NATIVE LANDSCAPES COME IN ALL STYLES
This large backyard has a formal paver walkway and patio surrounded by informal,
diverse native plantings designed and maintained by FANN member
Troy Springer, Springer Environmental Services. Sunlit grasses on the right include
Elliott’s lovegrass, Eragrostis elliottii, Purple lovegrass, E. spectabilis, and
Muhlygrass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, mixed with wildflowers including Lanceleaved
Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata. On the left is a mix of long-blooming
Tropical Sage, Salvia coccinea, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Saw Palmetto, Serenoa
repens, and Broombrush Falsewillow, Baccharis diocia. About 18 months old,
the landscape is maintained with quarterly visits to remove weeds, do hand
pruning of shrubs and flowering plants, and replace and add plants where possible
to maintain diversity. The site is former scrub, a system of more acidic,
infertile and excessively well drained sand from ancient beach dunes. There
are two remnant Sand Pines, Pinus clausa, along the fence on the right. Planted
to the left of the pine trees is a mix of native trees and shrubs, including Tough
Bumelia, Sideroxylon tenax, Simpson Stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans, Yaupon
Holly, Ilex vomitoria, and Red Bay, Persea borbonia. Photo by Troy Springer
Tough Bumelia, Sideroxlyon tenax, a large shrub or small tree, requires nothing
and is surely one of our best pollinator plants, attracting a great diversity of
buzzing insects when it flowers. It thrives in full sun and sandy soil throughout
most of the Florida peninsula. Photo by Spence Guerin
(continues on page 21)
8 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS 2019-2020 FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries