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When choosing landscape plants, it is often a good idea to look for those that require relatively little effort to keep them looking their best. Fortunately, there are quite a few great low-maintenance plants for the Gulf Coast. Plants that are native to the Gulf Coast and southern U.S. have a natural advantage. The ability to thrive without much help in local weather conditions is a primary consideration when looking for low-maintenance plants.
Weather
Heat and drought tolerance are important in this region. The hot sun on the Gulf Coast can be severe for plants that aren’t adapted to it. A need for daily watering can have a large impact on how much effort is required to keep plants looking healthy. We do get heavy precipitation sometimes, though. The ability to withstand storms is also important. Depending on how close to the Gulf you are, salt spray tolerance may need to be considered as well.
Soil
Soil requirements are another factor. The best low-maintenance plants for the Gulf Coast are comfortable in sandy soil. For some plants, extra effort will be needed to make sure that the planting site is well drained to avoid becoming waterlogged during periods of heavy rains.
Space Constraints
When picking low-maintenance plants for the Gulf Coast, also keep in mind where you intend to put them. As we saw in last month’s 12 Shade Perennials for the Gulf Coast, there are a number of good options for shade. In this edition, we’ll mainly look at plants that do best in full sun. Some of them can get quite large, so keep that in mind when planning your landscape.
The Native Plant Advantage
Plants that are native to the Gulf Coast and southeastern U.S. definitely have an advantage when it comes to surviving in the local climate. Native plants are low-maintenance by nature since they manage to grow in the wild without any assistance from us. A little care and pruning will often make them look even better, but most will do just fine without much care at all.
Great Low-Maintenance Plants for the Gulf Coast
Asian Jasmine – Starting off with ground cover, Asian jasmine is a great low-maintenance choice. It’s fast growing and will quickly cover a lot of area with a carpet of twining vines sprouting glossy green leaves. Its propensity to spread means that it does require occasional trimming to keep it contained, especially if it gets too much water or fertilizer. Asian jasmine does well in full sun to dappled shade. It is heat, drought and salt tolerant.
Parson’s Juniper – Another good ground cover that reaches a little more height is Parson’s juniper. This fast growing shrub grows 2-3 feet tall and up to 6 feet in circumference. The silvery blue-green foliage stays great looking year-round and requires little care. Parson’s juniper is also drought and salt spray tolerant.
Penta – Also known as star flower or Egyptian starcluster, pentas delight all summer long. Their red, pink, white or light lavender star-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They are sold throughout much of the country as annuals but are perennial in the warm southeast. Growing 1-2 feet tall, they make a good border plant or even a short hedge. They are heat and drought tolerant. Some varieties can handle salt spray.
Pink Muhly Grass – Waving masses of delicate pink flowers above dark green foliage make pink muhly grass a real eye-catcher in the fall. This low-maintenance native perennial grass is heat, drought and salt tolerant, has few pests and does well in poor soil conditions. It looks great when planted in masses of 3 or more. A 3-foot spread and 4-foot height make space a consideration. Muhly grass does best in full sun.
Blue Lily Turf – Another grass-like perennial is blue lily turf. The attractive arching green leaves, 12-18-inch height and thick foliage make it a good border plant. Spikes of violet flowers in late summer and early fall add to the attraction. It is heat, drought and salt spray tolerant. While blue lily turf will tolerate full shade, it will grow best in full to part sun.
Adam’s Needle – Adam’s needle is a variety of yucca that makes an interesting accent plant. The plant is a native evergreen perennial shrub on the Gulf Coast. Adam’s needle provides consistent interest with its coarse spiky foliage and tall flowers in Spring. It tolerates drought, but does not do well in overly moist conditions. Full sun is a requirement.
Beautyberry – Beautyberry is a shrub that will grow 5-8 feet tall and wide. It will tolerate some salt spray, but not salt water flooding. It is drought-tolerant and prefers well-drained sandy soil in full to partial sun. Beautyberry is native to the Southeastern U.S.
Firebush – Another large and showy native shrub, firebush is both beautiful and beneficial to wildlife. Nectar-filled reddish-orange flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies give way to plentiful berries that birds and small mammals love. Firebush is fast growing and can reach a height and width of up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide in a few years. It prefers full sun to part shade and is drought, heat and humidity tolerant.
Azalea – The azalea is not native to the southeast, but has become a staple in the landscape. They are an evergreen shrub with a range of flower colors available. Most azaleas tolerate part shade, but will have denser foliage and produce more flowers when planted in full sun. Once established, they are fairly heat and drought tolerant but will not handle salt spray well. Pruning will help to maintain a full, compact appearance, but little additional maintenance is needed.
Yaupon Holly – This variety of holly is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S. and is well adapted to conditions along the gulf coast. It will grow well in full sun or shade, tolerates a wide range of soil types, is salt tolerant and can handle drought conditions. Female plants produce beautiful red fruits that highlight the lustrous green foliage, and birds love them! Yaupon holly will grow up to 25 feet high, but can be pruned into hedges or ornamental forms.
Southern Magnolia – The southern magnolia is a staple native tree of the south. While they are not particularly large trees, reaching a maximum height of 50 to 100 feet, they do make quite a statement. Large glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers are unmistakable. Keep in mind that those leaves create heavy shade that makes growing anything beneath a magnolia difficult. The tree is salt spray tolerant and will tolerate drought conditions.
Many More Options!
There are many more perennials for the Gulf Coast than we have space to mention here. The Florida Friendly Landscaping (FFL) Program is an excellent resource for hundreds more plant options. Provided by the IFAS Extension of the University of Florida, the FFL not only provides a searchable plant guide, but also tips on everything from plant placement to yard waste recycling.
We can help with low-maintenance landscape planning …
Selecting some of the low-maintenance plants listed above will help to get your property looking its best and keep it that way without constant effort. For more information on how we can help you create a stunning low-maintenance Gulf Coast landscape, please get in touch!
