• Pine bark nuggets are a  good choice for most home landscapes

  If you're looking for a mulch that is resilient and maintains color, consider pine bark. Results from a University of Florida study showed pine bark had one of the lowest ranks for settling, meaning that pine bark maintained a useful depth for almost two years. In addition, test results indicated pine bark mulch retained its color longer than other mulches, up to two years.

• Although pine straw, or needles, can add some acidity to your soil (a plus for acid-loving plants like azaleas and camellias), its decomposition also adds organic matter and nutrients. Although not as durable as pine bark, pine straw imparts an appealing soft, natural look to your landscape.  Pine straw is sold in bales.

• Eucalyptus will generally last longer in the landscape than pine straw, but not as long as pine bark. Eucalyptus also reportedly repels insects, including termites. It has a pleasing odor and holds color fairly well.

• Another termite-repeller, melaleuca, is also a durable choice. Plus, using this mulch (sold as "Florimulch") helps rid Florida of the very invasive melaleuca, or punk, tree, so users of this mulch get extra credit in the eco-friendly category!

• Red-dyed mulch might  look nice but fades quickly in direct sun.

  Generic red mulch
  is composed of wood chips dyed red. This mulch is inexpensive and used widely in commercial landscaping, however the color fades fairly quickly in the sun and can even leach into the soil in a heavy rain. Additionally, it is not as long-lasting as pine bark.  

• Finally, steer clear of cypress mulch. Although by far the best-selling mulch in Florida garden centers, it's made from slow-growing Bald Cypress and Pond Cypress trees found in freshwater wetlands. Production of Cypress mulch contributes to the destruction of these vital habitats.Using it in the landscape is not considered Florida-friendly.

True Floridians know that buying cypress mulch threatens beautiful wetlands like this.

Beautyberry 

(Callicarpa americana)

Expect some backyard visitors if you plant this hearty deciduous shrub that produces clusters of shiny purple berries in the fall -- they are an important late-winter food source for birds and other wildlife. Beautyberry is great for low maintenance landscapes; it's drought-tolerant and very adaptable to low-fertility soils.  It does best in full to part shade, and is a perfect understory shrub for pines or oaks. This outstanding shrub needs some to room to spread out -- it can grow 6 to 8 feet tall and just as wide if you let it! Pruning in early Spring keeps it in check in home landscapes.  

Florida Friendly/Non-Native 

 African Iris
(Dietes iridioides)

Yes, this pretty perennial iris does have African roots. The most common variety used in Florida has milky white petals with yellow markings, often with purple centers. Another common variety has yellow flowers. This tough-as-nails workhorse, characterized by clumps of leathery, sword-shaped leaves, thrives in full sun to part shade.Once established, it's a drought- and heat-tolerant superstar in almost any type of soil. African iris look great as a bed of border flowers or as a striking groundcover under large, tall trees.

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