Landscape design in Tampa Bay– it's about so much more than curb appeal.
In a desirable region defined by heat, humidity, salt air, and powerful storm seasons, the right landscape design directly impacts a landscape's longevity – but it also impacts maintenance costs, property experience, and long-term performance.
But what exactly is landscape design style, and why does it matter the kind of design style you choose for your unique space? And further, how can you be sure you're choosing the right style for your property in Tampa Bay?
All of those questions are exactly what we're here to answer.
At Landcrafters, we design landscapes throughout Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities with one goal in mind: creating outdoor environments that are beautiful, resilient, and built to last.
Our work spans single-family residences, HOA communities, and luxury shared spaces, each with its own priorities—but all requiring thoughtful, Florida-specific design.
This guide is all about showing you the most effective landscape design styles for the Tampa Bay area, how they perform in our local conditions, and how we customize each approach to meet the needs of homeowners and communities alike.
Xeriscape Landscaping: Sustainable, Water-Wise, and Low-Maintenance
Mediterranean Landscaping: Structured, Timeless, and Refined
How to Choose the Right Landscape Style for Your Property or Community in Tampa Bay
Think of a landscape design style as the foundation that guides every decision in a specific landscaping project.
From layout and plant selection to hardscape materials and long-term maintenance planning, every element of planning should align with a landscape design style.
A successful landscape style considers a variety of elements, but always includes things like:
At Landcrafters, it's always been our policy to follow a right plant, right place philosophy.
To us, that means evaluating light exposure, air quality, drainage, soil health, and plant maturity before anything is installed.
That ensures the landscape performs well not just at installation, but years down the road.
We've been in the landscaping world for decades. In that time, we've seen just how many clients are surprised by how much strategy goes into a well-executed landscape design.
No matter the type of landscape you're working with, a well-rounded landscape design is always needed – especially when you consider the unique challenges and benefits of landscaping in beautiful, wild Florida.
In the Tampa Bay area (and truthfully, Florida in general), poor plant placement or generic design shortcuts often lead to premature plant failure, excessive maintenance, or inconsistent aesthetics.
It's our privilege to specialize in bridging those needs through custom design, knowledgeable maintenance planning, and ongoing plant health care programs that protect each plant and property (your cherished investments) over time.
The list of landscape design styles is long – so long it can feel infinite. Just like any other kind of project where function and aesthetics merge, there's always a new and exciting design style popping up.
No matter how overwhelming that list gets, the fact remains – some design styles simply work better (and make more sense) in certain places. And, of course, the Tampa Bay area is no exception.
Every landscape style we design is adapted for Florida’s climate and the specific conditions of the property.
Whether it’s a waterfront estate in St. Pete or a shared residential community in Tampa, these styles can be scaled and customized while maintaining long-term performance.
These are a few of the most popular landscape design styles we see – and prefer to design – in our beautiful Florida area.
Tropical landscaping is one of our most requested styles in Tampa Bay, and when designed properly, it feels just right. Tropical landscaping has a vibe that clients call authentic to the region – when it's done right, it makes perfect sense.
Like any style of landscaping, tropical can vary. It does usually include elements like:
This is a must-consider for property owners who have residential backyards and pool environments, waterfront properties, or communities seeking a strong and welcoming Florida-style first impression.
Tropical landscapes have a way of instantly communicating a Florida lifestyle.
They automatically improve entry corridors, amenity areas, and common spaces while reinforcing a polished, resort-inspired identity. Many community-oriented properties feel that a tropical landscape design shows residents the luxurious, peak Florida they've been dreaming of.
Tropical designs tend to make perfect sense for Florida properties. It's important to remember that design style goes far beyond just how a space looks and feels.
You'll need to consider these important factors as part of your tropical landscaping design to ensure everything runs smoothly and continues feeling luxurious:
We've been designing tropical landscapes for decades, and we always say this: design with longevity in mind.
By carefully selecting resilient plant material and planning for plant maturity, we create lush environments that stay balanced and healthy – without the need for constant replacement.
Xeriscape landscaping is one of the fastest-growing design requests in Tampa Bay, particularly among HOAs and homeowners focused on efficiency and sustainability.
Next to tropical landscaping, it's one of the highest on the list for requests in our area.
Why? Because it makes sense in our wild-and-wonderful Florida climate, and is a no-brainer for those seeking a luxurious or modern aesthetic.
Xeriscaping can scale from minimalism to maximalist style without being overly concerned about irrigation needs; it has a modern and intentional appearance, and requires little maintenance for longevity.
Often, when people envision "xeriscaping," they immediately think of a few well-placed cacti and stones. While that is one take on xeriscaping, the visual traits span the spectrum. Xeriscaping allows designers to get creative while keeping these main elements in mind:
Xeriscaping provides an interesting and aesthetic solution to common Florida issues: droughts, heat, and maintenance. Though xeriscaping can be a choice made entirely on aesthetics, it's also a beautiful answer to budget restrictions, reduced maintenance, and shared spaces.
