![\"\"/](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eXZKJCH0nXqblC_uBh4TJCdQgW83fF9v6egxRT3EmKItJtSd2l5OXzJrf6uadMyr1qx5LkSXtgDUShn-GMZCS0iZIuXbbCIUV_rnHG9tpgW6uteKoLIfODTMykjZWF7LUFveyqI9\")
Taking the time now to learn about the worst backyard pests in Tampa will pay off if you happen to run across any in your yard. Here are some of the most common garden pests and suggestions for getting rid of them.
\n","content":"\nAfter working so hard to make your yard and garden perfect, you deserve to enjoy it. Taking the time now to learn about the worst backyard pests in Tampa will pay off if you happen to run across any in your yard. Here are some of the most common garden pests and suggestions for getting rid of them.
\n\n\n\nCockroaches are generally about 1.5 inches long and love the humidity in Tampa. You’ll find them in your garden, trees, under your sink, in your bathroom, behind the dishwasher, and anywhere there’s moisture. The females will lay eggs anywhere they can find food and water. Avoid leaving pet food out and, to the extent possible, deprive them of the moist, shady outdoor areas in which they thrive, such as stacks of wood, piles of leaves or hollow tree stumps.
\n\n\n\nThere are many species of cockroaches in Florida. Some fly, some don’t. Some seek shelter in homes, others don’t. The giant of them all is the Florida woods cockroach, also known as the palmetto bug. One member of the species was plucked from the obscurity of a woodpile in Apopka, Fla., and won the World Cockroach Contest in 1986. Its length: 2.49 inches. Its name: Longfellow. Its one saving grace: Like other palmetto bugs, it prefers to live outdoors.
\n\n\n\nCockroaches rarely bite, but many carry bacteria such as salmonella which can contaminate food. Their waste and sheddings can trigger attacks in people with asthma. Boric acid dust and common insecticides help control them, but it’s best to call an exterminator for any substantial infestation. Even a professional won’t be able to totally rid your yard or house of these worst backyard pests in Tampa.
\n\n\n\nThe tiny mouths of these arthropods allow them to make holes in many of your plants. Getting rid of spider mites can be difficult. Try applying a half and half mixture of water and alcohol. Make sure the alcohol is isopropyl, which is toxic to insects but shouldn’t hurt your plants. If the mites are still making your garden and lawn into their home, you may have to research chemical products.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K3UXOYZ81AKeXZfwZwO9qG3NJbV6eczq6Hgv2I8vQviswAkGhD5gri16byFvUB97GDqnN5mFh0wtB49_r9WmNnTXr4IQyKonStT6LhVlnBQqLkS_bfA4Fk92T3QCzOafsNoWfGRZ\")
Tropical sod webworms can do a lot of damage. For such tiny creatures, they can have a big impact on your yard. These caterpillars may be hard to spot, as they can turn as green as the grass they eat. If one part of your lawn has brown patches and is shorter than the rest, bend down and inspect it closely to see whether your lawn is infested.
\n\n\n\nThe adults are annoying triangular-shaped moths that don’t do much damage. But they lay eggs in the lawn, and the hatching larvae feed on the grass blades. To get rid of these tiny troublemakers, try sprinkling soapy water on the lawn. This will usually draw the critters out, so you can remove them. But if you notice a large infestation, you’ll have to resort to an insecticide. Spinosad is an organic product that controls the tropical sod webworm, without hurting the grass or beneficial bugs.
\n\n\n\nThese gray oval bugs can destroy your plants quickly. Their dusty and grainy look is actually a waxy protective coat. Since they may be hard to spot, keep an eye out for dirty or yellow patches on your plants. Your plants looking like they have fur or lint on them may be another sign mealybugs have taken up residence.
\n\n\n\nTo get rid of them, spray the plants with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Another approach is to deter them their natural predators. Tiny wasps, “mealybug destroyer” ladybugs and lacewings will make a quick meal of the mealy bugs.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Pulm8_tsekxSdH-8nbUZKxQa8LVaiXskw2AXgxpMwqfdMLBGFwrh8GahZ69xx7qX5b2SIY4pBbv64tPhtQEcrv-hbsQqzEogBZUnc__0-qCMmLfLmCfWT6WweCcCdSlUjBK7kSqO\")
Opossums are prevalent in Florida. If they can get ahold of anything in your garden, they will. To keep them away, trim the fruit trees where the critters like to snack. You can also block off and cover individual plants and areas you want to protect. Chemical deterrents for opossums are also available if you ‘re at your wits end with these pests.
