Are you looking for the best plants for full sun in Florida? Read on to discover the best choices for your garden. There are many varieties of Florida starflower that are both attractive and remarkably resilient. Its blue-green leaves and gray-green spikes make it an excellent choice for the Florida climate. Its flowers are bell-shaped and it produces seedpods. It even reproduces by itself! Here are the five most popular varieties.
Canna
Cannas grow best in full sun and will require additional water in hot climates. However, they can tolerate partial shade and require just four hours of direct sunlight. Cannas also prefer moist and rich soil that is slightly acidic to neutralize the pH. They also need a consistent supply of water; too little water will lead to leaf tearing and stunted growth.
A canna’s bloom size is directly related to the number of eyes it has on its rhizome. The more eyes it has, the larger the plant and the larger the bloom. The canna rhizome should be dug up in spring and planted at least four to five inches deep. For a faster start, you can pot the rhizome indoors before the last frost and keep it moist.
To help prevent leaf-rollers, be sure to inspect your cannas for infestations. Leaf-rollers prefer close-growing Canna species. If you have a problem, open the leaves to remove the caterpillars. In larger plantings, clipping the leaf’s upper half is effective. Insecticides can be sprayed in the leaf’s underside.
Jacobinia
If you want a flowering shrub for full sun, consider Jacobinia. Its flower clusters resemble frozen fireworks. This shrub does well in both full and partial shade. It needs well-drained soil and prefers rich soil for best results. Jacobinia is a very hardy plant and can withstand drought and heat. Jacobinia is a native of South America.
A good location to grow Jacobinia is a spot with filtered to full-day sun. It is somewhat sensitive to frost, but it will recover quickly in spring if protected by a mulch or other protective measure. Jacobinia can be pruned to remove dead flower heads, increase the number of branches, or produce more flowers. Rejuvenation type pruning is also helpful with older plants. Taller stems can be pruned to a node near the ground.
The Jacobinia Pink shrub grows to 5 feet in height and produces bright pink and white flowers. If you’re planting in full sun, keep it well sheltered from the scorching rays. This plant also does well in partial shade and will survive without too much water. This plant will bloom from April through August, although it needs partial shade to thrive. If you don’t have a full sun garden, you can grow it in a container and water it as needed.
Firebush
The flowering season of Firebush varies from spring to fall, but the plant is a year-round interest in gardens. This perennial shrub has a wide range of habitats, including tropical areas, as well as the southern United States. This plant can grow to 12 feet tall and bear flowers throughout the summer. Its flowers are a bright red color and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The plant is heat and drought tolerant, and it looks great as a stand-alone shrub or in a mixed border.
For the most vibrant flowers, plant firebush in full sunlight. This plant tolerates part shade, but it may not bloom as well. It also requires regular watering, and should be soaked every two weeks in the first few seasons. Firebush tolerates salt spray moderately. Firebush is also a community activist and a garden expert, Ron Finley of the Florida Botanical Society.
Verbena
Once established, verbena plants grow well in full sun. They need little care and will cover the ground in 18-24 months. The best location for this plant is full sun, with minimal shade. They need good air circulation, too, to grow properly. Occasionally applying fertilizer will help keep the foliage dark green. Verbena is prone to aphids and other common houseplant pests, so be sure to watch for them.
If you’re considering planting a Verbena in full sun, you should choose a spot with some drainage. Verbena requires well-drained soil; if the soil is too soggy, the plant may die off. To improve drainage, mix in some compost or organic materials in the soil. The flower-scented foliage will entice visitors. Verbena doesn’t require much water, although you may need to water frequently. The best time to fertilize your Verbena is in the spring.
‘Greystone Daphne’ is the hardiest verbena variety available. The rosy flowers of this plant are very fragrant, and it blooms from early spring to fall frost. Other hardy varieties include ‘Taylortown Red’ and ‘Homestead Purple’, which grows up to 3 feet tall. ‘Appleblossom’ is another vigorous variety, with large white flowers.
