USEFUL PERENNIAL PLANTS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA Compiled by Eric Toensmeier www.perennialsolutions.org TREES 50'+ source: Florda exotic pest plant coun Latin Name Common Name Form Clump or Run Acer rubrum red maple tree clump Adansonia digitata baobab tree clump sun Sun or Shade Water Edible part to wet sap fruit, nuts, leaves Albizzia lebbek** tree clump sun Azidiracha indica neem tree clump sun Cassia grandis pink shower tree tree clump sun pods, sweetener Brosimum alicastrum ramon, Mayan breadnut tree clump sun fruit, nuts Coccoloba diversifolia pigeon plum tree clump sun fruit Dendrocalamus spp. Clumping Bamboos bamboo clump shade shoots Enterolobium cyclocarpum Guanacaste tree clump sun Erythrina poepipigiana tree clump sun Ficus aurea strangler >ig tree clump sun fruit Inga edulis ice cream bean tree clump sun pod pulp Lecythis pisonis monkey pot tree clump sun nuts Lysiloma latisiliqum false tamarind tree clump sun Nitro Fix Nectary Manilkara zapota** sapodilla tree clump sun fruit wet to Pachira aquatica Guiana chestnut tree clump sun nuts wet to bayleaf or Persea borbonia redbay tree clump part tea Pouteria sapote mamey sapote tree clump sun fruit Sideroxylon spp. bustic tree fruit TREES 25-50' Clump Sun or Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Acrocomia aculeata macauba palm palm clump sun oil Anacardium occidentale Cashew tree clump sun nuts, fruit Arenga pinnata sugar palm palm clump sun sugar, wine Nitro Fix Nectary
Artocarpus heterophylla Jakfruit tree clump sun fruit, nuts, young leaves Attalea funifera piassava palm palm clump sun oil Attalea speciosa babassu palm palm clump sun oil Bactris gasipaes peach palm palm clump (multi stem) sun fruit (cooked), oil Bursera simaruba gumbo limbo tree clump part Butea capitata pindo palm palm clump sun fruit Caryodendreon orinococense inche tree clump sun fruit, nuts Casimiroa edulis white sapote tree clump sun fruit Cinnamomum zeylandicum cinnamon clump sun spice Cocos nucifera* coconut palm clump sun nuts, oil, water Dalbergia ecastaphylla coin vine shrub part American Diospyros virginiana persimmon tree run sun wet fruit Faidherbia albida applering acacia tree clump sun Gnetum gnemon bago, joint>ir tree clump shade nuts, leaves Inga edulis ice cream bean tree clump sun pod pulp Inocarpus fagifer Tahitian chestnut tree clump sun nuts Leucaena esculenta guaje tree clump sun to dry shell bean Macadamia integrifolia macadamia tree clump sun nuts Mangifera indica mango tree clump sun fruit Manilkara bahamensis wild dilly tree clump sun fruit fruit, cooked Morus alba white mulberry tree clump sun leaves Morus rubra red mulberry tree clump sun fruit Phoenix canariensis Canary island date palm palm clump sun sugar, wine Persea americana avocado tree clump sun fruit Pimenta dioica allspice tree clump sun spice Pithecellobium dulce Manila tamarind tree clump sun pod pulp Pouteria kampechiana canistel tree clump sun fruit Quercus virginiana live oak tree clump sun acorns Sclerocarya birreya marula tree clump sun to dry fruit, nuts
Simarouba glauca paradise tree tree clump sun Tamarindus indica tamarind tree clump dry fruit (okay), seed oil fruit Terminalia kaernbacchii okari nut tree clump sun nut TREES & SHRUBS 12-25' Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Acacia farnesiana needle acacia tree clump sun dry beans Acanthocereus barbed wire fruit, tetragonus cactus cactus clump sun nopales Aleurites fordii tung tree clump sun aquatic to fruit Annona glabra pond apple tree clump part (awful) Annona hybrid atemoya tree clump sun fruit Annona muricata soursop tree clump sun fruit