\n\n\n\nWhile opossums are a nuisance, they can also be beneficial. Besides feasting on your citrus trees, they eat ticks, mice, roaches, rats and snakes. They’re actually immune to rattlesnake venom. Opossums are also the only marsupial in North America and one of the oldest critters on earth.
\n\n\n\nYou may not immediately think of housepets such as cats or dogs as garden pests, but they can ruin a lawn and garden faster than an opossum. Cats and dogs are naturally curious and like to chew on plants and grass. Cats like to lay and roll in the grass and newly seeded dirt. Dogs love to dig. The best way to keep your pets from chewing on your grass and garden plants is by training them to use a designated area of the yard. You can also try a homemade solution which has garlic, hot pepper or soapy water. Another tip is to water the area your yard where the dog goes potty. This will help dilute the urine, which can kill the grass.
\n\n\n\nWith the right knowledge and effort, you can protect your home from the worst backyard pests in Tampa. Once your garden is safe, you’ll have more time to enjoy relaxing in it, than working on it.
\n\n\n\n
Want to learn more about lawn care and gardening in Tampa? Visit our Tampa Lawn Care page.
Florida is a botanical wonderland. From brightly colored flowers to unique tropical trees, the Sunshine State has plenty of native plant diversity – and we’ll help you find the right ones for your Tampa landscape.
\n","content":"\nTampa Bay’s subtropical climate and coastal location provide the perfect conditions for many beautiful native plants to thrive right in your front yard (and backyard). Planting native plants is the perfect way to add a touch of Florida to your Tampa landscape. There are several reasons homeowners should consider installing native plants:
\n\n\n\nFrom tropical palms to beautiful wildflowers, native plants have grown in the Tampa Bay area’s subtropical climate for hundreds of years and are well-adapted to the conditions.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"beautiful](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/beautyberry-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Tony Alter / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nAmerican beautyberry, also called French mulberry, features large leaves and arching stems full of either flowers or berries, depending on the time of year. Once late summer hits, the flowers mature into bright violet berries that last until fall and sometimes into winter. The berries grow in multiple clusters along the woody stem, spaced out along the vine like veggies on a kabob.
\n\n\n\nAlthough the berries are edible, they are not known for being particularly tasty, though they are sometimes used to make jelly. Birds enjoy snacking on the raw berries. Beautyberry flowers are white, pink, or lavender, and their nectar attracts bees and butterflies in spring and summer.
\n\n\n\nGrowing at forest edges, American beautyberry loves sunlight, though it thrives best with regular hydration.
\n\n\n\nThe serrated leaves of beautyberry are broad, perfect for sheltering small wildlife. When crushed, the leaves have a pleasant aroma that wards off mosquitoes. Rubbing crushed leaves on your skin can act as a natural mosquito repellent.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
USDA hardiness zone: 6-11
Mature size: 3-9 feet tall and 3-8 feet wide
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full or partial sun
Soil preferences: Loamy, sandy, chalk, clay, acidic, well-drained
Water needs: Low.
Salt tolerance: Low.
Wind resistance: Moderate
Potential hazards: Non-toxic; berries are edible
![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bald-Cypress.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nThe bald cypress is a water-loving tree that can survive being submerged in water for long periods of time. Because of their affinity for water, bald cypresses are typically found in swampy areas or growing near streams and rivers.
\n\n\n\nWith delicate fern-shaped leaves and peeling silver bark, bald cypresses are just as beautiful in the summer months as they are in the autumn when the leaves change to a colorful blaze of burnt orange. Bald cypresses produce cones full of seeds that make a nice snack for birds, squirrels, and other small critters.
