At a glance
- Region ID: CENTRAL-FL
- Anchor cities: Orlando, Tampa
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9b–10a
- Soil: Sandy, fast-draining, often alkaline due to limestone substrate
- Catalog size: 94 plants
- Climate factors: Hurricane risk June–November, occasional hard freezes every 5–10 years, daily summer thunderstorms
Pruning & maintenance calendar
January – February
Structural pruning of crape myrtle before bud break. Bark scale inspection on trunks and crotches. Cool-season maintenance window — best time for major structural work on most species.
February – March
March – Early May
Live oak leaf drop (March-April) — clients new to the region often misread this annual event as decline. Post-bloom pruning of Indian hawthorn and Loropetalum.
May – June
Eastern lubber grasshopper nymphs congregate on lower foliage in groups — hand-removal is the most effective control. St. Augustine chinch bug monitoring begins on sunny lawns.
June – September
St. Augustinegrass mowing height monitoring — maintain 3.5–4 inches for standard cultivars. Tropical sod webworm monitoring late summer.
October – November
Post-hurricane recovery: structural pruning, hazardous limb removal. Pre-cold-season preparation for marginal tropicals — locating frost-cloth and noting tender plantings for cold snaps.
Regional pest & pathogen pressure
- Southern chinch bug on St. Augustinegrass — defining mid-summer pest. Tell: expanding yellow-to-brown patches in sunny lawn portions; tiny black-and-white bugs at patch margins.
- Tropical sod webworm — late summer pressure. Tell: ragged-edged patches; small caterpillars at soil surface, active at night.
- Eastern lubber grasshopper — heavy summer pressure on amaryllis, crinum, dietes, agapanthus, lily-family ornamentals. Tell: large slow-moving grasshoppers (up to 3 inches), conspicuous yellow-and-black coloring, group-feeding nymphs in spring.
- Crape myrtle bark scale — established and spreading. Tell: white felt-like crusty patches on branches; sooty mold below.
- Entomosporium leaf spot on Indian hawthorn — pressure heavy in humid conditions.
- Camellia tea scale — chronic on sasanqua plantings in shaded sites.
- Lace bug on azalea and lantana — heavy summer pressure.
- Algal leaf spot on magnolia and camellia — cosmetic but visually prominent in humid summer.
- Take-all root rot on St. Augustinegrass — pressure highest in stressed turf, alkaline soils.
- Hurricane wind damage on shallow-rooted species — selection of hurricane-resistant species (live oak, sabal palm) matters more here than in any other US region.
Core staples (commonness 1)
Currently: 12 of 21 core staples profiled. Remaining plants tracked in the catalog data.
Live Oak
Core staplePruning — late summer or fall
Iconic Southern tree, salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, hurricane-resistant. Spanish moss draping is epiphytic and harmless. Annual leaf drop in March-April alarms clients new to Central Florida — this is normal, not decline. Surface roots extensive at maturity. Site away from structures and hardscape.
Common pests
Pest Live oak gall wasps
Numerous types — bullet, wool, leaf, twig galls. Cosmetic primarily. Public concern is high; arborist explanation usually suffices.
Pest Buck moth caterpillar
Black spiny caterpillars in late spring. Stinging spines cause significant skin reaction — public-safety concern in residential and school landscapes during outbreak years.
Firebush
Core staple · NativePruning — late winter to early spring
Hard pruning annually controls size and renews bloom in zones 9b–10. Confirm species at purchase — the native Florida Hamelia patens var. patens has been heavily diluted in the nursery trade by hybridization with H. patens 'African' and H. cuprea; only the native form has full ecological value for native pollinators and ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Cultural notes
Continuous orange-red tubular flowers spring through frost — the most reliable nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds in residential landscapes. Heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant once established. Various caterpillar species (including pluto sphinx moth larvae) feed on foliage — generally welcomed on this plant as it supports native pollinators.
St. Augustinegrass
Core stapleMowing height — 3.5–4 inches standard, 2.5 inches dwarf cultivars
Mowing height is the most important variable. Maintain at proper height to suppress chinch bug pressure and weed encroachment. Use sharp blades — St. Augustine has wide leaf blades that show torn edges immediately when blades are dull. Established by sod or plugs; does not produce viable seed for commercial use.
Common pests & pathogens
Pest Southern chinch bug
Irregular yellow-to-brown patches in sunny portions of the lawn, expanding outward over weeks. Tiny black-and-white bugs at the soil surface at patch margins. The defining pest of St. Augustine throughout Central Florida.