Annona squamosa sugar apple tree clump sun fruit Averrhoa carambola Carambola tree clump sun fruit Bambusa spp. clumping bamboo bamboo clump sun- part shoots Nectary Carica papaya* papaya shrub clump sun fruit Peruvian hedge Cereus peruvianus cactus cactus clump sun fruit Citrus aurantifolia* key lime tree clump sun fruit *Citrus aurantium sour orange tree clump sun fruit (sour) Citrus maxima pummelo tree clump sun fruit Citrus paradisi graprefruit tree clump sun fruit Citrus sinensis orange tree clump sun fruit Coccoloba uvifera sea grape tree clump sun fruit Dacyroides edulis butterfruit tree clump sun fruit Dimocarpus longan longan tree clump sun mesi fruit Diospyros kaki Asian persimmon tree clump sun fruit Elaeis guineensis African oil palm palm clump sun oil Eriobotrya japonica loquat tree clump sun fruit Erythrina herbacea red cardinal shrub clump sun cooked >lowers and young leaves
Ficus carica >ig tree clump sun fruit Flemingia macrophylla >lemingia tree clump part Gliricidia sepium Madre de Cacao tree clump sun Kerrugiodendron ferrium leadwood tree clump sun fruit Leucaena leucocephala* leucaena tree clump part YOUNG LEAVES?? Litchi chinensis lychee tree clump sun fruit Malphigia glabra acerola tree clump sun fruit Mammea americana mammee apple tree clump sun fruit Melicoccus bijugatus quenepa, Spanish lime tree clump sun fruit Miscanthus giganteus giant miscanthus grass clump sun Moringa oleifera moringa tree clump sun leaves, pods, oil, spice leaves, pods, oil, Moringa stenopetala African moringa tree clump sun spice Muntingia calabura strawberry tree tree clump sun fruit Murraya koenigii curry leaf tree run sun spice Musa acuminata banana giant herb clump sun fruit, >lowerbud Musa paradisica plantain giant herb clump sun fruit, >lowerbud Myrcianthes fragrans Simpson's stopper shrub clump sun fruit Myrica cerifera wax myrtle shrub clump sun wet to bay leaf Persea americana avocado tree clump sun fruit, oil Pilosocereus polygonus tree cactus cactus clump sun frui Pithecellobium keyense Keys blackbead shrub run sun arils sweet Pithecellobium unguiscati catclaw blackbead shrub clump sun Pongamia pinnata pongam oil tree clump sun arils sweet Psidium guajava guava tree clump sun fruit Reynosia serpentrionalis darling plum shrub clump sun fruit Ricinus communis* castor tree clump sun oil
Rollinia mucosa rollinia tree clump sun fruit Saccharum ofnicinale sugar cane grass clump sun sugar Sambucus canadensis elderberry shrub clump sun wet- fruit, >lowers Sapindus saponaria soapberry tree clump sun Sesbania grandinlora sesbania tree clump sun Spondias purpurea hog plum, jocote tree clump sun fruit fruit, Theobroma cacao cacao tree clump shade chocolate Thrinax morrissii Key thatch palm palm clump fruit Tithonia diversifolia giganton shrub clump part Trema micrantha tree nettle tree fruit maybe Zanthoxylum fagara, Z. Nlavum lime prickly ash shrub run part spice: leaf, fruit Zizyphus jujuba Chinese jujube tree clump sun fruit Zizyphus mauritania Indian jujube tree clump sun fruit 6-12' HIGH Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix Abelmoschus manihot Edible Hibiscus shrub clump sun leaves Acacia choriophylla cinnecord shrub clump sun wet to Alocasia macrorhiza Giant Taro shrub clump part stem starch Bixia orellana annato, achiote shrub clump sun spice pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan gandul shrub clump sun beans Nectary Calliandra calothrysus Calliandra shrub clump sun Canna edulis Edible Canna herb run part wet to tubers, shoots Chrysobalanus icaco Cocoplum shrub run sun wet to fruit Cnidoscolus chayamansa chaya shrub clump sun leaves Crotolaria longirostrata Chipilin shrub clump sun (cooked) Eugenia uninlora stopper shrub clump part fruit Harrisia simpsonii Simpson's applecactus cactus clump sun dry- fruit
