Here are some great-looking natives for your Palm Beach garden

The flowers of the marlberry are fragrant. The shrub does well in shade.

November 12, 2022

Adding native plants to our gardens has never been of more vital importance.

Butterflies, birds and wildlife are disappearing because the native plants on which they depend are rarely planted. Native plants have evolved over eons alongside their native wildlife counterparts, and as such are critical to the survival of our natural ecosytsems.

The exotic ornamental plants we have brought to our gardens from around the globe cannot support the native insects that provide food for a majority of the world’s flora. When we fill our landscapes with alien species, we deprive native insects, pollinators, birds, and wildlife of critical nourishment and habitat. And while native plants sustain the pollinators and wildlife that maintain healthy ecosystems, they also assist in protecting our air, water, and soil since they require no pesticides or harmful chemicals.

You don’t need to replace all your exotic plants, but please consider adding some natives into the mix for a healthy, sustainable environment.

People have told me that they avoid natives because they just aren’t attractive, or they can’t find a species to suit a particular need. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are hundreds of beautiful native species from which to choose, and most can be adapted to formal or informal settings.

Here are a few of my favorites for fall flowers and great aesthetic value.

* One of the very best fall flowering shrubs is marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides), which is simply stunning right now, with large clusters of very fragrant creamy white flowers and dark glossy green foliage. The flowers are followed by thick clusters of deep purple fruits that are relished by numerous songbirds. The name "marlberry" is actually a corruption of “marbleberry,” as the individual fruits resemble small marbles.

This tough, forgiving shrub requires little maintenance, does beautifully in shade, and can tolerate some sun as well. While it’s a fairly slow grower, it can eventually reach a height of 20 feet. The narrow crown makes it exceptionally useful in smaller settings, and it is wonderful along a walkway where the lovely fragrance can be readily appreciated. I’ve had people stop and ask me where the jasmine is, when they are just walking by the marlberry.

The flowers of the pearlberry appear throughout the year

* Pearlberry (Vallesia antillana) is another beautiful, undemanding shrub for sunny or shady landscapes, with open clusters of delicate white flowers that appear year-round. These are followed by translucent white pearl-shaped berries that provide food for numerous birds. This will make a great border or can stand alone as a specimen or accent plant. The glossy foliage is always a standout.

Golden creeper does well when lining an entryway or can be used as ground cover

* If you want something to cascade over a wall or need a terrific ground cover, golden creeper (Ernodia littoralis) is one of the very best plants out there, provided you give it full sun. This will fill in quickly, forming a beautiful, glossy green dense mat with small white to pink flowers that are wonderfully attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies. This also does well in a hanging basket or to line an entryway. The Breakers have used it to great effect in Via Flagler off Royal Poinciana Way.

The silver buttonwood tolerates salt, drought and extreme wind, making it ideal to plant near the ocean

* If you are thinking of removing your ficus hedge to avoid spraying with imidicloprid or any pesticides, there are some wonderful native replacements to consider. If you have plenty of sun, silver buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) makes an excellent tall screen or it can be clipped to a low hedge. Growing to 35 feet, the lovely soft silvery foliage also makes this a terrific ornamental tree with an open spreading canopy. Buttonwoods are invaluable for oceanfront plantings as they withstand salt, drought and extreme wind. The cultivar ‘'Silver Sheen'’ is most desirable for its resistance to scale and the mealybug that causes sooty mold.

The silver buttonwood also can be clipped to a low hedge

* Another great ficus replacement is Simpson's stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans), one of the best small trees out there. With beautiful ornamental bark, fragrant white flowers and bright orange fruits that attract birds, this is a win-win in any location. As a specimen tree, the exfoliating coppery bark alone makes it a show stopper, and the added attraction of fragrant flowers and bright berries makes this valuable in any landscape.

In full sun, this will tend to develop multiple trunks with dense foliage, making a terrific hedge. Given more shade, it develops a trunk, and the foliage stays near the top of the plant and at the ends of the branches. The small round leaves are leathery to the touch, and aromatic when crushed. Mockingbirds, cardinals, and catbirds are especially fond of the berries.

The distinctive ornamental bark of Simpson’s stopper, which is also known for its fragrant flowers and bright berries

* Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) makes another excellent hedge or accent plant, and is especially lovely at this time of year with its profusion of bright red berries. The dark green, deeply incised foliage is another standout feature of the plant, making it easily recognizable.

The red berries of wild coffee make it easily recognizable

This thrives in light to full shade, and the clusters of small white flowers attract numerous butterflies, especially the ruddy daggerwing. Mockingbirds and gray catbirds will come for the fruits. I love this along an entryway border where the flowers and berries can be admired, or as an understory shrub or screen. This also works beautifully in planters on a porch or loggia.

Wild coffee thrives in light to full shades

* One more great plant for autumn color is beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), which is covered right now with clusters of brilliant violet berries that resemble small pearls. These follow the rounded clusters of pink flowers that appear in the leaf axils of the long, gracefully arching stems. The leaves are highly aromatic when crushed, and this lovely bush will reach a height of 6 feet with an equal spread.

Its open, airy habit makes it easy to incorporate into an existing planting; it looks great behind small shrubs as its branches can cascade over, showing off their beautiful berries. These also look lovely in arrangements. Butterflies come to the flowers for nectar and numerous birds feast on the fruits.

The violet berries of beautyberry attract butterflies and birds

It’s critically important that we make our landscapes more ecologically valuable, and to include in them the plants that will sustain our native ecosystems and the insects, pollinators and birds that reside here. While we have been inundated with exotic ornamentals from around the globe, our native species are the only ones that can support the ecosystems in which we live.

-Kim Frisbie

Original article on the Palm Beach Daily News is HERE.