Annuals

• Wishbone flowers (Torenia fournieri) are hot-weather annuals that thrive in the Florida heat and humidity. There are a variety of cultivars available. Most grow to between 6 and 12 inches tall, but the Panda variety reaches only 4 to 8 inches. The trumpet-shaped flowers may be yellow, white, purple, blue, pink or lavender and are produced throughout the summer. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are grown in Florida winter gardens. Plant them in the fall and they will brighten the yard with flowers until summer. They are available in tall, intermediate, short, dwarf and trailing cultivars, ranging in size from 4 inches to 3 feet tall. The flowers can be yellow, purple, white, red, pink, orange or bi-color.
  
  

Perennials

• Perennial plants do not have to be replaced each growing season. If they fade away in the winter cold or summer heat, they return the following season. Daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids) are easy to grow in most types of soil and are available in many different sizes, bloom types and colors. Some cultivars bloom in late spring while others will continue to bloom off and on throughout the year. Wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum) can be planted in the fall in southern Florida winter gardens. There are short 6- to 8-inch-tall varieties and taller types that grow to 18 inches. They can have green, mahogany, bronze or red foliage with pink, red or white blooms. There are also varieties with variegated leaves.
  
  

Deciduous Shrubs

• Shrubs classified as deciduous lose their leaves in the fall and grow new leaves each spring. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) grows naturally in Florida, reaching a mature height and width of 6 to 8 feet. It produces small lavender flowers throughout the spring and summer followed by metallic purple berries in the fall. Possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) is native to Florida. It grows to between 7 and 15 feet tall but can be pruned regularly to keep it shorter. It produces small white flowers in May and bright red berries in the fall. This shrub has male and female cultivars. The berries form only on females when there is a male nearby for pollination.
  
  

Evergreen Shrubs

• Shrubs classified as evergreen maintain their leaves throughout the year. Coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) can be found growing naturally in Florida. It is a small shrub that reaches a mature height between 2 and 6 feet. The spring flowers are white or pale pink and barely noticeable but they are followed by clusters of coral to scarlet red berries that last through the winter. Florida anise (Illicium Floridian) is a Florida native that is listed as "threatened" in the wild. It is grown in cultivation, however, and can be found at native plant nurseries. This is a shrub or small tree that can grow to 10 feet tall. The 2-inch diameter flowers are either maroon or white.