Jatropha curcas jatropha shrub clump sun dry- Lycium carolinianum christmasberry, native goji shrub run sun dry fruit Manihot esculenta yuca, cassava shrub clump sun tubers, cooked leaves Opuntia Nicus-indica tuna, nopale cactus clump sun dry- pads, fruit king grass, Pennisetum purpureum* Napier grass grass clump sun Phytolacca americana pokeweed herb clump part shoots cooked Psidium longipes mangroveberry shrub clump part fruit Sambucus canadensis elderberry shrub clump part wet fruit Sauropus androgynous katuk shrub clump shade leaves, fruit Serenoa repens saw palmetto palm run shade "cabbage", fruit (bad) Solanum quitoense naranjilla shrub clump sun fruit yellow Sophora tomentosa neclacepod shrub clump sun Synsepalum dulciferum miracle fruit shrub clump sun fruit Tehprosia vogelii tephrosia shrub clump sun Trichanthera gigantea nacadero shrub clump part Typha angustifolia narrowleaf cattail herb run sun wet Yucca guatemalensis izote yucca succulent clump sun shoots, root tips, >lour >lowers 3-6' HIGH Clump Sun or Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Acacia tortuosa twisted acacia shrub clump sun Aloe vera aloe succulent clump sun Ananas comosus pineapple succulent clump sun fruit wet to Borrichia arborescens sea oxeye daisy shrub clump part dry- Bromelia pinguin wild pineapple succulent clump sun fruit Nitro Fix Nectary
Capsicum annum var. grabliusculum bird pepper shrub clump sun dry- spice Capsicum chinense aji dulce, habanero, scotch bonnet shrub clump sun spice, peppers Capsicum frutescens Tabasco pepper shrub clump sun spice Carissa macrocarpa carissa shrub clump sun fruit wet to Chrysopogon zizanoides Vetiver grass clump sun dry Cnidoscolus stimulosus spurge nettle herb clump part roots Colocasia esculenta taro herb clump part wet to tubers, cooked leaves Cymbopogon citratus Lemon Grass grass clump part spice Desmodium rensonii rensonii shrub clump part pencil Euphorbia lactaea euphorbia succulent clump sun Maranta arundinacea arrowroot herb clump sun tubers Opuntia dillennii Dillen's prickly pear cactus run sun nopales, fruit Panicum maximum Guinea grass grass clump sun Tripsacum dactyloides eastern gammagrass, fakahatchee grass grass clump sun Uniola paniculata sea oats grass clump sun grain Xanthosoma wet to leaves, saggitifolium Tannia, Tannier herb clump part tubers Xanthosoma saggitifolium Belembe, Taioba (leaf tannier) herb clump part wet to leaves Yucca aloifolia Spanish bayonet succulent clump sun dry- >lowers, >lowerstalk 18"-36" HIGH Latin Name Allium Nistulosum Clump or Run Sun or Shade Water Edible Common Name Form Skellion, Welsh Onion herb clump sun scallions Nitro Fix Nectary Allium tuberosum Garlic Chives herb clump part leaves, >lowerbuds
Aloe vera Aloes succulent clump sun Alpinia galangal Galangal herb clump part spice Alternanthera sissoo Sissoo Spinach herb clump part leaves Coreopsis Nloridana Florida tickseed herb clump part Curcuma domestica Turmeric herb clump shade spice roots part to shade part part tuber starch Curcuma zedoaria Zedoary herb clump Desmodium heterocarpon ovalifolium herb run shade aquatic to leaves, Ipomoea aquatica** water spinach herb run! part shoots Licania michauxii gopher apple shrub run part fruit Lototonis bainesii lototonis herb run part Myrica cerifera var. dwarf pumila candleberry shrub run part bay leaf southern prickly nopales, Opuntia compressa pear cactus run sun fruit cutleaf Physalis angulata groundcherry herb run sun fruit Physalis peruviana Goldenberry herb clump sun fruit starchy Florida roots & Zamia integrifolia arrowroot shrub clump trunks* (!) Zingiber ofnicinale Ginger herb clump spice, shoots 6"-18" HIGH Latin Name Common Name Form Clump or Run Sun or Shade Water Edible Canavalia maritima beach bean herb run! sun Dalea carnea hammock prairieclover herb clump sun Galactia pinetorum milkpea herb clump part Gynura crepioides Okinawa Spinach herb clump part leaves wet to Helianthus debilis coast sun>lower herb run sun Nitro Fix Nectary
