Native Region: North America and Asia.

• Produces edible fruits that resemble blackberries.
• Fast-growing tree that can reach maturity quickly.
• Leaves are the primary food source for silkworms.

Urban Garden Benefits: Provides edible fruit, rapid growth for shade, and ornamental value.

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts birds, especially those that feed on berries like cardinals.

Native Region: Southeastern United States, including Florida.

• Produces bright purple berries in clusters along the stems.
• Leaves have natural mosquito-repellent properties.
• Deciduous shrub with vibrant fall color and fruit display.

Urban Garden Benefits: Adds color, deters mosquitoes, and requires minimal maintenance.

Wildlife Attraction: Berries attract birds, and the plant provides habitat for pollinators.

Native Region: Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.

• Epiphytic fern often mounted on trees or wooden boards.
• Unique fronds resemble stag antlers, giving it its name.
• Can absorb nutrients directly from the air and from composted organic matter placed on it.

Urban Garden Benefits: Unique appearance, low maintenance, and excellent for vertical gardening.

Wildlife Attraction: Provides a microhabitat for small insects and sometimes small reptiles.

Native Region: Coastal areas of Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America.

• Large leaves can grow up to several feet in diameter.
• Produces edible fruit clusters resembling grapes.
• Salt-tolerant and thrives in sandy, coastal conditions.

Urban Garden Benefits: Provides large foliage for shade and privacy and has edible fruits.

Wildlife Attraction: Fruits attract birds and small mammals.

Native Region: Southeastern United States.

• Large, fragrant white flowers are a hallmark of the magnolia tree.
• Can grow very large, providing significant shade and ornamental value.
• Evergreen leaves are thick and glossy, adding year-round interest.

Urban Garden Benefits: Provides shade, ornamental beauty, and privacy.

Wildlife Attraction: Flowers attract pollinators, and seeds are eaten by birds.

Native Region: Hybrids often combine traits from tropical regions worldwide, including Florida and the Caribbean

• Epiphytic orchids often grow on trees, deriving nutrients from air and rain.
• Require specific growing conditions like humidity and filtered light.
• Hybrid varieties are often bred for improved resilience and flower display.

Urban Garden Benefits: Adds exotic beauty and uniqueness and requires minimal soil disturbance.

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts specific pollinators like bees and moths.

Native Region: Southeastern United States, including Florida.

• Can live for centuries and grow very large, providing significant canopy cover.
• Acorns are an important food source for wildlife.
• Supports a vast array of epiphytic plants like orchids and bromeliads.

Urban Garden Benefits: Provides shade, improves air quality, and offers habitat for wildlife.

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts birds, squirrels, and insects due to acorns and foliage.

Native Region: Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

• A hardy, salt-tolerant shrub that can grow in poor soil conditions.
• Produces small, inconspicuous flowers but is valuable for its dense foliage.
• Can be pruned into various shapes for landscaping.

Urban Garden Benefits: Low maintenance, ideal for hedges, and provides nesting sites for birds.

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts birds and small mammals who eat the berries.

Native Region: Florida, Caribbean, and Central America.

• A small shrub with fragrant white and pink flowers that open at night.
• Drought-tolerant and thrives in sandy soils.
• Has attractive evergreen foliage that can be used as a hedge.

Urban Garden Benefits: Great for privacy, drought resistance, and attractive flowers.

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts bees, butterflies and birds due to its fragrant blooms.

Native Region: Caribbean and Central America.

• The berries are used as a spice in cooking, combining flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
• It can grow as a small tree with aromatic leaves.
• The bark and leaves have medicinal properties and are used in traditional remedies.

Urban Garden Benefits: Provides fragrance, culinary uses, and medicinal benefits.

Wildlife Attraction: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.