Ground Cover for Central Florida
The following is a list of ground covers that are suitable for Hardiness Zones 9a and 9b. Ideally, these plants can take some frost and still survive hot humid summers.
Name
|
Scientific Name |
Hardiness Zones |
| Adam's needle | Yucca filamentosa | 8a-9b |
| Agapanthus | Agapanthus africanus | 9a-11 |
| Bahia grass | Paspalum notatum | 8a-11 |
| Beach morning glory | Ipomoea imperati (= I. stolonifera) | 8-10b |
| Bermuda grass | Cynodon dactylon | 8a-11 |
| Bitter panicgrass | Panicum amarum | 8a-9b |
| Blue porterweed | Stachytarpheta jamaicensis | 9a-11 |
| Blue-eyed grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | 8a-11 |
| Broomsedge | Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus | 8a-10a |
| Cast-iron plant | Aspidistra elatior | 9a-11 |
| Cinnamon fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | 8a-11 |
| Coontie | Zamia pumila | 8b-11 |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis hybrids | 8a-10b |
| Fancyleaved caladium | Caladium x hortulanum | 9a-11 |
| Fountain grass | Pennisetum setaceum | 8-11 |
| Giant leather fern | Acrostichum danaeifolium | 9a-11 |
| Ginger, Butterfly | Hedychium coronarium | 9a-11 |
| Gopher apple | Licania michauxii | 8a-11 |
| Holly fern | Cyrtomium falcatum | 9a-11 |
| Holly, Dwarf Yaupon | Ilex vomitoria 'Shellings' | 8a-10a |
| Ivy, Algerian | Hedera canariensis | 8-10b |
| Ivy, English | Hedera helix | 8a-9b |
| Jasmine, Dwarf Confederate | Trachelospermum asiaticum | 8a-10b |
| Juniper, Japanese garden | Juniperus procumbens | 8a-10b |
| Juniper, Parson | Juniperus chinensis 'Parsonii' | 8-10b |
| Juniper, Pftizer | Juniperus chinensis 'Pftizeriana' | 8a-10b |
| Juniper, shore | Juniperus conferta | 8a-10a |
| Lily turf | Liriope spp. | 8a-10b |
| Lopsided Indiangrass | Sorghastrum secundum | 8a-11 |
| Maidencane | Panicum hemitomon | 8a-11 |
| Mangrove spider lily | Hymenocallis latifolia | 8a-10b |
| Mondo grass | Ophiopogon japonicus | 8-10b |
| Muhly grass | Muhlenbergia capillaris | 8a-11 |
| Pampas grass | Cortaderia selloana | 8a-11 |
| Powderpuff | Mimosa strigillosa | 8a-9b |
| Purple lovegrass | Eragrostis spectabilis | 8a-9b |
| Purple queen | Tradescantia pallida | 8a-10a |
| Railroad vine | Ipomoea pes-caprae | 9a-11 |
| Royal fern | Osmunda regalis | 8a-10b |
| Saltgrass | Distichlis spicata | 8-11 |
| Saltmeadow cord grass | Spartina patens | 8a-9b |
| Sand cord grass, switchgrass | Spartina bakeri | 8a-11 |
| Sea oats | Uniola paniculata | 8a-11 |
| Sea purslane | Sesuvium portulacastrum | 9-10b |
| Seashore dropseed | Sporobolus virginicus | 8a-11 |
| Seashore paspalum | Paspalum vaginatum | 8-11 |
| Smooth cord grass | Spartina alterniflora | 8a-11 |
| Smooth water-hyssop | Bacopa monnieri | 8a-11 |
| Southern shield fern | Thelypteris kunthii | 8a-10b |
| St. Augustine grass | Stenotaphrum secundatum | 8a-11 |
| St. John's wort, Atlantic | Hypericum reductum | 8a-9b |
| Strawberry | Fragaria chiloensis | 8a-9b |
| String-lily | Crinum americanum | 8a-11 |
| Sunflower, beach | Helianthus debilis | 8a-10b |
| Swamp fern | Blechnum serrulatum | 9a-11 |
| Wandering Jew | Tradescantia pendula | 8a-10a |
| Wild petunia | Ruellia caroliniensis | 8a-11 |
| Wiregrass | Aristida beyrichiana | 8a-10a |
| Zoysiagrass | Zoysia japonica | 8a-11 |