Pest Tropical sod webworm
Brown ragged-edged patches; small caterpillars at the soil surface, especially active at night. Pressure peaks late summer through fall.
Disease Large patch (Rhizoctonia)
Circular yellow-to-brown patches 2–10 ft. in diameter, expanding through cool wet spring and fall weather. The defining cool-season disease.
Crape Myrtle
Core staplePruning — late winter, before bud break
Never top. Cut to lateral branches at the trunk or outward-facing buds. National Arboretum "Indian Tribes" series bred for mildew resistance.
Common pests
Pest Crape myrtle bark scale
White felt-like crusty patches on branches and trunk; black sooty mold below. Established and spreading throughout the Southeast and Gulf Coast.
Indian Hawthorn
Core staplePruning — immediately after spring bloom
Resents heavy formal shearing. Entomosporium pressure has reduced the species' use significantly. Resistant cultivars (Eleanor Taber, Snow White, Olivia) preferred.
Common pathogens
Disease Entomosporium leaf spot
Reddish-purple spots progressing to brown blotches and significant leaf drop. Pressure heavily correlated with overhead irrigation and sheared-canopy plantings.
Southern Magnolia
Core staplePruning — minimal; light shaping late winter
Iconic Southern tree. Continuous leaf drop throughout the year, not in one fall flush. Little Gem is the most-planted cultivar in residential settings. Magnolia scale and algal leaf spot are the main pressure issues.
Lantana
Core staplePruning — late winter, hard cutback to 6–12 inches
Several Florida counties prohibit non-native lantana species — sterile cultivars (New Gold, Bloomify) only on many municipal lists. Lace bug pressure heavy mid-summer. All parts toxic if ingested.
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum)
Core staplePruning — immediately after spring bloom
Species form reaches 10–15 ft despite being labeled as a foundation shrub. Right-size the cultivar to the site at planting — Purple Pixie, Crimson Fire, and Purple Diamond hold 3–5 ft.
Liriope
Core staplePruning — late winter (February–early March)
Mow or string-trim entire planting to 2–3 inches before new growth. Workhorse border and groundcover plant.
Asiatic Jasmine
Core staplePruning — late winter to early spring
Mow or string-trim entire bed to 2–3 inches once a year. Mature beds spread aggressively. Rarely flowers in cultivation. Climbs structures if not maintained.
Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Core staplePruning — late winter to early spring
Workhorse foundation evergreen. Schillings, Stokes, Nana cultivars hold tight rounded form. Reliable alternative to Japanese holly.
Mondo Grass
Core staplePruning — minimal; renew every 2–3 years if needed
Most plantings need no pruning. Dwarf cultivar ('Nana', 3–4 inches) is the version typically used between pavers. Finer texture than liriope — better suited to Asian-influenced plantings and tighter formal scales.
Inside the app
Skip the spreadsheet. Verdant Meridian seeds your library with the regional palette on day one.
Pick your region at onboarding — the app loads commonness-1 and commonness-2 plants into your element library.
Try Free — 30 DaysHow this list was built
Compiled from regional wholesale grower availability lists — not retail garden references. No chemical, fungicide, or product recommendations appear anywhere in this database. Diagnostic and cultural information only.
FAQ
What hardiness zone is Orlando?
Orlando sits in USDA Zone 9b. Tampa is 9b–10a. Central Florida is subtropical with mild winters, hot humid summers, and occasional hard freezes every 5–10 years.
What is the best lawn grass for Central Florida?
St. Augustinegrass is the dominant warm-season turf. Floratam is the historical workhorse; Palmetto for shade tolerance; Captiva and Seville are dwarf cultivars.
Why is firebush so popular in Central Florida?
Native Florida shrub with continuous orange-red tubular flowers spring through frost — the most reliable hummingbird nectar source in residential landscapes. Confirm species at purchase since the nursery trade has heavily diluted native stock.
Are eastern lubber grasshoppers damaging plants in Central Florida?
Yes. Up to 3 inches long, slow-moving, eat amaryllis, crinum, dietes, agapanthus, and many lily-family ornamentals. Hand-removal of nymphs in spring (group-feeding on lower foliage) is the most effective cultural control.
Cite this page
Verdant Meridian, “Central Florida Plant Palette,”
verdantmeridian.app/regions/central-florida, updated May 2026. CC-BY-4.0. Raw data: /data/plants.json.Published under CC-BY-4.0. Free to use, redistribute, build on — attribution required.
