Native Landscaping in Miami, FL
Miami-Dade County offers free landscape irrigation evaluations with rebates up to $500/year (up to $2,500 over five years) for recommended retrofits. South Florida's tropical climate supports an extraordinary diversity of native plants — many found nowhere else in the continental U.S.
Up to $2,500 total ($500/yr for 5 years) through Miami-Dade
Available Rebate Programs
Landscape Irrigation Evaluation & Rebate
Up to $500/yr (5 years, $2,500 total)Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer
Free landscape irrigation evaluation with rebates up to $500 per year for recommended retrofits. Available over 5 years for a total of $2,500. Property must have an existing in-ground irrigation system.
- Must be a Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer customer
- Must have existing in-ground irrigation system
- Free evaluation must be completed first
- Retrofit proof of payment within 6 months of evaluation
Rebate programs change regularly. Always confirm details directly with the program provider before applying. View all Florida programs.
Recommended Native Plants for Miami
These native plants are well-adapted to the South Florida ecoregion and have growth habits that work well in HOA-conscious front yard designs.
Gumbo Limbo
Bursera simaruba
The "tourist tree" with peeling red bark. Fast-growing, hurricane-resistant native shade tree iconic to South Florida.
Silver Buttonwood
Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus
Silvery foliage provides elegant contrast in the landscape. Salt-tolerant and wind-resistant — perfect for coastal Miami.
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Non-stop red-orange blooms year-round in Miami's frost-free climate. Top butterfly and hummingbird plant.
Wild Coffee
Psychotria nervosa
Shade-tolerant native shrub with glossy leaves and red berries. Excellent foundation plant under trees.
Marlberry
Ardisia escallonioides
Evergreen native with fragrant white flowers and dark berries. Grows well in Miami's limestone soils.
Necklace Pod
Sophora tomentosa
Coastal native shrub with yellow flower spikes and distinctive seed pods. Salt-tolerant and drought-resistant.
Coontie
Zamia integrifolia
Ancient cycad native to South Florida hammocks. Hosts the Atala butterfly and requires virtually no maintenance.
Explore the full native plant library in the Pollinator Patch app, filtered by your specific ecoregion.
HOA Landscaping in Miami
Miami-Dade has one of the densest concentrations of HOAs and condominiums in the U.S., with communities like Doral, Kendall, Coral Gables, and Aventura enforcing detailed landscape standards. Many Miami HOAs mandate specific tropical plant palettes. The Miami-Dade irrigation evaluation provides a professional assessment document that can support proposals to shift toward native, lower-water plantings.
HOA-Conscious Design Tips
- Start with clean edges and defined bed shapes — structure signals care more than plant choice.
- Place shorter plants near the street and taller ones near the house for a tidy layered look.
- Use mulch between plants to signal intentional planting and reduce bare-soil concerns.
- Repeat 2–3 plant species for a cohesive, planned appearance rather than a random mix.
Local Tips for Miami
- Miami-Dade's free irrigation evaluation is the first step — call 786-552-8974 or email resilience@miamidade.gov to schedule.
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden runs native plant sales and their "Connect to Protect" program helps homeowners build wildlife corridors with South Florida natives.
- Miami's limestone substrate means shallow soils — choose plants adapted to rocky, alkaline conditions like Wild Coffee and Marlberry.
- Hurricane season (June–November) is a consideration: native trees like Gumbo Limbo and Silver Buttonwood are proven wind-resistant, which can be a selling point for HOA proposals.
Plan Your Miami Native Yard
Pollinator Patch helps you pick the right native plants for Miami's South Florida ecoregion, design an HOA-conscious layout, and generate documentation for rebate applications.