Florida Perennial Flowers

Canna flowers.

Because summer temperatures get very hot in Florida, many perennial flowers cannot survive in the Sunshine State, according to Plant-Care.com. Other perennials thrive in hot weather, however, and can be part of your Florida garden.

Geography

Florida is a very large state and some perennials can only survive certain regions, according to the University of Florida. For example, perennials like yellow alder, blue sage (Eranthemum pulchellum) and bulbine (Bulbine frutescens) can only grow in central and southern Florida, while cigar flower (Cuphea micropetala) and lily-of-the-Nile thrive (Agapanthus species) grow best in the northern and central parts of the state.

Native Flowers

Gardeners import many perennials that grow in Florida from other regions of the world, but others are native to the state. For example, the beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis), which features yellow blooms, is native to Florida's northern Gulf Coast, according to Floridata.com.

Function

Certain perennials have specific functions in Florida gardens, according to the University of Florida. For example, the native red-orange firebush (Hamelia patens) will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden, while flowering plants, such as marble leaf (Peristrophe hyssopifolia) and the yellow-flowering leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum), serve as groundcovers.

References

• Plant-Care: Common Perennial Flowers for the South
• Floridata: Helianthus debilis
• University of Florida: Perennial Gardening in Florida