This style of landscape is often a winning choice for HOA and shared residential properties, homes with strict irrigation restrictions, property owners concerned with sustainability, and clients who are actively seeking beautiful spaces with reduced maintenance.
It's no secret that xeriscape landscapes dramatically reduce water usage. Further, long-term maintenance demands are minimal, all while the space maintains a polished, intentional appearance.
For many HOA and luxury communities, xeriscaping ticks off their boxes – lower costs to maintain, luxury look and feel, and sustainable water usage. All of those elements tend to make xeriscaping a favorite for HOAs and similar communities.
You'll need to consider these important factors as part of your xeriscape landscaping design to ensure you're accomplishing the look, feel, and function of a xeriscape landscape:
Xeriscape landscapes consistently deliver the strongest long-term performance with minimal replacement needs.
We often recommend this approach for clients chasing durability without sacrificing design quality or experience.
For example, one of our preferred plant selections, Silver Buttonwood, has proven exceptionally resilient (especially after hurricane season), while adding structure, texture, and subtle color contrast.
Modern landscape design has become increasingly popular across the United States, and Tampa and St. Petersburg are no exception.
This design trend seems particularly popular for updated homes and newer developments that are chasing an elegant, new-age look that feels elevated without feeling sterile.
Modern landscapes can look and feel different, depending on the property and the goal of the landscape design. Still, most modern landscape designs share some or all of these elements:
Modern landscaping is elegant and elevated – it usually complements or matches building design.
This style of landscape design is popular (and works well with) contemporary or modern-designed homes, urban properties or HOA communities, and other upscale communities prioritizing a balance of low-maintenance consistency and intentional design.
The thing about modern landscapes is that they have a knack for offering visual clarity and functional efficiency. That means they are easier to maintain, easy to design highly consistent styles across shared spaces, and ideal for properties focused on long-term performance.
All of those things tend to be a recipe for success with HOA communities or similar associations. Beautiful, easy to maintain, and repeatable – modern landscape design is a big win for these sorts of establishments.
If you're considering a modern landscape design for your space, it's important to ask the right questions – those lead you toward the result you're looking for. Ask yourself things like:
Personally, we feel that modern designs balance intentional simplicity with Florida practicality. This style ensures landscapes don’t feel sparse, but it also guarantees the landscape elements aren't stressed under intense sun and heat.
This is a popular design choice in Florida – and for good reason.
Though tropical, xeriscape, and modern landscape design are some of our most common requests (and tend to be the most notable in our area), there's one more style we think worth mentioning – Mediterranean.
Popular, beautiful, and versatile, Mediterranean landscaping pairs beautifully with many architectural styles found throughout Tampa Bay, particularly in upscale residential neighborhoods and gated communities.
Every Mediterranean landscape design looks and feels different, but most of them do share common elements like:
Though Mediterranean landscaping can work with a variety of property types, we most often see it paired beautifully with estate homes, luxury communities, and properties that already boast stunning Mediterranean or Spanish-style architecture.
What HOA and luxury communities love about this style of landscape is its knack for providing an established and cohesive look – without needing every space to be a carbon copy of the next. The elements of Mediterranean style have natural cohesion that elevates curb appeal and reinforces a certain sense of prestige.
If you're considering a Mediterranean landscape design for your space, these questions are must-ask material to ensure you're designing (and executing) this style seamlessly:
The greatest consideration for Mediterranean landscaping design is ensuring you can take the elements and aesthetics of that style and translate them in a Florida-friendly way.
At Landcrafters, we modify Mediterranean designs using Florida-appropriate plant material, achieving the look clients want without unnecessary water use or plant health issues.
Not sure which direction to take your property or community in Tampa Bay? Here are a few considerations to mull over to help steer you in the right direction.
It's no secret that irrigation and drainage challenges are common throughout Tampa Bay, particularly on older systems or waterfront properties.
It's important to focus on choosing a style that aligns with more than just your aeshtetic preference; it needs to match your maintenance capacity, too. That's essential for long-term success.
Single-family residential projects are often highly collaborative, allowing homeowners to be as hands-on (or hands-off) as they prefer.
HOA and community projects are different – they typically require structured planning, board approvals, and pre-approved plant palettes.
Addressing these elements early – and making sure you're aware of the path you're choosing for your property or community – ensures efficiency and alignment. It can also directly impact the design style you choose.
It's always important to design with plant maturity, durability, and replacement cycles in mind helps control costs over time.
Sustainable design isn’t just environmentally responsible, it’s financially smart.
Landcrafters is known throughout Tampa Bay for delivering beautiful, custom landscape solutions for residential homes and HOA communities.
Rather than being defined by a single design style, we’re proudly recognized for our ability to translate each client’s vision into a landscape that fits their lifestyle, exceeds their expectations, and delivers on their long-term goals.
Our commitment to ongoing education, transparent communication, and high-quality materials ensures every project is built for lasting performance.
Whether you’re planning a private backyard retreat or managing a shared residential environment, Landcrafters offers the experience and local expertise to guide your project from concept through long-term care.
Schedule a professional landscape design consultation with our team today and discover what’s possible for your unique Tampa Bay property.