Low-Maintenance Shrubs
Shrubs are a common addition to the landscape and are often used to outline the home and provide decoration near streets and sidewalks. While some are prized for their foliage, others are planted for their showy blooms. Keep reading to learn about some shrubs that require minimal watering and care in Sarasota County.
Note: The following information is adapted from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide.
Legend
Apart from the information presented in the table, the following features will be highlighted under each plant’s picture.
Light
: At least 6 hours of full sun
: 2-4 hours of full sun per day
: Full shade
Perks
: Attracts pollinators
: Attracts birds
: Edible parts*
Geography
: Native
: Non-native
Shrubs
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
![Croton](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230106_101227-1-300x295.png)
Height | 3 to 8 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 9B to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | Low |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
![Podocarpus berries](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/Podocarpus-berries-1-293x300.png)
Height | 30 to 40 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 7A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy, well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Dwarf Schefflera (Schefflera arboricola)
![Dwarf Schefflera](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230502_104649-1-300x295.png)
Height | 10 to 15 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 9B to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy loam, medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Coontie (Zamia pumila)
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2020/09/coontie2.jpg)
Height | 1 to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun to full shade |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis spp.)
![Indian hawthorn](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/indian_hawthorne-300x219.jpg)
Height | 2 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 7A to 9B |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)
![Silver saw palmetto](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/saw_palmetto_silver.jpg)
Height | 3 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun to full shade |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Ti plant (Cordyline spp.)
![Ti plant](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230502_104813-1-265x300.png)
Height | 3 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 9A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Varies |
Drought Tolerance | Varies |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea)
![Coral bean](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/erythrina-herbacea-300x225.jpg)
Height | 5 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | Medium |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy loam, medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
![Firebush](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230901_144443-1-300x205.jpg)
Height | 5 to 20 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 9A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun to full shade |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | Medium |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta)
![Golden dewdrop with purple flowers](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/golden_dewdrop_sapphire_shower-300x208.jpg)
Height | 4 to 18 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 9A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Necklace pod (Sophora tomentosa)
![Necklace pod seed pods](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/necklace_pod_fruits-300x225.jpg)
Height | 6 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 10A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | Medium |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), sandy loam, well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa)
![Natal plum in bloom with white flowers](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/carissa-macrocarpa-300x225.jpg)
Height | 2 to 20 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | Medium |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), sandy clay, well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus spp.)
![Rosemary plant](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/rosmarinus-spp-225x300.jpg)
Height | 3 to 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy loam, medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
False rosemary (Conradina spp.)
![False rosemary](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/conradina-spp-300x240.jpg)
Height | 1 to 3 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2019/09/Wilma-bird_4-1-300x233.jpg)
Height | 6 to 8 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 7A to 10B |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)
![Chaya with white flowers in bloom](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230923_170317-1-300x169.png)
Height | 6 to 8 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Teabush (Melochia tomentosa)
![melochia_tomentosa](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/melochia_tomentosa-_Denton.jpg)
Height | 3 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 10b |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum)
![Close up of fiddlewood flower.](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/screen-2.jpeg)
Height | 12 to 25 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 9b-10a |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | Moderate |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
If you want to learn about other low-maintenance plants for your landscape, read the rest of our Low-Maintenance Landscaping blog series.
*Although we discuss edibility in this blog, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is not responsible for any illness or injury associated with foraging. Be aware that some plants may have been treated with pesticides and are not fit for human consumption. Always exercise caution.