\n\n\n\nWith a lifespan that would make even Grandmother Willow jealous, bald cypresses live for a very long time, up to 600 years.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Confier
USDA hardiness zone: 4-9
Mature size: 50-100 feet
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade
Soil preferences: Sandy or loamy soils; adapts well to a wide range of soil pH
Water needs: Low
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Wind resistance: High
Potential hazards: Might cause mild allergic reactions
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Butterfly-Weed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nFor Tampa residents looking to add a splash of vivid color to their landscape, butterfly weed produces a blaze of star-shaped flowers. The tiny flowers grow in clusters of orange, although sometimes they come in red or yellow hues. Their hairy stems stand erect, crowned with lush flower blossoms. The stems are populated with long, thin leaves that are a rich green color.
\n\n\n\nAs one might guess, one of the most delightful aspects of butterfly weed is its ability to attract butterflies to your yard. Monarch butterflies are attracted to butterfly weed, which is a host for butterfly eggs. Their pollen and nectar attract bees and hummingbirds, as well. Unlike most milkweed types, the sap of butterfly weeds is translucent and doesn’t irritate the skin.
\n\n\n\nButterfly weed grows in fields and prairies throughout Hillsborough County. The drought-tolerant plant can take a while to get established. Sometimes it can take up to three years until it starts to flower during late summer and early fall.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
Mature size: 1-3 feet tall
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Herbaceous
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Soil preferences: Well-drained, dry, rocky, loamy, sandy, and clay
Water needs: Low
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Wind resistance: Moderate
Potential hazards: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses
![\"bright](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/firebush.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Mokki / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nA favorite for hummingbirds and butterflies, firebush produces tubular flowers from spring through fall. Their flowers look like a cluster of tiny hot peppers, blending shades of orange, yellow, and red to add a fiery flare of color to any yard.
\n\n\n\nNicknamed the scarlet bush, firebush is a behemoth of yard plants, adding bushy vegetation that can grow up to 15 feet tall. Homeowners love these bushes for their resistance to hurricanes, making them a suitable fit for hurricane-prone Tampa.
\n\n\n\nFirebush flourishes in South Florida. These plants tolerate a wide range of soils and aren’t the pickiest about where they settle down. Small mammals and birds love snacking on the black berries. The leaves of a firebush possess medicinal properties for healing bug bites, fungal infections, and rashes.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
USDA hardiness zone: 8-11
Mature size: 5-15 feet tall and 2-6 feet wide
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight needs: Full sun; needs at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day
Soil preferences: Well-drained, sandy, loamy, slightly alkaline soil
Water needs: Moderate
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Wind resistance: High.
Potential hazards: Not toxic; berries are edible
![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Gloriosa-Lily.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare
\n\n\n\nLike a blaze of fire, the gloriosa lily blooms in a rich medley of curling red petals trimmed with yellow. The plant originated in Africa and Asia. The gloriosa lily is a boon to butterflies and bees, who love to visit its sweet-smelling flowers. The beauty and unusual shape of this lily has earned it many nicknames:
\n\n\n\nA type of bulb, gloriosa lilies have tubers for their root system. The plant is a climber with vine-like tendrils that creep upward, making it a great plant for trellises or chain-link fences.
\n\n\n\nDespite the name, gloriosa lilies are not actually lilies. The flame lily can last for decades. A gloriosa lily should be placed in a part of the yard where it can get 6-8 hours of sunlight exposure a day. Gloriosa lilies need rich, well-drained soil.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Bulb
USDA hardiness zone: 8-11
Mature size: 4-6 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full sun or partial shade
Soil preferences: Well-drained, acidic, alkaline, neutral, loamy, or sandy soils
Water needs: Moderate
Salt tolerance: Low; does not tolerate salt
Wind resistance: Low
Potential hazards: Poisonous to people, dogs, cats, squirrels, and horses; tubers can irritate skin
![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Gumbo-Limbo-Tree.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Milo44 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nBefore plastic became commonplace, the lightweight wood of gumbo-limbo trees was used for making horses in carousels. With a century-long lifespan, gumbo-limbo is a long-lived Floridia native treasured for its excellent drought resistance.
\n\n\n\nGumbo-limbo trees are distinctive for their coppery color. Its peeling bark looks like sunburned skin, which earned it the nickname “tourist tree.” They grow to impressive heights, sometimes reaching up to 60 feet tall.
