Florida Plants Of The Year - In Search Of Drought Tolerance

It's kind of a slow time of year for variety news, but a good time to talk about some drought tolerant varieties.

Of the six varieties that were named Florida Plants Of The Year by the FNGLA (see them all here), four of them are noted for their drought tolerance. Photographed here is Aloysia virgata, the almond bush, a South American variety with upright habit and finger-like clusters of almond-scented flowers. The photo is courtesy of the Leu Gardens in Orlando.

Other drought-tolerant winners include Florida natives Mimosa strigillosa, with pink, ball-shaped flowers that attract butterflies, and Sabal minor, a green to blue-green palm with long stalks of fragrant white flowers and small black fruits.