Florida is one of the best States for gardening, which means we can grow many different flowering plants there. With so many beautiful options, it’s easy to feel unsure about which flowers to grow in Florida.
This article will help you decide what flowering plants you should grow here.
Note: The climate in North Florida, Central Florida, and South Florida differs across the regions. To make it easier, I am separating the flowers into three different regions. All the pictures are from my home garden.
Before you start looking at the charts, there are a few things you need to know:
The charts here include major flowering plants we can grow in Florida. In South Florida, we can grow some plants as annuals due to the heat and humid climate. In the meantime, those same plants can be grown as perennial plants in North Florida.
Why am I telling you this? Because you will find a lot of the same flowers in all three regions of Florida. I know it's important to grow the plants at the right time. You will find the best planting time, planting method, and blooming season, as well as other necessary information for each of the flowering plants in the below charts.
This article will cover:
- Flowering plants to grow in North, Central, and South Florida.
- Best Flowering Plants with Pictures (The charts are really long, which may confuse you when deciding what to grow. This is why I have handpicked the flowers at the end of this article).
Just after the last chart, you will find the flowering plants with pictures.
We can not say that these particular plants are the best when we are talking about flowering plants. It's totally a matter of personal preference. Yes, some plants do better in sunny spots; some don't. Some flowers perform great with minimum maintenance, and some don't.
I have put all my effort into making this article unique so that you can easily choose the perfect flowering plant for your garden. Subscribe to this site (This is something that motivates me to write for you)
Flowers to grow in North Florida
Please scroll the table side-wise to see the complete data on smaller screens. You will find if a flower has fragrance or not.
| Flower | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial or Annual | Blooming Season | Fragrance | Available Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinnias | Spring to Summer | Direct Seed | Annual | Late Spring to Fall | None | Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, White |
| Marigolds | Spring to Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Spring to Frost | Mild | Yellow, Orange, Gold, Cream |
| Black-eyed Susan | Spring or Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial (some annual types) | Summer to Fall | Light | Yellow, Gold |
| Coreopsis | Spring | Seeds | Perennial | Late Spring to Summer | None | Yellow, Pink, Red |
| Salvia | Spring or Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial (some annuals) | Spring to Fall | Mild | Blue, Purple, Red, White |
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | Spring to Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light | Red, Orange, Yellow |
| Coneflower (Echinacea) | Spring or Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial | Summer to Fall | Mild | Purple, Pink, White, Yellow |
| Petunias | Fall to Spring | Transplants | Annual | Winter to Spring | Sweet | Pink, Purple, White, Red, Blue |
| Snapdragons | Fall to Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Winter to Spring | Light | Pink, Red, White, Yellow, Orange |
| Lantana | Spring to Fall | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Frost | Faint | Pink, Yellow, Red, Orange, Multi |
| Celosia | Spring to Early Summer | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink |
| Cleome (Spider Flower) | Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | Mild | Pink, Purple, White |
| Impatiens | Spring to Summer | Transplants | Annual | Spring to Fall | Light | Pink, Red, White, Orange, Purple |
| Mexican Heather | Spring to Early Summer | Transplants | Perennial (tender) | Summer to Fall | Light | Purple, Pink, White |
| Portulaca (Moss Rose) | Spring to Summer | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | Yellow, Pink, Red, Orange, White |
| Verbena | Spring to Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Annual or Tender Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light | Purple, Pink, White, Red |
| Begonias | Spring to Summer | Transplants | Annual or Tender Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light to Sweet | Pink, Red, White, Orange |
Central Florida - Flowering Plants
| Flower | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial or Annual | Blooming Season | Fragrance | Available Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinnias | Spring to Fall | Direct Seed | Annual | Late Spring to Fall | None | Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, White |
| Dahlia | Late Winter to Early Spring (Jan–Feb) | Tubers or Transplants | Tender Perennial (Grown as Annual) | Spring to Early Summer | Light to Mild | Red, Pink, Purple, Yellow, White, Orange |
| Marigolds | Fall to Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Fall to Spring | Mild | Yellow, Orange, Gold, Cream |
| Coreopsis | Spring or Fall | Seeds | Perennial | Late Spring to Summer | None | Yellow, Pink, Red |
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | Spring to Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Red, Orange, Yellow |
| Salvia | Spring or Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial (some annuals) | Spring to Fall | Mild | Blue, Purple, Red, White |
| Coneflower (Echinacea) | Spring or Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial | Summer to Fall | Mild | Purple, Pink, White, Yellow |