\n\n\n\nPlant them a good distance away from your home, driveway, and other structures. Gumbo-limbo trees grow fast and their branches have a wide spread. Sometimes their branches grow low to the ground, so make sure that a gumbo-limbo tree has plenty of space to grow.
\n\n\n\nA gumbo-limbo’s bark has medicinal properties for skin conditions including sunburns, measles, and insect bites. It also can help cure the flu, colds, and fevers. Their flowers are unremarkable unless you are a bee or butterfly, but the summertime berries are a delightful treat for birds.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Tree
USDA hardiness zone: 10-11
Mature size: 25-40 feet tall, 25-30 feet wide
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial sun
Soil preferences: Clay, sandy, loamy, acidic, alkaline, and well-drained
Water needs: Moderate
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Wind resistance: High
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sabal-Palm.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere
\n\n\n\nChosen as Florida’s state tree, sabal palms are an iconic symbol of the beach. If you are looking for a hardy, tropical tree for your landscape, a sabal palm is perfect because it can last 100 years. Sabal palm is also called cabbage palm because their immature leaves, named heart of the palm, are edible and taste like cabbage.
\n\n\n\nSabal palms have large, fanlike leaves and produce white flowers in spring. Palms provide a resting spot for birds, and their seeds make a tasty snack for small critters. Sabal palms are impressively resistant to hurricanes.
\n\n\n\nPlant your palm trees in a spot with well-drained soil. Sandy or loamy soil is the best type of earth for a sabal palm to thrive in. Sabal palms are a slow-growing plant, so homeowners will have to patiently wait for the palm to sprout up to an impressive height. On the positive side, sabal palms don’t require much maintenance.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Palm
USDA hardiness zone: 7-11
Mature size: 40-50 feet.; can grow up to 100 feet tall
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight needs: Full sun to partial shade
Soil preferences: Loamy or sandy
Water needs: Average
Salt tolerance: Moderate; doesn’t like salt near its roots
Wind resistance: High
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Scarlet-Hibiscus.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nThis scarlet-flushed water lover usually lurks in marshes, swamps, or besides streams. Scarlet hibiscus flowers, which look like large crimson pinwheels with five petals, add a touch of red to your landscape in summer. Blooming season starts in early summer and lasts until the fall.
\n\n\n\nHummingbirds and butterflies are enticed by the sweet nectar of these flowers, making scarlet hibiscus a great addition to a butterfly garden. Also known as scarlet rose mallow, it thrives in wet soil, so if homeowners have a wet spot in their yard, scarlet hibiscus may be the perfect fit.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Wildflower
USDA hardiness zone: 8-11
Mature size: 3-6 feet high and has a spread of 1-3 feet
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Soil preferences: Loamy, moist soils, organic materials, clay, sandy
Water needs: High
Salt tolerance: High
Wind resistance: Low
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
![\"Seagrape](\"https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/seagrape-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nIt is illegal to harm wild sea grapes, as they are a protected plant species. However, you can bring the shrub-like tree right to your home. Sea grapes don’t produce actual grapes; they derive their name from the purple fruit they produce that strongly resembles grapes in appearance although not in taste.
\n\n\n\nSea grape fruit is edible and can be used for making jelly, jam, or wine. Broad, rounded leaves create a place for lizards to hide, white flowers provide delicious nectar to pollinating insects, and purple fruit offers a delicious snack for birds and squirrels. However, the flowers might trigger allergy symptoms.
\n\n\n\nUsually found growing in sandy beachside soil, sea grapes love oceanside locations. Although it tolerates many types of soil, sea grapes like sandy soils best. The problem with sea grapes is they make quite a mess when they drop fruit all over your lawn. Be prepared to harvest the fruit or deal with cleaning all the fallen fruit out of their lawn.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub/tree
USDA hardiness zone: 10-11
Mature size: 25-50 feet
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight needs: Full sun, moderate shade
Soil preferences: Sandy, clay, loamy, well-drained
Water needs: Low
Salt tolerance: High
Wind resistance: High
Potential hazards: Non-toxic. The fruit is edible for people and animals.
