South Florida Hedge Plants v.I

So you find yourself doing research about what types of plants to purchase for a hedge?  Well, you definitely have stumbled upon the right blog post for you.  Yes, today's post is all about the right type of plant to use for a hedge.  Most of these plants are going to be cold hardy to about zone 9b, maybe even a few for 9a or zone 8, but mostly considered tropicals for South Florida, Texas and the Caribbean.  I'm super excited so let's get started...

First...some questions to ponder....

To begin, what type of hedge will this be?  A privacy hedge or a decorative hedge?

     Some plants are better suited for a privacy hedge since they tend to have full foliage.  Some will have thorns to deter wall hoppers.  Others will have a mounding or round shape while others are taller and columnar.  Flowering plants are great for decorative hedges.  Or try layering different size plants; a decorative hedge in the front while the privacy hedge stands tall in the back.  "Wow!", your neighbors will say, "Did you do that?!?"

Second, what is your budget?

      Most people will have some kind of budget in mind for the project.  If you have 150 linear feet to cover as opposed to 20 linear feet then maybe you chose a less expensive plant.  Or if you have your heart set on a particular plant then what the heck, go all out, splurge a little.

Third, where are the plants going to be located?  A small yard or a large yard? A pathway?

      This is another important question, because there is nothing worse than spending time and money on a project for it only to be a disaster.  No one wants a plant that is advertised to "grow only 15-20 ft high max" but then come to find out that it took over your yard and is now 45 ft high.  

Yup, that sucks.

And last, what type of maintenance are you willing to do?  None?  Once a month trimming?

      Now this one is a big deal, probably more important than the budget question.  Because if you decide on an fast growing plant that tends to grow up to 35 ft naturally but you only want to keep it trimmed at 10 ft once a every 6 weeks, well it could become a problem for you and/or your neighbors if you wanted 'low maintenance'.

The overall idea is to pick the right plant for the right place.  A good rule of thumb is to "go native" as much as you can.   Here are some plants (not all are native but also not considered invasive) that I find are great for hedges, pro's and con's, as well as a link to Florida' list of invasive's so you know what to stay away from.

Thunbergia or King's Mantle ( thunbergia erecta )

Thunbergia erecta's like to "reach out" with it's branches which needs lots of trimming to keep it a formal shaped hedge.  Though if you have the space you can also let it grow out with a more natural look.  The most commonly used is the purple flower plant though there is a white one too.  On average it grows to about 10-12 ft tall but can easily be maintained at a smaller height.  This plant does best in part sun/part shade but can handle full sun as long as it has good irrigation.  Good for low, medium and med-high hedge.  Budget friendly.  Do be aware there is a vining form of this plant with different growing characteristics.  

Thunbergia erecta- purple flower

Thunbergia erecta- white flower

This untrimmed thunbergia is at Pinecrest Gardens
in Miami is one of the tallest I've seen, ~8ft  high

This layered formal thunbergia hedge needs
lots of maintenance since they like to grow.

Cocoplum ( chrysobalanus icaco )

The cocoplum is a commonly used native plant with beautiful green and red colored glossy leaves.  An easy plant to maintain but can get up to 15-20 ft high.  Like the thunbergia, the cocoplum can be shaped or let grow au natural.  Thrives in full sun but can handle part shade as an understory plant & needs good irrigation.  Good for a low to medium high hedge.  Budget friendly.

Cocoplum in it's natural form

Formal cocoplum hedge

Bougainvillea ( bougainvillea spectablis )
The beautiful bougainvillea has a more unusual growing habit than most plants.  It can grow as a vine or it can be cut back to a more compact form.  As most of you know, the bougainvillea has thorns along it's branches which makes a great briar patch.  Someone will think twice about climbing over your wall.  Though this vigorous grower needs alot of maintenance to keep this plant in check because it will grow wild. Loves full sun, heat and can handle dry conditions. Good for low, medium and trellised high wall hedges.  Variety of prices from affordable to expensive depending on the type of hybrid.  Though do be aware the iguana's here in South Florida love to eat bougainvillea!

A low bougainvillea hedge in the Caribbean,
though this may be the dwarf variety.

This is my maternal Grandmother, my maternal Great-Grandmother, my paternal
Grandmother and my Mom in front of their fuchsia bougainvillea.

Song of India ( dracaena reflexa )
Absolutely gorgeous plant, though can be a bit on the pricey side, it is well worth it's weight in gold (& green lol).  This is a dracaena so it grows upward but it has some swirling effect to it's branches kind of like an octopus.  The foliage totally surrounds each branch like Carmen Miranda's ruffled sleeves.  The song of India is a slow grower and can eventually reach heights of about 20 ft high.  Though like the orange plume it is not necessarily an easy plant to trim  because of it's branching habit so best to let it do it's thang.  This plant is not only gorgeous but it is practical too.  Winner, winner here!

Song of India at about 12 ft high

This is a Song of India in a 15 gallon bucket

Firespike ( odontonema strictum )
The odontonema strictum has a two colors: cardinal red flower and a striking purple flower version though is typically smaller than the red.  Here we are talking about the red firespike.  The firespike grows to about 6 ft high in full and/or part sun.  It has a very similar structure and growing habit as the orange plume.  The hummingbirds and butterflies love the flowers.  Moderately priced.