Milkweed
The native milkweed, A. viridis, grows from 12 to 24 inches tall and produces white blooms with a pink blush. The plant needs full sun but will tolerate partial shade and clay soil. Its flowers attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies and bees. Milkweed is a great choice for full-sun gardens and is easy to grow from seed. It spreads easily by seeds and underground rhizomes.
Among the best plants for full-sun gardens, milkweed is a popular choice because of its role as a pollinator in Florida gardens. Not only does milkweed attract butterflies and bees, but it also serves as a host plant for caterpillars. There are many species of milkweed, but most commonly found in nurseries are non-native. When planting, be sure to check local requirements for plant growth and care.
Another excellent choice for full-sun gardens is the swamp milkweed. This plant has a deep taproot and thrives in soil with moderate moisture. It needs full sun and good drainage. Swamp milkweed grows in disturbed areas, and can be found in gardens near wetland habitats. Moreover, it is a great source of nectar for monarch butterflies and native bees. You can purchase hundreds of seed packs for this plant at nurseries across Florida.
Iris
African irises are a great plant for full-sun gardens. These beautiful, low-maintenance plants thrive in full sun and tolerate dry conditions. They are easy to grow and maintain and look great alongside your flower bed or border. Their low maintenance nature makes them an ideal plant for Florida landscaping. And because they don’t need much water, you can enjoy their colorful blooms year-round without having to worry about mowing them down every week.
Another good plant for full-sun gardens is a flowering tree. Catharanthus roseus grows up to 20 feet tall and is native to Madagascar. It is hardy and resistant to most types of heat and drought. This plant produces flower clusters in spring and summer and is drought-tolerant. This plant is an excellent choice for gardens and borders, and only requires pruning when stems get too long.
Another excellent plant for full-sun gardens is golden dewdrop. This low-growing evergreen shrub produces blue or white flowers and can be grown in containers to protect it from winter temperatures. It needs six to eight hours of sunlight to flourish, but it can also manage to survive in a semi-shaded area. Zinnia is another favorite of many gardeners. It produces attractive, small-to-large blooms in a wide variety of colors. Zinnia needs at least six hours of full sun in order to flower and thrive. It grows best in a rich, well-drained soil.
Iris bicolor
Iris bicolor does well in damp soil that is slightly acidic. The ideal ground is a mix of organic matter with good drainage. Iris prefers soil that is neutral to slightly acidic, which promotes faster growth. Bicolor Iris is best planted near a water body and keeps the soil moist at all times. To avoid fungal attacks, keep the soil slightly acidic.
The Bicolor Iris plant can survive in water for extended periods. However, it does lose water rapidly when kept in full sun. Water your Bicolor Iris about twice a week to keep its foliage healthy and blooms fresh. Keep in mind that the watering schedule depends on the climate of your area. The best time to water an Iris is in the spring and summer, but it will do fine with a light sprig of water in the fall.
Another reason why the Bicolor Iris is ideal for full-sun gardens in Florida is its beautiful flowers. They form in abundance from late April to mid-June, and are typically cream white or pale yellow. The flowers contrast beautifully with the dark green stems and foliage. Each bloom is accented with dark staining dots in the center. This bicolor plant can tolerate some urban pollution and can grow in full sun.
Columbine
The soil needs of columbine are unique and depend on the climate of the region. They thrive best in direct, partial, or even full shade. They do not like the direct heat of the sun but thrive in dappled shade and prefer well-drained soil. Because of their deep roots, columbine can survive without watering for days on end. It also tolerates rocky slopes and dry soil but does best in well-drained, fertile soil.
The most common scourge of columbine is the leaf miner, which eats through the leaves between the surface of the leaves. This problem can be prevented by spraying the foliage, but the damage is only cosmetic. In Florida, the foliage is often green during the summer months, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the flowers. To eliminate leaf miner infestation, simply cut off the foliage and discard it. If the temperatures don’t get scorching, new foliage will appear in its place.
A fun experiment with columbines is planting more than one type. Some people prefer a single variety of columbine. This way, they get the same flowers every year. However, if you plant multiple varieties, the flowers will cross-pollinate with each other, so it’s best to stick to a single variety. If you choose to plant more than one type of columbine, you’ll need to make sure that they have a similar climate.