![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sea-Oxeye-Daisy.jpg\")
Photo Credit: gailhampshire / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nIn the Sunshine State you can bring a drop of sunshine right to your yard with the sea-oxeye daisy. These daisies, shrouded with silvery-green leaves, add a colorful touch of yellow to your landscaping and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nBirds love to eat the little black fruits the shrub produces. Sea-oxeye daisies can be used as either groundcover or as stand-alone plants in your landscape. Coastal homes that experience sea spray from storm surges might want to consider installing sea-oxeye daisies, since they have a high salt tolerance.
\n\n\n\nIn the wild, sea-oxeye daisies are usually found dwelling in salt marshes or beach dunes. In your yard, sea-oxeye daisies perform best in sandy or loamy soils that are well-drained and receive a lot of full sun every day.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Shrub
USDA hardiness zone: 8b-11
Mature size: 2-6 feet tall
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Sunlight needs: Full sun and light shade
Soil preferences: Sandy, loamy, mud, or clay
Water needs: Low
Salt tolerance: High
Wind resistance: Moderate
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
![\"picture](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nIf you want to add a cheery touch to your yard, consider seaside goldenrod. The flower’s long stalks burst into color at their tips in an explosion of bright yellow flower clusters. In the wild, seaside goldenrod can be found growing in beaches, dunes, or salt marshes.
\n\n\n\nSeaside goldenrod is a good fit for butterfly gardens, as their sweet nectar attracts honeybees and butterflies. Its nectar can even be used to make honey.
\n\n\n\nAs its name implies, these flowers can usually be found in areas near the sea such as coastal dunes or tidal marshes. It’s a good plant for sandy soils, though it’s not a picky wildflower and it can grow in a variety of soils.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous wildflower
USDA hardiness zone: 8-10
Mature size: 2-8 feet
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Soil preferences: Sandy, rocky, clay
Water needs: Low to Average
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Wind resistance: High
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
![\"closeup](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Spiked-Blazing-Flower.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel
\n\n\n\nDespite the name, the spiked blazing flower is not known for its spiky thorns or sharp edges. The plant is named for its bristly appearance, as both its leaves and the petals have a spiky, sharp look to them.
\n\n\n\nThe spiked blazing flower is known by several names:
\n\n\n\nSpiked blazing flower is a tall vertical plant, with a long, thin green stalk topped with clusters of purple flowers. Although the flowers are typically a lavender color, they also can be pink or white as well. The sweet nectar or these plants attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
\n\n\n\nThis drought-tolerant wildflower blooms during summer and early fall, and its leaves turn brown in autumn as the perennial plant goes dormant for the winter. Spiked blazing flowers are susceptible to diseases such as leaf spot and powdery mildew.
\n\n\n\nMake sure to plant this wildflower in a spot that receives a lot of sun each day. They need to be placed in well-drained soils, since wet or soggy soils can cause spike blazing flowers to rot. It performs best in poor soils.
\n\n\n\nGrowth habit: Herbaceous wildflower
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
Mature size: 2-6 feet tall, 9-18 inches wide
Duration: Perennial
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight needs: Full sun
Soil preferences: Clay, loamy, sandy, organic matter
Water needs: Low to moderate
Salt tolerance: Low; does not tolerate salt or salt spray
Wind resistance: Moderate
Potential hazards: Non-toxic
Although native plants grow well in Florida, you can’t place a plant just anywhere and expect it to thrive. Every tree, shrub, and wildflower has different requirements for the type of soil they can thrive in.
\n\n\n\nHere are things to keep in mind when considering what type of native Florida plants to select for your Tampa yard:
\n\n\n\nTampa is in USDA hardiness zone 9b and 10a. Hardiness zones are used to determine the chances of a plant performing well in a certain location. Before you purchase new landscaping plants for your lawn, be sure to consider what plants will fit with the local hardiness zone.
\n\n\n\nTampa has minimum winter temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Tampa has never reached temperatures higher than 99 degrees Fahrenheit, so it has a mild climate year-round.
\n\n\n\nYou also should consider the size of a plant and how much yard space you have. Trees and shrubs take up quite a bit of space as they grow, so make sure that your yard has plenty of space to accommodate such large plants.
