Classic flowering plants and shrubs that do well in Florida
While many people enjoy the exotic and strangely beautiful flowers that thrive here in Florida, I am not truly fond of them. I had an English Garden up North with Iris, Lilies, Roses, and the like. My rose bush is struggling to survive here and while I have lilies they are not what they were up there. I want that classic English Garden in Florida but am having trouble finding plants that evoke that feeling. Any real suggestions would be wonderful Thank you.
3 answers
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The sad truth is that you will probably always be frustrated if you try to replicate what you had up north in Florida. Some plants that grow there simply will not grow here because of the climate. But that doesn't mean you can't have a cottage garden in Florida, and you can have one that blooms year around. And it can certainly have roses in it. Look for antique varieties like Old Blush, which dates to 1752. I have two in my garden, they bloom almost continuously, and have never been sprayed. Another rose that does very well here is Louis Phillippe, also known as the Cracker Rose. For more, see these suggestions from the Central Florida Rose Society: http://www.centralfloridarosesociety.org/easy/index.asp?intPage=2 African iris (Dietes iridiodes) has a flower that looks much like the Siberian iris or Japanese iris you know from up north.Most true lilies will not do well here, but daylilies do very well. Make sure you choose ones that are evergreen, not that go dormant. The other type you can grow here are the so-called LA lilies, which are crosses between the the species Lilium longiflorum (the Easter lily) and Oriental lilies. You'll probably have to get them by mail order, but B&D Lilies has the best selection I have seen: http://www.bdlilies.com/long.html Other plants with a cottage garden feel that do well here: gaura, pentas, salvias, yesterday-today-tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora).Happy planting!
Douglas Hunt
on Sep 20, 2014
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Thank you I appreciate the info, I actually did have success transplanting a few plants 1000 miles which is amazing, I guess I am looking for purples I had so many purples up north. I am writing down all your suggestions. I look forward to having a beautiful flower garden again. In truth I worked 25 years on the garden I had up North, so starting from scratch again seems daunting. Again Thank you @Douglas Hunt If you can think of purples to add that would be great.
Lee Cunningham Green
on Sep 20, 2014
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PS I am not trying to replicate, I do like some flowers that grow here, I am just not fond of the more exotic flowers that I am sure people pay a ton for. I am a country girl, I love simple country gardens, I live in Daytona currently but will be moving to a more rural area and am planning for the new house. It is a big property and I know flowerbeds are better for maintaining than huge lawns to mow. That is why I had 3/4 an acre of garden up North, saves water ultimately and less pushing of that mower.
Lee Cunningham Green
on Sep 20, 2014
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