Unique Plants & Palms for Northeast Florida: Plant List for Creating a Tropical Zone 9 Design
- Andy Turner
- May 19
- 1 min read
Updated: May 31
Dreaming of a lush, tropical garden in Northeast Florida? With a diverse selection of cold - hardy palms, beautiful blooms, and unique plants for texture, you can transform your landscape into a creative garden paradise reminiscent of South Florida's Coconut Grove. This plant list highlights 25 plants in each category to cultivate a "Zone 9" hardy tropical garden.
Key Plants for a Tropical Look:
Cold - Hardy Palms
Sabal Palm
Pindo Palm
European Fan Palm
Windmill Palm
Needle Palm
Dwarf Palmetto
Saw Palmetto
Mexican Fan Palm (somewhat cold - tolerant)
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Chinese Fan Palm
Coontie
Paurotis Palm
Silver Saw Palmetto
Mule Palm
Chamaedorea Microspadix
Copernicia
Bismarck Palm
Queen Palm (marginally cold - hardy)
Canary Island Date Palm (some cold tolerance)
Sugar Palm (with care in cold snaps)
Sylvester Palm (moderate cold resistance)
Cardboard Palm (with winter protection)
Medjool
Lady Palm
Seashore Palm
Beautiful Blooms for Year - Round Color
Hibiscus
Bougainvillea
Firebush
Plumeria (with winter protection)
Bird of Paradise
Pentas
Lantana
Mandevilla
Jatropha
Cape Honeysuckle
Crossandra
Salvia
Petunia
Blue Daze
Vinca
Ground Orchid
Geranium
Begonia
Dune Sunflower
Bromeliad
Flowering Aloe
Firecracker
Farfugium
Black Magic Colocasia
Sedum
Unique Plants for Texture & Interest
Foxtail Fern
Fatsia Japonica
Bird of Paradise
Cordyline
Ponytail Palm
Spike Plant
Agave
Cast Iron Plant
Macho Fern
Holly Fern
Ice Plant
Mondo Grass
Yucca
Viburnum
Camellia
Tree Fern
Staghorn Fern
Mahonia
Cephalotacus
Sago Palm
Rosemary
Norfolk Pine
Purple Queen
Philodendron
Seagrape
Design Tips for a Creative Garden:
Layer plants for depth for stunning projects.
Use bold foliage and bright flowers to evoke the vibrancy of South Florida.
Incorporate hardscaping (like pathways or water features) to complement your plant selections.
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