My firespike are looking a bit shabby lately so
courtesy of fellow blogger & gardener 'NanaK' who has
one of the nice looking firespikes. Thank you! :)

Firespike (odontonema strictum )

Copperleaf ( acalypha wilkesiana & a. wilkesiana godseffiana )
The copperleaf is one of my favorite plants to use because it's so versatile.  There are so many different varieties that it's mind blowing. So many different color variations, leaf shapes, textures and sizes. They love full sun and part sun, as well as very drought hardy.  They are super easy to maintain and are easy to grow.  Finding the right one for you is the trick, if you want low maintenance then go with a smaller size variety as they are pretty fast growers.  Though their natural form is quite exquisite  There is a size for small, medium and high hedges. Extremely affordable moderate to fast growing plant.

Copperleaf 'Firestorm'

Copperleaf 'Tricolor'

Formal copperleaf hedge

Informal copperleaf hedge

Copperleaf 'tropical tempest'

Copperleaf 'tiki whirl'

Copperleaf 'bourbon street'

Copperleaf 'ceylon'

Copperleaf 'island sunrise'

Copperleaf 'jungle cloak'

Copperleaf 'halo'

Copperleaf 'inferno'

Copperleaf 'moorea'

Copperleaf 'java white'

Copperleaf 'marginata'

In one of our client's landscapes copperleaf 'java pink'

Copperleaf 'java white'

Copperleaf 'inferno'

Green and Silver Buttonwoods ( conocarpus erectus )

A great native to use for privacy hedge.  Grows in full sun.  The green likes wet feet but can withstand periods of dry weather while the silver prefers a bit drier ground.  The green grows like a wild weed while the silver can be much more refined.  Both are easy to maintain though need constant maintenance as they prefer their tree form better. Can be a low, medium or high hedge.  Very affordable.

Green buttonwoods in 7 gallon buckets

Silver buttonwood hedge

Podocarpus ( podocarpus macrophylla )

The podocarpus is an absolutely gorgeous dark green plant with needle like leaves will give you lots of privacy.  Very easy to maintain though a slow grower and pricey.  Podocarpus are typically used as a formal hedge since they create a sharp edge when trimmed due to the small leaves.  Grows in full sun and are very hardy.  Can be a low, medium or high hedge. 

Podocarpus in a 3 gallon bucket

Podocarpus hedge

Wild Coffee ( psychotria nervosa )

Wild coffee is a wonderful native plant to use for a hedge as well as for your landscape.  The wild coffee does best as an understory plant (part sun) but can adapt to full sun as long as it has good irrigation.  An easy plant to maintain, the coffee grows to 4-6 ft high with beautiful deep green glossy textured leaves.  There are a few different type of coffee's here from Jamaica & Haiti so make sure to get the Florida wild coffee.  A small to medium hedge.  Very affordable.

Wild coffee in the foreground

Wild coffee bush that is a natural
attractor for wildlife like birds & butterflies.

Wild coffee

Wild coffee

Green Island Ficus ( ficus macrocarpa )

Green island ficus is found just about everywhere in residential and commercial landscapes.  It is a great low maintenance plant that withstands just about all South Florida weather's & abuse.  Easy low maintenance which can be trimmed for a formal look or let it's natural beauty shine.  It can be on the slow side of growing but spreads out nicely.  So can be a low or medium hedge.  Some what affordable.

Natural form of green island ficus

This is a great shot of three hedges:
green island ficus in the front, cocoplum in the middle
and the invasive Surinam cherry hedge in the back.

American Beautyberry ( callicarpa americana )

The beautyberry is such a great native to use for your medium to high hedging needs.  By far one of my favorite shrubs to use and is very striking when full of bright purple clusters of berries. It is a fast & furious grower so I wouldn't advise it for a small hedge.  The beautyberry has soft furry feeling on it's leaves and stems.  When trimmed, the beautyberry has a sweet-n-spicy scent to it.  Easy to maintain but needs constant maintenance.  The beautyberry's in my yard are at about 12 ft high right now which is about a max height for them but can be maintained smaller.  Extremely tolerant of all types of conditions and thrives in full sun.  A medium to high hedge.  Very affordable.

Natural form of the American beautyberry

Natural form of the American beautyberry

Beautyberry

Beautyberry fruit that the birds love to eat

This is one of three beautyberry's in our yard.

Firebush ( hamelia patens )

Another favorite of mine, the firebush, is awesome native shrub to use for a hedge.  It's spectacular bright red-orange flowers bloom all year round.  An easy plant to grow as it likes fun sun, part sun, dry, hot, cold...not a picky plant by any means.  Can grow up to 15 ft high and spread out about 10ft but it very easy to maintain.  There is also a dwarf version for a small hedge that gets about 4-5 ft high max.  A small, medium and high shrub.  Very affordable.

This firebush is actually two plants, lol, go figure
though it looks like one.

All kinds of wildlife just love the native firebush

This is the dwarf firebush, so beautiful!

Invasive & Exotic Plant Species

Please be aware that just because someone or a large "box store" sells a plant, it doesn't mean that it either does well here or belongs here.  So to help you be a wise gardener here are a few links to educate yourself on what species are invasive and exotic.  For example, ficus....ugh!  This plant should not be available for sale.  Ficus are trees that by their genetic nature want to grow up to 80-100 ft high in the South American rainforest not a 10ft hedge in South Florida.  Plus their roots systems are very destructive to your house's (and your neighbor's) foundation and the spiraling white flies just love them.  Check out some of the links below to explore what some great native plants, palms and trees might grow in your area.  And what our state considers exotics and/or invasive species which should not be planted here in South Florida.

https://fairchildgarden.org/science-and-education/diy/native-plant-gardens/native-plants/

https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/default.asp

https://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm

http://floridasnature.com/exotics.htm

http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/flip/

http://www.florida-everglades.com/invasive-plants.htm

Well, I truly hope you had a great time today at hedge class 101, lol!  

So enough planning, get out there and start planting.

Happy Gardening and Best Wishes,

Sheri

xoxo