| Lantana | Year-round (frost-free) | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Frost | Faint | Pink, Yellow, Red, Orange, Multi |
| Vinca (Periwinkle) | Spring to Summer | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | Pink, White, Red, Lavender |
| Pentas | Spring to Fall | Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light | Pink, Red, White, Lavender |
| Cosmos | Spring to Summer | Direct Seed | Annual | Summer to Fall | Light | Pink, White, Purple, Orange |
| Sunflowers | Spring to Summer | Direct Seed | Annual | Summer | Mild | Yellow, Red, Orange |
| Blue Daze (Evolvulus) | Spring to Fall | Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | None | Bright Blue |
| Torenia (Wishbone Flower) | Spring to Fall | Transplants | Annual | Spring to Fall | Light | Purple, Blue, Pink, White |
| Celosia | Spring to Early Summer | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink |
| Cleome (Spider Flower) | Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | Mild | Pink, Purple, White |
| Caladium | Spring (after frost) | Bulbs | Annual (in frost zones) | Late Spring to Fall | None | Red, Pink, White (foliage) |
| Impatiens | Spring to Summer | Transplants | Annual | Spring to Fall | Light | Pink, Red, White, Orange, Purple |
| Dianthus | Fall to Early Spring (Oct–Feb) | Transplants or Seeds | Short-Lived Perennial (Often Grown as Annual) | Late Fall to Spring | Clove-like Fragrance | Pink, Red, White, Purple, Bi-colored |
| Mexican Heather | Spring to Early Summer | Transplants | Perennial (tender) | Summer to Fall | Light | Purple, Pink, White |
| Hollyhocks | Fall to Early Winter (Oct–Jan) | Seeds or Transplants | Biennial or Short-Lived Perennial | Late Spring to Early Summer (Second Year if from Seed) | Lightly Fragrant | Pink, Red, White, Yellow, Purple |
| Portulaca (Moss Rose) | Spring to Summer | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | Yellow, Pink, Red, Orange, White |
| Verbena | Spring to Fall | Seeds or Transplants | Annual or Tender Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light | Purple, Pink, White, Red |
| Begonias | Spring to Summer | Transplants | Annual or Tender Perennial | Spring to Frost | Light to Sweet | Pink, Red, White, Orange |
Flowers to Grow in South Florida
| Flower | Best Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial or Annual | Blooming Season | Fragrance | Available Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hibiscus | Spring to Fall | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Year-round | Light | Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange |
| Marigold | Fall to Spring | Direct Seed | Annual | Spring to Summer | Mild | Orange, Yellow |
| Vinca (Periwinkle) | Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual | Spring to Fall | None | White, Pink, Purple, Red |
| Pentas | Spring | Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | None | Red, White, Pink, Lavender |
| Zinnia | Spring to Early Summer | Direct Seed | Annual | Summer to Fall | None | All Colors |
| Salvia | Fall to Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Annual or Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Red, Blue, Purple, White |
| Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) | Fall or Spring | Seeds | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Red, Orange, Yellow |
| Ixora | Spring | Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow |
| Spider Lily | Spring to Summer | Bulbs | Perennial | Summer to Fall | Yes | White |
| Jasmine | Spring | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Strong | White |
| Night Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) | Spring to Summer | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall (Night blooming) | Strong | White-Greenish |
| Crape Jasmine | Spring | Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Summer | Yes | White |
| Giant Milkweed | Spring | Seeds or Transplants | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Lavender, White |
| Powder Puff (Calliandra) | Spring to Fall | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Fall to Spring | Light | Red, Pink, White |
| Crown of Thorns | Spring | Cuttings | Perennial | Year-round | None | Red, Yellow, Pink, White |
| Sunflower | Fall to Spring | Direct Seed | Annual | Spring to Summer | Light | Yellow, Orange |
| Bougainvillea | Year-round | Cuttings or Transplants | Perennial | Year-round | None | Pink, Purple, Orange, White, Magenta |
| Gladiolus | Fall to Spring | Bulbs (Corms) | Annual (Treated) | Spring to Summer | Light | Red, Pink, White, Yellow, Purple |
| Heliconia | Spring to Early Fall | Rhizomes | Perennial | Spring to Fall | None | Red, Yellow, Orange |
| Pink Ball Tree (Dombeya wallichii) | Spring | Cuttings | Perennial | Late Fall to Winter | Sweet | Pink |
| Cockscombs (Celosia) | Fall to Early Spring | Seeds | Annual | Winter to Spring | None | Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink |
| Plumeria | Spring | Cuttings | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Strong | White, Pink, Yellow, Red, Multi |
| Bonfire Salvia | Fall to Spring | Transplants | Annual | Fall to Spring | Light | Bright Red |
| Desert Rose | Spring to Summer | Seeds or Cuttings | Perennial | Spring to Fall | Light | Pink, Red, White |
If you want full-year planting chart, Florida planting calendar - save this.
Best Flowers for Florida Gardeners
The three charts provided here include a lot of flowers. Now it's time to pick the best ones among these.
( A few of the flowers listed below might not be there in the chart )
I am only describing those flowers I have personally grown. (The pictures are from my home garden and a few from my uncle's)
Bougainvillea / Paperflower
Bougainvillea is not a tree. It's actually a climbing vine, or you can call it a shrub.
