South Florida Native Plants

Let’s start by answering the question “What is a South Florida native plant?“.  It refers to indigenous species that existed in Florida prior to any significant human impact or changes to the landscape.

By planting native plants and restoring natural habitats, you are contributing to the conservation of South Florida’s ecosystems.  Benefits of native plant gardening and habitat restoration include:

• reducing landscape maintenance and water consumption
• provide a habitat for migrating wildlife
• provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other native wildlife
• bridging the gaps between protected conservation areas.

Want to find out which native plants are recommended for your South Florida neighborhood?  Simply visit the regional conservation website  and once there, simply enter your zip code or county in one of the fields on the top right side of the page and click the “find” button.  Be sure to also check out their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page which is also very informative.

If you enjoy gardening, check back regularly for additional posts on South Florida gardening and landscaping. 

To learn more about Florida’s native plants visit the Florida Native Plant Society, and if you’d like to join, contact your local chapter.  Ready to add some South Florida native plants to your landscape and are not sure how to locate a South Florida native plant nursery?  Here is a list of some local ones:

Broward County:

Spyke’s Grove | 7250 Griffin Rd., Davie, FL | Website | Phone: 954-583-0426
The Garden Gate at Sears | 2251 N. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL | Website | 954-783-1189
Alexander Landscaping & Plant Farm | 830 S. Flamingo Rd., Davie, FL | Website | Phone: 954-472-5039

Palm Beach County:

Indian Trails Native Nursery | 6315 Park Ln. W., Lake Worth, FL | Phone: 561-248-6669
Meadow Beauty Nursery | 5782 Ranches Rd., Lake Worth, FL | Phone: 561-966-6848

Miami-Dade County:

Richard’s Lyons’ Nursery | 20200 SW 134th AVe., Miami, FL | Website | Phone: 305-251-6293
Veber’s Jungle Garden | 24605 SW 197th Ave., Homestead, FL | Phone: 305-242-9500

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Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Landscaping – Quick Home Sale Strategy Tip #2

We’ve all heard it before: first impressions are lasting impressions.  If you’re planning on selling your South Florida / Broward County home in the near future, one way to increase your home’s curb appeal as well as your Florida home’s value is through landscaping.  In this article, we’ll concentrate on the front yard since that’s among the first things a prospective home buyer will notice as they pull up to your home.

At a minimum, the lawn should be a healthy green… free of weeds, fertilized when appropriate, mowed and watered regularly and any patchy areas should be replaced with new grass or sod.  Any dead or dying plants, shrubs, etc. should be removed or replaced.  While mature trees can be great providers of shade and help reduce home energy costs, they should be pruned back if they touch your home or thinned out if they shade such a large area that grass won’t grow under their branches.  Applying a fresh layer of mulch around trees, plants and in flower beds is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to improve your home’s curb appeal.  Finally, placing a nice container full of flowering plants next to the front door makes for an inviting entrance.

In the strong buyer’s market we are currently experiencing in South Florida, every improvement you can make to your home can make a difference in how quickly it sells by making it more appealing to home buyers.  I’ve found HGTV to be a great resource for gardening tips and landscaping design ideas.