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Apopka City Zoning Code

Appendix B

DROUGHT TOLERANT GRASSES LIST

Appendix B: Drought Tolerant Grasses List
Species Drought Tolerance
Bahia grass High
Bermuda grass Medium
Centipede grass Medium
Zoysia grass Medium
St. Augustine Grass Low
[1] Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ groundcovers may also utilize plants that may cover at a minimum of 50 percent coverage. Groundcovers other than turf grass shall be planted in such a manner as to present a finished appearance and reasonably complete coverage within one year after planting. A landscape plan produced by a certified landscape architect or similar professional familiar with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is required for City approval.

 

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Groundcovers for Apopka, FL
The list of plants below is intended to be a starting point for making landscape decisions, and not an all-inclusive list of groundcovers suitable for Florida-Friendly Landscapes. As long as a plant is not invasive, and is planted in the right location ("right plant, right place") it could be considered for use in a Florida-Friendly Landscape
Species NameGrowth
Rate
Flower ColorFlower
Season
Attracts WildlifeDrought ToleranceSun/Shade Tolerance
(Optimum Light)
Other Characteristics
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Fast Purple/Blue Spring/Summer Moderate Any
(Partial Sun)
Does not compete well with weeds, esp. in sun
Perennial Peanut
Arachis glabrata
Slow Yellow/Orange Summer/Fall High Sun only No nitrogen fertilizer needed; withstands foot traffic; damaged by frost
Wiregrass
Aristida glabrata
Fast Tan All year High Sun/partial sun
(Sun)
Also known as Aristida beyichiana
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
Slow Brown Periodically
All year
Moderate Partial Sun/Shade
(Partial Sun)
Tolerates deep shade better than most plants
Caladium
Caladium x hortulanum
Fast White Summer Moderate Any
(Shade)
Attractive colorful foliage; leaves die back naturally in fall
Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum
Moderate Moderate Any
(Partial Sun)
Evergreen; low maintenance
Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora
Slow Moderate Partial Sun/Shade
(Shade)
Also known as shield fern
Twin Flower
Dyschoriste oblongifolia
Fast Lavender All Year Butterflies High Sun/partial sun
(Sun)
Elliot's Lovegrass
Eragrostis eliottii
Fast Tan All Year,
Esp. Fall
High Sun/partial sun
(Sun)
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Fast Red/Purple All Year,
Esp. Fall
High Sun/partial sun
(Sun)
Grows best in hot, dry sites
Algerian Ivy
Hedera canariensis
Fast Moderate Shade Only
English Ivy
Hedera helix
Fast Moderate Shade Only
Creeping Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Moderate Birds High Sun only
Lily Turf, Monkey Grass
Liriope muscari
Moderate Purple Summer Moderate Any
(Sun)
Variegated cultivar is damaged by frost
Muhly Grass
Ophiopogon capillaris
Moderate Pink Fall High Sun only Tolerates extreme drought and flooding
Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus
Slow White Summer Moderate Partial Sun/Shade
(Shade)
No pest problems
Asiatic Jasmine
Trachelospermum asiaticum
Fast Yellowish-White Rarely produced, in May Moderate Sun/Partial Sun
(Sun)
Withstands foot traffic; maintain to contain
Confederate Jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Fast White
(fragrant)
Spring Hummingbirds Moderate Sun/Partial Sun
(Sun)
Can be aggressive
Fakahatchee Grass
Tripsacum dactyloides
Moderate Cream/Orange/
Red/Yellow
Spring/Summer Moderate Sun/Partial Sun
(Sun)
Pest resistant; tolerates occasionally wet soil
Florida Gama Grass
Tripsacum Floridiana
Moderate Yellow Spring/Summer Moderate Sun/Partial Sun Used to stabilize banks and steep slopes

 

(Ord. No. 2877, § XXV, 12-15-2021)