Welcome to Miami, Florida’s tropical paradise, where lush lawns and vibrant landscapes are a prominent part of the local scenery. But with Miami’s high humidity and intense heat, finding the right types of plants, grasses, and flowers that will thrive in local lawns can be challenging. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the best options for landscaping in Miami, from drought-tolerant grasses that can withstand the heat to colorful flowers that bloom in the tropical sunshine. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a new homeowner looking to spruce up your lawn, we’ll give you the tips and tricks you need to create a lush, thriving landscape that will be the envy of your neighborhood. So, let’s dive in and discover the best plants for Miami lawns!
Coconut Palm
The Coconut Palm is an iconic, must-have in any tropical garden. Its elegant, feathery fronds provide shade, while its fruits are enjoyed by humans and wildlife. The coconut palm is a tall, gracefully shaped tropical tree that produces large crowns of fan-shaped leaves and can grow up to 100 feet tall with a spread of 30–50 feet. Coconut palms are prized for the harvestable fruit, weighing up to 80 pounds.
They’re also quite long-lived, living up to 75 years. These trees thrive in many different climates and have been known to grow well in Miami, with its hot, humid summers and mild winters. You’ll find coconut palms growing indoors and outside in different soli types throughout South Florida. If you want your own plant at home, it’s recommended that you keep it in a large pot where it will remain small enough not to cause any damage or block the sun from hitting other plants around it. You can even use them as part of your landscaping design.
Ixora shrub
Ixora is a popular tropical shrub that thrives in South Florida lawns and landscapes. It provides an early spring and summer show of colorful flowers and fruits, which often persist into fall. If you love bright colors, this shrub is perfect. The Ixora shrub produces brilliant orange, red, yellow, purple, and white flowers. The leaves are oval-shaped and grow on opposite sides of the stem. The shrub is an excellent choice for a garden border or as a specimen tree in spacious areas. Ixora can also serve as an excellent hedge or accent plant.
The branches are covered with thorns at their tips, so be careful when handling this plant. This native of India needs little maintenance; all you need to do is keep it watered during dry spells (in South Florida this may only happen once every few years).
St. Augustine Grass For Lawns
St. Augustine is a popular grass for homeowners who want a lush, green lawn. The grass is a hardy, warm-season grass that is Florida’s most popular lawn. Its dark green color and fine, dense texture are matched by a few other types of grass. With a moderate growth rate and excellent shade tolerance, St. Augustine Grass is one of the best grasses that grow in Miami and it is a tough and durable choice for your next lawn project. St. Augustine grass can be planted from seed or sod and thrives in full sun or light shade locations with good drainage, making it an excellent choice for Florida lawns’ sandy soil.
Thryallis
Thryallis is a plant whose flowers are grown commercially for their ability to attract butterflies. Thryallis is a hardy grass that grows well in shady, damp areas. It does not require much maintenance and can also be used as ground cover to block out weeds and make pathways. Its texture varies from short, fine fibrous blades to long, wiry leaves. A fast-growing option for people that want a lawn but lack a lot of time and space.
Its flowers are fragrant and come in the following colors: pink, red, yellow, and purple. The leaves of this plant are long and slender, which makes it perfect for planting in areas where there isn’t much space available. Thryallis is easy to care for as well. It can grow in almost any soil type or climate condition so long as they receive plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
Seashore Paspalum
Seashore paspalum is a warm-season grass that grows in salt and sand. It has dark green color and can tolerate the full sun along with hot and humid weather. Seashore paspalum is an excellent grass for the sunny Florida landscape. This perennial grass in Florida is heat-tolerant and has a graceful, arching habit that produces showy, bright green foliage throughout the summer. This grass grows best in full sun and requires moderate irrigation in the summer months.
Seashore paspalum grass is a great choice for golf courses because it doesn’t need much care to stay green and because its roots are deep enough to prevent water from collecting on top of them during periods of heavy rainfall (which leads to mud).
Hibiscus
The Hibiscus is a beautiful flower that can be found in Miami as it is found in most tropical climates. The plant thrives best when planted in full sun and well-drained soil. It should also be watered with regularity to promote growth. Hibiscus flowers are bright and colorful, and they attract butterflies. A hibiscus hedge can easily be maintained as it only needs to be pruned every few years.
Zoysia Grass (Bermuda Grass)
Zoysia Grass is probably the most popular and most used grass in America. It is one of the best grass that grows in Miami because it stays green year-round without needing much water or fertilizer. Its beautiful texture, rich color, and plush feel make it a must-have for any Miami garden. Hence, If you’re looking for a low-maintenance lawn, zoysia grass is a great option for you. Zoysia grass is also known as “Bermuda Grass” and they need less mowing than other types of grasses.
Pride of Barbados flower
Growing Pride of Barbados is an easy way to add color, texture, and warmth to your patio, balcony, or garden. Their long-lasting blooms are both fragrant and stunning. This easy-to-grow perennial flower in the sunshine makes a bold statement in any landscape. Unlike some other tropical plants, Pride of Barbados is easy to grow and maintain. It will thrive in full sunlight or partial shade (if you’re growing it indoors), and its soil needs are minimal: regular watering during the warmer months will keep your plant healthy and happy. When grown on the turf, the pride of Barbados is drought tolerant.
Centipede Grass – Ornamental Grass
Centipede grass is a versatile garden grass that tolerates dry soil and heat. This grass has dark green leaves, plus a well-defined blade structure that can add a real punch to any landscape. It’s drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and shade tolerant, making it the perfect candidate for any lawn you want to plant there.
Centipede grass is also aggressive and spreads by rhizomes (underground stems), so if you want something that won’t take over your lawn then this isn’t the plant for you. It does require a bit of shade when first planted, but give it some time and it will be growing in full sun with no problem. You’ll love how low-maintenance this plant is.
Firebush Shrub
Firebush shrubs are wonderful flowering plants that can be grown in containers. They produce small, bright orange flowers and require pruning to keep them at a manageable size. It is a low-maintenance shrub that grows to a height of ten to fifteen feet and has red flowers. The plant can be propagated both by seeds and cuttings. Firebush shrub prefers shady areas, but can also be grown in a sunny location if watered regularly and fertilized once in a while.
Carpet Grass For Florida
Carpet grass (Axonopus affinis) is a perennial groundcover grass with leaves that grow up to 2 feet tall. It can be planted in shady areas as it thrives in partial shade. This plant can be used to cover large areas and help stop erosion, since it grows quickly and spreads across the ground. It is known as one of the best grasses that grow in Miami. Carpetgrass requires little water or maintenance, making it perfect for those who don’t want to spend time working on their yard but still want something beautiful.
Croton shrub
The Croton shrub is a tropical plant (coastal) that thrives in the warm, humid weather of Miami. It is a small, evergreen shrub with leathery leaves that are glossy green on top and pale yellow underneath. The flowers are pendulous clusters of red, orange, or white blooms. The shrub has dark green leaves with red veins and is easy to maintain. It does not require a lot of maintenance and can be maintained by watering it once every week or two.
Furthermore, with so many beautiful plants and flowers to choose from, it can be difficult to decide (choose the best grass type or Florida grass) which ones are right for your home. If you’re looking for professional services to help narrow down your option for any of the best grasses that grow in Miami, Blaum Landscaping is the one for you.