Kaempferia galanga lesser galengal herb clump part to shade Mimosa strigillosa powderpuff herb run part wet baby rubber Peperomia obtusifolia plant herb run shade culinary, Satureja rigida wild pennyroyal herb clump part tea cooked black self leaves & Solanum americanum nightshade annual sow sun fruit Florida Stachys Nloridana hedgenettle herb run part tubers self Stylosanthes guianensis stilo herb sow part to wet evergreen Vaccinnium myrsinites blueberry shrub clump sun fruit 0-6" HIGH Latin Name Common Name Form Arachis pintoi Forage Peanut herb run Calyptocarpus vialis straggler daisy herb run Clump or Run Centella asiatica gotu kola herb run Desmodium heterofolium herb run Desmodium trinlorum herb run Sun or Shade Water Edible Nitro Fix Nectary shade shade wet to shade shade to wet shade Eryngium foetidum culantro, recao herb clump part to shade culinary Hydrocotle umbellata water pennywort herb run shade aquatic to wet tubers, Ipomoea batatas Sweet Potato herb run part cooked leaves Phyla nodinlora Texas frogfruit herb run part Sesuvium portulacastrum sea purslane herb run sun leaves
VINES Clump Sun or Nitro Latin Name Common Name Form or Run Shade Water Edible Fix wet to tubers, dry Apios americana groundnut herb vine run part beans Basella alba Malabar Spinach herb vine clump part leaves Calopogonium caeruleum calopo herb vine run shade mini- cucumbers, Coccinia grandis* Ivy Gourd herb vine run sun leaves pumpkin Cucurbita seeds, okeechobeensis var. Okeechobee annual self wet to maybe okeechobeensis gourd vine sows part greens Cucurbita moschata Desmodium intortum Seminole pumpkin annual vine herb vine run self sows sun shade to wet pumpkins, seeds, shoots, >lowers Nectary Dioscorea alata Lisban Yam, Greater Yam herb vine clump sun tubers Dioscorea bulbifera** Air Potato herb vine clump sun aerial tubers, cult forms only Dioscorea cayenensis Yellow Yam herb vine clump sun tubers White Yam, Dioscorea rotundata Guinea Yam herb vine clump sun tubers Dioscorea trinida Cush Cush Yam herb vine clump sun tubers cactus Hylocereus undatus dragon fruit vine clump sun fruit Lablab purpureus lablab herb vine clump sun Melothria pendula cucumber berry herb vine run part beans, >lowers, leaves mini- cucumbers
Pachyrhizus erosus jicama herb vine clump sun tubers woody PassiNlora edulis Passion Fruit vine clump sun fruit PassiNlora incarnata maypop herb vine run sun fruit woody PassiNlora laurifolia Water Lemon vine clump sun fruit PassiNlora ligularis Sweet Granadilla woody vine clump sun fruit PassiNlora maliformis Bell Apple, Sweet Cup woody vine clump sun fruit PassiNlora quadrangularis woody vine clump sun fruit Lima Bean, Phaseolus lunatus White Bean herb vine clump sun beans woody Piper nigrum Black Pepper vine clump shade spice Psophocarpus beans, >lowers, tetragonobolus winged bean herb vine clump sun leaves woody squash, leaves, Sechium edule chayote vine clump sun tubers Smilax bona-nox & S. havanensis bullbriar, greenbriar woody vine run shade fruit leaves, beans, tubers Sphenostylis stenocarpa African yambean herb vine clump sun Tournefortia hirsutissima soldierbush vine fruit Trichostigma Haitian basket woody octandrum vine vine clump part Vanilla phaeantha native vanilla vine clump shade spice woody Vanilla planifolia vanilla vine clump shade spice Vitis rotundifolia muscadine woody vine clump sun fruit leaves (excellent) FUNGI Latin Name Common Name Growing Medium Edible Coprinus comatus Shaggy Mane mulch, compost mushroom Hericeum erinaceous Lion's Mane stumps, logs mushroom Chestnut Hypholoma sublaterium Mushroom logs, stumps, sawd mushroom
