Low-maintenance landscape plants for south Florida

Common name
Scientific name

Size

Light

Salt tolerance

Comments

Big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

5-10’

Full sun

Moderate

Perennial, upright, bunch grass forming large clumps. Stems with blue at base. Leaves blue-green in early summer, maturing to copper or orange-brown in fall. Bronze to purplish seed heads, to 3”, in late summer. Tolerates flooding in summer.

Indian wood-oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

2-5’

Full sun to partial shade

None

Attractive, clump-forming grass with wide leaves and nodding, arching clusters of flat, oat-like seedheads. Resembles small sea-oats. Dried flowerheads highly prized. Also grown as groundcover in shaded areas.

Pampas grass ¨

Cortaderia selloana

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

6-12’

Full sun

Low

Impressive, graceful, fountain-like clumps. Large, 12-18” tall plumes erupt from foliage in mid-summer. Will tolerate poorly drained soil and brief flooding. Dried flowerheads highly prized. Caution: Purple pampas grass, C. jubata, is invasive.

Lemongrass ¨

Cymbopogon citratus

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

4-6’

Full sun to light shade

Low

Elegant, fragrant, clumping grass with thin, strap-like, yellow-green leaves that release citrus aroma when crushed. Prefers moist soil; moderate drought tolerance.

Lilyturf ¨

Liriope muscari

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

1-2’

Partial to full shade

Moderate

Grass-like foliage and trumpet shaped flowers borne on erect stems in blue, purple, pink, or white, depending on species or cultivar. Cold tolerant. Needs freely draining soil. Mulch to control weeds.

Creeping lilyturf ¨

Liriope spicata

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

6-18”

Partial shade

Moderate

Similar to lilyturf, but creeping rather than upright habit.

Pink muhly grass, hairgrass ¨

Muhlenbergia capillaris

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

2-3’

Full sun to partial shade

High

Compact, tuft-forming grass with fine, feather-like, pink flowerheads held high above the leaves.

Blue muhly grass

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

1-2’

Full sun

High

Similar to pink muhly grass, but with bluish-gray foliage and purplish to gray flowerheads. Prefers dry, but will tolerate wet soil. Excellent groundcover for poor, sandy soils.

Mondo grass ¨

Ophiopogon japonicus

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

6-24”

Partial to full shade

High

Dark green to blackish, glossy leaves. Small, lavender flowers followed by iridescent, blue-black berries. Good border plant.

Beach panic grass

Panicum amarum
(Link is to related species)

1-2’

Full sun

High

Clumping grass with flower stalks rising above foliage. Grows well in sand. Good for beach-front.

Oriental fountain grass ¨

Pennisetum orientale

1-2’

Full sun to partial shade

High

Low-growing, compact fountain grass with pink or white, fluffy inflorescence in summer and fall. Prefers well-drained soil. Caution: The related P. purpureum is a FLEPPC Category I invasive plant.

Palm grass ¨

Setaria palmifolia

8-10’

Full sun to partial shade

Low

Evergreen, tropical grass with wide, accordian-pleated leaves that resemble palm seedlings. Greenish, cylindrical flower spike arches above leaves.

Sand cordgrass ¨

Spartina bakeri

4-6’

Full sun

High

Large, bunch-forming grass with thin, brownish-green, rolled, wire-like, sand-papery leaves. Highly adaptable and underutilized. Good for beach-front.

Fakahatchee grass ¨©

Tripsacum dactyloides

4-5’

Full sun to partial shade

Moderate

Large, native grass. Rich green foliage erupts from fountain-like clumps. Distinctive flowers rise above leaves on slender stems in midsummer. Easy to grow. Virtually free of pests. Prefers moist soil, but has good drought tolerance.

Dwarf fakahatchee grass ¨©

Tripsacum floridana

(Click here for UF Fact Sheet )

2-4’

Full sun to partial shade

Moderate

Native grass similar to T. dactyloides, but smaller.