It comes in a lot of colors, and the picture you are seeing is the most common/loved one.
I have described a caring guide with propagation methods in my detailed article on how to grow bougainvillea in Florida.
Zinnia
I consider Zinnia as one of the best flowers we can grow in Florida. The reasons are listed below:
- Heat and sun tolerance: They love full sun and can tolerate heat as well. They perform great without having wilting leaves in full sun.
- The blooming season is comparatively longer than most of the other seasonal flowering plants. In North and Central Florida, Zinnias bloom continuously from spring through fall. In South Florida, we can expect a longer blooming season (nearly year-round).
Zinnia can attract a large number of pollinators like bees and butterflies. But not every flower attract birds. Zinnia attracts hummingbirds.
Marigolds
Marigold is beautiful and charming, but I have not included it in the top list just because of its beauty.
Again, it loves the heat and humid climate of Florida. For me, this is the easiest flower to grow in Florida. They perform great with no to minimal maintenance.
I love growing marigolds along with vegetables to repel garden pests. If you are interested in companion planting, read: companion planting for veggies
As there is a large variety of marigolds available, you can visit any nursery and pick your favourite ones.
Black eyed susan
Black Eyed Susan can tolerate light drought and full sun.
It will perform better in North and Central Florida.
Do you know that Black eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is Native to Florida? This is the reason it performs magnificently in Florida.
If you are interested in Native gardening, have a look at this: Florida Native Plants
I have seen this flower being used in cottage landscaping. Most importantly, it's easy to grow from seeds.
Petunia
Petunias can be found in Multiple colors and patterns. I like to grow the soil colors, but the striped-patterned petunias are also charming.
If you start pinching in the early stage (before blooming), they will become bushier and produce a large number of buds.
The image you are seeing is a single plant.
Most of the petunia varieties can tolerate salty soil and heavy winds. This is why we can grow this in coastal areas as well.
If you are from a coastal area, have a look at this: salt tolerant plants for South Florida.
Lantana
Not every plant can tolerate pruning. Lantana can tolerate pruning well and has a long lifespan. You can shape it by pruning.
Very little to no maintenance is needed for a Lantana plant. You can use this alongside your property border.
Lantana is a super hero at tolerating drought. No need to water frequently.
Celosia/Cock's comb
Celosia is commonly known as cock's comb. You will never forget this flower name as the name originated from the bloom's appearance.
The flower resembles a rooster's comb.
Note: This flowering plant is Edible. You can search the internet for various recipes.
North and Central Florida hold the perfect climate for cock's comb. In South Florida, we can grow this as an annual plant.
Due to the heavy heat and humidity in South Florida, there is a huge chance of fungal infection (not in winter).
Plumeria
Plumeria is my favourite among all the flowering plants.
It's perennial and will go dormant in winter. (except the hottest part of South Florida)
The fragrance is not so heavy, but it is so nice that you will fall in love with the Plumeria blooms.
I have written a whole separate article on Plumeria growing and caring guide for Florida gardeners.
Powder Puff Flower
Powder puff is evergreen in Central and South Florida. I will not recommend growing it in North Florida.
This plant is cold-sensitive and can be damaged below 30–32°F.
It's actually a small tree or large shrub.
If you want to grow it or need a caring guide, especially for Florida, it's for you: Powder puff caring guide for Florida.
China Aster
In North Florida, we can grow China Aster and enjoy the beauty of the blooms for a longer time. Central Florida's climate is suitable for growing China aster but prone to diseases.
If you want to grow China Aster in South Florida, I would say: Not ideal unless grown as a short-season winter annual. Plant in Nov-Jan and remove when the temp. starts to rise again.
In Central Florida and South Florida, afternoon shade can be helpful.
China aster comes in a few other colors as well.
Rangoon Creeper
This is one of my favourite flowering vines. Most of us ignore the fragrance of the blooms as the fragrance does not spread well.
You should consider growing this in Central and South Florida. This plant can die in extreme cold. This is not for North Florida.
You can check the full caring and growing guide here: Rangoon Creeper caring guide.
Other flowering plants that I have grown in my garden
I love to grow flowering plants in the ground rather than in pots.
I have so many flowers that I can not describe each of them in a single article. I really enjoy showing off my plants to fellow plant lovers who appreciate flowers just as much as I do.
Here are a few of my other flowering plants with names and pictures that you can grow in Florida. ( The details of the flowers can be found in the above three charts )
Just plant this once and forget it. Believe me, without maintenance, it will survive and produce flowers. You can find the guide here: Grow crown of thorns in Florida
This is a pink ball tree flower. I am in love with this color.
You can find the growing guide here: grow hollyhocks in Florida
While growing this Mirabilis or Marvel-of-peru, make sure you are ready to remove unnecessary saplings (Self-grown). This is considered as invasive in South Florida.
I only grew one and now have 100 of this plant. But I love to keep them as the color of this flower is stunning.
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