Hypsizygus ulmarius Elm Oyster mulch, compost mushroom Lentinula edodes Shiitake logs mushroom Lepista nuda Blewit mulch, compost mushroom Morchella spp. Morel soil under trees mushroom Pleurotus spp. Oyster logs mushroom Polyporus sulphureus Chicken of the Woods stumps, logs mushroom Stropharia rugosaannulata Winecap mulch, compost mushroom Many mycorrhizal non- edible species are available as inoculants.
ncil Ground Cover Native Other **strongly naturalized fodder bank naturalized. Coppice >irewood, fodder bank pesticide fodder bank fodder bank, construction fodder pods fodder bank, living fence, coppice smothers trees coppice >irewood **strongly naturalized Ground Cover Native Other very spiny few plants will grow beneath it
superb living fence * naturalized improved varieties available fodder pods coppice >irewood native sapodilla relative fodder bank coppice >irewood, living fence
cultivated for oil in Central America Ground Cover Native Other aka Vachellia farnesiana biofuel oil rootstock for cultivated Annonas fodder bank, inc. B. textilis, B. beecheyana. * naturalized living fence * naturalized * naturalized use as citrus rootstock beans toxic
fodder bank, contour hedgerow coppice >irewood, fodder bank, living fence, contour hedgerow * naturalized fodder bank, living fence, contour hedgerow super mulch plant, sterile fodder bank, living fence fodder bank, living fence evergreen thorny thorny coppice >irewood strongly naturalized * naturalized biofuel oil
improved clones available fruit used for soap coppice >irewood living fence "tropical comfrey", fodder bank, living fence, contour hedgerow Ground Cover Native Other fodder bank coppice >irewood, fodder bank, contour hedgerow
biofuel oil dune stabilizer * evergreen, fodder bank, living fence naturalized fodder bank, contour hedgerow toxic raw, all parts but shoots toxic evergreen pesticide fodder bank living fence, contour hedgerow Ground Cover Native Other thorny living fence
both sweet and hot varieties pesticide, inc. "tabasco" and "chile de arbol" living fence stings! strongly naturalized living fence fodder bank, contour hedgerow toxic living fence, also E. nerifolia, E. tirucalli fodder bank, contour hedgerow ground beetle habitat, carbon mulch source, fodder bank Ground Cover Native Other
strongly naturalized & banned excellent cover, fodder, plantation understory cover crop cultivated cultivated groundcover, cocoplum relative excellent cover, fodder *very toxic until processed Ground Cover Native Other endemic
indestructible cultivated excellent cover, fodder Ground Cover Native Other excellent cover, fodder excellent cover, fodder excellent cover, fodder cultivated in Asia as vegetable
Ground Cover Native Other improved forms available excellent cover, fodder * naturalized endangered Florida native * naturalized cultivated by native people excellent cover, fodder strongly naturalized strongly naturalized & banned fodder, cover crop very aggressive
pesticide very aggressive promoted by ECHO cultivated lobster >lavored oysterlike
easily grown easily grown mycorrhizal easily grown, many species taste like chicken breast easily grown