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Southern Lady Fern

Athyrium filix-femina

Fronds are lacy and delicate in appearance. Ground cover. This is a clump-forming fern (all fronds arise from a central point) making it a good focal point in a shade garden. Can also be used as a border plant.

Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
Colorful fall foliage
Adequate fertalization required
Highly versatile
Bright red fruits

Titi

Cyrilla racemiflora

Hedge plant.

Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
Rapid growth
Cold tolerant
Ringed trunk

Cherrybark Oak

Quercus pagoda

The range map for this species suggests that it might occur in the ApalachicolaRiver floodplains even where it had not been documented. Shade tree. This is a large oak.

Flowers profusely year round
Silvery blue-green fronds
Excellent choice for narrow spaces
Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
Somewhat drought tolerant
Long emerald crownshaft

Coralbean

Erythrina herbacea

Forming a thicket for wildlife protection.

Cornerstone plant in South Florida
Unique, sweet almond flavor
Compact and versatile
Healthy edible fruit
Flowers year round

Bristle Basketgrass

Oplismenus setarius

There is potential name confusion with this species since it was formerly considered to be a subspecies of O. hirtellus (Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius) The Florida Plant Atlas indicates that Oplismenus setarius is common in Florida. O. hirtellus (not the subspecies) has been documented from only one Florida county, and it is a non-native. This is a low groundcover that can be effective seasonally as a low-use turf in shady locations.

Fruit attracts wildlife
Unique foliage and silhouette
Dense, full crown

Dimpled Troutlily

Erythronium umbilicatum

This species has a cold requirement. It cannot be grown successfully much south of its native range. Early spring wildflower. Can be planted as a seasonal groundcover in a shady location.

Attractive shade tree
Elegant
Narrow crown
Killed by citrus greening (HLB)

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Can be grown as a groundcover. This is a species on the southern limits of its range in North Florida. Its known occurrence (ISB 2020) is sparse in FLorida. Informal plantings, especially butterfly gardens. Useful for erosion control.

Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
Very showy clusters of red flowers
Showy display of fruit
Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging

False-rosemary

Conradina canescens

The Florida Wildflower Foundation has a good pamphlet that includes culture of this species. Gray-green, fine foliage, border plant or individual speciments in a wildflower garden.

Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
Pyramidal crown
Can be kept narrow

Ashe's Chinquapin

Castanea pumila

While it is related to chestnuts, its not generally subject to chestnut blight, and if it gets it, will likely recover. Natural settings as a small shade tree or large shrub.

Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
Can be kept narrow
Healthy edible fruit
Uncommon
Available single or multi-stalked

Bracken Fern

Pteridium aquilinum

This is one of the world's most widespread species. Multiple subspecies exist within Florida with two being widespread. Because of its tolerance of acidic soils, this is sometimes used for reclamation of acidic soil areas. Adapted to relatively frequent fire. Groundcover. This is one of the few ferns that can handle sun. Height will depend on variety with bracken ferns from South Florida typically being much larger than those from further north.

Beautiful, natural globe shape
Sometime grows horozontially
Beautiful rounded canopy