\n\n\n\nFor homeowners looking for a wider variety of native species, the Florida Native Plant Society offers a list of native plants on their website for homeowners to browse and learn more information about Florida-friendly plants.
\n\n\n\nIf you want to keep a splash of flora color in your yard year-round, choose plants that flower all year long. With Florida’s mild winters, it is possible for certain types of flowers to bloom even during Florida’s cold season.
Here’s a list of flowers that bloom year-round in Florida:
● Blanket flower
● Blue daze
● Bougainvillea
● Firespike
● Gerbera daisies
● Hibiscus
● Ixora
● Knock out roses
● Lantana
● Mexican heather
● Penta
● Plumbago
● Salvia
● Vinca
Not every plant is completely safe, as some can be toxic to humans and animals. If you have pets or children, you might want to consider avoiding poisonous plants, or at least be aware of which plants may be toxic so you can keep them safely out of the reach of children or pets.
Here are a few of Florida’s poisonous plants:
● Angel’s trumpet
● Azaleas
● Bracken fern
● Brazilian pepper-tree
● Caladium
● Castor bean
● Coral honeysuckle
● Gloriosa lily
● King sago palm
● Oleander
● Poison Ivy
● Poinsettia
● Rosary pea
● Spotted water hemlock
● Yellow allamanda
If you have any of these plants in your landscape, you should be aware that ingesting them can cause serious problems or, in extreme cases, death.
If you want a butterfly garden, choose a selection of native Florida plants to attract pollinators to plant in your yard. Some plants, such as milkweed, can be used as hosts for butterfly eggs and are an essential part of a butterfly’s growth cycle. Certain types of flowers are better for drawing butterflies to their yard than others, so here’s a list of some butterfly favorites:
● Buddleia
● Blue Porterweed
● Butterfly weed
● Coontie
● Coral bean
● Dill
● Firebush
● Firespike
● Gaillardia
● Hydrangea
● Jatropha
● Jessamine
● Lantana
● Milkweed
● Parsley
● Passion flower
● Penta
Flowers that attract butterflies to your yard will usually draw bees and hummingbirds to your landscape, as well.
Whether you want to add a fiery flare of flowers to your yard or whether you want a long-lived tree to be a part of your landscaping, there are many native Florida plants to choose from. Be sure to ethically source your plants and buy them from a local nursery. Do not transplant them from the wild.
\n\n\n\nIf you are looking for a place to purchase native plants for your Tampa lawn, try checking out these local nurseries for the plants you need:
\n\n\n\nTampa frequently experiences hurricanes, so check out our guide on ideas for a hurricane-resistant landscape. Aside from finding the right plants for your landscaping, you should also consider the best grass types for your Tampa lawn or low-maintenance landscaping ideas to minimize the amount of time spent on yard work.
Ready to transform your yard into a beautiful landscape populated with native flora? Let Wikilawn help you find a Tampa landscaping professional to help with your next landscaping and lawn care projects.
Main Image Credit: Seaside goldenrod / Sam Fraser-Smith / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"12 Best Native Plants for Tampa, FL","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.4943960149439601,"src":"/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/1789c/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/107df/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg 320w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/293e9/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg 500w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/f2cbb/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg 800w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/1789c/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg 960w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/c26c2/Seaside-Goldenrod.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/1dd6e/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/67b76/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp 320w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/8df11/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp 500w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/98a65/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp 800w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/1dd6e/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp 960w,\n/static/c5ae3431b5a1f93aee1a7152d33e1afa/3cc96/Seaside-Goldenrod.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"12 Best Native Plants for Tampa, FL | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ready to redesign your Florida landscape? Here are some native Florida plants that thrive in Tampa’s humid, subtropical climate."}}}],"metaTitle":"Everything You Need to Know About Tampa Page % Page | Wikilawn %","metaDescription":"Looking for info on Tampa ? Wikilawn has everything you need to know.","prevPageLink":"/category/lawn-care/fl/tampa/","nextPageLink":null,"currentPage":2}}}![Source](\"https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/30000/nahled/barata-cucaracha-cockroach.jpg\"){kind=link}