Low-Maintenance Forbs

Forbs are herbaceous, flowering plants that you can use to bring a variety of colors and textures to your landscape. Keep reading to learn about some forbs 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

 

Herbs

Elliott aster (Symphyotrichum elliottii)

Height	3 to 5 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8B to 10B
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	None
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), well-drained to wet
Comments	Attracts butterflies and bees; suckers aggressively

Read more here.

Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus)

Height	2 to 5 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	9B to 10A
Light Requirement	Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance	None
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), sandy loam, well-drained
Comments	Attracts butterflies and bees Birds eat the seeds (Florida Wildflower Foundation)

Read more here.

Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea)

Height	1 to 4 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	5A to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	Low
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy clay, medium to well-drained
Comments	Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies

Read more here.

Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis)

Height	2-4 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8B-10
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	High
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy loam, well-drained
Comments	Often found in coastal habitats

Read more here.

Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)

Height	1 to 4 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	4A to 10B
Light Requirement	Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance	Medium
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Acidic to slightly acidic (4.5-6.5), well-drained
Comments	Florida’s state wildflower Attracts birds and butterflies

Read more here.

False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

Height	1 to 2 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), well-drained
Comments	Attracts butterflies

Read more here.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Height	1 to 3 feet
Growth Rate	Moderate
Hardiness	7A to 10B
Light Requirement	Full to partial sun
Salt Tolerance	Low
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), clay loam, medium to well-drained
Comments	Attracts birds and butterflies

Read more here.

Blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella)

Height	1 to 2 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8A to 11
Light Requirement	Full sun
Salt Tolerance	Medium
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-7.2), sandy loam, well-drained
Comments	Attracts butterflies

Read more here.

Spider lily (Hymenocallis latifolia.)

Height	1 to 3 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8A to 11
Light Requirement	Partial sun
Salt Tolerance	Low
Drought Tolerance	High
Soil Preference	Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), well-drained
Comments	Flowers are fragrant and long-lasting

Scorpion tail (Heliotropium angiospermum)

Height	1 to 2 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	8A to 11
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	Attracts butterflies and birds

Read more here.

Longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens)

Height	0.5 to 1 feet
Growth Rate	Fast
Hardiness	9A 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	Large, yellow flowers New leaves and shoots are edible raw Older leaves edible when cooked Spreads horizontally

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.