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)

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	Toxic when ingested Many colorful varieties available

Read more here.

Plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)

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	Frequently used as hedging Small, purple fruit produced by females are edible, but attached seeds are toxic

Read more here.

Dwarf Schefflera (Schefflera arboricola)

 

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	Available with variegated foliage (as pictured) Do not confuse with the invasive Schefflera actinophylla

Read more here.

Coontie (Zamia pumila)

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	Host plant to the rare Atala butterfly Only native cycad to the United States Toxic when ingested

Read more here.

Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis spp.)

 

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	Flowers vary in color from white to pink Berries are a food source for birds and other wildlife Select disease-resistant cultivars for best results

Read more here.

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)

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	Fruit provides food for wildlife Berries cannot be picked without a Native Plant Harvesting Permit Host plant of the palmetto skipper and monk butterflies Flammable – in fire-prone areas, plant a minimum of 30 feet away from structures

Read more here.

Ti plant (Cordyline spp.)

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	Several species available Leaves used to make dancing skirts in Hawaii

Read more here.

Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea)

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	Attracts hummingbirds

Read more here.

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

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	Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other birds Berries are edible but acidic

Read more here.

Golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta)

 

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	Fruit is poisonous Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, other birds

Read more here.

Necklace pod (Sophora tomentosa)

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	Flowers all year Seeds are poisonous Provides food for wildlife Attracts birds and butterflies

Read more here.

Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa)

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	Sap may be irritating to skin Edible fruit

Read more here.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus spp.)

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	Leaves are an edible, aromatic herb used in cooking

Read more here.

False rosemary (Conradina spp.)

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	Blue flowers Used in beach dune landscaping

Read more here.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

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	Edible, purple fruit that can be used in jellies and syrups Fruit provide food for wildlife Attracts birds and pollinators Leaves contain the insect-repellent compounds callicarpenal and intermedeol (Source: UF/IFAS)

Read more here.

Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)

 

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	Young stems may have stinging hairs Sap is an irritant Leaves are edible when thoroughly cooked Toxic when raw

Read more here.

Teabush (Melochia tomentosa)

 

 

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	Long-lived perennial Flowers year round Excellent pollinator plant

Read more here.

Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum)

 

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	Long-lived perennial Flowers 9+months Fragrant flowers Female plants produce berries favored by birds and mammals

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.