these plants attract pollinators and require minimal attention. Florida’s climate can be tough, so finding plants that handle it well is a real win.
Amazing gardening tips! Very helpful for a beginner gardener like me.