Question
Hi Mellissa.  I have an opportunity to go to florida this winter to do a couple commercial landscaping jobs and consultations.  I`m a horticulturist from New Hampshire and am familiar with the plants here but I`m fairly clueless about tropicals.  I was wondering if you could suggest to me some common landscape plants that would thrive in florida and be pretty low maintenance.  Also, if you have the time you could let me know what conditions they take (full sun,shade,etc.).  I really appreciate it and I`m in no hurry so please respond at your own convenience.  Thank you SO VERY MUCH! Have a great day.  Love, Wende.

Answer
Dear Wende, I don't usually do this, but I have been a bit overwhelmed with personal stuff lately, holidays, etc., so after I give you this initial answer, would you do me a favor and send a followup question so that I can give you more information?  You see the way this system works is that we have an allotted time to answer questions, and sometimes I don't think it properly allows for good answers to some of them.  Florida is awesome (never been personally, yet), and it is a lot like having all your houseplants growing outside in the ground.  Best examples of common landscaping plants would be palms, banana trees, all kinds of shrubs and flowering plants, tropical hibiscus with the glossy leaves and big flowers, and I think everyone should get a night blooming jasmine and place it in an area near a patio or open window, because it only has a fragrance at night and it smells like pure heaven.  Birds of paradise and anthuriums with the stange red flowers thrive there and so do plumerias (hawaiian lei flowers) and poinsettias and really anything you can think of.  Most of these prefer a lot of sun, since there is so much sun in the area that would figure, huh?  So anyway send me a followup and I will give you some more tips.  You might try asking some Florida nurseries what plants they usually stock for various landscape needs (trees, shrubs, perennials, color, groudcover) and then see what you like out of that.  Write soon.  Melissa