What is a native plant?

Why should I plant natives?

What are the specific requirements (amount of light, soil, etc.) for native plants?

What does the pH of the soil mean?

Don’t native plants generally look weedy?

What types of wildlife can I expect with my native landscape?

How do I know which plants will grow in my area?

What are the benefits of trees and shrubs that are grown in Smart Pots^® and Florida Cool Ring^® vs. those that are grown in plastic containers?

What makes invasive exotics harmful to the natural environment?

My native plant looks like it is dying.  Is it really dead?

In order to have berries on my trees, what do I need for my landscape?

What are Plant Hardiness Zones?

 

 

What is a native plant?

Defined by the Florida Native Plant Society: “For most purposes, the phrase Florida native plant refers to those species occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact, according to the best available scientific and historical documentation. More specifically, it includes those species understood as indigenous, occurring in natural associations in habitats that existed prior to significant human impacts and alterations of the landscape.”

 

 

Why should I plant natives?

There are more than 2800 species of native plants found in our state and about 1 in 12 of our natives occur naturally here and nowhere else when properly situated.  They require less maintenance, are well adapted to Florida’s seasonal conditions, and provide a natural habitat and food for most wildlife.  Native plants are also less invasive than exotics and often require less irrigation in order to adapt to their natural environment.   Native plants eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides that are not only harmful to our water supply, but to the environment, as well as native animals. Natives provide an aesthetic appeal to the landscape, gives a look of rarity, and promote pride for the state of Florida.  For additional information, please see our Why Native Plants? page. We also recommend for further reading, A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants by Rufino Osorio.

 

 

What are the specific requirements (amount of light, soil, etc.) for native plants?

The specific requirements for native plants vary between each species.  Each landscape is different and requires strategic planning on the landscaper’s part.  By using All Native’s Plant Gallery, you will be able to learn specifics about the habitat and conditions each individual plant requires.  Also, make sure you reference our Hardiness Zone Map to determine which plants work best for your area. 

 

 

What does the pH of the soil mean?

Soil pH is the most commonly used index of plant root zone acidity or alkalinity.  The pH scale ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline or basic) with a scale of 7 to be considered neutral.  The pH level is important because plants generally prefer either acid or alkaline conditions.  The soil pH affects the chemical reaction between plant roots and nutrients and the availability of nutrients in the soil for plant use.  Plants placed in the wrong soil or pH or watered with the wrong pH will not thrive.

 

 

Don’t native plants generally look weedy?

This is a common misconception when considering native plants for a landscape.  Natives are becoming more horticulturally enhanced- meaning the selection of cultivars’ growth are developed and controlled for landscape use. Many natives are fragrant, brightly colored, provide seasonal color changes, known for their hardiness, and are generally insect resilient.  Using natives eliminates the monotony and lifelessness of the typical urban landscape setting.  With the increased interest in native plants, many more superior selections will be introduced to the marketplace.

 

 

What types of wildlife can I expect with my native landscape?

Both your plant choices and your landscape design will determine what wildlife you will attract. Native landscapes must provide three essentials to wildlife: food, cover, and water.  Generally, native landscapes will attract a variety of birds, squirrels, rabbits, butterflies, honeybees, and hummingbirds. A yard landscaped with wildlife does not necessarily need to look "wild".  A more traditional landscape design will provide the same great benefits. The best wildlife landscapes require a minimum amount of care. As so, frequent watering, fertilizing, spraying and pruning will disturb wildlife and limit their use of the area.

 

 

How do I know which plants will grow in my area?

In order for plants to grow well in the area in which they are planted, there are several factors that are necessary for their success.  The USDA has created a Hardiness Zone Map which is used as a general guide to help determine which plants will work best for certain areas.  In addition to the zone map, water needs, amount of sunlight required, soil type, and soil and water pH, are just a few of the other conditions that must also be met.  All Native’s online Plant Gallery allows you to look up the specific needs of individual plants that you are considering growing in your landscape. 

 

 

What are the benefits of trees and shrubs that are grown in Smart Pots^® and Florida Cool Ring^® vs. those that are grown in plastic containers?

All Native strives to provide the most advanced and beneficial system for propagating our trees and shrubs.  Plant roots are susceptible to both heat stresses during the summer months and cold injury during the winter.  Due to these factors, plastic containers can lead to root spiraling, essentially causing the plant to "choke".  Hotter temperatures can also cause the roots to grow on the cooler side of the plastic container.  Smart Pots^® and Florida Cool Ring^® eliminate this problem through air pruning.  Trees and shrubs grown in fabric root bags form a dense fibrous root system that allow for outward root growth rather than root spiraling.  Root bags cause less stress when transplanting and allow the plant to grow more quickly. 

 

 

What makes invasive exotics harmful to the natural environment?

When exotic or non-native plants are introduced to a new location without the factors like severe seasonal weather, diseases, or insect pests that keep them under control in their native location or range, they can continue growing and reproducing, out-competing, and displacing the native plants.  This also leads to disrupting naturally balanced native plant communities.  This reduction in biodiversity can impact wildlife and indefinitely alter natural processes like water flow. As an example, Melaleuca trees introduced from Australia doubled their range in Florida from 1980-1990, ultimately covering over 500,000 acres of the Everglades.

 

My native plant looks like it is dying.  Is it really dead?

There is a possibility that your plant may not be dead.  Several species of native plants are deciduous and appear as though they may be dying, but they are simply just losing their leaves and becoming dormant for winter time.  Some of these natives include Bald Cypress, Beautyberry, Plums, Dogwood, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Coral Honeysuckle, and the Native Azalea.   

 

In order to have berries on my trees, what do I need for my landscape?

Some plants are monecious while others are diecious.  Monecious plants are able to self-pollinate. Diecious plants, however, require both a male and female plant in order to produce berries.

 

What are Plant Hardiness Zones?

The Plant Hardiness Zones Map is a general guide created by the USDA to help determine which plants will grow in certain areas based on temperatures in which plants can endure.  The USDA map is based on weather patterns and records from 1974-1986, and is considered a standard measure of plant hardiness throughout the United States. To view the Hardiness Zones of Florida, click here.